Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

There were more questions for Wyoming City Council May 18 about the circumstances surrounding the resignation of Administrator Jill Teetzel. Resident Kevin Teel asked the council for more information at the May 3 meeting.

Teetzel resigned March 31. She was paid $33,325.44, which under the terms of her contract with the city amounts to six months compensation.

Teel wanted to know why Teetzel was given a cash settlement upon resignation, when terms of her contract provided no compensation if she resigned.

He had read the separation agreement between Teetzel and the city, but it did not answer his questions. If there was a problem with job performance he wanted to know the details or see the data. He still was not satisfied with the information.

Attorney Tom Miller read from a statement he had prepared on behalf of the city that covered all the terms that could be made public, without violating private information. Miller said if there is data related to the dismissal, it would be public.

In this case, the ìperformance related issues were analyzed by council,î he said.

Official statement

The main part of the prepared statement by Miller says:

ìUnder the terms of Ms. Teetzelís Employment Agreement, the City had the right to terminate her employment with or without cause. If her employment was terminated with just cause, Ms. Teetzel would have been limited to collecting only her accrued vacation time.

Alternatively, if her employment with the City was terminated without just cause, Ms. Teetzel would have been eligible for a payment consisting of six (6) months severance pay, accrued vacation pay, 45 days notice of termination pay, and six months of health and dental benefits.

ìThe minimum exposure to the city, not including attorneysí fees and arbitration costs, would have been approximately $46,000.

ìAfter considering certain performance related issues involving Teetzel, the city was advised by legal counsel it likely would not be able to meet the just cause standard, which generally requires intentional and reckless disregard for the job. In addition, the city would likely be forced to expend significant amounts of money litigating the matter.

ìThe City determined the best course of action would be to pay Ms. Teetzel a portion of what should be entitled to if it were determined that she was not terminated for cause. By doing this, the city saved significant amounts by avoiding litigation and by potentially being forced to pay more than the settlement amount by an arbitrator. In addition, the city obtained a release for any and all claims that Ms. Teetzel could have asserted.

ìFinally, since the city administrator resigned, the city has not been paying another city administrator, thus saving significant amounts of employment related expenses. We believed at the time and continue to believe that the City acted appropriately and in the residentsí best interest with respect to entering into the Separation Agreement and Release.î

With the agreement both sides are released from any claims which might have been made against each other and also that they ìdeny any liability or wrongdoing.î

Library update

In her update about the new library, Sheree Vincent told the council the library society would like to include a survey in the city newsletter to find out which days and hours residents would most like the facility open. The survey will be sent to families in Columbus and Linwood townships, likely also to use the library.

In addition, the Wyoming Area Library Society is creating a pledge card as a fund-raising device.

The East Central Library system will provide the majority of resources for the new facility, but contributions will be used for additional print materials, computers, and some landscaping. Vincent said the pledge card will be ready by late summer.

Vincent said Dan Winkleman, a teacher at Columbus Elementary, also has a landscaping business. According to Vincent, Winkleman has offered to donate his service to complete the landscaping work.

Plans are to have all new libraries open at the same time. Vincent anticipates a late November opening, with grand opening after holidays.

Calendar question

There were questions from the public about the councilís failure to support the Wyoming Elementary School calendar as it has in past years. The 2-2 vote on May 3 meant the motion failed to pass.

Sandy Standridge, former council member, asked about the vote and said the support is a ìgood donationî and helpful PR. Contrary to comments in earlier meeting, a summary calendar is on the school district website, but not individual school calendars. Not all residents have convenient access to computers, she said.

Larry Porter coordinates charitable gambling for the Forest Lake Area Athletic Association. Porter presented a check for $3000 from FLAAA to Fire Chief Dennis Berry for extrication equipment to help free victims of automobile crashes.

He also presented a check to Sandy Berry for $1,713.51, which is the cityís 10 percent of the monthly proceeds from charitable gambling at the Cornerstone Restaurant. Al Hauge and Dave Jobe, president FLAAA and Wyoming FLAAA representative, respectively, attended the meeting.

Mayor Sheldon Anderson and CM Joe Zerwas approved payment to Danís Towing as a separate item in the claims register. CM Tom LaBarre and Phillips abstained as they are part-time drivers for the company. The balance of the claims register was approved 4-0. Council member Allen Juneau was absent.

Juneau resigning

CM LaBarre reported May 17 CM Allen Juneau plans to resign from the council.

Miller recommended a written letter of resignation before inviting volunteers for interim appointment. There was no additional information at the May 17 meeting.

Juneau has served less than five months of the four-year term he won in the city election last November. A special election will be needed to elect a new council member.

An interim appointment can be made until then.

Business topics

According to Millerís report, Stars and Strikes has ìsubmitted plans and a request for a permit to excavate and construct utilities on their property in the City of Wyoming.î

Miller was not sure if this was to proceed with development or to get property ready for sale. He recommended holding to the development agreement, requiring payment of water access charges and outstanding city costs before a permit is issued.

Miller has been working with city staff and Anderson in finalizing the $1,500,000 infrastructure grant for the Polaris project and the $500,000 federal EDA grant.

Engineer Lee Elfering reported discussions with Gene Hallberg and Bauerly Bros. about completing 260th Street. The city position is that it will lead the project and would need a quote from Bauerly for the work. Public bidding process requires a second quote and the lowest quote meeting specifications would be awarded the job.

A separate agreement between the city and Hallberg is needed to be certain construction costs are paid by Hallberg. Likely complete information will be presented at the council meeting June 7.

A closed session dealing with union negotiations began after the 7:25 p.m. adjournment.

Other business

In other business, council:

ïPassed a resolution (05-17-05a) ratifying a bonding grant agreement between the state of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the city of Wyoming. This is for a construction grant to build some of the infrastructure improvements for the Polaris project.

ïLearned from Elfering the construction of the wastewater treatment plant is proceeding on schedule.

ïLearned from Police Chief Tony Pangal the department received a $1000 grant from the Minnesota Safe and Sober to assist with the saturation traffic enforcement for seat belts, May 23-June 5.

ïAs part the consent agenda, passed a resolution (05-17-05b) authorizing a wetland delineation study for land jointly owned by Wyoming and Chisago County at 27336 Forest Blvd. Costs are to be shared equally.

ïLearned fire districts in the township are to be redrawn.

ïAs part the consent agenda, passed a resolution (05-17-05c) authorizing the appraisal of the Lakes Gas/Howard Sergeant property.

ïAs part the consent agenda, passed a resolution (05-17-05d) confirming Mike Jensen as a volunteer firefighter.

ïApproved payment of volunteer firemen twice a year, instead of the end of the year.

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