Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

The condition of streets in Wyoming and when upgrades may be made were topics for the Wyoming City Council at its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 17.

City resident Sandy Standridge, a former city council member, asked council about the conditions of the streets in the older part of Wyoming and when repairs on some of the streets might be made.

She has observed what seems to be only a band aid approach to repairs.

She questioned the promises made at election time three years ago. Her said it appeared to her that “everything is (on hold) waiting for the merger.” She said she wanted to see some streets fixed properly, not just having potholes filled.

She observed that all the council members live on streets that have good surfaces. It is the older part of Wyoming that needs solid street work, she said.

Mayor Sheldon Anderson commented that the streets needed repair before there was a change in the council and that they had left no money for streets.

City Engineer Mark Erichson recently had a presentation explaining what such a study would give to the city. At the time the merger was to have been resolved, and then a pavement study conducted for the entire new city. The information went no farther than the presentation.

City Administrator Craig Mattson explained that good repair involves more than just putting down asphalt. It depends on subsoil condition, determining if more extensive preparation is required on the road bed and the repair of culverts, he said.

The city has a pavement study scheduled to begin in the near future.

The planning will help to prioritize the condition of the streets. Requests for proposals were done on some streets several years ago.

Referring to any street repair project, Mattson said it is important to know the cost before moving ahead with construction. The foundation for the asphalt is important, he said. Basically, when assessments are determined, it is by the front footage for a lot.

Police news

Wyoming police officer Michael Vollman is now a regular city employee.

City council members approved this action at the recommendation of Acting Police Chief Scott Dexter who told them Vollman had successfully completed his probationary term. Action is effective as of April 12. The vote was 5-0.

However, the council denied a request for funds for investigative training for a city police officer. Cost of the program is $189. Dexter explained the training is not so much for internal investigations as it is the proper way to take information about a complaint or record information about a concern a citizen might have (about an officer’s behavior).

Sgt. Brian Rod would be the officer taking the training.

Council Blake Tiedeman asked about how often these short courses occur. Often it is not known what courses are to be offered, but money is set aside to benefit the department.

Council member Tom LaBarre was concerned because it might appear that the department is policing itself. Mayor Anderson asked whether the training is necessary or just to improve the credentials.

Administrator Mattson said the term internal affairs is a misleading title for the training/course work. A better term would be human relations training.

In instances where there are allegations against someone in the department, the investigation is handled outside the department, to insure unbiased investigation. The vote was 3-2 against the funding. Council members Gary Menne and Joe Zerwas voted in favor of the funding.

Civil penalties

Council also approved the resolution adopting a system of administrative citations and civil penalties for administrative offenses.

The change means local officers can issue tags for administrative offenses.

Usually the violations do not warrant formal citation. There is a lesser fine, usually processed by the city, rather than formal court arrangement. It is usually more efficient and effective enforcement, officials said.

Some of the offenses include speeding violations, turning and signaling violations, littering and problems with equipment. They do not appear on driving records, nor do they affect insurance rates. Most of the fines are about $70, though some are for $30 or $40.

There is no court appearance associated with the citation, but there is a fine. Citizens receiving one of these tickets have seven days to pay fine, but may also contest the citation.

Hearings are likely to be scheduled before council meetings. The vote was unanimous.

Sewer updates

Council member Menne reported that officials for the joint sewer commission are still trying to find the source of an unidentified solvent in the waste water coming from Wyoming.

This may involve testing material in the sewer mains that lead to the treatment plant. The plant treats the waste water in a sequence of operations.

The effluent is not in the St. Croix River, but the material is killing the bacteria so that the process must be monitored closely and bacteria added so the treatment continues as it should, Menne said..

Other business

In other business, the council:

•Approved a request by Mattson to attend the Spring Conference for Minnesota City and County Managers. Dates are May 9-11. The cost of the event is $225. The vote was unanimous.

•Declared five forfeit vehicles surplus property and authorized their sale at a public auction May 5.

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