Board of Canvass Meeting 3.8.16
The Board of Canvass was called to order by Neil Franz at 8:25 pm following the counting of ballots in the 2016 Township Election.
The votes were as follows:
For Supervisor for a three year term:
Neil Franz 75
Dave Robertson 136
Vernon Willenbring made a motion to declare Dave Robertson the winner of the Supervisor position, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
For Clerk for a two year term:
Judy Bruemmer 203
Write-ins 2
Dan Stommes made a motion to declare Judy Bruemmer the winner of the Clerk position, Vernon Willenbring seconded. All I favor, motion carried.
A total of 212 ballots were cast in the Election.
At 8:30 pm, Vernon Willenbring made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Official Minutes 3.1.16
The March monthly meeting was called to order by Neil Franz at 4:05 pm. The flag pledge was said. All members were present. Also present were Roger Mergen, Dale Lange, Mike Schleper and Stephanie Jacobs.
The February minutes were read. Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Vernon Willenbring seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
***the monthly meeting was held at an earlier time due to Precinct Caucuses***
Duane Janssen gave a financial report stating that the checkbook balance was $260,234.77.
RE: Mergen issue – Roger Mergen asked about the damage deposit he had made on his project along Mahogany Road. Discussion was held. Supervisors stated that they wanted to hold on to the deposit until Spring in case some issues came up after the thaw.
RE: Jacobs driveway – Stephanie Jacobs asked if she needed a permit to put an extension on her property’s driveway. Discussion was held. Supervisors will check with the zoning administrator and let her know.
RE: Farming Athletic Association Liquor License – Mike Schleper was present to ask the Town Board to approve the Association’s application for an On-Sale 3.2% Malt Liquor License from April 16, 2016 thru October 15, 2016. Discussion was held. Vernon Willenbring made a motion to approve the application, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried. Mike Schleper also gave a short report on the lighting project for the baseball field.
RE: Re-Organization Meeting – It was decided to have the Re-organization meeting on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 8:00 pm.
RE: Board of Equalization Meeting – Discussion was held. Since the meeting will be held on the same day as the April monthly meeting it was decided to do the Road Tour following the meeting, weather permitting, and have the monthly meeting at the regular time that evening.
RE: Gravel Quotes – Supervisors reported that gravel specs have been checked out and they will pass them on to contractors and plan on opening gravel quotes at the April meeting.
RE: Albany School District – Dan Stommes gave a short report on the Fifth Monday Board Meeting. The 2 year Construction plan was presented, the Board meetings were changed to the third Wed of the month and an intern training program will begin at the school.
The following warrants were examined, verified and ordered paid:
6419 Neil Franz supervisor wages $ 277.05
6420 Vernon Willenbring supervisor wages 387.88
6421 Daniel Stommes supervisor wages 332.46
6422 Duane Janssen treasurer wages 484.84
6423 City of St. Martin fire protection 2015 4590.26
6424 COL Fire & Rescue Qtr 1 2016 fire protection 1243.09
6425 Judy Bruemmer reimb. mileage/postage/supplies 190.42
6426 Stearns Electric monthly electric bill 64.93
6427 Judy Bruemmer clerk wages 637.21
6428 City of Albany fire prot./equip fund 14623.00
6429 Sunny Brook Ent. Snowplowing 1615.00
Total $ 24,446.14
Year-to-date Total $ 38,729.56
At 5:00 pm, Dan Stommes made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Vernon Willenbring seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Official Minutes 2.2.16
The February monthly board meeting of Farming Township was called to order by Neil Franz at 8:00 pm. The flag pledge was said. All members were present. Also present were Dewey Klaphake, Dave Robertson and Brian Brix.
The January minutes were read. One correction was made – two check numbers were incorrect. Vernon Willenbring made a motion to accept the minutes with the correction, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Duane Janssen gave a financial report stating that the checking balance was $242,865.28.
RE: St. Martin Fire Department Meeting – A report was given concerning the special meeting. It concerned updating of the communication structure of the fire department. It was approved.
