Posted: 6/18/03

Comprehensive plan costs grow

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Wyoming Township will dip into its pocketbook to help with development of the comprehensive plan.

The township will spend $13,500 in retaining the services of Thora Cartlidge, of the Center for Rural Design at the University of Minnesota for phase 1, July through September.

Of that, $1000 is allotted for a written assessment of the Wyoming Township Comprehensive Plan as written by the planning commission, and related plans ordinances, maps and citizen input affecting the comprehensive plan.

Step 2, budgeted at $2000 includes a set of 10-12 maps showing GIS data at township scale and subwatershed scale to describe current physiographic features, land use and ecological patterns.

Step 3, at $1500 includes a community workshop to present research findings and map information and determine consensus community values regarding future look and function of Wyoming Township.

The fourth and most expensive step of Phase 1, at $7000, includes a set of 4-6 maps using GIS data interpretation tools to show community values layer and alternative spatial development patterns which combine goals of the comprehensive plan with community values.

Supervisor Roger Elmore pushed for involvement by CRD.

Speaking of members of the planning commission, and the process of putting together a comprehensive plan, Elmore said, ìI donít think any of them are truly qualified to do the work.î

Curtis Lendt, a member of the planning commission, suggested this was a waste of money when so much of the work was previously completed by former planning and zoning administrator Lisa Hughes.

ìNobody is ever going to agree with anything, no matter how itís presented,î Lendt said. ìI donít really see a necessity of hiring some outsider.î

He said one area where help would be needed is from an attorney to assist in wording ordinances.

Supervisor Ron Swenson wondered about the costs of bringing in CRD.

ìAt the annual meeting it was strongly turned down to spend a large amount of money,î Swenson said.

Diane McEvoy, a resident of the community, supported bringing Cartlidge into the loop.

ìI think having Thora would be good just to get it started,î she said. ìIf you can just get started at some logical order maybe thatís where we could get started.î

Phase 2, the concept design stage, which has not yet been approved by the town board, is estimated at $21,500.

Phase 3, the report recommendations state, is estimated to be $12,000. With expenses added in, the total cost to have CRD involved through the completion in February, 2004 is $49,500.

Chairman Larry Parker added the township has only approved Phase I.

ìWhether we go any further or not would be determined at a later date,î he said.

Cartlidge suggested the township apply for grants to assist in funding the second and third phases of the projects.

Saying the township should not rule out Phase 2 and Phase 3, Elmore said. ìIf the township needs additional help, weíll have to do something.î

Noise complaints

In an attempt to ease tensions between residents wanting to enjoy peace and quiet and residents who want to enjoy using dirtbikes and all terrain vehicles on their landóa good faith agreement was reached.

The agreement, which is not legally binding, outlines hours of operation for all terrain vehicles on particular tracks in the township. It also lays out how many bikes can be running at any given time.

While a member of the committee addressing the problem, Elmore suggested the township do more to alleviate the problem.

ìI have a feeling it just is a Band-Aid,î he said. ìWeíll need to develop an ordinance.î

He added many townships and cities are having the same problemsóand pointed to examples of some ordinances in effect.

ìI just donít think itís going to work. I think itís going to be hard to police,î he said of the agreement.

Parker, however, said the planning commissionówho would ultimately be responsible for developing the ordinanceóhas enough on its plate.

ìThe planning commission is so bogged down right now, I just donít see a minute of time to develop this,î Parker said. He added the agreement should be given some time before it is deemed a failure.

Tim Audette, a resident who is bothered by the noise, said it needs to be a priority.

ìYouíre going to have to make time because if you donít Joe Taxpayerís going to be making phone calls and kinda bothering you,î he said.

Rick OíDash, who also lives near a track said the agreement had not been violated as of the meeting.

ìWe did say weíre going to give them time, we did commit ourselves,î Parer said.

While the town board did not give the go ahead to write the ordiance, Elmore volunteered to do some legwork.

ìI just think we need to move ahead with this,î he said.

The issue will be discussed again at the next meeting.

Personnel issues

Fred Weck will stay on as planning and zoning adminstrator/building offficial. At the end of his one year probationary period, the townboard voted last week to retain him as a full time employee.

Building inspector Raeoun Jacobson also was made a permanent member of the staff.

In another personnel issue, the board approved to continue paying 100 percent of health insurance costsóat about a $12,000 cost.

Parker, who also is a member of the personnel committee, said the increase in insurance costs may affect pay increases. He suggested raises be given to employees at the beginning of the year, rather than on individual anniversary dates.

Meetings

The Wyoming Town Board of Supervisors regularly meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Wyoming Town Hall. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 24.

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