February Minutes 2026
ERIE TOWNSHIP
Regular Board Meeting Minutes
February 10, 2026
Board members present: Chairman Neal Sundet (via TEAMS); Supervisor Kyle Vareberg
(via TEAMS); Supervisor Brett Friesen
Officers present: Clerk Karen Eifealdt; Treasurer Becky Renner
Others present: Dan Gustner; Dale Renner: Aaron Aslesen; Cari Hough; Mike Hough;
Kari Friesen
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairman Sundet
After reviewing the agenda as presented, a motion was made by Supervisor Sundet and seconded by Supervisor Vareberg to approve the agenda with one addition to New Business of the Noxious Weed meeting. Motion carried.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
After reviewing the minutes of the January 6, 2026 regular board meeting, a motion was made by Supervisor Friesen and seconded by Supervisor Sundet to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried.
Treasurer Renner gave the treasurer’s report ending January 31st, 2026 with the checking account having a ending balance of 140,595.79 and the money market having an ending balance of $342,394.97 making total funds available at the end of January 2026 $482,930.76. Treasurer made note that Erie Township had mistakenly received a check for the recycling grant for Detroit Township and that a check had been issued to return that money to Becker County. A motion was made by Supervisor Sundet and seconded by Supervisor Vareberg to approve the report as presented. Motion carried.
The Board reviewed the expense and payroll claims for January 2026 as presented to them by Treasurer Renner. A motion was made by Supervisor Sundet and seconded by Supervisor Friesen to approve payment of all claims – payroll claims in the amount of $2,382.45 and expense claims in the amount of $14,041.62 totaling $16,424.07. Motion carried.
Arvig
$96.45
Becker County Auditor
$1,465.65
Becker County highway Department
$2,102.80
Graham, Tom
$675.00
Gustner Construction, LLC
$8,872.50
Mosher, Amos
$85.00
Renner, Becky
$69.95
Stenerson-Eifealdt, Karen
$86.95
Zachariason, Debra
$55.00
Wild Rice Electric Cooperative, Inc
$200.00
Old National Bank
$332,32
Liquor license renewal forms were submitted to the clerk from Four Corners Liquor, Lakes Corner Liquor, and Fish Bowl. A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet to approve the renewals. Motion carried and forms were signed by Vice Chair Brett Friesen and Clerk Karen Eifealdt.
No citizen comments.
Road Report:
Dan Gustner reported that he has not yet made a list of residents who were plowing snow across township roads and that there were two signs that needed to be replaced.
Old Business:
The fence around the recycling bins will be put on the agenda in spring to proceed to it’s installation. Supervisor Vareberg noted that he had spoken to Steve Skoog at the county. There was no issue to install the fence but the county would not cover the cost of it.
In the desire to move our checking account and money market accounts from Old National Bank (formerly Bremer) to another local banking institution, Treasurer Renner had prepared a comparison of local banks which included Midwest Bank, Bell Bank, and First National Bank. After discussion and comparing what each bank had to offer, all were in agreement that Midwest Bank was superior in interest and the cost of writing checks was minimal. A motion was made by Supervisor Sundet and seconded by Supervisor Vareberg that the checking account and the money market account for Erie Township be moved to Midwest Bank. Motion carried. Treasurer Renner will contact Midwest Bank and start the process.
New Business:
Treasurer Renner reported that the filing requirements for ARPA will be finished this year. The last report will be in April of 2026 and will cover the period from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
The 2025 Expense statement prepared by Treasurer Renner was discussed. The levy was briefly discussed noting that it has not increased in Erie Township for several years and that any tax increases or decreases come through the county.
The letter received from Great River Energy was noted and there were no comments regarding it.
Supervisor Sundet mentioned the Noxious weed meeting on March 19th and that attendance by one or more supervisor was mandatory. Supervisor Vareberg will attend.
Other:
The annual financial report that gets sent to the State of Minnesota was briefly discussed. Clerk Eifealdt will email a copy to Suepervisors for review before it is filed. This will be tabled until the March meeting.
Since there was only one supervisor was physically present, the annual Erie Township audit will be tabled until the March meeting.
Reminders of Township Day at the Capitol on March 2 and the Spring Short Courses coming up on March 30th in Mahnomen.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet to adjourn the meeting and the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Karen Eifealdt, Clerk