Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

Street overlays for several Wyoming Streets are to be completed by late June but the city council was not unanimous in what projects should be paved by the contractor.

By a 3-2 vote on Tuesday, June 5, Wyoming City Council members accepted the bid of T.A. Schfisky & Sons, Inc., to complete the work on selected city streets and the city hall parking lot. A long discussion preceded the vote.

The bid is in the amount of $37,142.10 and was the lowest of the four submitted, according to City Engineer Mark Erichson.

Erichson has worked with the company before and recommended accepting the bid. The overlays would probably be finished before the end of June. Erichson estimated the work would be completed in one or two days.

But there were questions from council members.

CM Tom LaBarre had two objections. He said paving the parking lot sends the wrong message when more city streets need repair. He favored expanding the existing parking lot before completing the overlay.

CM Joe Zerwas also supported all the overlays go to city streets.

CM Gary Menne was concerned about warranty on the work and patching work to be done before the overlays.

Erichson said the contractor would give a one-year warranty, with the city patching the potholes before the overlay. Administrator Craig Mattson emphasized that city would only complete overlays on streets already meeting city specifications and not on those that are sub-grade streets.

Other points

Bill Eisenmenger, public works supervisor explained that between $8000 and $9000 of the money is to come from the capital improvement fund for parking lot repairs. The money was set aside three years ago. City workers will paint the parking lot stripes.

Streets selected for the overlay include several sections of Fenwick Ave., Flintwood Ave., Flintwood Lane, Flintwood Circle, Felton Ave., Foxboro Ave., Glen Oak Drive, 264th and Kettle River Blvd., and 266th and Fenwick Ave.

CM Blake Tiedeman said the discussion shows the need for a pavement management plan. He said he believes in being good stewards of resources. He supports the overlay plan for the city hall lot, so that the lot does not get worse.

Mayor Sheldon Anderson agreed that the overlay of the city lot comes under the heading of preventive maintenance and will extend the life of the pavement.

The final vote was 3-2 to accept the Schfisky bid, with LaBarre and Zerwas voting against the action.

Tree complaint

There was a complaint from John Bergham about the removal of the trees damaged by Xcel’s trimming crews. Four of five had been removed on Viking Blvd. just east of US-61.

He was also opposed to replacing them, believing the same problems with heaving sidewalks would occur. Zerwas agreed with Bergham.

Eisenmenger said green ash should not have been planted because the grates around them were too small. Mattson said trees can be selected which are appropriate for the areas, with grates around the trees which can allow for proper growth and maintenance, and also be attractive.

He cited examples in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and in other cities where he has served. Replacement of the trees is being done to improve the appearance of the city.

Anderson commented that the street looks bare without the trees. LaBarre and Menne thought the area would look better with trees. Erichson is to contact an arborist in his firm to provide some assistance to select the correct trees.

Planning items

Menne reported that three companies are to make presentations before the planning commission explaining what they can offer in developing a comprehensive plan for the city. Estimated cost for the project is about $40,000 to $50,000. Time to complete the project would likely be into early 2008.

Council approved follow-through on the city’s water shut-off policy for failure to pay utility bills. After written notification from the city and hearing with the city administrator, if no payment has been received, water can be shut off June 25. Council vote was 5-0.

On behalf of the city, LaBarre thanked the Girl Scouts and troop coordinator Lisa Peterson for the help planting flowers in city parks on May 31.

Based on his request, council approved $250 for end-of-year party at Wyoming Elementary School. Money is to come from gambling receipts. According to Clerk Sandy Berry, the balance in the account is about $40,000.

Other business

In other business, the council

•Learned Chisago County has retained WSB & Associates to prepare construction plans for CR-22 from US-61 east to Goodview Ave.

•Tabled indefinitely final plat approval of the Trailhead Land Development, The Business Barns Development, until land title is clear. According to Mattson, Morrell Trucking holds a trucking easement on the site.

•Authorized the Wyoming Police Department to enter an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Traffic Safety, for Project Safe & Sober Communities from October 1, 2007 through September 20, 2008.

•Announced the regular city council meeting to be held July 3.

Approved a permit for Alesha Shea Williams, representing The Southwestern Company, to take orders for educational materials. The permit is from June 1 through Aug. 31.

•Learned that 5th grade D.A.R.E. graduation was held at Wyoming Elementary on May 29.

•Tabled a decision about payment of a bill for animal control services to Chisago County Government Center until further information is obtained.

•Learned work is ongoing at the wastewater treatment ponds to remove sludge. The project should be completed by fall.

In other business the last May meeting, the council:

•Approved the application of G.B. Power Fireworks, Inc. of East Bethel, to sell fireworks at the Wyoming Shell station, on Kettle River Blvd., from June 20 to July 6, during the hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The vote was 5-0.

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