Regular Meeting January 9, 2025. Present: Supervisors; Donald Fix, Dean Bondeson, Treasurer Craig Betsinger, Clerk Val Anderson, Steve Hass, Absent: John Shockman. Don called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Minutes of the last meeting were approved as printed, Motion by Fix, seconded and carried. Treasurer’s reports received
January reorganization: Elected John Shockman as Chair and Don Fix as Vice-chair. Set 2025 Mileage at the Federal rate of 70 cents per mile. Raised the Driveway permit fee to $300.00. Isanti County News submitted the same rates and last year which includes free publication in the Scotsman.
OLD BUSINESS: Paid Recurring yearly Ballfield rent of $300.
NEW BUSINESS: Start 2026 Budget
Checks 7578-7584 , ACH 635-637 were approved, Receipts: 626-628 Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m with motion by Fix, seconded and carried.
Regular Meeting February 6. 2025. Present: Supervisors; John Shockman, Donald Fix, Dean Bondeson was present by phone, Treasurer Craig Betsinger, Clerk Val Anderson, Steve Hass, other residents. John called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Minutes of the last meeting were approved as printed, Motion by Shockman, seconded and carried. Treasurer’s reports received
The 2024 Board of audit was held: After reviewing the books, a Motion by Shockman, seconded by Fix and carried to approve and sign the 2024 Receipts and Disbursements Audit Report. Year End Reports completed: Township Road Mileage Certification; PERA Exclusion; Noxious Weed Report; State Report of Outstanding Indebtedness; MATIT Workers’ Compensation Audit Report; W-2/1099; Office of the State Auditor Annual Financial Reporting Form, SAFES, Census Boundary Annexation Form, 2024 Road Work Report
OLD BUSINESS: Worked on the 2026 budget. We are still waiting for costs of the new Fire Truck.
NEW BUSINESS: Road bids were received from Dawn Hass Construction and Dale Becklin and a Mowing bid was received from Bakkens Lawncare. After consideration a motion by Shockman, seconded by Fix and carried to accept the bid for Dawn Hass Construction for 2025-26 road maintenance and to accept the bid from Dale Becklin for as needed services, and the bid from Bakkens Lawncare for mowing services.
We will keep the Board of Equalization here at the township hall.
Motion by Shockman, seconded by Fix and carried to make a policy correction to include any new driveways that are off of a county or state highway will be charged the $150.00 911 address fee which will include the locate, and installation of the 911 address sign and post.
Jenny Bendickson, a local resident, would like to donate a book stand for a lending library at the townhall. She would do all the upkeep and would like to place it along the fence. Motion by Shockman, seconded by Bondeson and carried to allow a freestanding library bookstand to be installed at the township hall. There may also be a picnic table that would be donated for the town hall park area.
Checks 7585-7592, ACH 638-640 were approved, Receipts: 629-634
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m with motion by Shockman, seconded and carried.
Regular Meeting March 6, 2025. Present: Supervisors; John Shockman, Donald Fix, Dean Bondeson, Treasurer Craig Betsinger, Clerk Val Anderson, Steve Hass, other residents John called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Minutes of the last meeting were approved as printed, Motion by Shockman, seconded and carried. Treasurer’s reports received
OLD BUSINESS: It was decided to add the lowest ECE Fiber internet package at the township hall.
Budget recommendation: Discussion on the purchase of the new truck. Val will check into the process of transferring funds from the road and bridge account into the fire account to pay off the new truck so we do not have to pay interest over 20 years. The road and bridge funds would have been used for the reconstruction of the highbridge approach if the new bridge were to be built. If the fund transfer is possible, the budget recommendation for 2026 is $269,325 which is a 5.2% increase over 2025.
NEW BUSINESS: Matthew and Lizzie Rydlund were present to review information regarding the driveway access to a plat in section 13 they will be presenting soon. The parcel they are creating has enough road frontage but it is all lowland. There is a current driveway going to 2237 397th Ave NE on the east side of the new lot and that is the access they would like to use as a combined driveway accessing the new lot. M/S Shockman/Fix and carried to allow this combined driveway access with the following: A recorded document that shows this driveway access will be allowed for the two homes—2237 and the new lot, that it will be maintained at the expense of those two properties at their discretion, and that it is not a township road.
Kyle Roddy presented an e-mail request regarding Greg Savsten on the rearrangement of Erickson Acres. They are not creating any new parcels as they would like to change the acreage of the current parcels from the larger one now becoming smaller and the smaller one becoming larger. Stanchfield Township board has no opinion as long as it follows Isanti County regulations.
Jim Pankan was present for a request regarding a new plat on 397th Ave. There is a question on easements that the township may hold. It is suspected that it is our road documents, but Mr Pankan will send the easement document to the Clerk to investigate. This is also the area that may have a new turnaround made if the railroad takes down the bridge. See next item.
