Cass to seek prosecution contracts

PINE RIVER -- Cass County will seek formal contracts with cities over the next month to provide prosecution services in court.

Cities have been receiving one-third and the county two-thirds of fine revenue generated from petty misdemeanor, misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases occurring in cities when a city contracts with the county for prosecution services.

In cities where a city attorney prosecutes, the county has received one-third of fines and the city two-thirds.

July 1, the state will assume control over county court services.

Unless there is a written contract signed between municipalities and the county before that date, what has been the county share, instead, will go to the state, Administrator Robert Yochum said.

A committee of county, township, city, Housing Authority and economic development corporation representatives will continue writing a county policy to cover tax-increment financing and abatement incentives for economic development.

While Pine River Mayor Robert Fladung reported Tuesday to the board a proposal to use the abatement process at Pine River has reverted to a TIF proposal, the board decided it is likely developers throughout the county may seek abatements under newer state laws in the future.

A county policy and one in each affected municipality must be adopted for the board or council to approve an abatement under state law.

Cass adopted a TIF policy in 1997. That policy will be reviewed, with consideration given to state law changes since that time. A separate abatement policy or separate section of the TIF policy will address guidelines for abatements.

Leech Lake Reservation has requested Cass County Environmental Services submit all permit applications involving wetlands for properties on the reservation for their review.

Leech Lake Division of Resource Management has a wetland coordinator on staff who is compiling a wetland inventory database on the reservation. Coordinator Carole Vandal said in a letter to the county that she would like the opportunity to comment in behalf of the Leech Lake Band on proposed land use changes.

Minnesota Forest Resources Council will provide $2,500 and Ten Mile Lake Association $1,000 toward a project to evaluate land parcels for their development suitability and timber resource management.

Also working on the model project will be Cass County Environmental Services Department and Mississippi Headwaters Board.

Pro-West of Walker will complete computer programming.