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Cass Lake fire chief outlines training gains and $5.4 million plan for new fire hall
Summary
Cass Lake Fire Chief Robert Jaspers told the Beltrami County board the volunteer department has increased training and is pursuing a new 1.64‑acre site and a roughly $5.4 million fire hall, with about $1 million already raised.
Cass Lake Fire Chief Robert Jaspers told the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners that the Cass Lake (Castle Lake) volunteer fire association is pursuing a new fire hall and has increased training and certification among volunteers.
Jaspers said the department has “really done a lot” to increase training and that “we certify them as firefighter 2,” reporting about 18 or 19 state‑licensed firefighters of a 24‑member roster. He said the association is working on a new fire hall because the current 4,000‑square‑foot station lacks separation between apparatus and living/administrative space and cannot store larger equipment or a ladder truck.
The department is negotiating a lease of about 1.64 acres from the Leech Lake Reservation near the Dairy Queen on Highway 2. Jaspers gave an estimated current project cost of about $5,400,000 based on architects’ and engineers’ figures and said the association has “a little over a million dollars stashed away already.” He described outreach to private foundations and congressional offices and said Enbridge was not listed for this project but that the Mardog and Nielsen foundations and other local funders had pledged support.
Commissioners discussed funding options, including bonds and whether a county or other member could act as fiscal host; several noted bonding would be complex because the association is a joint powers entity with multiple small taxing jurisdictions. Commissioner questions also covered whether Cass County or other partners could lead a bonding effort; Jaspers said the multiplicity of individual boards and limited township resources make grant and philanthropic funding the preferred route.
The department also described mutual‑aid arrangements with neighboring departments, an on‑going hazmat trailer stored offsite, community outreach (ice rescue training, career fair appearances, fire extinguisher training) and a multiyear fundraising effort led largely by Jaspers. Commissioners thanked him for the update and asked to be kept informed about potential ways the county can assist with financing or technical help.
Ending: The chief asked commissioners and staff to stay engaged as the association pursues grant funding and potential congressional support; he said the department will continue grant applications and local fundraising and will update the board as plans and funding evolve.
