Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

A special election Thursday, Feb. 17, will name a new Wyoming City Council member.

Bob Hittner and Joe Zerwas have filed as candidates for the at-large position. Both were asked to provide a (1) brief biography, giving voters the reasons they are running and what helpful experience(s) they would bring to office if elected.

They were also asked to comment on the following statements. (2) Identify one or more important issue that the city is dealing with today or will need to address in the future. Give your opinion(s) and reasons about how these might best be resolved. Finally, (3) candidates were invited to add other information for voter consideration.

Candidates are listed alphabetically. Summaries of their responses follow. Council members serve four-year terms.

Hittner

Hittner is serving an interim term on council. (1) He graduated from UW-Stout in 1979 with a degree in applied math. He is employed at Information Builders, a privately held software company in St. Paul.

He, wife Laurie, and son have lived in Wyoming since 1990. ìWe moved to Wyoming in hopes of finding a small, quiet, safe town, with friendly neighbors, a school within walking distance, and for commuting reasons, equal distance to either downtown. We found just that in Wyoming.î

Hittner has ìbeen actively involved in the community.î From 1990-2004 he was a member of the Wyoming Planning Commission. While a member of the Wyoming Park Commission, joint park (city & township) board chair (1992-98), he helped develop Sunrise Park with the township, worked on a DNR grant for Swenson Park renovation, and worked with Violence Free Wyoming for park cleanup projects. A member of the Violence Free Wyoming Task Force, he was acting president for one year.

Hittner has participated in business/community workshops (1992-1994), was a member of the EDA (1992-1994) and helped write the new light industrial zoning and the revised description of the zoning for the industrial park. Other service includes Wyoming Consolidation Committee (1994-1997), comprehensive plan member (1999-2001), building committee member (2001-2002), and Wyoming Community Fest planning for four years. Hittner has also served as a Cub Scout den leader and coach for youth basketball and baseball.

Hittner identified important issues facing the city (2) as a need for ìpositive increase in commercial growth, open communication and analysis of the impact the surrounding communities have on local growth.î He believes in ìproactive planning for the cityís infrastructure.î

To encourage commercial growth and retain current businesses, there should be ìopen communication between the city and businesses. An updated comprehensive plan should reflect the changing business/residential landscape.î Hittner believes the city should ìconsider changes to our zoning ordinances that will allow for multi-use zones, that are business friendly, but enforceable.î The city is working to streamline the approval process for new businesses. ìInfrastructure and available land are needed to accommodate the growth.î

ìThe updated comprehensive plan will provide a foundation for intelligent, orderly growth in the Wyoming area. We should invite township officials to participate in updating our comprehensive plan, which would help us to understand the impact to growth inside and outside our borders.î He thinks the city and township officials ìshould be willing to work together to design a blueprint for growth in the area.î Wyoming should maintain its ìown unique identity, but also continue to be a good neighbor.î

Finally, (3) ìgrowth affects everyone because of the impact it has on services, such as roads, water/sewer, parks, police/fire and schools. We should analyze a graduated fee structure for commercial and residential developments. The legality and implementation of impact fees should be examined for building reserves for additional infrastructure and schools. Growth will continue to exist, but we will need to make sure it is intelligent and orderly and still maintain a sound, responsible fiscal program.î

Zerwas

Zerwas and wife Lynn have four sons and a daughter. They have lived in Wyoming 15 years. He (1) is a ìcurrent member of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, a past member of the National Police Chiefs and State Chiefs Association, and at one point was in charge of civil defense for the city of Elk River.î

A ìretired police chief,î Zerwas has ìtwo years post-secondary education with emphasis on criminal justice and management skills.î He is a candidate for council because he believes he has the ìleadership experience to make a difference.î He will have the ìtime required to serve the citizens of Wyoming better.î

Zerwas writes (2) he ìwill work with department heads to provide the services required (police, fire, street, water, sewer, and parks).î He says he will ìwork to get more commercial and industrial development in the city. This will provide badly needed taxes and help keep homeowners tax burden at a minimum.î Finally, he will make an effort for ìsenior citizens on fixed incomes to control the every-year tax increases.î

In final comments Zerwas (3) believes ìit is important to an elected official to be the voice for the people who elected them.î In addition, ìit is important that the citizens of Wyoming be well informed on important issues in the city. Citizen input is very important to a city council. Citizens should be involved in major issues.î

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