News > New Directors Elected at 85th Annual Meeting

New Directors Elected at 85th Annual Meeting

April 7, 2022

Stearns Electric Association hosted its 85^th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at the Melrose Area High School Auditorium. Bob Niehaus of Melrose (Millwood Township) was elected to the Cooperative’s Board of Directors in District 6 to serve a three-year term. Jeff Koehler of Belgrade (Crow Lake Township) was elected in a Special Election in District 5 to serve a two-year term after a vacancy on the board late last year.

Additionally, two directors were re-elected to serve a three-year term:

• District 2: Arlyn Lawrenz, Avon (Holding Township)
• District 3: Michael Cramer, St. Augusta

In 2022, Districts 2, 3 and 6 elected a director to the Cooperative’s Board. Members in District 5 also voted in the special election. The final results were as follows:

DISTRICT 2 – serving Minnesota townships: Holding, Brockway, St. Wendel and LeSauk in Stearns County

• Scott Andreasen – 151
• Arlyn Lawrenz – 416
• Write-In – 2

 DISTRICT 3 – serving Minnesota townships: Waite Park, St. Cloud, St. Augusta, Lynden and Fairhaven in Stearns County

• Michael Cramer – 368
• Tom Keller – 168
• Write-In – 3

DISTRICT 6 – serving Minnesota townships: Millwood, Krain, Oak, Albany, Avon and Collegeville in Stearns County

• Bob Niehaus – 219
• Write-In – 3

DISTRICT 5 (SPECIAL ELECTION) – serving Minnesota townships: Bangor, Glenwood and Grove Lake in Pope County; Raymond, Getty, Grove, North Fork, Lake George, Spring Hill, St. Martin, Crow Lake, Crow River and Lake Henry in Stearns County; and Roseville in Kandiyohi County

• Joe Borgerding – 59
• David Johnson – 23
• Jeff Koehler – 93
• Kurt Lensing – 63
• Andrew Mackenzie – 16
• Troy Walz – 30
• Write-In – 0

Total voter turnout for this year’s election was 12.44%.

Following the meeting, the Stearns Electric Board of Directors held an organizational meeting. The following directors have been 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 200 members attended the 85^th Annual Meeting of Stearns Electric Association. Members present received one pound of cheese and one pound of butter as a gift from the Cooperative. Additionally, a commemorative 85^th Anniversary cookbook was handed out. All members present at the meeting were also entered into a drawing to win one of ten door prizes, each valued at $100.

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.

Please visit the Cooperative’s website, www.stearnselectric.org/annual-meeting, for complete details on the 85^th Annual Meeting. A recorded video of the meeting is also available on the Stearns Electric Facebook page.