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BENTON AG Section B
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Same Local Coverage Since 1854.
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Vol. 165, No. 35
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Should Watab Township move to an appointed clerk?
Ringing
the sounds of the season Evans volunteers for Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
Voters will decide March 10 BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Watab Township residents will have the choice to allow an appointed town clerk come March. Township supervisors Julie Johnson, Todd Waytashek and Steve Wollak approved unanimously at its Dec. 3 meeting to submit the question of moving from an elected clerk position to the appointment option. Residents will cast their vote for or against the option at the March 10, 2020, annual meeting. According to the Minnesota Association of Townships, town boards, by default, consist of three supervisors, one clerk and one treasurer – all elected positions. Optional forms of township government can be initiated by board action or by submitted petition of its voters, but no form of optional government can be enacted unless voted upon by the electors at the annual meeting. The process must be started more than 74 days before the annual meeting. Johnson initiated the discussion and, prior to the vote, said it was time for the board to consider the option citing longevity and consistency of the office. “In the decades past, it made sense to have an elected position, but now we are so much larger,”
Johnson said. “We’re 3,200 residents and growing. It’s a position that you want someone to stay; not have to worry about being reelected. We’ve had a lot of changeover the last two years. Chris (Davis) is our fourth clerk in two years.” Wollak and Waytashek agreed with letting the voters decide at the annual meeting, but Waytashek said that because voters elected Nicole Burski in March over previous clerk appointee, Jon Hull, he believes voters want the right to cast ballots for the position. “The electorate said they wanted somebody different,” Waytashek said. “That’s telling me the electorate wants their piece of this. … I’m fine with it being on the annual meeting. I am just making it clear that I think you guys are missing the boat on what they want.” Should voters approve the adoption of an appointed clerk March 10, implementation would take effect immediately. According to MAT, “the election for that position is nullified and the position is filled by appointment by the town board. … Because the adoption would change the position form elected to appointed, the person the board appoints to the position does not need to be a resident of the township.” With the resignation of Burski which was effective Dec. 1, Davis is fulfilling the clerk role through the annual election. The two-year clerk term is up for election in 2020, and those wishing to seek the position will have the opportunity to file for the office from
Watab page 3
BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – With the turn of the calendar page to December, trees appear in windows of homes, shoppers get caught in the hustle of purchasing gifts, and carols like “Jingle Bells” showcase the sounds of the impending Christmas season. For one St. Cloud man, jingling a bell is what the holiday season is all about. “I am out here all day, every day,” said Henry Evans. “I have Sundays off, but otherwise I am here from 10 till 7.” Evans remains firm in his post outside the Sauk Rapids Coborn’s grocery store, a red apron around his many layers and a bell in his PHOTO BY ANNA HINKEMEYER Henry Evans stands outside of Coborn’s in Sauk Rapids Dec. 2. Evans volunteers for the hand. This is Evans’ secSalvation Army Red Kettle Campaign as a bell ringer nine hours a day, six days a week.
Constructing a promising future Hansons partake in Romanian mission trip BY ANNA HINKEMEYER | STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Erik and Trygve Hanson cherish mission trips and the difference they make in the lives of others. Most recently, the Sauk Rapids duo traveled to Romania. As a Thrivent Financial associate, Erik was joined by his son, Trygve, on a corporate trip Sept. 14-22. The pair traveled Ploiesti and Bucharest. But, they also spent four days building two fourplexes with Habitat for Humanity International. “It was an incredible experience working on Hanson page 2 PHOTO SUBMITTED
Trygve and Erik Hanson work on nailing boards together on two fourplex buildings Sept. 19 in Romania. The two spent time measuring and cutting boards, raising walls and installing a ceiling.
OBITUARIES...PG. 5 • Betty J. Butterfield • Linda M. Mohs • Joseph B. Poepping
Evans page 3
PUBLIC NOTICES
• Probate Notice - Behrendt - pg. 8 • Benton County Board of Adjustment Public Hearing - pg. 8 • Benton County Board of Commissioners Minutes, Nov. 19, 2019 - pg. 8
• Benton County Ord. No. 476 - pg. 7 • Assumed Name - Sunrizon Services - pg. 8 • Assumed Name - Breakr Fitness - pg. 8