Commissioners approve spending $60,000 to refurbish county jail

WALKER -- The Cass County Board Tuesday approved spending up to $60,000 to refurbish the existing county jail at Walker, with multiple quotes to be sought for various phases of the project.

Improvements include repainting many areas, replacing and sealing with a rubber mat showers that have leaked into storage areas below, and replacing chipped and worn floor tile.

In other news, the board:

Approved a first reading and will hold a second reading at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 at Leader Town Hall before adopting changes to the Countywide Land Use Ordinance. The amendments call for allowing larger storage buildings on residential lots, with an overall height limit of 24 feet on shoreline lots and 30 feet on offshore lots.

The amendments cite specific activities and collection of inoperable equipment and items, which will constitute a public nuisance. The public nuisance section also refers to hazardous products or emissions and deteriorated buildings.

For a detailed copy of the proposed changes, contact Environmental Services Department at (218) 547-7241 or check the county Web site at www.co.cass.mn.us.

Will offer for sale the former May Township Transfer Station building and an abandoned pole building adjacent to Wilderness Park on tax-forfeited land. Both buildings must be moved from the present locations when sold.

Reported Tuesday each appointed county department head was found to meet the performance expectations for their position and that they will be reappointed following an August closed meeting.

This includes Assessor Steve Kuha; Building and Grounds Supervisor Tom Emery; County Engineer David Enblom; Management Information Systems Director Tim Richardson; Health, Human and Veterans Services Director Dorothy Opheim; Land Commissioner Norm Moody; Environmental Services Director Paul Fairbanks; and Administrator Robert Yochum.

Authorized Yochum to make arrangements to permit two new church congregations to meet in Cass County government buildings Sunday mornings after he resolves any potential liability issues for the county when people are attending a non-county function in a county building. One congregation wants to meet in Pine River, the other in Walker.

Approved a resolution asking the Association of Minnesota Counties to take a legislative position requesting that the state permit counties to participate in deciding any changes to agreements with Minnesota Indian Tribes concerning tribal gaming operations.

Approved Judd's West Winnie plat. It subdivides the former Judd's Resort on Lake Winnibigoshish.

Reported Cass County's cost to lease tower space and locate sheriff's department equipment at the Leech Lake Television Corp. communications tower north of Walker will increase after many years at $450 per month to $772.25 per month for 2004.