Welcome to Avon Township
     Avon Township is located in central Minnesota, approximately 15 miles NW of St. Cloud, Stearns County.  The City of Avon lies roughly in the center of the township.  The landscape, which was shaped by past glacial activity, is primarily rolling hills interspersed with lakes.  The pre-settlement vegetation was largely oak woodlands with scattered lakes, wetlands and prairies.  The flatter terrain and wetlands have made good farm land while the oak forests, many of which remain intact, provide the basis for the Avon Hills Initiative.  The township is committed to preserving the rural and agricultural atmosphere of this area.   Benedictine monks settled in the SE corner of the township and founded St. John's Abbey and St. John's University.  Only a few miles away, in St. Joseph, Benedictine sisters established St. Benedict's Monastery and the College of St. Benedict.  The township is a hub of renewable energy resources:  St. John's is the site of the largest solar array in the upper Midwest and the Blattner Energy  Corporation is the largest installer of wind turbines in the US.  The Lake Wobegon Trail runs east-to-west across the entire the township highlighting the natural beauty of the area.  There are approximately 2100 residents in the township (graph). 

     The township recently completed the construction of a Town Hall and Maintenance Facility.  It is located approximately one mile north of Avon, off County Road 9, at 16881 Queens Road, Avon, MN  56310.  All meetings, elections and other Town activities are held at the Town Hall unless otherwise specified.  The Town Hall is available for use by non-profit organizations (policy & application). 

     The township is governed by a Board comprised of three Supervisors, a Clerk and Treasurer.  The main responsibilities of the Town Board are to hold elections, maintain roads, hold Board of Appeal and Equalization hearings, administer township finances (Board of Audit), and be responsible for planning and zoning.  The Supervisors make all  final decisions about township business.  The Planning Commission is comprised on five members.  The purpose of the Planning Commission is to make recommendations to the Supervisors concerning variances and other issues. 

     Avon Township has a Noise Ordinance.  An Exemption Form should be completed if you are planning an event will violate the ordinance.  Avon Township also has a Gopher Bounty.  Gophers collected for the bounty are saved to feed raptors at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Rockville, MN.

     The Township Supervisors and Planning Commission meet on the first and last Wednesday, respectively, of the month.  Meetings are held at Avon Township Hall 16881 Queens Road, Avon MN, 56310.  Township meetings are open to the public and all are welcome.  To include an item on the agenda of the Board of Supervisors or Planning Commission, contact the Township Clerk (Stephen Saupe; 14493 325th St., St. Joseph, MN 56374; 320.356.2406; email).  Items received less than a week before the meeting cannot be guaranteed to be on the agenda until the following meeting.  

     Legal notices are published in the Albany Enterprise and are posted at Dahlin's Grocery Store (Avon), The Store (St. Anna), and the Avon Township Hall (16881 Queens Road, Avon).

Eagles roosting in Avon Township - image by Kelly Martini