Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

The city of Wyoming is now searching for a city council member in addition to a city administrator as the result of resignations. At its June 7 meeting, council passed a resolution accepting the letter of resignation from Allen Juneau from his council seat.

His decision was announced at the May 17 meeting, by CM Tom LaBarre, but no details were available. Juneau did not attend that meeting. At that time, Attorney Tom Miller recommended a written letter of resignation.

CM Ted Phillips read the letter at the June 7 meeting. In it, Juneau cites financial and personal stress as a result of the ìcontinuing legal action brought about by former Council Member Lynn Koalska.î Koalska has filed a post-election suit against Juneau.

He continued, ìThis issue leads me to believe that politics isnít about public service or doing whatís right for the people, itís about who has the most financial resources and the best lawyers.î

A second reason given for his resignation was what Juneau called ìnever ending attacks on the City Council by the Forest Lake Times has disheartened me, the unfair innuendoes and suspicions cast by the FL Times editor has destroyed my belief that good people can enter public service with the good of the people in mind only to have it twisted into something bad by an overzealous editor that has political motivations.î

Juneau said he was ìa bit naive about politics... (and) cannot continue to do this jobî with the pressures described above. He apologized to ìother members of the city council for lashing out and blaming them for my issues. With all that has happened I lost my cool and blamed other members for things they had nothing to do with, they are hard working and dedicated individuals.î

ìMy first responsibility is to my wife and children, and I must give full attention to the people I love and reduce the undue pressure brought on them by these public and legal issues.

ìPlease accept by resignation as a good faith effort on my part to move on. Hopefully something good will come of it. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and accept my apology for any problems caused by this resignation.î He asked residents to ìcontinue your support for our city council; they are doing a good job under tough conditions.î

Council status

Council has been functioning with four members since before Juneauís resignation was announced May 17.

Miller said a special election must be held to elect a replacement, because he resigned so early in the term. Of the options available in the interim, council elected to invite residents to submit resumes. City staff was directed to post and publish the opening.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, June 17. Council will schedule interviews. An appointment will be made at the June 21 meeting.

Discussion about the city administrator position focused mostly on salary last week.

Mayor Sheldon Anderson wants to research the pay for city administrators. CM Tom LaBarre asked if it is necessary to specify salary. It is customary to specify a range or for an applicant to submit salary requirements.

Anderson asked for all members to submit an idea of what to pay and ìset a pay range.î He wants to ìattract someone to do the job, no on-the-job training,î especially with the likelihood of the potential merger of the township and the city.

Phillips asked about job criteria. He would like to see someone with at least five years of experience, or if an assistant, perhaps 10 years. He suggested a pay scale that might begin at $75,000 a year with stepped increases to $95,000 in three years.

LaBarre thought the salary step increases were steep for such a short time. Phillips said they were suggestions, but anticipated an experienced administrator. The individual hired will be coming in at the end of anticipated annexation and he believed the costs would be justified.

CM Joe Zerwas asked what was budgeted for the position. Except for the six-month severance for former Administrator Jill Teetzel, there has been no salary paid for this position.

Anderson said the ìpossibility is rather goodî that the merger will go through. If it does the cost of the administrator would be spread out over a larger tax base. He suggested bringing in township leaders to help with the search and selection of a new city administrator.

Miller suggested a special work session. Phillips thought with full input directed to acting administrator Sandy Berry, ideas could be compiled before the work session.

It is expected a job description would be determined at the work session. A date will be announced.

Top of Page

Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605