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   WALKER—  County Engineer Darrick Anderson presented the 2025 annual Highway Department report to the Cass County Board Tuesday, June 2.

Anderson explained the department’s annual report is required by the state and includes extensive financial and maintenance data, while an accompanying memo summarizes the department’s accomplishments and activities throughout the year.

   The Highway Department saw the retirement of three longtime employees during 2025. Tom Sepin retired from the Longville shop after 28 years, Steve Keranen retired after 22 years serving as both an operator and engineering technician and John Kunkel retired from the Pine River shop after nine years. Together the three employees represented 59 years of service to the county. The department also welcomed three new employees including Caleb Strandlie, Lucas Kinnaman and Randy Hahn.

   Anderson highlighted several system-wide accomplishments completed during the year, including the completion of the countywide outreach and safety action plan. The previous plan was last updated in 2009 and the new plan identifies future roadway safety improvement projects and grant opportunities. Anderson noted the county has already seen benefits from the updated plan through new grant applications focused on roadway safety improvements.

   During 2025, the Highway Department processed 26 driveway applications for new approaches to county highways to ensure installations met county standards and included properly sized culverts. The department also reviewed and processed 80 utility permits within county rights-of-way, a number Anderson said has increased significantly due to fiber optic expansion projects throughout the county. Much of the work has been concentrated in the northern half of the county as contractors continue trenching fiber lines along county roads.

Anderson also reported the county’s Adopt-A-Highway program continues to be successful with 324 miles of roadway currently adopted and maintained by volunteers and community groups.

   Several large road and capital improvement projects were completed or advanced during the year. The County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 70 project was completed through coordination between the county, local governments and project partners. Planning also continued on CSAH 107 west of Margaret Lake, a Local Option Sales Tax funded project designed to improve roadway width, shoulders and safety along a corridor that has experienced increased residential development.

   The board’s support also allowed the department to open two new gravel pits located in Pine River and Walden townships. With the new pits operational, the county managed its own crushing operations and stockpiled approximately 121,000 tons of gravel for future road maintenance projects.

   Anderson informed the board the department pursued several grant opportunities during 2025.  It was also noted several bridge replacement projects also received funding during the year, with six bridge projects scheduled for construction this season through the county’s bridge replacement program. Additionally the Highway Department delivered approximately $10 million in county roadway improvements during 2025.

   In the maintenance division, highway staff continued assisting the Cass County Sheriff’s Office with vehicle outfitting and maintenance. During 2025 the department outfitted 11 squad vehicles including Tahoes, an F-150 and a jail transport van. Anderson noted the workload has become nearly a full-time responsibility for one mechanic. Highway crews also completed an in-ground hoist replacement project internally rather than hiring an outside contractor. Anderson credited department employees for taking on the project themselves, helping save county costs.

   Anderson mentioned the county responded to several severe weather events during the year, including the June 21 storm that qualified for FEMA disaster assistance. Anderson noted the repair work and FEMA reimbursement process requires extensive staff time and documentation.

   The Highway Department also continued its noxious weed control program using county equipment modified with herbicide sprayers and mixing tanks. Within the Leech Lake Reservation, crews instead utilized mowing operations to control wild parsnip growth during peak blooming periods.

   Crack sealing operations continued during the year as crews completed approximately 47 miles of roadway crack sealing, allowing the department to catch up on maintenance efforts for recently paved roads. Anderson also noted the county maintains approximately 45 miles of Forest Service roads and an additional 20 miles of township roads through maintenance agreements with neighboring jurisdictions and townships.

    In 2025, the total regular maintenance cost for County State Aid Highways was $3,838,437. Of that total, $3,388,484, or 88.28%, came from state aid funds. The remaining $449,953, or 11.72%, came from county funds. Anderson also shared Cass County received a total of $3,187,932 in Local Option Sales Tax during 2025 with $1,115,640 directly being used as property tax relief. Some projects completed during 2025 using LOST funds were CSAH 54 construction and County Road 116 grading and paving.

   For the complete Highway Department Annual Report go to www.co.cass.mn.us.

   In other highway business Tuesday the county board approved establishing a public hearing for the revocation of County Road 124, County Road 153, and a portion of CSAH 72 to Turtle Lake Township on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM in Turtle Lake Township, 3527 64th St NW, Walker.

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