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Menne stripped of committee appointments |
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Wednesday, 09 January 2008 |
Alice Pickering
Wyoming Reporter
Wyoming City Council took care of annual organizational business at its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 2. While a host of appointments were handed out to council members for the new year, Councilman Gary Menne was left out.
Council members have responsibilities to attend various commission meetings which are determined annually. Menne observed that he had no liaison responsibilities and asked why.
Mayor Sheldon Anderson explained that there had been calls from the planning commission and the regional sewer commission about his membership which suggested a change.
Appointments proposed by Anderson for 2008 were: Tom LaBarre, acting mayor, EDA, planning commission, and watershed district Representative; Blake Tiedeman, EDA, park board and library society; Joe Zerwas, regional sewer commission, police department, and Rush Line Task Force representative; and Anderson, emergency service officer, regional sewer commission, public works liaison, and Rush Line alternate.
The mayor’s appointments were approved on a vote of 4-1 with Menne opposed.
More actions
City Administrator Craig Mattson said he was trying to secure membership in a larger group or co-op to prevent large fluctuations in health insurance cost for city employees.
His recommendation was for health coverage with Health Partners.
The monthly cost to the city with this coverage will be $5,932.80. The nearest alternative program would cost about $350 a month more.
When the township merger is complete, Mattson recommended revisiting health insurance coverage, including comparison of premiums, co-pay, and coverage for employees. Council approved the Health Partners coverage unanimously.
The Forest Lake Times was designated official newspaper for 2008. During discussion Menne asked why only two newspapers were considered, specifically mentioning the Chisago County Press. He believed circulation was county-wide and would reach more residents of Wyoming Township.
Mattson explained that the Chisago County Press is a subscription-only paper, while the others are distributed free within the area. The vote was 4-1 with Menne opposed.
Council also approved members for commissions as follows:
Planning commission: Richard Gleason, Ken Meyers, P.J. Richardson, Frank Salava and Michael Thomas.
EDA: Shelly Elmore, Todd Lynn, Jerry Owens, Paul Raduenz and Nate Wilner.
Park board: Olga Anderson, Tim Patterson and Ann Pratt.
Fire department: Dennis Berry, chief; Brian Rod and Dan Dahlager, assistant chiefs; Richard Forster, captain 1; Mark Oknich, engineer; Jerome Moser, captain 2; John Hastings, captain 3; Allan Chmielewski, captain 4; and Phil Niemczyk, training officer..
Other topics
At the Dec. 18 meeting, the council voted to certify unpaid utility bills to Chisago County real estate taxes payable in 2008. The vote was 4-0, with Menne abstaining.
At the time there was a list of 20 residents who had delinquent utility bills. The total due from the group was just under $20,000. Menne was among those with unpaid bills.
Menne claimed, as he has numerous times, that his city storm water assessment was unfair and that the city is using the collected money as a “slush fund.”
One question was raised about why Menne was collecting council pay when he is not paying his bills. Attorney Dave Snyder said council pay cannot be withheld to pay these bills. Menne maintains that the storm water tax “is an unfair tax.”
The city has confirmed that the delinquent utility bills have been turned over to the Chisago County. During the open forum last week, Ted Phillips, a former council member, asked Menne if he planned to file a suit against the city about this and if he had placed the disputed amount into an escrow account as required. Menne did not answer.
When asked by Phillips if he planned to resign, Menne said no.
City fees
Council approved the 2008 annual fees for city services. The resolution states that the city is entitled to charge reasonable fees for services.
Fees are set to reflect the cost of providing the services to reflect actual cost to the city of providing these services and allow it to recoup costs. There are some anticipated increases in costs and fees have been set to reflect these.
Anderson recommended that the park board be in charge of a contest to determine a new city logo. He anticipates this to be a joint effort with the Wyoming Township Parks Commission. The goal is to have the decision made by the end of June this year.
At the Dec. 18 meeting the council accepted a Polaris Ranger as a gift from Polaris Industries to assist the city with the 2008 budget. As a gesture of goodwill, Polaris offered the city a Polaris Ranger. The value of the vehicle is $5263. The gift will help the city save $3200. Polaris representative Doug Fisher was thanked on behalf of the city.
Other business
In other business, the council:
•On the Mattson’s recommendation, designated as official city depositories for 2008: First State Bank of Wyoming, The RiverBank, Smith-Barney, Inc. and RBC Dain Rauscher.
•Unanimously agreed to continue the hearing about the personnel policy until the meeting Jan. 15. Mattson said the final documents are being prepared by city staff.
•Approved Anderson and Mattson as members of the fire relief association.
•Approved an off-sale liquor license for Liquor Works, LLP. An on-sale license for Stars & Strikes was approved Dec. 18.
•On Dec. 18, approved a resolution appropriating $5000 in gambling funds to the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau for 2007. Approval was given by a 5-0 vote..
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