Minutes 11.7.23
The November 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 was Trevor Lange
The October minutes were read, Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the minutes as read. After correcting Hanson
Tarring to Hanson Paving Ben Mergen seconded it, All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Adam Brix gave a financial report with $ 532,853.00 in the checking, money market account and one CD.
$1,237,144.26 in tarring fund CD’s for a total of $1,769.997.26 between all accounts.
Discussion was held regarding road repair and 223 rd update. There is a hole in the road by Lloyd Juel that needs fixing
with class 2 before winter and Hanson Paving should be done with 223 rd .
Discussion was held regarding Arvig and them putting in fiber optics to the underserved of Farming Township, they
should have completed all the necessary permits and requirements with the exception that their bond expires in
February of 2024 and that they will get us an updated one when the current one expires.
Snow removal for the 2023-2024 season, There was one bid from Sunnybrook Enterprises Inc for snow removal for
2023-2024 season. The bid would be for snow removal and sanding truck at $175/hour, Salt/sand at $100 per yard with
the price subject to change if there is a shortage. In addition to these fees there would be a monthly guaranteed
payment of $1000/month for the months of January thru April 2024. Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the bid
from Sunnybrook Enterprises Inc for the 2023-2024 season of snow removal and sanding truck at $175/hour, salt/sand
of $100 per yard and the monthly guarantee payment of $1000/month for the months of January thru April 2024, Ben
Mergen, seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Dan Stommes gave a report on the 5 th Monday meeting held in Albany, small turnout, not much to new, other than
Avon Township is limiting solar farms.
Discussion was held regarding the use and placements of shipping containers in Farming Township. Dan Stommes will
report back to the board at the December meeting.
Discussion was held regarding Stearns Electric and them providing new service to residents in the township. They will be
sending the required check as per the fee schedule, but they will be sending a$500 bond instead of a check that would
be returned to them if all work in the road ways is back to specifications. This met approval of the board.
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid.
7257 M-R Signs 911 signs Statz/Rothstein 92.86
7258 Chain of Lakes Fire Protection 2051.45
7259 Hanson Paving Tarring 223 rd 45000.00
ACH Arvig Monthly Bill 78.95
ACH Stearns Electric Monthly Bill 60.50
Total $ 47283.76
Year-to-date Total $ 284565.62

At 9:20pm Dan Stommes made a motion to adjourn, Ben Mergen seconded it. All in favor, motion carried.

