Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area ReporterAfter discussion with Engineer Lee Elfering, the Wyoming city council passed a resolution approving plans for a temporary force main for the Polaris site to the sewage treatment ponds. It will be used until the city is hooked up to the regional sewer system.
Council accepted the bid from Minncomm Utility Construction in the amount of $49,825. Elfering said he knows the companyís work from seeing it in completed projects in other communities. Vote was unanimous 5-0. The company has agreed to a Nov. 8 completion date.
As evidenced by the barricades and signs on East Viking Blvd., work on the water main project out to the Polaris site has begun.
Council approved a resolution for the issuance and sale by Chisago Lakes Joint Sewage Treatment Commission of a general obligation sewer revenue note in the amount of $13,506,690. All municipalities that are participants in the joint powers agreement act on this or a similar resolution.
Based on Elferingís recommendation, council authorized a trunk fee study for the city. This is to assist the city in determining fair and reasonable charges for water and sewer hook-ups. The $23,000 will come from the enterprise fund that is generated from water and sewer fees.
The city can expect a return on the investment. It will help the city justify trunk fees when they are put in place. According to Attorney Tom Miller ìif you donít do the study, then there may be grounds for contesting the trunk fees.î
Police business
Administrator Jill Teetzel sought council opinion on how to handle overtime for Police Chief Tony Pangal until ìpermanent solution is adopted.î After a discussion and input from Pangal, council voted to ìcontinue as in the past until/unless there appears to be an abuse of overtime.î
Frequently, processing an arrest, a court appearance, attendance at council meetings require more hours than a normal shift. By Pangalís admission, the police chiefís job cannot be completed in a 40-hour week. The chiefís job has many administrative demands.
Currently, a background check is being completed on an individual who may become the sixth officer. This also matches Pangalís goal to add another day officer.
Stars and Strikes
Under new business, council passed a resolution approving the sale of land by the EDA to developers of Stars and Strikes, for the price of $35,000.
Contingencies are negotiation of a satisfactory purchase agreement, that construction is to begin within one year or the land reverts to the city, and finally, if the land is resold, the city is to share in the profits of the sale. Miller will have purchase and development agreements prepared by the next meeting.
Councilís vote was 4-1, with CM Martin English voting against the sale. As a member of the EDA, English cast the only vote against the sale, saying he does ìnot think the project is well conceived for the industrial park, with only one road for access.î
CM Lynn Koalska said she ìfeels good about the concept and location.î Contingencies in the resolution protect the city.
Other council members had similar opinions.
Council passed a resolution scheduling a public hearing for 7 p.m. Jan. 3, 2005, to consider the establishment of a Tax Increment Finance District (No.3), the adoption of a financing plan, and award of a business subsidy, all in downtown Wyoming. Related to this, a resolution was also passed authorizing the EDA to contact Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik, & Associates to conduct the proposed TIF district building assessment.
Other topics
Council passed a resolution authorizing the Wyoming Fire Department to advertise for bids for a new fire engine. This is one of the wish-list items on the city budget.
Bids will help determine if it remains part of the budget.
A final business item was discussion of public information liaison update. Haag is concerned about misinformation about the proposed budget and proposed levy. CM Ted Phillips was asked as public information liaison to add or improve information submitted to the cityís website.
This relates to the preliminary budget; what the city would ìlikeî to spend: with items, projects, and reductions prioritized for cuts, if they must be made. Koalska said increases in wages and insurance benefits account for part of the budget increase, not just big ticket items.
Another request was that distinction be made between the levy (specifically 2004) and proposed levy (2005). The percentage increase between the two is large now, but when the budget is trimmed will be smaller. Likely the proposed levy will not be as high when finally certified, because the city officials attempt to keep the city tax burden reasonable.
The Truth in Taxation hearing is scheduled Nov. 29. Final certification of the 2005 levy is December 15.
As a result of an oral complaint made by Sheldon Anderson to city officials about placement of campaign signs too close to street rights-of-way, a city worker will be directed to remove any/all signs in the public rights-of-way within the city.
The rights-of-way vary; on streets without curbs, the distance is ten feet, on those with curbs, the distance is 14 feet. There also may be additional variations based on whether the street is under city or county jurisdiction.
According to Teetzel, it is estimated the job will take one full business day, if not more.
Haag indicated some signs were placed by supporters without his knowledge. Anderson contends each candidate is responsible for where signs are placed. Anderson and Haag are opponents in the Wyoming mayoral race.
Council members were enthusiastic about Life Scout Gabe Raederís proposed Eagle Scout project. A member of Forest Lake Troop 487, Raeder wants to design and build at least six heavy-duty, split-log benches along the Sunrise Prairie Trail.
Because it is a county trail, Mayor Vern Haag advised Raeder to contact Laird Mork of Chisago County Parks.
Other business
In other business, council:
ïApproved the report and proposals of the Sesquicentennial Committee. The check on insurance for the event must be finalized to be certain there is coverage.
ïLearned Jack Kramer is continuing with inspections of automatic sprinkler systems being installed; he still must inspect systems that were installed to determine whether they use city water or pump from a lake. Next year, Kramer will try to catch-up on inspection backlog. Until and unless a home displays the inspection sticker, (check to determine if the system is hooked up property), homeowners must adhere to the odd-even watering schedule.
ïLearned from Elfering that the engineering part of the federal EDA application has been accepted and modifications to the environmental section have been resubmitted for review.
ïAccepted the attorneyís, public works supervisor, and police chiefís reports by a vote of 4-0, with English abstaining. English did not attend the Sept. 28 meeting.
ïPassed a resolution appointing at least one additional election judge; student volunteer Alex Yeager.
ïLearned from the Millerís report all three cities involved in building libraries have closed on transfers of property to the county. Final development agreements have been signed by the appropriate parties.
ïLearned from Koalska that Goodview Park has been graded and seeded.
ïLearned from Miller that a new ordinance or an amended one is being considered for industrial park zoning.
ïLearned there is still no response from Jeff Hansen regarding his property on Kettle River Blvd.
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