Board authorizes purchase of 40-acre tract

WALKER - The Cass County Board authorized the land department Tuesday to purchase a 40-acre tract in May Township from Gary and Gene Tank on the condition they will provide an easement along another tract they own, giving the county and public permanent access to 359.6 acres of county-administered land.

The purchase is subject to approval from May Town Board. The access easement will be open the county land to loggers and recreational users.

Cass commissioners Tuesday approved a conservation easement for Gregory and Mary Johnson on 229 acres they own in Barclay Township between Lake Hattie and Little Sand Lake. The property includes about 7,600 feet of shoreline on the two lakes and the Pine River, according to Environmental Services Director John Sumption.

The forest-covered property will be maintained for low-impact recreational, wildlife habitat and potential forest product utilization.

Three additional single-family residential dwellings and related accessory buildings may be constructed in addition to the current house and accessory buildings on the property under the easement. In no case will any of those buildings be closer than 250 from either lake or the river.

Building and Grounds Superintendent Tom Emery obtained board approval to retrofit 12 fluorescent lights in the county law enforcement center and jail with new energy efficient installations and motion sensors, that will cost $14,700. Olson Electric was low bidder.

Emery said he expects the county to save $4,000 per year operations costs.

Auditor-Treasurer Sharon Anderson reported the county has received through November 174 percent of the anticipated interest income for this year. The county had budgeted for $950,000 interest income in 2007, but has earned so far $1,654,6838.35 on investing county funds.