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   MAY TOWNSHIP — With the longer days, and hopefully nicer weather coming, it is time for the county commissioners to  begin their annual “Road Show” tour. The first stop for the season was at May Township hall Tuesday, May 19. With a public hearing on the agenda, it was standing room only in the town hall.

   Board Chair Bob Kangas opened the public hearing shortly after 6 p.m. with County Highway Engineer Darrick Anderson, stating the hearing was being held to consider the revocation of County Roads 102 and 104 to May Township. It was shared back in 2024 a study was conducted on all township and county roads to determine if they were used by local traffic only or as a collector route. It was determined the two roads in question were local used roads due the close proximity of County State Aid Highway 35, therefore Anderson stated both CR 102 and 104 should be revocated back to May Township. 

   Kangas asked how many miles would be revocated, where Anderson stated CR 102 is approximately 8.8 miles and CR 104 is 2 miles. It was also mentioned with the revocation May Township would receive approximately an additional $4,000 per year in Gas Tax from the State of Minnesota based on the miles of road revocated. However a resident of May Township mentioned that would not cover the additional costs the township will incur from taking over the maintenance of the roads. Anderson also shared the roads would be revocated immediately if the board approved the revocation, however due to state statues the county will maintain the roads for a period of two years and bring the roads up to the standards of the township. 

   After hearing concerns from all citizens in attendance the public hearing was closed and after a brief discussion a motion and second was made to revocate the above mentioned roads. The motion passed unanimously.

   Anderson then requested a motion be made to approve a joint powers agreement for the revocation of the above said roads with some additional requests from May Township supervisors. Those additions include additional gravel be added to bring the road up to township standards and to continue to pothole patch and maintain CR 104 until the road is repaved in approximately 2031. A motion was made, seconded and approved unanimously.

   The board approved the submission of a Local Partnership Program Grant application for intersection improvements at Trunk Highway 64 and County State Aid Highway 34. Commissioners also approved the purchase of two batwing mowers from Trueman Welters at an estimated cost of $53,600 each and accepted $523,949 in Local Bridge Replacement Program funds for the County State Aid Highway 1 bridge replacement project.

   The board also adopted a resolution approving the SS4A Grant application for roundabouts and trail underpasses on County State Aid Highway 77 at County State Aid Highway 18 and County State Aid Highway 70.

   The final item Highway Engineer John Anderson brought before the board was a request to adopt a resolution approving a Minnesota Department of Transportation agreement for the planned culvert replacement project on County State Aid Highway 11. The agreement would provide additional funding to enhance the project from a standard culvert replacement to a box culvert installation. A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously.

   County Attorney Ben Lindstrom came before the board with information regarding the county’s policy in regards to employee’s declaring candidacy for an elected office. It was recently brought to Lindstrom’s attention Deputy Aaron Ammerman was declaring his candidacy for Cass County Sheriff in the next election.  As per county policy employees who choose to run for an elected office must notify the County Board in writing and if the County Board determines the employee’s campaign interferes with normal department operations, the employee may be required to take a leave of absence while running for office.

   Lindstrom felt this information needed to be brought to the Board’s attention to make a decision on whether to place Deputy Ammerman on a personal leave of absence. Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk thanked Lindstrom for bringing this before the board, but stated he did not feel the board needed to take action at this time. 

   Gaalswyk also mentioned Sheriff Bryan Welk will make sure no wrong doing is happening in the department and if so he can take appropriate action. 

   Therefore, a motion was made thanking Lindstrom for bringing this to the boards attention. No action was taken.

   In other business, the county board: 

   • Approved designating elected officials as employees for the purpose of public data under Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

   • Approved establishing the withholding percentages for reforestation and trails to decrease to 10%.

   The next meetings are as follows: Annual Planning Work Session, 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 27 at the Land Department Meeting Room in Backus; commissioner’s board meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 2 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker and AMC District 2 Meeting, 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 3 at Beltrami County Board Room, 701 Minnesota Ave NW, Ste 102, Bemidji.

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