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| 3-2 vote OK’s Wyoming election change |
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| Wednesday, 27 August 2008 | |
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Alice Pickering Wyoming Reporter Although the amendment to the orderly annexation petition, opening all Wyoming City Council seats to election this November was passed on Tuesday, Aug. 19, the vote by the city council was a narrow 3-2. The decision about opening all seats to election for the combined city and township required a change in section nine of the agreement, according to Attorney Tim Sime. In the original agreement two council members were to step down from office to be replaced by two appointed town board supervisors. One township visitor asked why the two groups did not join and vote together. Sime explained the city council and town board must vote separately while they still are separate governing bodies. (The Wyoming Town Board at an emergency meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 20 voted 3-0 to approve the election amendment to the orderly annexation agreement.) Scheduled for election now are the mayor (two-year term), and the seats currently occupied by Tom LaBarre and Blake Tiedeman (both four-year seats). Council member Gary Menne did not agree with “swapping out the resignations and appointment with election” of all council members. Council member Joe Zerwas said he did not plan to run for office in 2010, but that he had been elected to serve as council member until that time. For the new city the election would mean “fair representation for all,” LaBarre said. Tiedeman said the elections would be in the best interest for everyone and supported the joint resolution. Mayor Sheldon Anderson also supports the new election. The amendment would open all five seats for election. Two council seats would be designated for four-year terms, two designated for two-year terms, and the office of mayor would be for a two-year term. The two individuals receiving the highest number of votes would win four-year terms. The two receiving the next highest number of votes would win the two-year terms. The mayor’s race would continue as a two-year term. Official polling places will remain the same for this general election. Former township residents will vote at the Wyoming Town Hall and residents of the original city will vote at city hall. The position of clerk is a statutory one and is held by Administrator Craig Mattson. Election judges will remain the same. Council passed the amendment by a vote of 3-2. Anderson, LaBarre, and Tiedeman voted for it. Menne and Zerwas voted against it. Other items Council also acted on four items related to the joint annexation. The council adopted as its own, the township’s zoning and subdivision ordinances as adopted and amended by the town of Wyoming. The Minnesota Building Code was adopted as an ordinance. This will regulate all construction and remodeling within the expanded city. The township functions under this building code now. This action makes the zoning ordinances and building code the same for the entire expanded city. Fred Weck, building inspector, explained that part of the ordinance also regulates permit fees based on value of the building or improvements. Also adopted was an ordinance authorizing and providing for sewage and wastewater treatment. It establishes the minimum standards for regulation of sub-surface treatment systems. Commonly called septic systems, Weck said most of these, about 1350, are located in what was the township. Another 25 are within the original city limits. This ordinance will regulate inspection and maintenance until the city gradually expands its wastewater utilities. The three ordinances were passed by a vote of 5-0. The final ordinance adopted establishes a gas installer’s license and prohibits persons working on gas lines in the city unless they are licensed by the city. Weck said this fills a gap until a state license is required. The ordinance passed by a vote of 4-0, with Menne abstaining. Questions As he has in the past, Menne asked Administrator Mattson what the costs have been to the city related to the annexation. Originally, $20,000 was budgeted for the process. Mattson said that city cash reserves have covered some of the costs. Mattson said the “money has been spent defending our position. No one can just call a halt in the middle of a court hearing.” “Wyoming is in a better position,” he added. He also believes the city will be in a better position next year. There was a request from Zerwas that the city move ahead to hire two additional police officers. The city has expanded and more area must be patrolled. Two good candidates are available and he wanted to be certain to hire the pair before they are offered jobs with another department. Another concern was the time it takes for officers to get trained, Zerwas said. LaBarre thought the number of calls should be checked before there are increases in the number of officers. Attorney Dave Snyder advised placing this on the agenda for the next meeting. The full council should review applications and consider applicants. By a 4-1 vote, hiring new police officers was placed on the agenda for the Tuesday, Sept. 2 meeting. Zerwas voted against the action. School matter Since Wyoming is the site for the new campus of North Lakes Academy, the city must give host approval to the sale of bonds to finance the building. Council approved the issuance of lease revenue bonds for the school project. There was a public hearing before the vote was taken on August 19. The vote to approve was unanimous. Council awarded the bid for seal coating city streets to Allied Blacktop Co., Maple Grove. The city and township combined bids to secure a better deal. The city’s portion of the $79,000 is $20,000. The original estimate of the job was $89,000. The joint bid enabled the city and township to get a better price on the materials and labor for the work. The council approved a variance request from Barry and Connie Nordby to temporarily convert and adapt their two-car attached garage to living space for a parent. To assure that the conversion is temporary, there will be annual review of the site. Renewal of the temporary permit will be considered annually. As part of the consent agenda, the council approved adding the secretary and treasurer of the Wyoming Fire Department Relief association to the city’s insurance bond through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. Other Business In other business last week, the council: •Acknowledged the removal of the memorial plaque for Gary Kunshier from the city hall flag pole with the plaque to be placed at the flag pole at the Wyoming United Methodist Church. Kunshier lost his life in Vietnam. •Appointed judges for the September 9 primary and the November 4 general election. •Approved staff reports. •Learned from Menne that the joint sewer commission is checking on prices and bids for carbon filters. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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