Lou Michaels
Wyoming Township ReporterA state mediator will be asked to step in and solve the Wyoming Township and Chisago City border battle that has taken on new form this month.
Chisago City and Wyoming Township completed the three state mandated voluntary mediation sessions on Feb. 26 without reaching an agreement. Wyoming Township officials did not accept a final Chisago City proposal, which reduced its property claim and offered ìvoluntaryî annexation by the March 5 deadline.
Wyoming Township Zoning Administrator Fred Weck said the town board is not expected to take action on the proposal.
John Pechman, city administrator for Chisago City said he will file the paperwork needed to begin state department of administration mediation.
Chisago City and Wyoming Township will be asked to agree on a state mediator, or have one appointed, to direct the next round of negotiations.
Pechman said last week the city scaled back its annexation request and has developed a two-phase voluntary annexation plan in attempt to reach an agreement.
In its final offer, Pechman said the city scaled back its property request from the original 11,000 acres, or eastern half of the township, to 7000 acres east of Iris Avenue and most of US-8.
The 7,000 acres would be divided into two phases: Property east of Jeffrey Avenue would have 10 years to request city annexation and the rest would have 20 years to make an annexation decision.
Chisago City and Wyoming Township will participate in three state directed mediation sessions this spring.
If Chisago City and Wyoming Township fail to reach an agreement, the issue will be sent before an administrative law judge.
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