By MaryHelen Swanson

With 75 percent of the year gone at the end of September, Chisago County had spent 62 percent of its 2006 levy or $14,738,852.

This was the conclusion of the third quarter report by county treasurer Lee Olson at the Nov. 15 county board meeting.

Olson noted that the Heartland Express, the two-county transit system, has seen substantially higher personnel costs than budgeted, as well as increases for mileage for volunteer drivers, gas, oil and repairs.

And, with new housing starts down, Environmental Services is showing that permit fee income is down considerably from budgeted amounts. However, expenses for personnel and professional and technical services are also below budget due to the slow housing starts.

Olson also reported that interest income has been higher than budgeted due to higher interest rates and bond money invested but not yet spent.

In other business, at a rather brief county board meeting,

'Ģ The commissioners accepted the planning commission's recommendation to deny QTI Holdings' preliminary plat of Anchor Estates, which had been referred back to the planning commission by the board Oct. 18. The denial was for failure to meet the minimum requirements for a subdivision. There were four findings for the denial.

'Ģ Jim Halstrom was re-appointed Chisago County Veteran's Service Officer for another four years.

'Ģ The board accepted a proposal with Northern Technologies Inc., for soil testing services on two pieces of property being considered as potential sites for a new county jail. Cost of this service is $3,000.

'Ģ Approved replacement of the squad car which had been in an accident with a horse.