Jackie Lallier
Wyoming Township Reporter

The big news at the Wyoming Town Board meeting on Tuesday, July 24th was that the Minnesota Court of Appeals had upheld a district court’s decision not to grant an alternate writ of mandamus directing the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings to approve an annexation agreement between Wyoming Township and the city of Wyoming.

The town board took action last week, passing a motion to move forward in contesting Stacy and Chisago City’s plans to annex parts of the township. Some 4000 acres of Wyoming Township could be carved off if the two city petitions are approved by the state agency.

Because of this development, the joint powers agreement with the city of Wyoming for a new comprehensive plan has to be put on “hold.” Tentative plans has been in place for a jointly funded plan update that would address a combined city and township.

The legal matter also has a large impact on trying to set up a budget for 2008.

The levies put through for 2006 and 2007 were done with the expectation of combining with the city. Now, funding plans need to be made, a category needs to be added for emergency management services and annexation costs need to be kept separate.

A meeting with legal counsel, members of Wyoming, attorneys for both entities, some township board members and supervisors, engineers and financial advisors to contemplate costs for a trial took place on Friday at the Wyoming Town Hall.

Other topics

Wyoming insurance agent Chris Sauro presented the annual insurance review.

No buildings have been added and there are now only five sirens (one being lost on property taken over by Chisago City), playground equipment was added for Blue Spruce Park, plus the old chipper and a gopher machine were removed from the policy.

The subject of the 150th year celebration has also been put on “hold” for many months because of pending litigation. It was decided a fact-finding committee should be formed anyway to make tentative plans for festivities before the end of the year.

Board member Mark Utecht reported on the Rush Line Task Force meeting he attended. The feasibility study for the bus line is going forward.

Presently it is estimated shuttles might be used at start up time to transport riders north of Forest Lake down to Forest Lake and regular buses used from there to the Twin Cities at least until ridership increases.

In other matters, the letter of credit for the Liberty Ponds development was reduced to $445,573.94.

A newsletter will be coming out before the Tuesday, Aug. 28 annual meeting date.

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