Jackie Lallier
Wyoming Township Reporter

Board members of the Maranatha Assembly of God Church were present at the June 13 Wyoming Town Board meeting to request permission for a 30,000 square foot addition to their building for Sunday School classrooms.

The planning commission had reviewed the request and voted 3-2 to recommend approval.

The two opposing commissioners stated concern regarding the lack of a stop light on the corner of Forest Blvd. (US-61) and 250th Street.

The town board conceded a traffic light is a separate issue from amending the conditional use permit for the additional building space. However, discussion continued to center around traffic concerns as presently there is no turn lane and many cars pass illegally on the shoulder instead of waiting for people to turn onto the church grounds.

Although the church maintains that road use would be during non-standard commute time for the general public, it is acknowledged the church has a very active membership that partakes in many programs that take place on the premises.

Audience participant Jim Hershelman pointed out that beside the church expansion, there is a new development of 26 new homes planned on 250th St. plus the addition of 35 homes on nearby Goodwin Avenue, cars from which will all be using this intersection.

Concern was expressed that trees will have to be removed if the addition takes place. Maranatha officials said that at the time the original building was constructed, more than 1000 trees were planted and it is expected only about 100 of them will need to be removed.

It was also pointed out there are no residential buildings nearby that would be bothered by car lights shining in their yards.

The town board granted an amended CUP with the condition that Maranatha submit a design to MnDOT regarding the improvement. If MnDOT requires additional work, the township board can revisit the traffic problem at that time.

A traffic study had been done previously with no recommendations made.

When the main entrance to the church was installed, three feet of asphalt was added to widen the shoulder in order to accommodate a possible turn lane.

The board directed Town Engineer Mark Erichson to contact MnDOT to investigate the traffic light situation.

Other projects

Blacktopping bids have come in on the three big projects planned this summer. Erichson was pleased with the bids but since the feasibility studies were done around a year ago, prices have skyrocketed.

The board accepted the bids at $89,286 for the 243rd Street & 244th Street job, $329,000 for Heath Avenue and $252,900 for Itasca Avenue (to be split with Chisago City).

The renewed health insurance plan for employees has been reviewed by the employees and was readdressed June 13. Since the boardís decision last month to cover the increase in health insurance for single persons and pay the same amount toward family coverage, the figures show this is not a fair distribution for everyone.

All in attendance agreed the board tried to be as fair as possible but pointed out the individual differences. The board stated it is the townshipís wish to do its best to keep their valued employees content and passed a resolution to go back to the former 75/25 percent payment plan which will keep the employees happy.

Since the court hearing regarding the consolidation of Wyoming/Wyoming Township on May 31st, the township has received no further word of an outcome, but Judge Michael DeCourcy has 16 days left to render his opinion.

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