Ruling goes against township
WALKER -- Cass County District Court Judge Jay D. Mondry has dismissed Inguadona Township's request for a share of back payment in lieu of tax funds the county received in a prior year.
Mondry ruled the township failed to meet the criteria for providing primary access to federal lands via township roads.
Very few township roads exist, Mondry found. He further noted the U.S. Forest Service reimburses the township for money Inguadona spent for fire protection on federal lands within the township.
Therefore, the township is not the primary service provider and did not have a right to require the county to share payment in lieu of tax receipts, Mondry ruled.
Sheriff Randy Fisher reported to the board he has named Dan Gardner as the third investigator and selected Verndale Police Chief Todd Wolter to fill a central Cass deputy vacancy.
He also reported participating in a five-month trial membership with Paul Bunyan Drug Task force will cost $13,560, about double the amount he initially anticipated. The board approved that additional expense.
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has found, after testing Cass County social services building in response to an employee complaint, that the building is in compliance with OSHA standards for levels of carbon monoxide and humidity in a building.
Probation Officer Reno Wells reported to the board the county collections officer has generated $97,254.86 in revenue from delinquent court ordered funds through June this year.
That compares with total collections of $155,409.15 last year and $108,084.64 in 1998.
Under an agreement signed by the city of Pine River Aug. 8, Cass County will provide individual sewer treatment system permitting services for the city.
Harold Harris VFW Post of Akeley donated $500 to the Cass County veterans transportation program.
County-appointed election judges will receive $8.06 per hour for their services this year.
The board reappointed Kuha to another four-year term as county assessor and named Richard Champagne of Verndale to fill an appraiser vacancy in that office.