News > New Facility Announced, Three Incumbent Directors Re-elected at 87th Annual Meeting

New Facility Announced, Three Incumbent Directors Re-elected at 87th Annual Meeting

April 5, 2024

Stearns Electric Association hosted its 87^th Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Melrose Area High School Auditorium.

Three incumbents, Randy Rothstein of Richmond, Jeff Koehler of Belgrade and Jerry Fries of St. Cloud, were re-elected in districts 4, 5 and 9 respectively and will each serve one three-year term.

The results were as follows:

DISTRICT 4 – Farming, Zion, Munson, Paynesville, Eden Lake and Luxemburg townships

• Neil Franz – 73
• Randy Rothstein, incumbent – 259
• Write-In – 1

 DISTRICT 5 – Bangor, Crow Lake, Crow River, Getty, Glenwood, Grove, Grove Lake, Lake George, Lake Henry, North Fork, Raymond, Roseville, Spring Hill and St. Martin townships

• Jeff Koehler, incumbent – 181
• Jeff Peter – 70
• Write-In – 0

DISTRICT 9 – St. Joseph, Wakefield, Rockville and Maine Prairie townships

• Jerry Fries, incumbent – 271
• Rick Schultz – 144
• Write-In – 0

Total voter turnout for this year’s election was 14.2%. Members in voting districts could vote one of three ways: online, by mail or in person.

During the meeting, Cooperative executives and Board President Eric Peterson announced Stearns Electric’s official plans to build a new operations center and headquarters facility in Melrose. Excavation work is expected to begin on May 6, 2024 with approximately 14 months of construction to follow. More information about this announcement, as well as details on an upcoming open house about the project, is available at stearnselectric.org/melrose-facility.

Following the Annual meeting, the Stearns Electric Board of Directors held an organizational meeting. The following directors have been re-elected to serve as the Board officers:

• President – Eric Peterson, District 8
• Vice President – Randy Rothstein, District 4
• Secretary/Treasurer – Michael Cramer, District 3

Over 250 members attended the 87^th Annual Meeting of Stearns Electric Association. Members present received a one-pound block of cheese and one pound of butter as a gift from the Cooperative. Additionally, all members present at the meeting were entered in a drawing to win one of 10 door prizes, each valued at $100.

Stearns Electric also live streamed the meeting from its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/stearnselectric. A recorded video of the meeting is available there.

The Stearns Electric Annual Meeting is an opportunity for Cooperative members to meet with Stearns Electric’s Board of Directors and employees, hear reports of past progress and future plans from the Cooperative’s executive team, and vote for open Board of Director positions.