Minutes 4-2-2024
The April Monthly Meeting of the Farming Township Board was called to order by Ben Mergen at 8:00 pm. The flag
pledge was said. All members were present. Also present were Math Schmitz, Val and Julie Knobloch. Darice Stommes,
Trevor Lange, Gary Hemmesch, Duane Janssen and Tom Winkels and Dewey Klaphake.
The March minutes were read, Jason Willenbring made a motion to accept the minutes after making a correction to
read that Chain of Lakes Fires would be using 5 shipping containers in stead of two, Dan Stommes seconded. All in favor,
motion carried.
The ReOrganization minutes were reviewed, Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the re organization minutes. Jason
Willenbring, seconded it, all in favor, motion carried
Treasurer Adam Brix gave a financial report with $589,108.77 in the checking, money market and one CD and
$1,237,144.26 in Tarring Fund CD’s with a total of $1,826,253.03
New Signature cards will need to be signed, discussion was held. Dan Stommes made a motion to add Ben Mergen on
the signature card and remove, Jason Willenbring. Jason Willenbring seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Val and Julie Knobloch were present to request that their property be rezoned to a R1, they would keep the current
house that is on the property and split the property so that another house could be built. Discussion was held. Dan
Stommes made a motion to approve this split to the county, Jason Willenbring, seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Matt Schmitz presented a bid for mowing road ditches, of $95/hour plus fuel using a 70hp tractor and a 8 foot disc
mower the tractor uses between 1 and 2 gallons of fuel per hour. Discussion was held. Jason Willenbring made a motion
to approve the bid for Matt Schmitz to cut the township road ditches using a 70hp tractor and a 8 foot disc mower at a
rate of$95/hour plus fuel. Dan Stommes seconded it, all in favor, motion carried. Math will start cutting the road ditches
around June 15 and will cut them again before school starts in the fall.
Trevor Lange of Lange Trenching presented a bid for Class 2, spread and bladed one time of $26.50/Ton, Gary
Hemmesch of Hemmesch Excavating presented a bid for Class 2 at $25.00/Ton. Discussion was held, Dan Stommes
made a motion to accept the bid from Hemmesch Excavating for Class 2 at $25/Ton, Jason Willenbring seconded it, all in
favor, motion carried.
Trevor Lange of Lange Trenching presented a bid for Class 5, bladed one time of $16.70/Cubic Yard, Gary Hemmesch of
Hemmesch Excavating presented a bid for Class 5 of $14.00/Cubic Yard, Discussion was held. Dan Stommes made a
motion to accept the bid from Hemmesch Excavating of Class 5 at $14.00/Cubic Yard, Jason Willenbring seconded it, all
in favor, motion carried.
Trevor Lange of Lange Trenching presented a bid to blade township roads at $60.00/mile. Gary Hemmesch of
Hemmesch Excavating presented a bid to blade township roads at $57.00/mile. Discussion was held. Jason Willenbring
made a motion to accept the bid from Hemmesch Excavating to blade the township roads at $57.00/mile. All in favor,
motion carried.
Duane Janssen was present to request approval of a liquor license for Trappers Pub and Grub, Discussion was held, Dan
Stommes made a motion to approve the liquor license for Trappers Pub and Grub. Jason Willenbring seconded it, all in
favor, motion carried.
Up coming events: April 16, 2023 Board of Equalization meeting with road tour to follow
April 18, 2023 Annual township officers meeting in Freeport at 7:00pm
April 22,2023 Township officers short course in St. Cloud
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid:

7297 Lange Trenching Class 2 and blading 423.00
7298 United State Treasury 1 st Quarter Payroll tax 469.72
7299 Stearns County Auditor Truth in taxation charge 153.00
7300 Sunnybrook Enterprise March guarantee/plow snow 5750.00
7301 MN Association Townships Dues 656.80
ACH Stearns Electric Monthly Bill 57.85
ACH Arvig Monthly Bill 78.95

Total $ 7589.32
Year-to-date Total $ 64,143.61

At 9: pm Dan Stommes made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Jason Willenbring seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Minutes 3-5-24
The March Monthly Meeting of the Farming Township Board was called to order by Jason Willenbring at 8:05 pm. The
flag pledge was said. All members were present. Also present was Dewey Klaphake.
The February minutes were read. Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Ben Mergen seconded.
All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Adam Brix gave a financial report with $617,818.77in the checking, Money Market and one CD, and
$1,237144.26 in tarring fund CD’s for a total balance of $1,854,963.03.
Hildebrandt Trucking is requesting permission to drive on gravel roads during road restrictions. Discussion was held.
Dan Stommes made a motion to approve the request for Hildebrandt Trucking to drive on gravel road during road
restrictions. Ben Mergen seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Ben Mergen gave a report from the St. Martin Fire Department, they will be getting a louder siren, they got a FEMA
grant for air tanks, but the price of the air tanks went up, so they will need to get more funding for the air tanks being
that the grant needs to be spent on what the funds were requested for.
There are some road signs missing on Kranz Lake Circle, these will be followed up with the road tour and new signs
ordered.
April meeting we will accepting bids for gravel, road blading, and ditch mowing.
Jason Willenbring had been approached by someone to see if the township can accept donations for putting some
gravel at the boat landing on Clear Lake. He did some research and was able to find out that the township can accept
donations for this project.
Cleaning up township road ditches, Can the township put up signs as name recognition for the individuals who do this?
Discussion was held, nothing further was decided.
Jason Willenbring gave a report from Chain of Lakes Fire Department they are looking into buying two storage
containers and putting them together to build “practice fires” in. They will be putting them on leased land. If this works
for them, they will look at letting other departments use them as well.
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid.

