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| Wyoming has preliminary tax levy in place |
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| Wednesday, 23 September 2009 | |
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Alice Pickering Wyoming Reporter Wyoming City Council approved a preliminary not-to-exceed 2010 property tax levy of $3,408,947 at a special meeting on Sept. 14. This preliminary levy was filed with Chisago County Auditor Dennis Freed on Sept. 15 as required by state law. The adjustable part of the preliminary levy is the general operating fund which accounts for $2,913,980 of the total. Other parts of the levy include fixed amounts for bond indebtedness in the amount of $389,467. This includes payments for TIF district 3-1, $198,737; the first levy collections for the general obligation bonds for utility and street work on CR-22, Goodview Ave., and Fallbrook Ave., $104,330; the fire truck capital lease, $45,000; and general obligation capital notes, series 2005B, $41,400. There is a fixed payment of $28,000 for the fire hall, a tax abatement payment of $35,500 (Bruce’s IGA), and the EDA levy of $42,000. This brings the preliminary levy total to $3,408,947. City Administrator Craig Mattson sought information from Chisago County about what the levy would be if the tax rate for the city and former-township remained the same for 2010 as for this year. The number provided by Freed is $2,913,980. Mattson proposed this figure as the starting point for the levy and budget discussions. The Minnesota Department of Revenue has determined that the overall levy limitation for 2010 is $3,579,709. This was determined by making comparisons and adjustments to the 2009 adjusted levy limit base, based on a series of formulas considering and dependent on changes in household populations, new industrial and commercial construction and attendant market value, with a final adjustment for the annexation. Even if tax collections continue in 2010 at the same tax rate as in 2009, the total certified levy is well below this levy limit. Based on the joint annexation agreement, for the first three years after the merger, the former township residents are taxed a rate that is 50-percent that of city residents. Next year is the second year of property tax collections under this agreement. The urban rate is 46.646. That of the rural tax district is half that; 23.323. Still, the council will have additional meetings to work on reducing portions of the 2010 budget, so the 2010 levy can be adjusted downward. The first is scheduled at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 12. City Engineer Mark Erichson will present information on Oct. 12 which has been developed by WSB and city staff related to the city’s pavement management study. The second budget meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 26, focusing on the police budget. In other business, the council: •Approved the recommendation of Chief of Police Paul Hoppe for a change in status for Officer Matthew Paavola from probationary to full-time status, effective September 15. •Approved the contract with HLB Tautges Redpath, Ltd, to provide auditing services for the city. The action authorizes Mayor Sheldon Anderson and Mattson to sign documents on the city’s behalf. •Approved the hiring of Jason Van Tassel as a probationary member of the Wyoming Fire Department. He has had about a year and a half of training as a member of the Braham Fire Department. Approval was granted with a 5-0 vote. •Learned from Tim Peterson, park board chair, that there are plenty of available spots for the 5K race at Stagecoach Days this Saturday. •Approved membership in the League of Minnesota Cities, with dues of $5742 for 2010. •Approved a variance to increase the allowable impervious surface from 60-percent to 80-percent for General Safety. Planning recommended approval. Vote was 5-0. Park development The council held its regualar meeting on Sept. 15. Tim Patterson provided more information about the Wyoming Park Board’s long-term plans for park development. There were questions from Darryl Vincent about why such a large proportion of the park funds, for several years, is directed to only a few parks. Shelly Elmore, member of the Park Board, commented that most of the city parks are developed, but ones which have yet to be completed need more funds. The city and township comprehensive plans have given direction to park development. Joe Zerwas, council member, appreciated the priority list for the parks. Roger Elmore thought the Park Board has planned well and needs to have some discretionary spending. Council member Linda Yeager asked for long-term planning include for activities and equipment for a gradually aging population. Her investigations show that child population is stabilizing. Park development should include more equipment and programs for maturing adults. Yeager also asked if the parking lot paving for Swenson Park could be combined with one of the street paving projects. As a conclusion to the discussions, council gave approval to pave Swenson Park, incorporating suggestions from Engineer Mark Erichson about drainage in the area and surface to be paved. The vote was 5-0. Council accepted the resignation of Lee Cartier from the Public Words department, effective September 4, 2009. At the request of Jason Windingstad, Public Works Supervisor, council members also approved advertising to fill the vacant position. Windingstad explained this is an on-call position for 12 weekends a year and it requires an employee with a sewer license. Yeager asked about a temporary employee. Windingstad explained that the license is essential. A new employee would begin at $18.22 and hour which is $37,897 a year. While a new employee would be up to a top rate in about 36 months, according to the union contract, initially there would be savings for the city. Council members approved advertising to fill the vacancy in the public works department. Approval was by a 5-0 vote. Representatives from Forest Lake Cable Commission, LATV Channel 10, presented information about service which could be provided to the city. Currently, city council meetings are not televised because Wyoming is not part of the joint powers agreement related to cable service. Gail Moore, representing the commission, asked the city to consider joining the joint powers. School activities in Wyoming could be televised as they are in Forest Lake, Scandia, Columbus, and Forest Lake High School. Administrator Craig Mattson indicated that Forest Lake has more schools, including the high school and two junior high schools. Yeager had questions about when council meetings would be televised. She also believes there is strong interest from people in Wyoming in working with the station. Gail Moore indicated that usually these would be shown the night after the meeting and on Thursday morning. Terms of any agreement are negotiated with the cable commission. Council members want to see statistics related to the number of viewers in the city and how many have cable service. Both Yeager and council member Russ Goudge want to see the results of budget work before making a decision to enter into an agreement with the cable company. This will be considered again after more information is available. A traffic signal is to be installed as part of the work on 257th Street. Ted Phillips suggested the city ask MNDOT to provide alerts before the light becomes operational. He recalled at least one large accident which occurred just after the light at 259th Street was installed. While MNDOT dictates terms about these signals, Erichson told the council he will work with MNDOT about this request. Also, the council: •Approved an accessory building for General Safety which does not have brick facing. The requirement would be an unnecessary cosmetic expense, but would contribute nothing to the function of the building. The vote was 5-0. • Approved pay voucher #2 in the amount of $294,015.82 to R.L Larson Excavating, Inc., for the 257th Street Improvement Project. This is for the pay period 8/01/09 to 9/08/09. The vote was 5-0. • Approved an on-sale liquor license for Joe’s Pizza and Deli good for 2009. Approval came by a 5-0 vote. • Approved the transfer of the off-sale liquor license of Liquor Works to Houle Liquor Ltd. This to continue DBA Liquor Works at 26713 Faxton Ave. * Approved the minutes of the meeting Sept. 1, by a vote of 4-0. Mayor Sheldon Anderson abstained. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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