Jackie Lallier
Wyoming Township Reporter

A possible settlement to end an annexation dispute with Chisago City continues to be negotiated in Wyoming Township.

The Wyoming Township Board conducted a special meeting Thursday, Feb. 8th following another meeting Town Board Chair Roger Elmore and Supervisor Ron Swenson had earlier in the week with Chisago City Mayor Don Taylor and Council member Dave Giese. The earlier session was to discuss the on-going dispute over annexation of Wyoming Township land and the town's planned merger with the city of Wyoming.

At Thursday's meeting, a map was made showing Chisago City and Wyoming Township that is color coded for the 3300 township acres Chisago City would like annexed, the 325 acres of land presently divided by Chisago City and Wyoming Township, and the 330 acres presently in the township whose owners had signed petitions to join Chisago City.

Since these petitions were signed well over a year ago, it is not known if the wish of these owners is still valid. It was noted that former Chisago City Mayor Dubose had sent out "campaign" letters to residents before the petitions were received but that Wyoming Township had held meetings where the majority of township residents in attendance wanted to join the city of Wyoming.

A motion was made and unanimously passed that: "Each owner of the 325 acres of land that is now split and each owner of the 330 acres of land contiguous to the city who petitioned to Chisago City for annexation should be visited personally by equal representatives together from the township and the city to obtain a final vote on the matter."

These visits are absolutely not to be "campaigns" one way or another and any questions concerning matters such as taxes, infrastructure, etc. for which answers are unknown, will not try to be given at the time of the visits, the town board agreed.

This motion will be put in letter form and Elmore was assured it will be on the agenda for Chisago City's regular meeting February 13.

Board member Swenson concluded the meeting by saying "The hostility between the two communities has to come to an end; there is no reason why the two can't get along.".

Board member Mark Utecht echoed his sentiment that communication is absolutely necessary to do business also in other areas such as working together with MNDOT.

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