Mailing Address: P.O. Box 75, Mora, MN 55051

MEET THE TOWN BOARD MEMBERS

Elected officials:

Katie Kerr –-  Chair/Supervisor (term expires November 2008)
Kim Johnson –- Vice Chair/Supervisor (term expires Nov. 2010)
Doug Bassett –- Supervisor (term expires November 2010)
Edna Cole –- Treasurer (term expires November 2010)
Sarah Berry –- Clerk (term expires November 2008)

Katie Kerr

Katie was elected to the Ford Town Board in 2005 and has enjoyed serving Ford Township as a Supervisor.  Katie grew up in Whited Township and has lived in Ford Township since May 2003 when she married Ryan Kerr.  She is currently employed as Health Information Services Manager at Pine Medical Center in Sandstone, MN and is also pursuing her Masters Degree in Health Informatics at the College of St. Scholastica.  Katie and Ryan Kerr have one daughter, Nora, who was born in April 2006.  In addition to her current duties as Board Chair, Katie is the alternate Board representative for the North Th 65 Corridor Coalition, edits the semi-annual Township Newsletter “Life and Times of Ford Township” and coordinates the Annual Ford Township Get Together.  Katie enjoys gardening, scrapbooking, deer hunting, ice fishing and spending time with her daughter and husband.

Kim Johnson 

Kim was appointed to the Town Board in 2005 and elected to his first full term in 2006.  Kim serves as the Town Board representative on the Ford Township Planning commission, the North Th 65 Corridor Coalition and the Kanabec County Township Association.  Kim’s first introduction to the area was canoeing the Snake River in the mid-1960s.  Later his parents and grandparents bought land in the township and in 1999, Kim and his wife, Sally, built their home on the river property.  Although Kim commutes to Cambridge/Isanti every day, the river continues to be an important part of the whole family’s life.  Their son, Sam, and fiancée Heidi, and daughter, Erin and husband Eric, are all avid canoeists/kayakers and family gatherings often include something to do with water.  Kim is one of the founders and treasurer of the Friends of the Snake River and serves as DNR river level monitor at the Snake River township bridge.  Kim’s primary focus as a Ford Town official is to make sure that the Snake River and the natural environment are protected so that generations can find the same enjoyment his family has found for the last 40 years.

Doug Bassett

Doug has served as Ford Township Supervisor since 1995 and was just elected to another term in March, 2007.  He is a lifelong resident of the area either in Ford or neighboring Peace Township.  Doug is self employed in his cabinet shop located adjacent to his home.  Doug’s town board assignments include road work and weed control supervision.  Doug and his wife, Clarise, have two children and two grandchildren.

Edna Cole

Edna has served as the Treasurer for Ford Township since she was appointed to complete a term in 2002 and was just elected to her third full term in 2007.  Edna grew up in Ford Township and she and her husband, Jim, returned to the family farm in 1974.  Edna was Executive Director of the Kanabec History Center in Mora before retiring in 1999.  In addition to her duties as Treasurer, Edna writes for the newsletter and the website.  The Coles have two daughters and three grandchildren.  Edna enjoys her Sunday School class of kindergarten/first grade students, scrapbooking, flower gardening, genealogy and time with family and friends.

Sarah Berry

Sarah was appointed as Ford Town Clerk on May 15, 2007.  A resident of the township since October 2005, Sarah grew up in Arthur Township.  Sarah is a kindergarten teacher at Fairview Elementary in Mora.  She and her husband John have three children, Nicole, Kailey and Nolan.  In her free time Sarah enjoys scrapbooking, watching her children’s school activities, and spending time with her husband and children.

MEET THE PLANNNG COMMISSION MEMBERS

Appointed members:

Kim Johnson, Board Representative
Jim Cole
Frank Kriz
Robert Jagusch
Ken Von Bank

Jim Cole

Jim has resided in Ford Township since 1974 and has lived in rural Kanabec County all of his life.  Actively involved with Kanabec County Sheriff’s Reserve, Kanabec County First Responders, the McGrath Area First Responders and other area services, Jim has a deep commitment to this community.  While Jim believes that zoning should be county-wide, he is convinced that the township needs to take the initiative and complete the process as soon as possible.  Jim, and his wife, Edna, have two daughters and three grandchildren.

Frank Kriz

Frank and Barb Kriz bought their farm in Ford Township in 1990 in order to move out of the metropolitan city life to a rural setting where they could enjoy their hobby of having horses and riding.  Frank volunteered for the Planning Commission to be active in the Township.  He felt that his 35 years of experience as a Registered Land Surveyor and Planner could help with the structuring and monitoring of Ford Township policies and ordinances.

Robert Jagusch

Bob is the Director of Public Utilities of Mora and has been a resident of Ford Township since coming to the area in June of 2002.  A retired Navy Submarine Warfare, Surface Warfare and Nuclear Engineering Officer, he now serves on the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association Board of Directors, the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Board of Directors Financial Audit Committee and was appointed by the Governor to the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group.

Ken Von Bank

Ken was born and raised in Scott County, primarily in the City of Shakopee where he witnessed that city grow in size through the annexation of adjoining townships as the population increased from 2,500 to more than 26,000.  For this reason Ken joined the planning commission to help plan for future changes which should be in the best interests of both current and future residents and landowners.  Ken and his wife, Kathy, moved to Ford Township in 2003 when they purchased a local business, Bassetts Greenery.  The Von Banks have 1 son, 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.