Eckles Township Notices
ECKLES TOWNSHIP NOTICE
Eckles Township Comprehensive Plan.
Draft Comprehensive Plan
Road Map
Development Map
Water Map
Other important Dates:
Eckles Township Regular Board Meeting – June 10, 2025
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ECKLES TOWNSHIP
SOLICIATION FOR QUOTE/S FOR ROADGRADING AND SNOWPLOWING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Board of Supervisors for Eckles Township is requesting quote/s for road grading, sanding and snowplowing to be valid for the period of (2) years.
The contract is expected to begin June 22,2025 and continue until June 22, 2027. Quotes may be mailed or delivered to: 14545 Mosey LN NW, Bemidji, MN 56601, or hand delivered to Eckles Community Center before 6:00 p.m. on June 10,2025. Deadline for quotes is June 10,2025 no later than 6:00 p.m. All quotes for snowplowing, road grading and road sanding shall be quoted separately with a price per hour and a base price for fuel estimated at the time of submitted quote/s.
Minimum requirements are:
1. Backup grader and snowplow.
2. Graders will need to be an equivalent of 120 hp or larger.
3. Primary grader needs to be articulated with a minimum of a 16’blade.
4. Grader shall include a wing and V plow for winter snowplowing.
5. Snowplow truck shall have front plow and wing.
6. Sanding and salting equipment required.
7. 24 hour availability is required and should be stated in quote.
8. A water truck with a 6,000 gallon tank shall be available and quoted
1. with a price per hour.
9. Additional snow removal equipment required of pick-up truck with plow
2. and sander.
Proof of minimum liability insurance in the amount of $2,000,000.00 shall be submitted with the quote.
Eckles Township reserves the right to reject any or all quotes, waive any irregularities, and award the quote in the best interest of Eckles Township.
Welcome to Eckles Township!
Eckles Township is an approximately 34 square mile area immediately west of Bemidji, MN in southern Beltrami County. It is bounded by the Bemidji Regional Airport in the Southeast, Northern Township to the east, County Road 22 and Liberty Township on the North, Lammers Township on the West and Grant Valley Township on the south. US Highway 2 runs East/West through the lower part of the township toward Crookston and Duluth. CSAH 9 runs north/south through the eastern part of the township to CSAH 26. and State Highway 89 runs north/south through the western portion of the township to the Red Lake Nation. The City of Wilton exists in the southern portion of the Township. The Bemidji Theater, Pete’s Place West, Wells Technology, Dave Walters Homes, Frontier Homes and Knife River Materials are the primary businesses in the Township. Most are located along Hwy 2. The newly formed and developing Beltrami Area Shooting Sports Range is also located in a forested area of the Township.
Founded in the 1890’s as part of the railroad expansion in the US, it has grown from approximately 200 people to an estimated 1400 in the last 100 years. Originally relying on existing timber for lumber, the homesteaders gravitated to agriculture in the early 1900’s. By 1920, agriculture was the most important industry in the township. The poor soil and tough conditions soon forced many farmers to allow their homesteads to become tax forfeit and revert back to forest lands. The Conservation Corps began replanting forests and farming began to dwindle into what is now Eckles Township with most people in the Township working off the land on which they live, in or around Bemidji.
The name Eckles derives from a reverse spelling of the name Selke. Selke was the original name of the railroad siding that is believed to be the present location of the City of Wilton. Various sawmills were located at different times in this general vicinity to take advantage of the railroad.
Township Officials have had different responsibilities during the past 100 years but they have always retained the responsibility to maintain Township roads in winter and summer. That responsibility continues to expand in scope and complexity as individuals move from the city to live in the country and work or play in the City. The majority of the nearly fifty miles of Township maintained roads are seven ton gravel roads. Most major roads in the Township follow section lines and were located to get residents to and from their homesteads with timber or agricultural products. Road orders dating from the early 1900’s establish 66 foot wide rights-of-way along the lines. Most of these have been maintained in some fashion since that time. An extensive effort to record and recognize these roads into perpetuity was completed by Russ Gustafson in the 1990’s.
Government officials also maintain the Township Cemetery located along Highway 89, conduct elections, control beaver, insure residents have fire protection, interact and respond to actions taken by Beltrami County. Town meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at the Eckles Community Center, 9735 Cardinal Road NW. The budget and Township priorities are determined at the annual meeting held the 2nd Tuesday of March each year. Officials are elected at that time.