Minutes January 2,2024
The January Monthly Meeting of the Farming Township Board was called to order by Jason Willenbring at 8:00 pm. The
flag pledge was said. All members were present.
The December minutes were read. Ben Mergen made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Dan Stommes seconded.
All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Adam Brix gave a financial report with $599,294.46 in the checking, Money Market and one CD. Tarring fund
CD’s of $1,237,144.26 for a total of $1,836,438.72.
Dan Stommes made a motion to move $100,000.00 from the Money Market into a 6 month CD, Ben Mergen seconded
it, all in favor, motion carried.
Jason Willenbring gave a report from the Chain of Lakes Fire Department. Their budget will remain about the same as
last year.
Discussion was held regarding election judges. After checking with the County, it is OK for Linda Theisen to be an
election judge, even if her name is on the ballot, the only suggestion was that she not handle the ballots. The board was
OK with this. Linda Theisen will check with Victor Kotten and Anne Smith-Bleichner to see if they will both be available
for the March election, if not another judge will need to be found and trained in before the March election.
Discussion was held regarding of moving the township election to November, the board feels that there would be less
turn out at the annual meeting in March if this is done. Discussion was also held regarding the option of going back to in
person voting. There is the option of residents going to St. Cloud if they want to vote in person, or drop off their ballot
in St. Cloud if they don’t trust the mail. There is higher percentage of voters, voting by mail in ballot, than there was
when it was in person voting, and the board fees this is best for the township at this time.
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid
ACH Stearns Electric Monthly Bill 57.85
ACH Arvig Monthly Bill 78.95
7271 Sunnybrook Ent Monthly guarantee 1000.00
7272 M-R Signs 911 sign and posts 433.11
7273 United States Treasury 4 th quarter payroll tax 532.60
7274 MATIT Work Comp Ins 405.00
7275 Farming Comm Center Annual Rent 4000.00
7276 Community Tech Computer 975.00

Total $ 7,482.51
Year-to-date Total $ 7,482.51

At 9:00Ben Mergen made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

The May Monthly Meeting of the Farming Township Board was called to order by Jason Willenbring at 8:00 pm. The flag pledge was said. All members were present. Also present were. Matt Schmitz ,Daniel VanderBeck, John VanderBeek Jr, Duane Janssen, Dale Lange and Cole Thoma from the Stearns County Sheriffs Department.
The April minutes were read, Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the minutes as read with correcting the minutes to say, recessed the April meeting until April 18 for the road tour, Ben Mergen seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Adam Brix gave a financial report with $553,359.49 in the checking and money market accounts.
Cole Thoma gave a report of 26 calls in the month of February and 15 calls in March in Farming Township.
Matt Schmitz gave a bid for Road Ditch cutting for 2023, of $90/hour plus fuel. Discussion was held, there were no other bids Dan Stommes made a motion to approve the bid of $90/hour plus fuel for road ditch cutting, Ben Mergen seconded, all in favor, motion carried. Road ditch cutting will start about June 13, 2023.
Dale Lange from Lange Trenching Inc. presented a bid for Class 2, packed and bladed one time of $25.25/ton. Discussion was held. There were no other bids. Dan Stommes made a motion of accept the bid for Class 2, packed and bladed one time of $25.25/ton, Ben Mergen seconded, all in favor, motion carried.
Dale Lange from Lange Trenching Inc.presented a bid for Class 5 spread and bladed one time for $15.48/CY, discussion was held. There were no other bids.Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the bid for Class 5, spread and bladed one time for $15.48/CY, Ben Mergen seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Dale Lange from Lange Trenching Inc. presented a bid for blading township roads of $57/mile, discussion was held, there were no other bids. Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the bid for blading township roads of $57/mile, Ben Mergen seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Central Minnesota Dust Control had sent in a bid for dust control of .68/foot. Discussion was held, there were no other bids for dust control. Ben Mergen made a motion to accept the bid of .68/foot for dust control, Dan Stommes seconded it , all in favor, motion carried.
John and Daniel VanderBeek from Paynesville Soil Service was present to give a bid for weed control for the township roads. There are different prices for various chemicals, Spraying per hour is $95/hour. Discussion was held, a map will be provided to them at a future date. Ben will work with them to start with some of the trouble spots. There were no other bids for weed control. Ben Mergen made a motion to accept the bid for weed control from Paynesville Soil Service, Dan Stommes seconed, all in favor, motion carried.
Steph Jacobs had a request for a liquor license for Trappers Pub and Grub. Dan Stommes made a motion to approve the liquor license, Ben Mergen seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Regarding deputy treasurer, discussion was held, Dan Stommes made a motion to appoint Duane Janssen as deputy treasurer, Ben Mergen seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Regarding deputy clerk, discussion was held. Dan Stommes made a motion to appoint Judy Bruemmer as deputy clerk, Ben Mergen seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Other issues that need addressing are:
Dan will let the county know of the issues at the intersection of 290th and County road 9
Reflectors need to be placed by the culverts
Jason will let Dale know which roads will have the shoulders being pulled in.

