DNR gets help spreading message on trail riding ban

The Crow Wing County Board Tuesday agreed to help get the word out regarding the DNR ban on recreational off-highway vehicle riding on DNR forest trails.

The DNR ban, from Nov. 8-23, is designed to keep people safe during the deer hunting season and minimize potential conflicts between deer hunters and recreational riders.

In other business, the board:

Approved offering a lease and utilities buyout to Morrison and Aitkin counties for the former Central Minnesota Community Corrections Juvenile Detention Center. The lease buyout for Morrison County is $168,550.77 and for Aitkin County is $134,840.62.

Facility shutdown costs for all three counties as of Oct. 1 are expected to be $757,615.71.

Awarded the bid for the county board room remodeling project to low bidder MG Carlson Construction for a base bid of $71,500. With furniture and equipment and technology, the board approved a total project budget of $150,000. Houle said he expects the project to be less than the budgeted amount.

Heard from newly hired Chris Pence, land services supervisor for planning and zoning permitting operations. He has extensive experience in managing a site-based permitting process, which the county is implementing where officials will conduct on-site reviews before issuing land use permits. Pence said he thinks residents will be happy with the program.

"I think very quickly you'll see appreciation from the residents of Crow Wing County with the customer service level," Pence said. "We are going to raise it to a level of excellence and nothing else."

Met in closed session for labor negotiations.

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.