Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

In action taken at the Wyoming City Council meeting May 1, Peterson Companies, Inc. of Chisago City was awarded the bid for the decommissioning and demolition of the Wyoming waste water treatment plant.

This is one of the final steps before the land is turned over to Polaris. The bid is in the amount of $577,036.50.

Ten bids were submitted ranging from $565,835 to $895,526, but there were errors on two of these, officials said.

On at least one, City Engineer Mark Erichson said the problem was an error in computation, and the company withdrew its bid.

The engineering estimate for the work was $750,000. Erichson was pleased with the bids and recommended accepting the Peterson bid. The vote was 5-0.

Other actions

Council members approved the removal and replacement of five trees on East Viking Blvd. Xcel Energy crews recently trimmed the trees, merely cropping and giving no attention to aesthetic considerations.

Bill Eisenmenger, maintenance supervisor, told the council that because of root damage to sidewalks, parts of these must be replaced.

Replacement trees, better suited to boulevards and which can be maintained in a more aesthetic fashion, will be selected.

Because Viking Blvd. is also a county road, some of the sidewalk repair costs may be shared with Chisago County. The cost of replacing the trees is city responsibility, according to City Administrator Craig Mattson.

The replacement trees will be selected which can be maintained more aesthetically.

Council gave host approval to the issuance of tax exempt hospital equipment bonds for Central Minnesota Diagnostic, Inc. to purchase an MRI machine. Administrator Mattson explained that CMD is located in Milaca, but that the MRI which it wishes to purchase will be located at Fairview Lakes Medical Center.

As the host city, Wyoming is required to hold a public hearing about the sale of the bonds to purchase the equipment. Mattson explained that the city assumes no debt and or any other obligations.

The council vote was 5-0. There were no public comments or questions.

Council approved the amended ordinance related to administrative citations and civil penalties for administrative offenses. Since first considered, adjustments were made to the fee schedule and some offenses were eliminated from the original list.

This was the second reading of the ordinance and the vote was 5-0.

Mattson suggested that Attorney David Snyder could preside at any hearing requested, although he does not believe there will be many requests for hearings. Financial terms will be arranged which make sense to both the city and the law firm for him to do so.

Council member Tom LaBarre said he “expects strict enforcement (or ordinances), but also discretion.”

Acting Police Chief Scott Dexter said the officers will be using common sense in enforcement.

Council approved the purchase of microphones and other technical equipment compatible, with the amplifier and speaker system which the fire department is purchasing.

Fire Chief Dennis Berry told the council that money from aluminum recycling is covering the cost of the equipment. Approval from the council is for up to $1700 for the compatible add-on equipment, with money to come from the city building fund.

City crews are to work with the fire department on the specifications and installation.

Other business

In other business, 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.

•Approved payment of the recommended bills and payroll from April 14 to April 27.

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