HACKENSACK - Cass Lake City council members think the city could save $112,000 if they close their police department and contract for law enforcement from Cass County Sheriff's Department.
Tuesday, the county board voted to negotiate a contract with Cass Lake for the sheriff to provide three full-time sheriff's deputies assigned to that city.
Mayor Wayne LaDuke said the police department has been over budget by a half-million dollars the last four years. The city would be looking at double-digit annual property tax levy increases each of the next 10 years to keep an independent police department, he said, adding that no one can afford such tax increases.
Sheriff Randy Fisher proposes to provide the three full-time deputies to replace the police force. Terms will be negotiated between the council, Fisher and a county board committee.
The commissioners voted to present a certificate of appreciation to the family of Richard Tappe, who recently died, for his years of service on the county's citizen budget committee and board of adjustment.
They appointed Gary Gould to succeed Tappe on the budget committee and board of adjustment. They also appointed Gary Siltman to succeed Merrill Nelson on the Pine River Area Sanitary District Board and reappointed Mike Nethercutt to the Cass County Housing and Redevelopment Board.
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