Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

Having a long-standing problem with property owners who fail to pay utility bills, the Wyoming City Council on Oct. 17 unanimously approved a resolution amending water rates in the city.

The resolution addresses chronically late payments. Currently, about $53,000 is owed the city from delinquent payment of water bills.

In summary, water bills are to be paid quarterly, within 30 days of receipt of the statement. Shut-off of water canít occur until the resident has been notified and until there has been an opportunity for a hearing.

If the bill remains unpaid, a second notice will be sent, requiring payment within 14 days or service will be shut off for non-payment. The second notice is to include the name, address, and telephone number of the city official in charge of the billing.

The right of a hearing will be included in the second notice. Residents or business owners can represent themselves or have legal counsel. A request for a hearing must come within ten days of the date on the notice.

Water will not be shut off until the hearing process is complete. If there is no payment and no request for a hearing, service will shut off after charges have been due for at least 90 days.

A list of unpaid water charges will be compiled by Sept. 1 each year. The unpaid charges will be against the property, certified by the county auditor and assessed for collection with the next yearís taxes.

Initially, Administrator Craig Mattson suggested a different way of collecting fees. He said there is adequate provision for a hearing before action is taken to turn off water. His concern is with sanitation issues if the water is turned off.

Council updates

Engineer Mark Erichson clarified information about a proposed county aerial photography project for Wyoming city council members. Council member Ted Phillips had asked for the information. Chisago County has contacted cities to determine their interest in participation.

Cities participating would pay $750 per square mile of city photographed. Erichson said the photos would be helpful to the city for future comprehensive planning purposes.

Signing up after the fall would increase the cost about 30 percent. Erichson said it would be a good opportunity for the city.

Township officials have also been informed about the project, but are holding off on making a decision he said. This is related to the proposed merger. A decision by the council was postponed, but Erichsonís report was accepted by a 5-0 vote.

Phillips had further questions about property owned by Charles Vogel, on the east side of the city. The lot and house have generated a large number of complaints and the yard has a lot of junk. There have been repeated attempts to have the lot cleaned up.

Attorney Tom Miller told the council the county attorney has given Vogel 90 days to clean up the exterior of the house and the yard. Acting Police Chief Scott Dexter said that when the 90 days have elapsed, compliance is to be checked by the building inspector.

Dexter said Vogel has begun the cleanup of the outside. He believes an attempt will then be made to sell the property.

Chisago County court services are to do follow-up, with the police department and the building inspector to check for compliance. With the long history of the city trying to get the clean-up completed, Phillips urged Miller to ìstay on top of this.î

The next city council meeting is scheduled 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 8.

Other business

In other business on Oct. 17, the council:

ïLearned Miller has made suggestions to a proposed purchase agreement with Trail Head Land Development. City and county staff are also reviewing the document.

ïLearned all legal documents and the easement have been signed by the property owners whose land is impacted by the downtown drainage project.

ïLearned from building inspector Fred Weck that only minor corrections need to be made at the All Safe site before a certificate of occupancy can be issued.

ïLearned a certificate of occupancy has been issued for Stars and Strikes and that the water and sewer access charges (WAC/SAC) have been placed in an escrow account.

ïLearned that footings, foundations, waste water, and storm water plumbing is completed for the expansion of Fairview Regional Medical Center.

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Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
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