ACH Stearns Electric Monthly Bill 57.85
ACH Arvig Monthly Bill 78.95
7284 Adam Brix Treasurer Wages 554.10
7285 Dewey Klaphake Plan & Zone Admin 69.26
7286 Dan Stommes Supervisor Wages 369.40
7287 Ben MJergen Supervisor Wages 369.40
7288 Jason Willenbring Supervisor Wages 554.10
7289 Star Publication Legal Notice 164.34
7290 M-R Signs 911 sign 46.68
7291 Munson Township Tar 260 th 9400.00

7292 Sunnybrook Enterprises Snow Plow/guarantee 2100.00
7293 Linda Theisen Computer/supplies 156.90
7294 Linda Theisen Clerk Wages 918.88
7295 VOID
7296 City of Albany Fire Protection 20146.00

TOTAL $34,985.86
YEAR TO DATE $56554.29
At 9:25pm Ben Mergen made a motion to adjourn, Jason Willenbring, seconded it, all in favor, motion carried

Minutes 2-6-24
The February 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 Erick Popp from the Stearns County Sheriff’s office,
Dan Rea and Trevor Lange.
The January minutes were read. Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Ben Mergen seconded. All
in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Adam Brix gave a financial report with $600,568.73 in the checking/MM and one operating CD.
$1,237,144.26 in tarring fund CD’s. For a total of $1,837,712.99.
Sheriff deputy Eric Popp gave a recap of the activity that had happened in Farming Township in the last eight months.
Discussion was held regarding recent activity.
Dan Rea was present to request a liquor license for the Farming Baseball Club for the period of April 13,2024 thru
October 12,2024. Discussion was held. Dan Stommes made a motion to approve the liquor license for the Farming
Baseball Club, Ben Mergen seconded it all in favor, motion carried.
Dan Stommes gave a report from the 5 th Monday meeting held in Albany:
Road grants are becoming less and less, Avon Township put a moratorium in place for solar farms, they are only
granting permits for solar for personal use.
Albany School district will start using 4.0 bus company for the district starting July 1, with a 5 year contract, with
a two year trial period.
The new jail that is needed for Stearns County was also discussed, regarding options of how to pay for, and
where it should be located.
There is a culvert on 320 th west that needs to be looked at, by a county ditch. This will be brought to the attention of
Albany township.
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid.
7277 Total Agri-Business prepare 1099/W2’s 160.00
7278 Sunnybrook Ent snow removal/guarantee 1825.00
7279 City of St. Martin Fire Protection 8678.53
7280 Chain of Lakes Fire Protection 1758.21
7281 Star Publications Legal Notice 49.01
7282 Lange Trenching Inc Blading/December 1104.37
7283 Town Officers Assn Dues 374.00
ACH Stearns Electric Monthly bill 57.85
ACH Arvig Monthly bill 78.95
TOTAL 14,085.92
Year to date total $21,568.43

At 9:20 Dan Stommes 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 2.6.2024
Jason Willenbring call the Board of Audit Meeting to order at 9:20pm
The Clerk and Treasurer met on Sunday January 7,2024 to reconcile their records. The supervisors reviewed the report.
Discussion was held. Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the report as presented. Ben Mergen seconded it. All in
favor motion carried.

Unofficial Minutes of the Budget Meeting 2.6.2024
Jason Willenbring called the Budget meeting to order at 9:25 pm
The Board reviewed the budget information and expenses from the previous year and set the budget to propose at the
annual meeting at $338,000. With $100,000 from the budget being put into the tarring fund and the balance used for
operating funds. Dan Stommes made a motion to set the proposed budget at $338,000 for the 2025 year. Ben Mergen
seconded it, All in favor, motion carried.

