Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area ReporterCiting a decline in health, Martin English resigned from his position as a member of the Wyoming City Council Monday night. The resignation is effective immediately.
Before his announcement he commented on the hard work done by council members completing their respective terms and asked residents to acknowledge their considerable contributions to the city.
Mayor Vern Haag called a short recess to allow council members to personally say good-bye to English before the meeting continued. English left the meeting after his send-off.
Haag reflected on English as a ìspecial personî who had important input during his term.
On the legal advice of City Attorney Tom Miller, the council officially accepted the resignation, and then declared a vacancy on the council. Action was taken near the end of the meeting.
City Administrator Jill Teetzel was directed to post the vacancy and invite interested residents to submit their names for consideration. The council will appoint an interim member until a special election is scheduled sometime early in 2005 to elect his replacement.
Budget review
In budget discussions, council learned there have been no suggestions yet from department head about where cuts can be made in respective budgets.
Teetzel estimated that about $300,000 can be cut from capital improvements. It may remain up to the council as to where cuts can be made.
Cuts in capital improvements in recent years have meant postponement of some projects, including street repairs, and equipment purchases because not enough money is collected to cover the costs of the work.
CM Lynn Koalska, council budget liaison, said the city could use the same levy rate as last year or issue the levy rate to support the entire proposed budget. Keeping the city levy rate the same ó that is the same percentage of tax on home valuation ó would result in a slightly higher levy collection for the city in 2005.
Still, cuts will need to be made in the 2005 budget, members said.
Koalska reminded residents that there are levies that are fixed and outside the levy limits, including that for the library, EDA levy for the fire department.
However, she pointed out that the city should be receiving about $43,500 from the sale of properties in the business park, with revenue shared between Chisago County and the city.
Her recommendation was to keep the same tax rate. This would result in a levy of between $1.2 and $1.3 million for the city levy.
The Wyoming Truth in Taxation public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 29, at city hall.
Other business
In other business, council:
ïLearned from Teetzel that the city needs to post a revised job description for city financial officer. There have been two applicants for the position.
ïPassed resolution authorizing the closure of city offices on Friday, Nov. 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
ïPassed a resolution confirming Justin Johnson, Traci Johnson, and Laurie Stanway as volunteer firefighters for the city.
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