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BACKUS -- Cass County Environmental Services Department issued 93 more land use permits the first three quarters of 2019 than in 2018, for a 7.45% increase.

Total permit revenue received was up 11.18%.

That included 56 more permits for new buildings and septic systems and 49 more permits for shoreland alterations. The highest numbers of land use permits by township for buildings and septic systems were 31 in Sylvan and 25 each in Ponto Lake and Woodrow.

Environmental Services Director John Ringle obtained county board approval Tuesday, Oct. 15, to hire Martin Mechanical Design of Fargo, North Dakota, for $800 to design improvements needed at the county garbage and recycling transfer station north of Pine River.

Martin will review possible improvement projects for future work to bring the county into compliance with mechanical and safety code requirements.

Any construction support or administrative services after the initial inspection and design will be charged at an hourly rate.

The county board approved paying $298,511.24 to Cass County Soil and Water Conservation District for expenses incurred from May 6 through Oct. 3 for the county's aquatic invasive species prevention program.

Much of the cost was for inspectors to monitor boat launching sites to check boats and trailers for aquatic invasive species and to check for compliance with state regulations.

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