Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

The first order of business at Wyoming City Concil annual meeting on Jan. 2 was the swearing in of Mayor Sheldon Anderson and Council members Gary Menne and Joe Zerwas.

After the ceremony, the new council took up the first business of 2007. By unanimous vote, the Forest Lake Times was designated the official newspaper and First State Bank of Wyoming was designated the official depository for city funds.

Joe Zerwas was elected to serve as acting mayor, in the event Anderson is absent. Anderson nominated Zerwas for the job. The vote was 5-0.

The 2007 fee schedule for city services was approved. Fees are structured to cover the city's cost in providing services, including personnel, paper, photocopying, research and postage.

City Administrator Craig Mattson said the main change in the fee schedule is a slight increase in the escrow balances for developers. Council member Tom LaBarre asked if the fees entirely cover the services.

Fire inspection fee is $25 but the city is losing a little on each inspection. According to Sandy Berry, the "city sends bills, but (many) companies don't pay." In the meantime, the building inspector has been paid by the city for his time.

Council approved an increase sufficient to cover the cost of inspections and to add a late fee for accounts that are 60 days overdue. The exact amount of the inspection service will be determined by staff.

Mattson recommended a change be made from updating fees by ordinance, to changing them by resolution, with a phrase "fees will be adjusted from time to time by resolution."

Action was taken to approve council liaison assignments to city boards and commissions. Mayor Anderson is to serve as liaison for public works/parks, fire department, emergency services and fire relief association, and as alternate sewer commissioner. LaBarre asked to remain a member of the EDA. He is also a member of the park board and representative for watershed district.

Newly-elected member Menne is to serve as council representative to the planning commission, library commission, and sewer commission. Council member Blake Tiedeman will serve as EDA member and a member of the library commission. Zerwas will serve as police liaison, sewer commissioner and Rush Line representative.

The council also approved appointments for city's boards and commissions.

Listed in alphabetical order, Planning commission members for 2007 are: Richard Gleason, Ken Meyer, P.J. Richardson, Frank Salava and Michael Thomas. EDA: Shelly Elmore, Todd Lynn, Jerry Owens, Paul Raduenz and Nate Wilner. Park board: Olga Anderson, Kristin Kettelhut, Tim Patterson, Ann Pratt and Joyce Reed.

The council also voted unanimously to approve the list of Wyoming Fire Department volunteers submitted by Fire Chief Dennis Berry.

City reports

During the open forum resident Chip Yeager asked about the amount of city reserves for the end of 2006. The audit of the city finances is to begin Jan. 17, according to Berry.

Mattson added that the report is likely to be completed by the end of March, though it is not due to be turned in to the state until the end of June.

Anderson asked about the final amount of the bill for the downtown drainage project. Mattson explained that the project cost about $1900 more than the $21,000 set as the cap for the project.

In the discussion about the project costs, focus was primarily on the actual work, not considering design, survey and legal costs. Engineering did not bill for about $3000 of the project. The cost of the project and its division are to be placed on the agenda for the next council meeting.

Council approved the auction of eight vehicles. There are six unclaimed vehicles; one abandoned one and a forfeit car. Acting Police Chief Scott Dexter anticipates the cars and pickups will be prepped for auction around Feb. 1.

Proceeds of auctioned vehicles which have been forfeited to the city are added to the police supplementary (forfeiture) fund.

Anderson invited department heads to review activities and proposed projects or plans. Fire Chief Berry said the fire department is seeking additional fire fighters, particularly those who could be available during the day. He said he appreciates the support of businesses who allow firefighters to respond to fires.

There is new training to build into the schedule for volunteers. Three firefighters are retiring this year and their combined years of experience totals over 100 years. He is anticipating some boundary changes as soon as the merger issue is settled.

Maintenance Supervisor Bill Eisenmenger is seeking to establish a street replacement plan. Anticipating the merger, he would be working with those who are currently township employees.

There is a difference in the specifications for the streets in the city and township that would have to be considered.

He is pleased that the city and township have approved the purchase of the wood chipper. With the sale of land to Polaris, the city has lost a site to serve as a brush pile. Trees may be trimmed during the winter, because there is no snow.

Chips can be used by the park department and by the township, but he anticipates some may be available for residents. The town and the city need covered storage space for equipment. Plans must be made for a truck replacement for a truck purchased in 1984.

Dexter anticipates challenges for officers applying two sets of ordinances when the merger issue is settled. He can foresee an officer dedicated to ordinance enforcement working with the building inspector. This would insure prompt follow-up.

In answer to questions, Dexter explained that state troopers have relocated to Forest Lake because there is no space for them in Wyoming. The Wyoming site puts them closer to the freeway.

LaBarre asked for more patrols at the north end of town, because he is hearing complaints about drivers passing on the right instead of waiting for left turns into the street to Stars and Strikes. Dexter said MNDOT would have to give approval for an additional turn lane there.

Engineer Mark Erichson is preparing specifications for all city streets and utilities for everyone to use. The merger will require a comprehensive storm water plan.

Anderson reported last week some word on the merger may be coming by late this month.

Erichson is also working on plans for two water main extensions under I-35 to connect with the west side of the city. With these plans complete, it will be easier to complete the city's comprehensive plan. Plans need to begin for an additional city water tower.

Work is ongoing for decommissioning of the waste-water treatment plant. Erichson said the city must find locations for the sludge in the ponds and work within the road restrictions during the spring to get the sludge removed. He continues to develop a pavement management plan.

Attorney Tom Miller is involved in legal documents for the sale of the final portion of the waste water treatment plant to Polaris. He is finalizing work with the federal EDA grant. He is involved with draft work on administrative ordinances and fine policy.

Mattson is recommending a council retreat to help everyone "get on the same page." With regard to the city budget, he believes performance measures will give a "greater form of accountability. We "don't have good enough definition for how we spend money," he said.

There need to be plans developed for purchases and for adding personnel. Also work needs to be completed on the city's code book and personnel policy. Plans for joint development of a comprehensive plan were started last meeting with an agreement to work with the township. Capital improvement plans for future infrastructure should be initiated.

The city is to review professional services in 2007. Request for proposals for auditing, accounting, engineering, and legal services will be advertised on the League of Minnesota Cities web site and bids are to be solicited. Vote was unanimous.

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