WALKER-Cass County commissioners Tuesday set a public hearing to review changes proposed for the county's land use ordinance at the 6 p.m. regular meeting June 21 at the
Shingobee Town Hall, 7941 Townhall Road N, Walker.
Most of the changes focus on definitions and regulations for guest quarters and guest cottages. There is a new definition for "steep slope" and a proposal to allow horses as a domestic animal like cats and dogs on some lots.
There also are terms for maximum allowable building footprint.
The board recognized Probation Director Jim Schneider for his recent selection by the
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Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers as its Al Reker Distinguished Service
Award winner.
The award recognizes contributions made by an individual over a sustained period of time to
the field of probation. Cass probation office staff nominated him for the award.
No members of the public appeared to comment at either public hearing the board hosted
Tuesday. Following those hearings, the commissioners approved the five-year capital improvement plan for 2017 to 2021 and approved an off-sale intoxicating liquor license for Jake's Beach Grill, Gull Lake Jakes Inc., Nisswa. The business is in Fairview Township.
Kevin Lee of Longville Ambulance Service reported the service transported 55 patients to area hospitals the first quarter this year, up from 53 last year. The service broke even on expenditures and receipts for the quarter.
Advanced life support was available on every shift during the quarter.
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The commissioners authorized the Cass County Sheriff's Office to provide mutual aid to Hennepin County Sheriff's Department during that county's time hosting the national sheriff's conference later this month.
They approved an agreement to allow the auditor-treasurer's office to participate in any state
or federal recount needed for this fall's elections.
Auditor-Treasurer Sharon Anderson obtained board approval to lease a new mail processing
machine, which will lower the county's monthly lease costs from $587 per month to $423.
The new machine also has capabilities to process mail to meet U.S. Postal Service
requirements that will lower the county's priority mail rates by 13 percent and first class parcels
by 40 percent, Anderson reported.
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Health, Human and Veterans Services spent 28.25 percent of that budget during the first 33
percent of the year. The county share of out-of-home child placement costs, however, ran 35
percent of budget projections.
Through April this year, the county spent $2,483,710 for child placements, with $2,215,710
of that coming from local tax dollars. There were 108 children placed in emergency shelters,
group homes, foster homes or correctional facilities in April.
The commissioners increased public health charges for skilled nursing services from $170 to
$175 per home visit and physical therapy charges from $170 to $180 per visit, effective Aug. 1.
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They wrote off $5,843.92 debt owed to social services and $49.53 owed to public health due
to the fact the people who owed the money are now deceased.
The board designated Central Minnesota Housing Partnership to administer a Rental
Rehabilitation Deferred Loan program in Cass County.
