Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

Approval for the final site plan for All Safe, Inc. was approved unanimously Feb. 21. Wyoming City Council approved the conditional use permit for the renovation of the old Production Aids building on 264th and Fallbrook in January. The company inspects, tests, and reconditions gas cylinders.

Joe Boettner, company president, said changes include class-5 gravel in the lot area, which will likely be paved once the ground settles. He also agreed to 8-foot slatted wooden fencing to surround the site.

The vote was 3-0, with council members Ted Phillips and Joe Zerwas absent.

License on hold

Council tabled until March 8, a decision about granting the Forest Lake Lions a permit to run charitable gambling at the to-be-completed Stars and Strikes entertainment complex.

The facility is being built in the northern part of the city. Nancy Immel, one of the partners in the venture, made the request.

CM Tom LaBarre asked if the Wyoming Lions Club had been approached about this. Immel explained that a charitable gambling operation needs an experienced manager, one who has also been a member of the organization for two years.

While not disbanded she said Wyoming Lions have been inactive. ìI donít feel they have the background,î Immel said. ìWeíve already signed a lease with Forest Lake Lions.î

This item first appeared on the Feb. 7 agenda.

The city benefits from 10 percent of the gross receipts of charitable gambling ventures located within its boundaries. According to acting administrator Sandy Berry, this amounts to about $1300 to $1800 a month.

Engineering duties

Council authorized city staff to work out transition arrangements between Elfering and Associates and WSB as the newly selected engineering firm for the city. Attorney Tom Miller explained the need for an orderly transition for the city.

Several factors figure into the recommendation. Elfering has been working with the Federal EDA grant which is paying for part of the cityís costs for the regional wastewater treatment plant.

While it may not make any difference in the timing of the release of funds, he recommended allowing Elfering to continue on this project to be certain there are no delays and until all the loose ends are completed.

According to Miller, Elfering has completed about 90 percent of the work. This would involve transition of files and other information, and meetings as necessary.

In addition, Elfering is the cityís expert with regard to the Stars and Strikes litigation. Stars and Strikes is contesting the fees it was charged for utility connections.

Miller indicated concluding the work with the projects Elfering initiated would be on roughly the same terms as in the past, with any legitimate costs, reimbursed at cost. Miller said staff is looking for direction. Tiedeman, LaBarre, and Anderson all agreed.

Council tabled any decisions about proposed development, Fox Hollow Town Homes, until more detail is available about the concept and drainage plans. Derek Passe, engineer, represented developer John Whitcomb. The city seeks a more complete drainage study.

Whitcomb is proposing a private road for part of the unit and requesting R-2 zoning for the twin homes. Estimated market value of the homes is in the range of $250,000 to $300,000. According to Passe, the comments will be helpful in giving direction to Whitcomb.

The two older fire trucks the Wyoming Fire department is retiring are to be advertised for sale on the League of Minnesota Cities web site. Fire Chief Dennis Berry told the council that the chassis for the rescue unit was donated to the department by the DNR. It must go to another fire department.

Other business

In other business, the council

ïDirected staff to advertise to fill openings in the EDA commission.

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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