Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

By unanimous vote on Nov. 1 Wyoming City Council selected Springsted, Inc. as the executive search firm to assist the city in its search for a new city administrator.

The city received five proposals, all from firms qualified to conduct the search. Council was in basic agreement about the criteria.

According to Tom Denaway, city management analyst, a big part of the search would be ìdeveloping a position profile.î Springsted, Inc. would have an advantage because it is already here completing a job classification and compensation study for the city, and has a good working knowledge of the city.

This factor was one of the major reasons for the choice, along with a rapid start time, anticipated mid-March ìemployment negotiation phase,î and the warranty offered to provide additional services at no additional costs if the new administrator voluntarily resigns or is dismissed within one year. Approval is conditional on securing the warranty in writing.

Council wants the search to begin as soon as possible.

Money to pay for the search, $19,500 in the case of Springsted, is included in the 2006 city budget, according to Sandy Berry, acting administrator.

Pangal update

In response to questions about the investigation concerning Police Chief Tony Pangal, City Attorney Tom Miller explained a complaint has been filed and now there is an investigation of allegations.

The investigation is being conducted by an independent administrator.

Miller could only reveal that the investigation should be completed in about a week or two and will likely be followed by an initial closed session of council.

Visitor Max Anderson expressed the opinion that council is approaching the matter very professionally.

Police, fire topics

By a vote of 5-0, council authorized a police department purchase of a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria to replace the aging Ford Explorer.

Sgt. Scott Dexter said he checked with CM Joe Zerwas before checking about the car.

It has been used on the governorís detail, no hard mileson it, and a good maintenance record. He and officer Brian Rod tested the car. The opinion of a technician who checks these units is that it is one of the best ones he has seen.

It would be used as an unmarked squad with equipment from the explorer. This car will help reduce the miles on the squads the city leases.

Price on the unit, based on average of several similar sales, is $3600. Money for the purchase is to come from the sale of the Ford Explorer and the police supplemental fund.

Dexter also reported a local business owner made a donation of $1500 to the department for the purchase of equipment. Officers in the department believe the purchase of an additional Taser and squad shotgun would equip all the squads in the same way.

Council approved the purchase of a Motorola bobil radio for the Wyoming Fire Department.

Fire Chief Dennis Berry told council the newer model has better tuning and works with other units in the county. The model requested costs just over $2050. Approval allows the department to order the unit now, but pay for it from 2006 equipment budget.

Also approved was a replacement for a vital piece of the departmentÌs hydraulic equipment, Jaws of Life. According to Berry the extrication hydraulic pump, purchased in the 1980s, is not holding pressure.

Price on a demonstration model is $4300 compared with $10,000 to $12,000 for a new unit. About $3000 remains in the equipment purchase fund. Council authorized $1300 from charitable gambling funds to make up the difference.

More reports

Millerís written report told council the development agreement between the city and RiverBank has been signed. Work has started on the site.

The legal description of a small parcel sold to Stars and Strikes can be excluded from the newly created tax increment finance district.

Draft contracts for the police, sergeant, and base unit employees have been provided to the union business agent for review and comment, Miller said. He is working on a planned unit development agreement for the Kinney Development.

Based on the recommendation of Engineer Lee Elfering, council approved partial payment No. 7 to S.R. Weidema for the joint sanitary sewer pipeline project. This payment is $286,962.26.

Elferingís report said this includes payment for work completed on the project including lift station construction at CR-84 and CR-36. This was approved as part of the consent agenda.

CM Blake Tiedeman announced the Chisago Lakes Joint Sewer Commission open house is 2 p.m. (today) Thursday, Nov. 10.

Ron Hansen, a city resident who lives on 264th St., asked for the reasoning that a casino sign with flashing lights is not allowed in the city, but the scrolling-message sign is allowed at Wyoming Elementary School. Permits for the sign were granted the school by the city.

According to Denaway, the city management analyst, there are different standards for billboards in certain areas of the city. Hansen questioned the new sign at a time when residents are considering a new levy for the school district.

Principal Mike Conway said this week the $31,000 sign was paid for with $15,000 in PTA fund-raising dollars and an $8000 donation from First State Bank of Wyoming. ISD 831 Community Education provided $2000 for electrical wiring and the district provided $2000 for sign installation. Other funds raised internally by the school and students were used on the project, he said.

Other business

In other business Nov. 1, council:

ïConfirmed the Truth in Taxation meeting is scheduled 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 6.

ïLearned from Bill Eisenmenger, maintenance supervisor, all but two sprinklers at the wastewater treatment site have been shut down. He anticipates the pond will be closed in the spring of 2006.

ïHad no answer to the question why the cityís official newspaper, the Forest Lake Press, is not covering council meetings.

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