From the MN Association of Townships

March 8 is a day for all township citizens to express their choice in electing their leaders at township annual elections and setting the level of spending to be spread to the property tax payers in the township at the township annual meeting.
On Township Day, the second Tuesday in March, citizens living in townships have the privilege, honor and responsibility to participate in two activities.

1. The Township Election
ï An election of the township officers they wish to elect into office to act on their behalf, and,
ï Vote on any question that may be before the electors of the township (see individual townshipís notice of election or call your town clerk).

All township elections hours statewide must be open for a minimum of three continuous hours from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Townships however, have the option to open the polls earlier (see individual townshipís notice of election or call your town clerk).

2. The Township Annual Meeting
ï A meeting of the township electors to vote by majority of those attending on all business as prescribed by law including a vote on the proposed levy.
ï The proposed levy is the amount of property tax dollars going to the operating costs of the township. (This is the only form of government offering this voter privilege.)
ï The Annual Meeting also offers the citizens the opportunity to voice their thoughts, choice and opinions on various areas of provided services, community plans, needs and wants, etc., through recommendations to the governing body.
ï Itís important for township citizens to realize that this is their meeting - a meeting to give direction to those they elected into office to act for and on their behalf. All actions taken, those prescribed by law and those through vote recommendation, are by the majority of those in attendance. Naturally, when more citizens are in attendance, the vote is more representative.
Townships, statewide, individually set the time of the Annual Meeting (see individual townshipís notice of meeting or call your town clerk).

Even though both activities, the township election and the annual meeting, occur on the second Tuesday in March, Township Day, they are individual activities and must not be held at the same times (some exclusions apply). Also, some townships have exercised the privilege of holding their elections in November (Nessel Township is the only one doing so in Chisago County. The Annual Meeting, however, will occur on March 8.)

For more information about the Minnesota Association of Townships, visit their Web site at www.mntownships.org.

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Local township information for Annual Meeting Day

Fish Lake Township
One person running for supervisor - Mark Widmark; one for treasurer - Sharon McAndrew. Polling hours 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.. with annual meeting at 8:05 p.m.

Lent Township
Monica Abress running for supervisor; Pam Olson for treasurer, Mary (Betsy) Randt running for clerk. Polling hours 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., with annual meeting starting at 8:15 p.m. Also on the ballot, the question of whether the clerk's position should be appointed by the town board.

Rushseba Township
For supervisor (one position) Jon Gorman and Jon Moulton; for treasurer - Rodney Swanson (incumbent). Polls open 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., annual meeting at 8:10 p.m.

Sunrise Township
Two supervisor positions open (three-year terms) Shane Step and Manley Olson; for treasurer Greg Strom. Also on ballot: approval of bond issue for fire substation, approval of clerk position being appointed. Polling hours 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., annual meeting at 8:15 p.m.

Amador Township
Elections being held for one three-year supervisor and one one-year supervisor, and for treasurer (2 years). Polls open 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.; annual meeting at 8 p.m.

Nessel Township
No elections, they are held in November. Annual meeting at 7 p.m.

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