GAYLORD — A Minnesota school district is seeking nearly $3 million from a farmer who sued to try to invalidate a successful $43 million bond referendum.

Sibley East Public Schools in Gaylord says the farmer’s litigation cost it nearly $3 and he failed to put up a $300,000 surety bond ordered by a judge.

An attorney for the district says Nathan Kranz should be held in contempt and fined to cover the costs to the district and taxpayers arising from the delays in the bond sale. The Free Press of Mankato reports the district originally planned to sell bonds in January, but couldn’t until June.

Kranz attorney Erick Kaardal says the motion is frivolous and that the district missed the deadlines for filing it.

A hearing is set for Nov. 16.