Approved Annual Meeting Minutes 3.13.12

The annual meeting in the Town of Farming, County of Stearns, State of Minnesota was held in the Farming Community Center on the 13th day of March 2012. It was called to order by Clerk Judy Bruemmer at 8:30 pm. The flag pledge was said.

Judy Bruemmer asked for nominations from the floor for moderator. Ted Bruemmer nominated Bill Otto, Ken Hamann seconded. All in favor, motion carried. Bill Otto accepted the nomination. Ted Bruemmer made a motion to close nominations, Jackie Netter seconded. All in favor, motion carried. Bill Otto was declared moderator.

The minutes of the 2011 annual meeting were read by the Clerk. Brian Brix made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Leo Bloch seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed. Discussion was held. Wally Buerman made a motion to accept the report as printed, Ted Bruemmer seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Ken Hamann made a motion to continue with GoatRopers Bar and Grill, Immanuel Lutheran Church, the Farming Community Center entrance and also the township website as posting sites, Jackie Netter seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Duane Janssen made a motion to have the Albany Enterprise as the township newspaper for publishing legal notices, Donald Linz seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Ken Hamann made a motion to have the Farming Community Center as the official polling place and the polling place to be open from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm for the annual election, Ron Backes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Duane Janssen made a motion to have the Farming Community Center as the official annual town meeting place with the meeting to start at 8:30 pm, Dewey Klaphake seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Ted Bruemmer made a motion for the monthly meetings to be held on the first Tuesday of the month at 8:00 pm in the Farming Township Board Room, Leo Bloch seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Ken Hamann made a motion to allow the board to hire someone to mow the road ditches, Donald Linz seconded. All in favor, motion carried. The supervisors stated that if landowners wished to harvest the road ditches they should contact the board.

The results of the annual election were reported as follows: For Supervisor – Vernon Willenbring received 50 votes. Vernon Willenbring was declared the winner of the Supervisor position. For Clerk – Judy Bruemmer received 51 votes. Judy Bruemmer was declared the winner of the Clerk position. For Treasurer – Duane Janssen received 48 votes. Duane Janssen was declared the winner of the Treasurer position. Write-ins received two votes or less. A total of 51 ballots were cast in the annual election.

Duane Janssen made a motion to destroy the old ballots from 2010, Joe Kulzer seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

A report was given by the board on the proposed levy for 2013. Brian Brix made a motion to levy $200,000 for the year 2013, Ken Hamann seconded. Discussion was held. All in favor, motion carried.

Jerry Rausch made a motion to levy $80,000 for the tarring fund, Ron Backes seconded. Discussion was held concerning roads to be tarred, why to tar roads, and maintenance costs of tar roads versus gravel roads. A secret ballot was requested. A ‘yes’ vote meant approving the $80,000 tarring levy; a ‘no’ vote was against the levy. There were 42 people in attendance. The results were 24 ‘no’ and 17 ‘yes’ with Treasurer Patti Legatt abstaining. The motion failed. Leo Bloch made a motion to destroy the secret ballots, Tony Legatt seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Ted Bruemmer made a motion to allow the Township Board to decide the roads to be dustcoated with the option for landowners on other roads who wanted dustcoating to pay half the cost, Tony Legatt seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Vernon Willenbring gave a report and answered questions concerning the Chain of Lakes Fire and Rescue District.

Rob Tabatt made a motion requesting the Township Board to report on the costs of tar roads versus gravel roads at the next annual meeting, Donald Linz seconded. Dewey Klaphake offered to do some on-line searching for information. All in favor, motion carried.

Comments were received from several township residents concerning traffic problems in the area around the public access to Clear Lake. The possibility of ‘No Parking’ signs and the enforcement of those signs were discussed. The Board will check into the matter and see what can be done to resolve it.

At 10:16 pm, Brian Brix made a motion to adjourn the annual meeting, Ron Backes seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Cookies, provided by Stearns Bank, and milk were served following the meeting.
Minutes taken by Judy Bruemmer.