Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area ReporterChisago County Sheriff Todd Rivard visited Wyoming City Council May 17 for his first official visit to Wyoming, as part of his plan to visit all councils in the county. His second aim was to get input from council members, answer their questions, and find out what the sheriffís department can do for the city.
Asked about county problems, the main issue is shortage of jail space. The county jail is at full capacity with 53 inmates.
Because of space limitations, 15-45 inmates are housed in Washington County facilities at a daily cost of $81.11 each. The skyrocketing population is partially a result of the department of corrections returning short term offenders, those with 180 days or less to serve, back to county jails to complete their terms, Rivard said.
He said the county needs a new justice center, including court, administration, attorneys, sheriff, jail and community center.
The county is in the early stages of planning for a new justice center; with a new facility still four to five years in the future. The process requires the services of a justice planner, identifying needs for the jail and other services, determination of how large the facility needs to be, where it should be located.
Design would take a year with construction completed in 15-24 months. In the meantime he has obtained a variance to house an additional 14 inmates, bringing the total to 67.
Stars and Strikes
Betsy Rud, developer for Stars and Strikes, an entertainment center proposed for the Wyoming Business Park, sought information from the council about a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency letter restricting additional hookups to the wastewater treatment plant. Negotiations and building of the Polaris Industries research facility affects the waste water system.
The city must operate a modified spraying system as it vacates the site and decommissions the wastewater treatment site, in preparation to hook-up with the regional sewer system. In its letter the MPCA says the reduction in spray irrigation area will put the wastewater treatment facility ìat, or near, its hydraulic capacity.î MPCA says it ìwill not approve sewer extension permits after the Polaris permit until WWWFA is fully connected to the Chisago Lakes Joint Sewage Treatment System.î
Rudís concern is the additional statement the ìcity should also consider not allowing any new connections from previously approved sewer extension permits.î She and her partners fear the ruling could jeopardize development of the family entertainment center.
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