BACKUS - Cass County property sales and new zoning permits were up and foreclosures down through the third quarter of 2015, compared with 2014.
The assessor's office reported 718 arms-length property sales through September this year,
compared with 588 in 2014.
The 12 third-quarter mortgage foreclosures recorded were nearly half the 21 recorded in 2014. Nine seasonal recreational properties went into foreclosure both years, but the number of
homesteaded properties foreclosed dropped from nine in 2014 to three this year in the third quarter.
ADVERTISEMENT
Two of the 12 were located on lakes. Estimated market value for one was $439,700. Another was valued at $275,800. All the rest ranged between $43,000 and $124,000.
Environmental Services Department reported issuing 779 permits for new buildings and septic systems through September this year, compared with 694 last year. Variances have been approved for 79 applicants in 2015, compared with 60 in 2014.
As the number of permits issued has risen, so too has the department's income from permits
issued this year.
Shoreland alteration permits have been issued to 289 applicants through September this year,
compared with 126 applicants in 2014.
Only the number of conditional use permits declined through September, dropping from 21
in 2014 to 18 this year. One new plat has been approved each year. There have been no new minor subdivisions approved either year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Environmental Services Department Director John Ringle told the county board Tuesday zoning permit numbers this year are approaching the number the county issued in 2005 and 2006 peak years and before the recession.
The largest number of new building and sewer system permits were issued in Shingobee
Township by Walker (19), followed by the townships of Woodrow and Birch Lake by Hackensack (18 each), Sylvan by Pillager (17), Crooked Lake by Outing and Ponto Lake by Backus (16 each) and Fairview by East Gull Lake and Wabedo by Longville (12 each).
Ringle said his department has received and increased number of complaints about zoning violations this month as people can see what their neighbors have been doing to their properties this summer now that leaves are off the trees.
He said his department did not complete any junk abatement projects in the third quarter, but is in the process of doing a few before the end of the year.
