General Election brings full ballots for Kittson County

By Anna Jauhola
As the majority of Kittson County voters could be receiving their mail-in ballots sometime this month, it is important to note there are two local questions facing many voters and contested local races.
The General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Only residents of Hallock and Karlstad vote in person. The rest of the population votes by mail-in ballot.
Those who are not registered to vote, and would like to – perhaps you are a first-time voter – you can register at the Kittson County Taxpayer Services office at the courthouse in Hallock. If you haven’t registered before, but you want to vote on Election Day, you may also register that day at your polling place.
If you cannot get to a physical location to register, visit www.https://www.sos. state.mn.us/elections-voting/register-to-vote/.
You can use your state-issued ID to register.
County bond question
Throughout Kittson County, voters will vote on a ballot question regarding an up-to $8 million bond. This is proposed to update the HVAC system and other improvements to the courthouse and to construct, improve and equip highway department facilities.
The question reads: “Shall Kittson County be authorized to issue general obligation capital improvement bonds in an amount not to exceed $8,000,000 to provide funds for the improvement and betterment of the Kittson County Courthouse and the construction, improvement, and equipping of highway department facilities in the County? BY VOTING ‘YES’ ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.”
Kittson Central Referendum question
In the Kittson Central School District, voters will vote on a renewed 10-year referendum to help fund local education. Kittson Central is asking for an increase and to add an inflation clause to prevent the funding from becoming stagnant.
The question reads: “The school board of Independent School District No. 2171 (Kittson Central) has proposed to increase its general education revenue by $4,546 per pupil. A portion of this proposed referendum revenue authorization would replace the school district’s prior authorization of $3,546 per pupil which is scheduled to expire after taxes payable in 2025. The proposed referendum revenue authorization would be applicable for ten years beginning with taxes payable in 2026, and increase each year by the rate of inflation beginning with taxes payable in 2027, unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law. Shall the increase in the revenue proposed by the school board of Independent School District No. 2171 be approved? BY VOTING ‘YES’ ON THIS BALLOT QUESTION, YOU ARE VOTING FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.”
Township and
city office filings
Several seats are up for election throughout townships and cities in Kittson County. We have previously published who is up for election for county commissioner and school boards. You can find what your ballot will look like by visiting sos.state.mn.us.
Here is a comprehensive list of local township and city candidates.
Arveson Township: Supervisor Seat A, Steve Andersen; Special Election for Supervisor Seat B, Daniel Anderson; Town Clerk, Darwyn Anderson.
Cannon Township: Supervisor Seat A, Carl Christopherson; Town Clerk, Melinda Coffield.
Caribou Township: No candidates filed for Supervisor Seat A and Town Clerk.
Clow Township: Town Clerk, Mark Wiese.
Davis Township: Supervisor Seat A, Dane Ryden; Town Clerk, Thomas Dowdle.
Deerwood Township: Supervisor Seat A, Scott Fossell; Town Clerk, Todd Fossell.
Granville Township: Supervisor Seat A, Jon Kenneth Vold; Town Clerk, Jeff Deere.
Hallock Township: Supervisor Seat A, Ronald Anderson; Town Clerk, Frances Pankratz.
Hampden Township: Supervisor Seat A, Justin Mueller; Town Clerk, Ty Diamond.
Hazelton Township: Supervisor Seat A, Faron Johnson; Town Clerk, Richard Lambert.
Hill Township: Supervisor Seat A, Nathan Olsonawski; Town Clerk, Traci Olsonawski.
Jupiter Township: Supervisor Seat A, Ronald Fossell; Town Clerk, Ryan Schwenzefeier.
Norway Township: No candidates filed for Supervisor Seat A or Town Clerk.
Pelan Township: Supervisor Seat A, Wayne J. Cummins; Town Clerk, Raechelle Folland.
Percy Township: Supervisor Seat A, Al Johnson; Town Clerk, Judy Bronson.
Poppleton Township: Supervisor Seat A, Matthew J. Przekwas; Town Clerk, Lindsay K. Gjesdal.
Richardville Township: Supervisor Seat A, Chris Swenson; Town Clerk, Bruce Nielsen.
St. Joseph Township: Supervisor Seat A, Thomas Miesner; Town Clerk, no filing.
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St. Vincent Township: Supervisor Seat A, Roger Loer; Town Clerk, Neil Wiese; Special Election for Town Treasurer, Carlene Cole.
Skane Township: Supervisor Seat A, Robert Rynning; Town Clerk, Mark Lundberg.
South Red River Township: Supervisor Seat A, Jerod Hanson; Town Clerk, Terry Osowski.
Spring Brook Township: Supervisor Seat A, Justin Dagen; Town Clerk, Shawna Aakre.
Svea Township: Special Election for Supervisor Seat C, Scott Alwyn Johnson; Town Clerk, Jeffrey Mortenson.
Tegner Township: Supervisor Seat A, Keith Dziengel; Special Election for Supervisor Seat C, Tim Rynning; Town Clerk, Kimberley Johnson; Special Election for Town Treasurer, Emily Gunnarson.
Teien Township: Supervisor Seat A, Kristopher Dahl; Town Clerk, no filing.
Thompson Township: Supervisor Seat A, Gary Johnson; Town Clerk, Bradley Glad.
Donaldson: Mayor, Lonnie Thompson; Councilor, Stan Utesch (elect 2)
Hallock: Mayor, no filings; Councilor, Naomi Larson and Kevin Waller (elect 2)
Halma: Mayor, Shane Olson; Councilor, Jeff Nobles and Mark A. Olson (elect 2); City Treasurer, Amy Olson.
Humboldt: Mayor, Ronald Gatheridge; Special Election for Councilor, Jessie Evans and Richard Gatheridge (elect 2); City Clerk, Brad Hemmes.
Karlstad: Councilor, Kristin Berberich, Markelle Kuznia and Rob Mickelson (elect 2)
Kennedy: Councilor, Taylor Langen, Joshua Pietruszewski, Jonathan Turn, Cynthia Urbaniak (elect 2); Special Election for Councilor, Jody Bowman.
Lake Bronson: Mayor, no filings; Councilor, Tatum Carlson (elect 2)
Lancaster: Mayor, Kathy Bernstrom; Councilor, Teri Halvorson and John Stenquist (elect 2)
St. Vincent: No filings for councilor or city clerk.