Pat Tepoorten
Wyoming Township Reporter

Annexation and the transition of land from Wyoming Township to Chisago City once again drove the agenda of the Wyoming Town Board Tuesday, Feb. 8.

As at the latter of the January meetings, many residents were in attendance with questions, and in some cases encouragement for the township to appeal Administrative Law Judge Kathleen Sheehyís decision that will move 5000 acres to Chisago City.

For the boardís part, the idea of appealing the decision was not greeted with a great deal of enthusiasm, however, they did reiterate that any resident is free to challenge the decision in court on their own.

The transition has created some concerns for Chisago City, which must create ordinances for a rural population that did not exist prior to the annexation. It was reported by township administrator Fred Weck the city is considering adopting existing township ordinances for the annexed area.

Also, the city is considering contracting with the township to plow and grade annexed roads. No further information was available regarding these issues yet, but it was indicated these were just a few of many options being considered.

Parkerís concern

Board Supervisor Larry Parker raised questions about the future of township fund balances.

ìFive hundred and two households have been contributing to the road and bridge fund for years,î Parker said.

ìNinety-nine percent did not ask to be annexed. Do they not deserve anything out of the township now that they are gone?î

The question led to the larger topic of all fund balances within the township and the tax contributions made by residents whose lives will no longer benefit from future expenditures.

Town Clerk Norma Olson said township attorneys have indicated in the past that those monies are designed to stay in the township.

Still, supervisors indicated they thought Parkerís concern was a legitimate one.

ìThat is a good question. It is something we will have to look into,î said Board Chairman Roger Elmore, who noted township legal council would be consulted further in the matter. Regardless of advise though, it will be the town board that must make any decisions regarding the disbursement of fund balances.

Other news

In other township news, the push to have the 2006 budget ready for residents approval at the annual meeting has been abandoned.

Rather, on advice from Olson, the township will operate for three months before creating a budget for next year. Elmore stated the three-month grace period will give the township a ìrealistic pictureî of revenue and expenditure on which to base next yearís budget.

The 2006 budget is now expected to be prepared in August and ready for approval by residents in September.

The lack of snow and cold temperatures that have dominated the winter season have delayed any further action on the Heath Ave. culvert.

Township Engineer Marc Erichson reports five feet of frost in the area, making it impossible to do any significant excavation in the area. He did note that at last inspection the culvert was running at three-quarters capacity. He advised the township to use the rest of the season to create a permanent solution to the problem.

Finally, a petition was brought before the council by township resident Boyd Bontjes. The petition calls for the re-opening of CR-84, which was closed to the public as part of the deal which brought Polaris to the area.

Another resident, Buck Schott, noted that a study had revealed the continuation of CR-84 around the Polaris property to be economically and ecologically prohibitive.

Furthermore, he stated, ìthe people who live on a line between Polaris and County Road 36, who were most inconvenienced, are in favor of closure.î

Still, Bontjes said, he would like the county board to reconsider their decision.

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