May Minutes 2026
ERIE TOWNSHIP
Regular Board Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Board members present: Supervisors Kyle Vareberg; Mike Hough and Brett Friesen
(via speaker phone)
Officers present: Clerk Becky Renner
Others present: Dale Renner; Dan Gustner; Matt Arola; Phil Hanson and Scott Duenow
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Supervisor Vareberg.
After reviewing the agenda as presented, a motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to approve the agenda with no additions.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
After reviewing the minutes of the April 5, 2026 regular board meeting and Local Board of Appeals and Equalization meeting held April 14, 2026 minutes, a motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to approve the minutes as written with no additions or corrections.
Clerk Renner gave two treasurer’s reports ending April 30, 2026. The first from Old National Bank with an ending balance of $0.00, after closing account and depositing in Midwest Bank. The second from Midwest Bank with an ending balance in the checking account of $270,448.60 and an ending balance in the money market account of $200,895.24 for a total of $471,343.84. Total funds for Erie Township on April 30, 2026 are $471,343.84. A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to approve both the Old National Bank and Midwest Bank reports.
The Board reviewed the expense and payroll claims for April 2026 as presented to them by Clerk Renner. A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to approve payment of all claims, payroll claims in the amount of $2,310.51 and expense claims in the amount of $16,402.87 for a total of $18,713.38.
Arvig. $96.45
B & M Electric. $468.00
Becker County Township Association. $299.38
Compass Consultants Inc $3,200.00
Graham, Tom. $600.00
Gustner Construction LLC $10,932.00
Minnesota Association of Townships $150.00
Mosher, Amos. $85.00
Okeson, John C. $332.30
Zachariason, Debra. $55.00
Citizen’s Comments:
Becker County Commissioner Phil Hanson appeared before the Board and reported the following:
Over 1,400 tires were recycled during the tire recycling timeframe.
The county now has a spot on their website to visit to report road issues
An organics program was kicked off last fall and has been very successful
The Board received and reviewed the following quotes that had been received for the 2026-2028 contracts.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to accept the quote of Tom Graham for crack filling.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to accept the quote of Doug Johnson for ditch mowing.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to accept the quote of Gustner Construction LLC for road grading.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to accept the quote of Gustner Construction LLC for snow plowing and sand/salting.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to accept the quote of D & B Septic & Excavation LLC for gravel and screened gravel.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to accept the quote for maintenance on demand to be split between Gustner Construction LLC, Lakes Area Dirt Works and D & B Septic & Excavation LLC.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to accept the quote for tree work to be split between Gustner Construction LLC, Denali Site & Utilities, Lakes Area Dirt Works and Superior Lakeside.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to table dust control quotes until the June 2 meeting.
Road Report:
Supervisor Vareberg contacted John Okeson to do an inspection of asphalt roads. The following is the report:
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to authorize crack filling on Otto Zeck Road and W. Pickerel Lake Road.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to authorize seal coating 182nd Street (new section by 4-Corners Store).
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to authorize crack fill and seal coat 305th Avenue, to include 170th Street intersection.
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to authorize Supervisor Hough to put out for bids the overlay of the first 2,900’ of Hubble Pond Road going east from County Highway 29. Such bids to be received by the Clerk by May 29, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
The following were suggestions from Mr. Okeson for 2026 and following years:
170th Street West – ok
179th Street West – ok
179th Street by Town Hall – ok
330th Avenue – ok
Sunset - ok
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to add Hanson Lake Road to the list for gravel this spring.
Old Business:
A motion was made by Supervisor Friesen, seconded by Supervisor Hough to table fencing around the recycling bins at Lakes Corner Liquors until the June meeting.
New Business:
A motion was made by Supervisor Vareberg, seconded by Supervisor Hough and carried, without a dissenting vote, to approve variances from Rhonda Vareberg for deck placement and Tim & Amy Nelson for ROW issues. A variance was also approved for Randy Spokely for road encroachment for his septic on Leona Beach Road.
Other:
A request has been received from the Minnkota Power Transmission Project for approval of crossing town roads. The request has been tabled until Clerk Renner can provide the Board further information from MAT on this request.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Becky Renner, Clerk
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Supervisor