Twp elections set for Tuesday

I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.

March 9, 1997

By Devlyn Brooks

Staff Writer

Elections for township officials will be held statewide in Minnesota Tuesday.

Based on state law, polls must be open from at least 5-8 p.m., but the hours may be extended by local township discretion. Township elections are held annually on the second Tuesday of March.

The state standardized polling times in 1994 so voters could be assured as to when voting booths would be open. The three-hour minimum was supposed to help keep costs low for sparsely populated townships, which needed to employ judges for the same amount of time as larger townships.

Annual township meetings will be held after the polls close, usually starting between 8-8:15 p.m. At the annual meetings, township residents will review the year's business, audit the books, set the next year's budget and contend with any specific business regarding their township, a County Auditor's Office representative said.

Not all townships will finalize their budgets, however. Some wait until August when Homestead Agricultural Credit Aid reports are released from the state, informing the townships of the amount of aid they will receive. And, many want to wait to see what the Legislature, which adjourns in May, does to them.

Most township voters will elect a supervisor to a three-year term and a treasurer to a two-year term.

Here are the polling times for selected area townships:

• Turtle Lake Township polls will be open 5-8 p.m. at the town hall. The Board of Canvass will meet following the close of the polls to certify results. The annual meeting is at 8:15 p.m.

• Nebish Township polls will be open 5-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting is at 8:05 p.m.

• Turtle River Township polls will be open 2-8 p.m. at the Turtle River Community Center. The annual meeting is 8 p.m.

• Port Hope Township polls will be open 5-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting is 8:15 p.m.

• Grant Valley Township polls will be open 3-8 p.m. at the town hall. The Board of Canvass will meet following the close of the elections to certify results. The annual meeting is 8 p.m.

• Northern Township polls will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town hall. Voters will elect two three-year supervisor positions. The annual meeting is 8:15 p.m.

• Roosevelt Township polls will be open 4-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting is at 8 p.m.

• Bemidji Township polls will be open 4-8 p.m. at the town hall. Voters will elect two, three-year supervisor positions and a two-year supervisor positions and a two-year treasurer position. The annual meeting is 8 p.m. The Board of Canvass will meet following the annual meeting.

• Fern Township polls will be open 2-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting is 8 p.m.

• Rockwood Township polls will be open 5-8 p.m. The Board of Canvass will meet at 8:10 p.m. and the annual meeting will follow at 8:15 p.m.

• Liberty Township polls will be open 2-8 p.m. at the town hall. The Board of Canvass will meet at 8:10 p.m., with the annual meeting following at 8:15 p.m.

• Farden Township polls will be open 3-8 p.m. at town hall. The annual meeting is at 8:15 p.m., and a regular township meeting will follow.

• Helga Township, Hubbard County, polls will be open 4-8 p.m. at the Helga Community Center. The annual meeting is 8 p.m.

• Jones Township polls will be open 2-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting will follow the close of the polls.

• Frohn Township polls will be open 3-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting is at 8 p.m.

• Alaska Township polls will be open 5-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting is at 8 p.m.

• Lammers Township polls will be open 5-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting is at 8:05 p.m.

• Ten Lake Township polls will be open 4-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting is at 8 p.m.

• Durand Township polls will be open 5-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting will follow the close of the polls.

• Buzzle Township polls will be open 4-8 p.m. at Pinewood Legion Hall. The annual meeting will follow the close of the polls.

• Eckles Township polls will be open 5-8 p.m. at the town hall. The annual meeting is at 8 p.m.

• Maple Ridge Township polls will be open 5-8 p.m. The annual meeting will follow the close of the polls.