The February monthly meeting was called back to order by Jason Willenbring at 9:45pm
Township Election- Discussion was held.
Dan Stommes made a motion to appoint Linda Theisen as head judge with Victor Kotten and Anne Smith-Bleichner as
judges and to appoint Linda Theisen and Victor Kotten to the Absentee Ballot Board. Ben Mergen seconded it. All in
favor, motion carried
Dan Stommes made a motion to use Tuesday April 2 h as the 3 rd alternate date for Township election, Ben Mergen
seconded it, All in favor, motion carried.
At 10:05 Dan Stommes made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Ben Mergen seconded it, all in favor, motion carried

The October 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 Dale Lange, Dewey Klaphake. Ron Backes, Ron and Sherry Rolfes
The September minutes were read, Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the minutes as read. Ben Mergen seconded it, All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Adam Brix gave a financial report with $ 578,912.48 in the checking and money market accounts and $1,237,144.26 in CDs for a total of $1,816,056.74 between all accounts. Discussion was held. Ben Mergen made a motion to move $300,000.00 out of the money market and put it into a 3-month CD, Dan Stommes seconded it, all in favor, motion carried.
Ron Rolfes was present to make a request be able to put a tile line in a natural waterway. Discussion was held. Ben Mergen made a motion to allow Ron Rolfes to put the tile in, provided that it was back far enough as to not interfere with the 33 foot set back on a township road. Dan Stommes seconded it, all in favor, motion carried
Dale Lange, from Lange Trenching gave a follow up regarding the work on 223rd Ave, Hansen Tarring should be out next week to do the tarring, there are a few repairs by Michael Kotten, and Lloyd Jewel that need to be addressed yet. The gravel roads will be bladed one last time before winter.
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid.
7253 Paynesville Cenex Weed control $7237.25
7254 United States Treasury 3rd Quarter Payroll tax $552.34
7255 Central MN Dust Control Dust Control $2890.00
7256 Lange Trenching Blading and Repairs/replace culvert $42,470.16
ACH Arvig Monthly Bill 78.95
ACH Stearns Electric Monthly Bill 60.50
Total $ 53,289.20
Year-to-date Total $ 237,281.86
At 9:40pm Dan Stommes made a motion to adjourn, Ben Mergen seconded it. All in favor, motion carried.

The September 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 Dale Lange, Dewey Klaphake and Math Schmitz
The August minutes were read, Dan Stommes made a motion to accept the minutes as read after correcting the automatic payment that came out for Stearns Electric, $65.08 had been approved to be paid in August, after changing to paperless billing the balance due was $30.83. Ben Mergen seconded it. All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer Adam Brix gave a financial report with $ 595,456.84 in the checking and money market accounts and $1,237,144.26 in CDs for a total of $1,832,601.10 between all accounts.
Regarding 223rd Ave, Discussion was held, Lange Trenching will get to getting the repairs done, in the following week, areas of concern, dip in the road by Buerman, cattle pass by Brinkman, culvert by Niehaus, hill by Holthaus. Dale from Lange Trenching will be in contact with Hansen Paving so that the paving can be done, when Lange Trenching is finished with their work.
Dan Stommes gave a report from the 5th Monday meeting at Albany Area Schools, Jeff Howe will be at the new building open house, The city of Avon has sold all the lots in the Avon Estates housing development, and Avon Township did some tarring and it cost about $250,000.00/mile.
Bills could start coming as soon as next month for the ARPA money that was designated to Fiber Optics.
Ben Mergen has been in contact with the landowners on Mahogany Road and will start cutting the trees.
The following claims were examined, verified and ordered paid.
7240 Dewey Klaphake Planning board wages 290.90
7241 Dan Stommes Supervisor wages 535.63
7242 Dan Stommes Mileage 95.63
7243 Linda Theisen computer time/ink 101.86
7244 Minn Assoc Township Linda training 50.00
7245 City of St. Martin Fire Protection 7033.55
7246 Lange Trenching Blading 2778.77
7247 Math Schmitz Cutting road ditches 4191.00
7248 Jason Willenbring Supervisor Wages 554.10
7249 Adam Brix Treasurer wages 554.10
7250 Ben Mergen Supervisor wages 406.34
7251 Dewey Klaphake Site permits/mileage 350.68
7252 Linda Theisen Clerk wages 992.76
ACH Arvig Monthly Bill 78.95
ACH Stearns Electric Monthly Bill 65.08
Total $ 18079.35
Year-to-date Total $ 183992.66
At 8:55pm Ben Mergen made a motion to adjourn, Dan Stommes seconded it. All in favor, motion carried.