The May Monthly Meeting of the Farming Township Board was called to order by Dan Stommes at 8:00 pm. The flag pledge was said. All members were present. Also present were Tom Winkels, Dewey Klaphake, Duane Janssen, Math Schmitz, Nick Korn, and Mike Williams, Stearns County Administrator
The April minutes were read, Jason Willenbring made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Ben Mergen seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Robyn Brinkman gave a treasurer’s report with $586,494.39 in checking, money market and one operating CD and $1,483,049.28 in tarring fund CDs for a total of $2,069,543.67.
Mike Williams, Stearns County Administrator was present to discuss and review the number of township residents that were served with the Border-to-Border broad band project. The township had committed and paid $40,000 to this project with the ARPA funds that were received from COVID money. There were about 100 residents that got served thru this program. After discussion, Mike will go back to his office to review and determine if the township needs to pay any more money to the county for this project.
Nick Korn was present to request a rezoning application. Nick would like to rezone parcel 10.06499.0000 which is titled in the Nicholas J Korn Rev Trust and is zoned a A-40 and he would like to rezone this to a R-5. Discussion was held. Ben Mergen made a motion to approve this request to rezone parcel 10.06499.0000 from a A-40 to R-5. Jason Willenbring seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Duane Janssen was present with a liquor license application for Stephanie Jacobs of SLJ LLC for the sale of On/Off sale intoxicating liquor at Trappers Pub and Grub in the town of Farming. Discussion was held. Jason Willenbring made a motion to approve the liquor license application for Stephanie Jacobs of SLJ LLC to sell on/off sale of intoxicating liquor at Trappers Pub and Grub in Farming, Ben Mergen seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Dust Control; Crow River Construction presented a bid of $1.93/gallon of 38% calcium chloride solution, Central Minnesota Dust Control presented a bid of .73/foot for dust control. Discussion was held. Ben Mergen made a motion to approve the bid from Central Minnesota Dust Control for dust control of .73/foot, Jason Willenbring seconded it, all in favor, motion carried. A map was done up which will be given to Gary Hemmesch and Central Minnesota Dust Control to coordinate schedules to get this done.
Cutting Road Ditches: Math Schmitz presented a bid to cut road ditches in 2025 of $100/hour plus fuel (using between 1-2 gallons/hour) using a 70HP tractor with an 8-foot disc mower. There were no other bids. Discussion was held. Jason Willenbring made a motion to approve the bid for Math Schmitz to cut road ditches of $100/hour plus fuel (using between 1-2 gallons/hour) using a 70HP tractor with an 8-foot disc mower. Ben Mergen seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Returning to in person voting in 2026, Dan Stommes and Linda Theisen both signed resolution 5-6-25 to revoke mail balloting. Linda will forward this information to the County.
Ben Mergen will be placing flags on the cemetery for our fallen veterans.
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid:
7394 Star Post Legal Notice $47.00
7395 Stearns County Auditor Truth in Taxation $241.00
7396 Sunnybrook Plowing roads $612.50
7397 MN Assoc Township Short Course Robyn/Dan $150.00
7398 Dewey Klaphake Go Daddy website $1424.40
7399 Hemmesch Excavating Blading $2827.20
7400 Chain of Lakes Fire Protection $1721.08
ACH Stearns Electric Monthly Bill $65.31
ACH Arvig Monthly Bill 78.95
Total $ 7,167.44
Year-to-date Total $ 57,748.42
At 9:25 pm Jason Willenbring made a motion to adjorn the meeting, Ben Mergen seconded. All in favor, motion carried