Cass seeks to bury demolition debris of Ah-Gwah-Ching on southwest corner of property

PINE RIVER - Cass County hopes to bury wood, brick and concrete demolition debris from Ah-Gwah-Ching buildings on the southwest corner of the Ah-Gwah-Ching property.

Administrator Robert Yochum told the county board Tuesday this plan will be subject to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issuing a special demolition debris permit for the site and city of Walker approval.

He said there would be a 12- to 15-foot hole dug, with gravel removed from the hole to be used for nearby future road projects. This would save running about 1,000 loads of debris through the city of Walker to an existing community demolition debris site.

It also would prevent the county from being liable if there ever were found to be contaminants that someone else deposited in the community demolition debris site, Commissioner Bob Kangas noted.

The county has had a hazardous waste removal company remove all contaminants from Ah-Gwah-Ching buildings before demolition began.

The proposed location meets MPCA required setbacks from lakes and other existing uses, Yochum said.

If MPCA approves the plan, the county will save $70,000 in demolition costs, he said.

Yochum reported the state of Minnesota has lowered its asking price for the 55 acres the state retained at Ah-Gwah-Ching from $460,000 to $340,000 and continues to seek bidders.

The board Tuesday approved proceeding with designs and to seek quotes for a new lift station, to be part of the city of Walker sewer and water system expansion to service the Ah-Gwah-Ching property.

Chief Financial Officer Larry Wolfe reported negotiations are nearing completion to obtain easements from one private landowner, Tianna Golf Course and Walker School District for easements to widen the sewer line corridor between the city and Ah-Gwah-Ching to enable adding a new water service line.