The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid:
7205 Arvig Monthly bill $ 78.95
7206 Star Post Legal notices $71.28
7207 Chain of Lakes 2nd Qtr Fire Protection $2051.45
7208 Stearns Electric Monthly Bill $65.08
7209 M&R Sign 911 and road sign $102.75
7210 Lange Trenching Blading, repair and snow removal $11556.94

Total $ 13926.45
Year-to-date Total $ 79991.53
At 10:10 pm Dan Stommes made a motion to adjourn, Ben Mergen seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

The October Monthly Meeting of the Farming Township Board was called to order in the FCC Board Room by Jason Willenbring at 8:00 pm. The flag pledge was said. All members were present. Also present were Dewey Klaphake, Shane Bartels and Dale Lange. The meeting was held using social distancing and Covid 19 recommendations.
The September minutes were read. Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Dave Robertson seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Duane Janssen gave a financial report with $465,446.17 in the checking account.
RE: Gambling Permit – Shane Bartels presented a request to approve an application for a gambling permit for the Richmond Rod and Gun Club. Discussion was held. Dan Stommes made a motion to sign the application, Dave Robertson seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
RE: Freeport Township Meeting – Discussion was held concerning items discussed at the Freeport Meeting. The ARPA Grant and its possible uses was the item of most interest.
RE: Snowplowing Quotes – Quotes for snowplowing will be opened at the November meeting.
RE: Road Issues – A sunken area along Clear Lake Road was discussed and will be checked into.
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid:
7041 Stearns Electric monthly electric bill $ 65.08
7042 US Treasury soc. sec./medicare 410.80
7043 Central MN Dust Control dustcoating 18,071.25
Total $ 18,547.13
Year-to-date Total $ 208,388.63
At 8:50 pm Dan Stommes made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Dave Robertson seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

The November monthly meeting of the Farming Township Board was called to order by Dan Stommes at 8:00 pm in the FCC Board Room. The flag pledge was said. Present were Dan Stommes, Jason Willenbring, Judy Bruemmer and Duane Janssen. Dave Robertson was absent due to self-quarantine. Also present was Dale Lange.
The meeting was held using social distancing and following Covid-19 recommendations.
The October minutes were read. Jason Willenbring made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Dan Stommes seconded. Motion carried.
Duane Janssen gave a financial report with $373,350.86 in the checking account.
RE: Snow Quote – Only one quote was received for snowplowing. Sunny Brook Enterprises gave a quote for snow removal and sanding at $110/hr, salt and sand at $90/yd (unless shortage causes a rise in prices), a $5/hr surcharge if diesel goes above $4/gal and an additional guarantee of $700/month for the months of December, January, February and March. Discussion was held. Jason Willenbring made a motion to accept the quote, Dan Stommes seconded. Motion carried. It was noted that Lange Trenching was not interested in giving a quote.
CARES Funding – Discussion was held concerning the CARES funding in the amount of $25,575.00. It was decided to give funds to our fire protection providers, the community center and to purchase PPE equipment for the meeting room.
RE: Road and Culvert Issues – Discussion was held with Lange Trenching concerning the issues and their progress.
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid:
6938 Lange Trenching repair 10,124.38/blading 3,129.95 $ 13,254.33
6939 Star Publications newspaper ads 20.00
6940 Stearns Electric monthly electric bill 65.08
6941 M-R Sign Co. 911 sign 36.02
6942 Judy Bruemmer CARES purchases reimbursed 87.29
6943 Albany Fire Dept. CARES/radios and accessories 10,348.92
6944 St. Martin Fire Dept. CARES/chest compressor and accessories 5,585.84
6945 COL Fire & Rescue CARES/Covis equipment and services 6,552.95
6946 Farming Comm. Ctr. CARES/Covid supplies, cleaning, sanitizing 3,000.00
Total $ 38,950.43
Year-to-date Total $ 378,012.09
At 9:00 pm Jason Willenbring made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Dan Stommes seconded. Motion carried.