Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

Deputy Chief Bob Shoemaker and Lt. Steve Pouti, both from the Chisago County Sheriffís department, presented an overview of a newly-created county SWAT/tactical response team to the Wyoming City Council on April 4.

The SWAT team became active in September 2005 and has established a positive reputation for its work within the police community, the officers said last week.

According to Pouti, in an emergency the public calls the police and when the police need assistance they call on the SWAT team. The unit responds about once a month, with the average time at an incident between two and four hours.

He also told the council that if an officer in the unit is called to a response there are no gaps in local protection. County deputies provide coverage for the city for the short term, and/or until another city officer can be called in to cover the shift.

The strength of the program is the on-going training and the eight-hour sessions each month are a must for participating officers. The team has members from several city police departments and the Chisago County Sheriffís department and this is a benefit to the community.

Collaboratively the team provides depth of protection for a broader area, and the individual officers bring their strengths to their respective department.

City covers the in-house training costs. Officers also are sent to certified school, usually held at Camp Ripley, for which individual cities bear the cost, about $650 for the training.

The initial equipment, ìanything attached to the uniform,î is purchased by the city. Shoemaker said the county sheriffís department provides replacement supplies (flash bombs, tear gas, etc.) used for training and incident responses.

Council gave approval for Wyoming Police Officer Trent Strandberg to become part of the county-wide unit. With the addition of Strandberg, there are 12 officers on the team.

Other topics

Council on April 4 also amended the nuisance ordinance by adding an amendment which defines the areas in the city where convicted sexual offenders and predators are prohibited from living.

The main idea is that these individuals should not take up permanent residence within 2000 feet of a school, day-care center, etc. There are also rules which hold landlords accountable for knowingly renting to such individuals within the same boundaries.

City Attorney Tom Miller continues to gather facts related to the questions several residents have about the qualifications of those employed by Minnesota Pipe and Equipment. The company had been replacing water meters for the new, automated system.

City Engineer Mark Erichson has been meeting with those who own property near the cityís water tower park, with the objective to resolve the drainage problem in the area. From his report he has a ìpotential solution and will estimate the cost of the proposed improvement.î

He has proposed that property owners split the cost evenly. He requested this be an agenda item for the April 18 meeting.

Staff will check to see what available funds there are from the IGA tax increment finance district which can be applied to this as well.

A reminder to residents that an Easter Egg hunt is being sponsored by the Parks Departments of both the city and township for children ages 3 to 9 at Sunrise Park, beginning at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, April 15.

The park is located at 274th and Finland.

Other business

In other business last week, council members:

ïPassed a resolution renewing Forest Lake Area Athletic Associationís lawful gambling premises permit to sell pull tabs at the Cornerstone Pub & Prime. The vote was 4-0. Zerwas did not attend the meeting.

ïSwore in new Wyoming police officer Michael Vollman at the April 4 council meeting. Members of his family and a number of friends attended.

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Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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