The March 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 was Adam Brix, Dan Rea and Cole Thoma Stearns County Deputy.
The February minutes were read. Jason Willenbring made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Ben Mergen seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Duane Janssen gave a financial report with $562,273.97in the checking account.
RE: Cole Thoma from Stearns County Sheriffs Department gave a report for the month of January 2023, there were 13 calls in the township.
Dan Rea was present to request a 3.2 liquor license for the Farming Athletic Association for 2023, discussion was held. Jason Willenbring made a motion to approve the liquor license for 2023. Ben Mergen seconded, all in favor, motion carried.
Linda Theisen gave each board member a packet of information to review before the annual meeting, It was noted that John(Jack) Wimmer should be removed from the Zoning Board, and that a replacement will need to be found. Discussion was held regarding the budget. Jason Willenbring made a motion to change the budget to $324,000 which includes $100,000 to going into the tarring fund, instead of having the tarring fund a separate item in the budget. Ben Mergen seconded, all in favor, motion carried.
Jason Willenbring gave a report from the St. Martin Fire Department, they approved their budget, they got a FEMA grant and will be getting a new compressor.
Dan Stommes, gave a report from the Albany Fire Department, nothing new
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid
7184 Sunnybrook Enterprise Plow/Sand/Salt $5,990.00
7185 City of Albany Fire Proctection $16,517.00
7186 Jason Willenbring Supervisor Wages $484.84
7187 Ben Mergen Supervisor Wages $207.79
7188 Dan Stommes Supervisor Wages $346.31
7189 Arvig Monthly internet $78.95
7190 Linda Theisen computer time/supplies $104.93
7191 Stearns Electric Monthly electric $65.08
7192 Dewey Klaphake Planning & Zoning wages $69.26
7193 Linda Theisen Clerk Wages $761.89
7194 Duane Janssen Treasurer Wages $484.84
TOTAL $35,353.54
Year to date total $60,464.43
At 9:25pm Ben Mergen made a motion to adjourn, Jason Willenbring, seconded it, all in favor, motion carried

The February 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 was Adam Brix
The January minutes were read. Jason Willenbring made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Ben Mergen seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Duane Janssen gave a financial report with $537,378.06 in the checking account.
RE: Linda Theisen gave a follow up for the cost of a new computer, it would cost about $1100.00 it was decided that we would wait with getting a new computer at this time.
Duane Janssen will follow up with Stearns Bank regarding interest rates on CD’s current rate is 3.79%, currently if a CD is cashed in before the maturity date we would lose 6 months of interest.
Adam Brix will also check with Bank of the West what their interest rates would be.
A request from Hillebrandt Trucking was presented for permission to drive on gravel roads during road restrictions for hauling and pick up of rendering. Discussion was held. Jason Willenbring made a motion to approve the request, Ben Mergen seconded it, All In favor, Motion carried
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid
7175 Arvig Monthly Bill $ 78.95
7176 Total Agri-Business Preparing w2’s and 1099’s $ 144.00
7177 City of St. Martin Fire Protections $ 7680.01
7178 Sunny Brook Ent Plow/Sand/Salt $10,265.00
7179 Chain of Lakes Fire 1st Quarter Fire Protection $ 2051.45
7180 Star Publications Legal Notice $42.00
7181 Stearns Electric Monthly Bill $ 65.08
7182 Stearns County Assn Townships Dues $ 1028.70
7183 Farming Community Center Yearly rent $3500.00
TOTAL $24,855.19
Year to date total $35,353.54

At 9:15 Jason Willenbring made a motion to recess the monthly meeting to hold the board of Audit and Budget meetings, Ben Mergen seconded it . All in favor motion carried
Unofficial Minutes of the Board of Audit Meeting 2.7.2023
Dan Stommes call the Board of Audit Meeting to order at 9:15pm
The Clerk and Treasurer met on Tuesday January 31,2023 to reconcile their records. The supervisors reviewed the report. Discussion was held. Jason Willenbring made a motion to accept the report as presented. Ben Mergen seconded it. All in favor motion carried.

Official Minutes of the Budget Meeting 2.7.23
Dan Stommes called the Budget meeting to order at 9:20 pm
The Board reviewed the budget information and expenses from the previous year and set the budget to propose at the annual meeting at $224,000. With $100,000 from the budget being put into the tarring fund. Ben Mergen made a motion to accept the proposed amounts. Jason Willenbring seconded it, All in favor, motion carried.

The February monthly meeting was called back to order by Dan Stommes at 9:25pm
Township Election- Discussion was held. Jason Willenbring made a motion to appoint Linda Theisen as head judge with Vic Kotten and Anne Smith-Bleichner as judges and to appoint Linda Theisen and Vic Kotten to the Absentee Ballot Board. Ben Mergen seconded it. All in favor, motion carried
Jason Willenbring made a motion to use Tuesday March 28th as the 3rd alternate date for Township election, Ben Mergen seconded it, All in favor, motion carried.
Duane Janssen stated that there was an article in The Township Report stating that township should define what duties are expected of the Deputy Clerk and Treasurer and what their pay should be. This is something to be looked into, in the future
At 9:35 Ben Mergen made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Jason Willenbring seconded it, all in favor, motion carried

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. All members were present.
The December minutes were read. Jason Willenbring made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Ben Mergen seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Duane Janssen gave a financial report with $691,987.88 in the checking account. This includes ARPA money.
Discussion was held regarding the current rate of interest the township is receiving on the CD’s. Duane Janssen will check with the bank if they have a Money Market that would pay more interest.
Jason Willenbring gave a report from the Chain of Lakes Fire Department. They will be getting a new grass rig. They increased their budget by $10,000. Farming Township will pay a percentage based on the number of calls that were to Farming Township.
Discussion was held regarding getting a new computer. Linda Theisen will check into that and report at the next meeting

The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid
7170 Stearns Electric Monthly Bill 65.08
7171 Postmaster Roll Stamps 60.00
7172 Arvig Monthly Bill 78.95
7173 Sunny Brook Ent Snow plow and Sand 9850.00
7174 United States Treasury 4th Quarter Payroll tax 444.32

Total $ 10498.35
Year-to-date Total $ 10498.35
At 8:50 Ben Mergen made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Jason Willenbring seconded. All in favor, motion carried.