Pat Tepoorten
Wyoming Township Reporter

The Township of Wyoming held their Annual Meeting last Tuesday, in the wake of the recent annexation decision and without the burden of having to fashion the 2006 budget, which has been postponed until August to give the township some time to adjust to the reduced tax base.

Election results were announced at the beginning of the meeting, with Mark Utecht emerging victorious by a margin of 80 to 16. He will be joined on the board by yet another supervisor, who will be appointed to fill Larry Parkerís seat at the boardís regular meeting Tuesday, March 22.

Township Board Chairman Roger Elmore spoke at length to those in attendance about both the transition of annexed lands and a very interesting, recent development with the City of Wyoming.

In a letter addressed to Elmore, Wyoming Mayor Sheldon Anderson has requested representatives of the two entities explore a merger.

The letter states, ìThe time is right to explore anew such a combination. It is altogether clear that Wyoming Township and the City of Wyoming need to have meaningful and decisive discussions again, and soon, to assure we can deliver to our residents the services they need at a price they can afford, and to remain in control of our own destiny.î

Elmore informed attendees that he had spoken with Anderson and noted the tone of the City ìmakes for a promising series of talks.î
And, although he warned that there could be compromises along the way, Elmore said he feels the city is open to a merger in which the township could maintain its rural character and quality of life.

One concern that was brought up repeatedly is the prospect of other municipalities, like Chisago City and Forest Lake, seeking to annex more and more pieces of land while the township negotiated with the City of Wyoming.

Elmore responded by noting Chisago City has ìits hands fullî right now, and that, in discussions with Forest Lake it was revealed they have little interest in annexing land from Wyoming Township at this time. Elmore noted MUSA Line issues and annexation in other areas as possible reasons for this.

Although surrounding municipalities seem uninterested in annexing township lands at this moment, that could change at any time, and Elmore sees the possibility of discussions with the City of Wyoming as a way for the township to control its own destiny. ìThe township needs to make a move that will benefit itself. Itís time for us now,î said Elmore.

To allay any concerns about the possible talks, Elmore described how they would be conducted, including an early round of ìinformalî talks between representatives of the two entities. He added though, that there would be no quorum present at meetings and therefore would not be public. This led to some concern from residents regarding transparency and authority.

Elmore explained the two entities need the opportunity to explore all options freely. ìThere should be no fear to talk about any issue, without reprisal from the press or others.î

He added that the informal talks would not result in any formal action by either the city or the township. Rather, he stated, the township would give regular updates on any progress and when the time came for talks to become more formalized, steps would be taken to make that happen. ìIf there were any proposal we would hold a town hall style meeting and present it that way,î he concluded.

In a Monday interview, Elmore explained further that it is important that the township take the lead on this issue, in the hopes of fashioning its own destiny. He added that there has been some mergers between city and township in the past, but that what is being proposed between the two Wyomings is unusual. ìIíve seen some mergers, but nothing like this really. Nothing that is township driven. I think itís promising.î

Elmore is trying to arrange an initial meeting between himself, township supervisor Ron Swenson, and representatives of the city, for Thursday. Residents who attended the Annual Meeting did not seem overly opposed to the possibility of informal talks, and grew more comfortable with the idea as more was explained. When asked, following the discussion, if there were any objections to pursuing the talks, none were raised.

Concerns were raised, however, regarding the transition agreement recently entered into by the township and Chisago City. In that agreement the city has contracted the township to grade and plow roads that are included in the annexed area. Concerns included frustration that the township was ìcooperatingî with the city and the order in which roads would be plowed, after Elmore had noted that the plowing routine would not change. ìWhy do Chisago City in the regular routine?î one resident asked. ìIt should be done after the township is done.î

Elmore, and others from the town board, noted that township residents would not notice any difference in the timeliness of plowing, that in the final analysis nothing would really change.

ìThe difference is that the township is smaller,î responded one resident, who added that the township should be the priority. Elmore allayed concerns by pointing out that the agreement calls for the township to assist with snowplowing only in the event of a heavy snow, and that the agreement was only for one year. ìIt may not even snow again,î he concluded. As to the question of cooperation, he stated ìThis isnít just a city. Itís our friends and neighbors.î

In other Annual Meeting news, motions authorizing the town board to enter into service contracts with non-profit organizations and to fund youth recreation programs were passed. At the request of resident Ben Montzka, the motion to approve the funding of youth recreation programs was amended to include language that would restrict those donations to ìnon-profitî organizations only.

Also, a request by a resident to add a line-item ìEnvironmental Fundî to the township budget was carried. No dollar amount was attributed to the fund, although the resident in question requested a $2,000 figure. It is unclear if the board will indeed seek to set aside funds or how they would be spent.

In light of revelations at the Annual Meeting, Utecht will take his seat on the board in the midst of many developments. On Monday he was asked about the election and the challenges ahead. ìIím very happy I was elected and I look forward to the opportunity to help the township into the future. We have very interesting times ahead of us and I am happy to offer my perspective.î

In regards to the possibility of a merger with the City of Wyoming, Utecht noted that the township is ìvulnerableî right now and added, ìthis is a chance to do the best we can for township residents. This invitation from the city is certainly much more promising than simply having annexation papers filed.î

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