Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

Wyoming is in process of reviewing all professional services. At the Feb. 1 meeting council approved continuing contracts with Elfering and Associates (engineering), Abdo, Eick and Meyers (financial audit), Twin Cities Area Web Design (website design) and F&F Janitorial Services (cleaning).

City Administrator Jill Teetzel recommended council continue services with Miller Law Office for legal services based on competitive rates and exceptional attorney services. She said attorneys are always professional and have created an excellent working city relationship.

CM Tom LaBarre requested additional time to review details of legal proposals, so action was postponed until the next meeting.

Teetzel also recommended extending the process for selecting a building inspector. Council placed on hold a decision for a towing contract until the city can arrange for a city owned/leased impound lot.

The city now has four police reservists. Council confirmed appointments of Rolland Menzel, Anthony Mickelson, Matthew Mitchell, and Chad Wiener. Reservists are participating in the Washington County training program.

Teetzel announced that Polaris has made contribution of $10,000 to the park board. The contribution is likely to be used to help pay for improvements to Goodview Park.

CR-84 update

Chisago County Commissioner Ben Montzka said no questions had been allowed at the Chisago County Board meeting about CR-84.

He could not propose a reopening of CR-84. There have been at least two accidents at the gates of the closed road at the Polaris site.

An Optiscan system to operate gates for emergency vehicles would cost $18,000. It is possible Polaris may contribute a portion of the cost.

Montzka provided a county map, with plowing routes color-coded by driver. This is in response to some concerns about the plowing. He provided a copy of the county snowplowing policy.

A stop light has been requested at the intersection of CR-22 and US-61. Montzka said a warrant is needed for a stop light. Teetzel has requested MnDOT check the intersection. She suspects there will be increased traffic through the intersection once CR-84 is closed this summer. Montzka will write a supporting letter for the city.

Other topics

Teetzel reported there have been several annexation requests from landowners whose property abuts city boundaries. The total amounts to about 80 acres.

Public hearings must be scheduled for these annexation requests before council action can be taken.

Mayor Sheldon Anderson has been contacted by a resident who has offered $5000 to add a K-9 program to the police department. Council gave approval for research.

According to City Attorney Tom Miller, Stars and Strikes developers have directed questions to his office about beginning construction. It is unclear whether or not this project will move forward, Miller said in a report to council.

Council passed a resolution appointing Wyoming volunteer fire fighters. Officers are: Dennis Berry, chief; Byron Rieck, admin. chief; Brian Rod and Michael McGuiness, assistant chiefs; Daniel Dahlager, lieutenant chief; Richard Forster, Jerome Moser, and John Hastings, captains; Mark Oknich, engineer; and David Czepa, fire marshal. Firefighters are: Jay Achenback, Duston Benoit, Karen Brown, Allan Chmielewski, Susan Daley, Garan Enquist, Jeremy Hastings, Matt Joesting, Justin Johnson, Traci Johnson, Thad Joselyn, Mark Kopka, Ken LaCasse, Richelle Nicosia, Phil Niemczyk, LeRoy Olheiser, Donn Olson, Jason Russell, Tim Shusta, Lauri Stanway, Greg Steiner and Kevin Sternhagen.

Other business

In other business, Feb. 1, council:

ïRescheduled public hearings and any action related to the proposed tax increment finance district until Tuesday, March 1 because of incomplete information about proposed boundaries for the development district.

* Learned there have been several burglary attempts in the businesses south of Viking. There are different levels of alarm systems in these businesses. The police department is investigating the crimes and continues to encourage the best alarm systems possible.

ïLearned employees will present requests for new contract on Feb. 7. City response will be Feb. 23.

ïPassed a resolution appointing Sandy Berry and Teetzel as judges for the special election Feb. 17.

ïLearned Teetzel will be attending Minnesota Clerkís and Finance Officerís Assoc. Conference March 16-18 in St. Cloud.

ïLearned CM LaBarre attended the League of Minnesota Cities conference.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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