Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

Wyoming City Council on Aug. 7 approved the proposed plan for Wyoming Trail (CR-22) improvements, but without sidewalks on the north side of the road from Forest Blvd. to Forli Ave.

Don Sterna, WSB & Associates, Inc., explained that old TH-98 was turned back to Chisago County in 1996. In 1997, preliminary plans were drawn up to show improvements.

In 1997, there were just over 4000 daily trips on Wyoming Trail. In 2006, the count was 7076. Projections were for two percent growth-rate per year. The 2006 total reflects a 4.5 percent growth rate.

Sterna identified reasons that the project should undertaken soon.

The pavement is deteriorating and postponement of repairs will ultimately make the cost much higher, he said. There are no pedestrian accommodations and shoulders are narrow.

The city has utility and drainage improvements that can be completed in conjunction with the road improvements.

State turn-back funds that are available to help with the repairs will be lost if they are not used by 2011.

Sterna anticipates that acquiring the necessary right-of-way will likely take about 18 months.

Project details

While the total project must be planned together, Chisago County is responsible for acquiring right-of-way for road and drainage improvements for county sections of the road.

Wyoming must acquire the easements required for city drainage and utility improvements.

The project schedule began with the presentation to council and by November of this year 95 percent of the plans and specifications will be completed.

Appraisals for the rights-of-way are to be completed between November 2007 and February 2008. Based on appraisals, purchase of the land would take place between April and November of 2008.

The city must make a final decision about its utility improvements by March 2008, with plan approvals by September 2008.

Bids on the work will be opened March 2009. The goal is to complete the construction, including the final wear course on the pavement, in one season. This means construction would be completed between April and November 2009.

Summary of the changes include a center left-turn lane at the intersection with US-61. There will also be a center concrete barrier from Highway 61 to Fenwick.

Right-turn lanes will be added at some intersections. The road will be widened and will include ten-foot easements on each side.

An eight-foot wide trail is one of the free improvements to the south side of the street.

Chisago County and MnDOT funds will pay for $3,533,000 of the cost.

The total construction cost estimate for the city is $1,390,000.

This includes paving Fallbrook ($120,000), sewer and water main construction along the CR-22 and Fallbrook ($400,000), with most for storm water drainage along CR-22 and Fallbrook ($870,000).

An additional 25 percent is included for legal, engineering, administrative, and financial fees; $347,500. The total city cost for the improvements is $1,737,500.

Work will be completed in two stages. Work will begin at the east and west ends of the drainage project.

Questions

Objections from residents were mainly about the amount of land they stand to lose when the needed rights-of-way are determined.

Many were opposed to the paved trail, but were told that the trail is one of the strings attached to the project.

Sterna said 80 feet is as narrow as the right-of-way can be in order to accommodate utilities and provide some snow-storage space.

Jerry Hendrickson asked about how the changes in the street would affect his insurance business which is east of Casey’s on the south side of the street.

Maria Lange is angry about the speed of traffic on the road now, particularly since the street light near her home has been out for several months.

She is also upset that no trail connection is being considered across US-61 to the Sunrise Prairie Trail.

Another sore point from residents is that a traffic light is not being considered at the intersection of US-61 and CR-22. Sterna said there is no money for a light.

Council member Blake Tiedeman supported the project because the city needs the infrastructure.

Council members Tom LaBarre and Gary Menne agreed with the project, especially for the pavement improvements.

All three opposed the sidewalks. Council member Joe Zerwas was against the trail and the sidewalks.

At the vote the council approved the proposed plans for drainage and street work, but not sidewalks.

The vote was 4-1, with Zerwas voting against the project. Sidewalks would have added $27,500 to the city’s costs.

Vogel update

City Administrator Craig Mattson reported substantial clean-up of the Charles Vogel property. Attorney David Snyder reported that the buildings have been cleaned out, as well as the garage and other storage areas.

These items will be reported to the Chisago County Court Aug. 22.

Mattson recommended several of the buildings be demolished because they provide an attractive nuisance to children who are in the area. He complimented the Vogel family and Curtis De Young who have cleaned up the property.

As a condition of release, Vogel must keep the property clear of debris. Snyder is to include this information in his letter to the court.

Police topics

Council approved the lease buy-out of two police cars. Lease payments are budgeted through 2007, but usually vehicles are replaced in September. Cost of the buy-out is $16,052.

These squads are priority vehicles, according to Acting Police Chief Scott Dexter. Purchasing them will allow the department to have the squad cars it needs until the city can establish a replacement rotation plan to purchase new vehicles.

The remaining money budgeted for the lease payments will be applied to the buy out. Council vote was 5-0.

Council voted against the purchase of a newer car to replace a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria.

When purchased it had 86,000 miles on it and the city bought it for $3600. It now has 116,000 miles.

Dexter told council the car has a cracked intake manifold and flaking paint on the roof. Cost to repair the manifold is estimated at $760.

There are no 2007 vehicles available from the state bid program. Dexter explained that a 2006 Crown Victoria is available from the MN Travel Management.

It has 18,000 miles, good service record, and no major repairs. It is the car he proposed the city purchase for asking price of $15,000.

Despite the fact the car would be a good deal for the city, council members voted against the purchase of a newer car and will repair squad 205.

Council was in agreement with about this, since there was no money in the city budget for the purchase.

In a related item last week, the council accepted the resignation of police officer Jackie Klimple from the Wyoming Police Department.

Klimple has accepted a position with the police department in Melbourne, FL.

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