January Minutes 2026

ERIE TOWNSHIP

Regular Board Meeting Minutes

January 6, 2026

Board members present: Chairman Neal Sundet (via Teams); Supervisor Kyle Vareberg;

Supervisor Brett Friesen

Officers present: Clerk Karen Eifealdt; Treasurer Becky Renner

Others present: Robert Eifealdt; Wyatt Dunham; Matt Arola

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairman Sundet.

After reviewing the agenda, a motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

After reviewing the minutes of the December 2, 2025 regular meeting minutes, a motion was made by Supervisor Friesen and seconded by Supervisor Sundet to approve the minutes as written with no corrections or additions. Motion carried.

Treasurer Renner gave the treasurer’s report ending December 31st, 2025 with the checking account having an ending balance of $215,194.51 and the money market account having an ending balance of $342,104.32 making total funds available at the end of December 2025 $557,298.93. A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen and seconded by Supervisor Sundet to approve the treasurer’s report as presented. Motion carried.

The Board reviewed the expense and payroll claims for December 2025 as presented to them by Treasurer Renner. A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen and seconded by Supervisor Sundet to approve payment of all claims – payroll claims in the amount of $2,197.96 and expense claims in the amount $81,881.40. Motion carried.

Arvig

$96.45

City of Detroit Lakes

$ 69,674.00

Column Software

$78.64

Gustner Construction, LLC

$9,750.00

Internal Revenue Service

$1,462.04

MN Department of Revenue

$173.37

Mosher, Amos

$235.00

Renner, Beckey

$69.95

Stenerson-Eifealdt, Karen

$86.95

Wild Rice Electric Cooperative, Inc

$200.00

Zachariason, Debra

$55.00

No citizen’s comments.

Road Report:

Gustner reports that roads are in pretty good conditions and he is scraping paved roads and salting and sanding as needed. And the recommendation was that he continue to do those things as needed.

Residents that are plowing across township roads leave a mess for those snowplowing the township roads. The suggestion was made to take note or take a picture of the fire # and/or address so that those individuals can be contacted.

Old Business:

After a brief discussion regarding the fence planned for around the recycling containers, the recommendation was made to proceed with the original quote that had been received earlier.

Compass Surveying will provide a drawing and legal description of the minimum maintenance portion of NW Pickerel Lake Road, after which an attorney will draw up new deeds for each landowner.

New Business:

After discussion regarding some issues with Old National Bank, the bank we are currently using for township business, the suggestion was made to consider switching to a different bank. A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Sundet to authorize Treasurer Renner to seek out information on three banks that are the most local. She will email that information to the board and it will be discussed at the February meeting to make a decision. Motion carried.

The Paid Leave Act was discussed. Currently the employer/employee contribution is 50/50 but could be changed to 100/50. A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg and seconded by Supervisor Friesen to leave it as is at 50/0. Motion carried. It was noted that a letter should be sent to each employee with the information for each to sign off on.

A 2026 budget was discussed at length. First by taking a look at past expenses and estimating what they will be at the end of the year, then making a capital plan. The suggestion of setting up a separate meeting to plan for and make a budget was discussed, possibly in February sometime. It was also suggest to invite a representative of the Frazee Fire Department to attend so compare costs of a fire contract.

Other:

Clerk Eifealdt brought up the annual Financial Audit and that it could be done at the February meeting because March is always such a busy month, so it will be scheduled for the February meeting.

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 7:11 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Eifealdt, Clerk