Vernon Willenbring made a motion to recess the monthly meeting in order to hold the Board of Audit Meeting and the Budget Meeting at 8:15 pm, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Board of Audit Meeting 2.2.16
The Board of Audit Meeting was called to order by Neil Franz at 8:16 pm. The Clerk and Treasurer presented their report. Discussion was held. It was decided to use a simpler list of receipts and disbursements for the Annual Meeting Report. Several copies of the CTAS Ledger report will be made available for residents to look over. Vernon Willenbring made a motion to accept the report as presented, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried. At 8:30 pm, Vernon Willenbring made a motion to adjourn the Board of Audit Meeting, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Budget Meeting 2.2.16
The Budget Meeting was called to order by Neil Franz at 8:31 pm. Discussion was held. The budget was gone over and amounts were set. Dan Stommes made a motion to approve the proposed budget for 2017, Vernon Willenbring seconded. All in favor, motion carried. At 9:16 pm, Vernon Willenbring made a motion to adjourn the Budget Meeting, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

The February monthly meeting was called back to order at 9:17 pm by Neil Franz.
RE: Township Election – The Clerk stated that Joyce Wimmer would be head election judge and Linda Theisen and Victor Kotten would be judges. Joyce Wimmer and Linda Theisen would be on the Absentee Ballot Board. Vernon Willenbring made a motion to accept the list of judges, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
RE: Zoning – Neil Franz reported on a communication received from Stearns County concerning zoning changes for road specs. Discussion was held.
RE: COL Fire District – Vernon Willenbring reported that the Fire District had received a grant for equipment purchases.
RE: MAT Resolutions – MN Association of Townships had presented a resolution concerning the ‘Revocation of County Highways to Townships’ that they were asking Farming Township to support. Discussion was held. Vernon Willenbring made a motion to endorse the resolution, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
RE: Zoning Permit Fees – Dewey Klaphake questioned the rates for permits for the Township. Discussion was held. It was decided to table it until the Reorganization Meeting.
The following warrants were examined, verified and ordered paid:
6415 Stearns Electric monthly electric bill $ 64.93
6416 Sunny Brook Ent Inc snowplowing 1955.00
6417 MATIT insurance 1495.00
6418 Stearns Cty Assn of Twps county/state dues 1029.96
Total $ 4584.89
Year-to-date Total $ 14,283.42
At 9:40 pm, Vernon Willenbring made a motion to adjourn the monthly meeting, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried

Official Minutes 1.5.16
The January monthly meeting of the Farming Township Board was called to order by Dan Stommes at 8:00 pm. The flag pledge was said. Present were Dan Stommes, Vernon Willenbring, Duane Janssen and Judy Bruemmer. Neil Franz was absent. Also present were Brian Brix, Dave Robertson, Dale Lange and Marlene Statz.
The December minutes were read. There was one correction: the surcharge for snowplowing when diesel goes above $4/gallon is $5 per hour. Vernon Willenbring made a motion to accept the minutes with the correction, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Duane Janssen gave a financial report.
RE: Gambling License for Lions Club Raffle – Marlene Statz asked the Board to approve the application. Discussion was held. Vernon Willenbring made a motion to sign and approve the application, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
RE: Rau dustcoating bill – Vernon Willenbring reported that he contacted Mr. Rau and to go ahead and cash the check.
RE: Roger Mergen project – Discussion was held. It was decided to hold the damage deposit check until Spring.
RE: Ken Hamann driveway complaint – Vernon Willenbring reported that he checked it out and he notified Mr. Hamann that it was not the Township’s responsibility.
RE: COL Fire District – Vernon Willenbring gave a short report on the Fire District.
RE: Voting Booths – Judy Bruemmer asked the Board if they wanted to get different or additional voting booths. Discussion was held. It was decided to table the matter until the February meeting.
RE: Board of Audit Meeting and Budget Meeting – Discussion was held. It was decided to hold the meetings at the February meeting.
The following warrants were examined, verified and ordered paid:
6408 Farming Community Center annual rent $ 1995.00
6409 US Treasury medicare/soc.security 343.48
6410 Stearns Electric monthly electric bill 64.93
6411 Star Publication newspaper ads 48.30
6412 Lange Trenching blading 1555.64
6413 COL Fire & Rescue District ’15 Qtr 4 fire protection 1236.18
6414 Sunny Brook Ent. Inc. snowplowing 4455.00
Total $ 9,698.53
Year-to-date Total $ 9,698.53
At 8:35 pm Vernon Willenbring made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.