Bill Becklin was present to ask if he can research the plans that the railroad has for the highbridge. The current information coming from the state of Minnesota is that the NLX highspeed train and rail work is no longer viable. It was hoped that money from the NLX would help fund the replacement of the highbridge. Without that funding, we are suspecting the bridge will be taken down. Mr Becklin was given permission to do this research for the township. He will also get plans and prices for making the turnaround and barricades which the railroad has committed to paying us for. And he will get prices if the railroad would want to pay us to take down the bridge and all costs related to that.
Commissioner Steve Westerberg was present to update us on a number of issues. The first one is Pollpads that the Auditor office is requesting the county/township to purchase for around $100,000 for the next election. Stanchfield Township prefers paper registers and not pollpads. He talked about the Canabis ordinances that the State is requiring, the City of Braham grants and financing including the Fire Truck purchase, the need for a new Highway Department building and answered general county questions from the board and audience.
Checks 7593-7600, ACH 641-644 were approved, Receipts: 635-637
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m with motion by Fix, seconded and carried.
ANNUAL MEETING March 12, 2025 Approval of Minutes at 2026 Annual Meeting.
Clerk, Val Anderson, Called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm with 12 residents in attendance. Jim Lee nominated Glenda Spar to be moderator, with no other nominations, Glenda was elected. No changes were made in the Agenda. The printed 2024 Clerk’s report was read by Val Anderson. Glenda read the 2024 minutes. Motion by John Shockman, seconded by Dean Bondeson carried to approve the 2024 Annual Meeting Minutes.
Discussion was made regarding the new fire truck requested from the Fire Chief Ross Benzen. An order has been made for $757,000 for the Truck to be delivered in 2026 Our share could be up to $167,000. We are hoping to use the extra funds from the High Bridge approach to pay for the truck so we don’t have to make a 20 yr loan.
Loran Davis motioned, Jim Lee seconded and carried to approve the 2026 budget/levy of $269,325 as follows:
Levy Other Total
Revenue: $ 50,000 $ 2,780 $ 52,780
Road & Bridge $143,900 $28,100 $172,000
Fire $ 44,545 $ 44,545
Total $238,445 $30,880 $269,325
Safety and Rescue volunteers Tom and John presented the 2024 summery of volunteer activity of 1930 hours.
Next years meeting will be held at 7:00 pm on March 10, 2026. Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm with motion by Loran Davis, seconded by Craig Sundermeyer and carried.
Regular Meeting April 3, 2025. Present: Supervisors; John Shockman, Donald Fix, Dean Bondeson, Treasurer Craig Betsinger, Clerk Val Anderson, Steve Hass, other residents John called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Minutes of the last meeting were approved as printed, Motion by Shockman, seconded and carried. Treasurer’s reports received
OLD BUSINESS: Update of Pankan plat and high bridge: The easement is our recorded road easement and Mr. Pankan will work to get a cul-de-sac recorded on his plat for the high bridge turnaround if needed.
Research made from the state fire marshal has concluded that a new fire truck was not “needed’ if it passed inspection as there is not a age limit requirement Also an older truck does not make homeowners insurance rate increase.
NEW BUSINESS: Road check set for Saturday, April 19 with the public meeting at the town hall at 8:10 or call with concerns.
Because of information received at the yearly MAT meeting we will register with the State of MN for Paid Leave beginning 4th Quarter 2024. Premiums will begin in 2026. We do not qualify for Unemployment Insurance and are not required to pay into that account.
Discussion was made to get information for a cleanup day maybe on May 5th. A call was made to Shawns Rolloffs but we may not have enough time to get it organized for this year.
The 2025 ARPA report was filed and it may be the final report for the Covid monies received.
Motion by Shockman, seconded by Bondeson and carried to write a support letter to ECE Fiber for an expansion of their program to reach more people.
The Braham Youth Softball requests use of the ballfield from April 1 to July 18. Information will be added to the website regarding the use of the field and contact information.
Checks 7601-7607, ACH 645-647 were approved, Receipts: 638-639
Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m with motion by Fix, seconded and carried.
Board of Equalization: April 14, 2025 7 pm. Present: Supervisors; John Shockman, Donald Fix Clerk Val Anderson, Treasurer Craig Betsinger, County Peter Blomquist and Julian Cook.
Peter explained the changes in value for Stanchfield Township. The building site went up $10,000 and the first 10 acres wet up $1,000 per acre. The tillable and non tillable each went up $300 per acre to $3,900 and 3,600 respectively with waste land staying the same. This increase was throughout the township.
Residents/Land Owners: Harvey Johnson 11.076.0010 asked why he lost the agriculture credit. When he developed the property the lot has less then 10 acres of tillable land remaining so it lost the credit.
Rick Perleberg 11.023.1400. He had a fire on the second floor which is currently unusable and would like a reassessment of the value.
Ron and Val Anderson 11.09.0100. There was a 36% increase in the 2026 valuation with no change in the use. The county changed the waste land classification acres according to the wetland maps.
After view of the requests a motion was made by Shockman, seconded by Fix and carried to accept recommendation of the assessor
Motion to adjourn at 7:40 pm by Fix, seconded and carried.