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Next week's hearing will determine Wyoming's future |
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Wednesday, 19 March 2008 |
Cliff Buchan
News Editor
By the end of June, the new city of Wyoming will be official. But just how will the new Wyoming look in terms of geography?
The process leading to an answer to that question starts on Monday when Administrative Law Judge Steven M. Mihalchick begins to hear testimony on two contested annexation cases involving Stacy and Chisago City who seek to bite off chunks of Wyoming Township.
If the judge agrees, more than 5000 acres of township land will go to Stacy on the north and Chisago City on the east. That would come on the heals of Chisago City’s successful taking of 5000 acres in 2005, thanks to a ruling by an administrative law judge.
It’s part of a legal battle that has stretched into its third year and pitted four communities in a land battle.
Following the successful annexation by Chisago City, the city of Wyoming and Wyoming Township spent the better part of a year crafting a joint resolution for orderly annexation of the two communities. The petition was filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings for boundary adjustment approval just days before Chisago City launched its second annexation bid and Stacy entered the process.
Stacy is attempting to annex 780 acres in the northwestern sections of Wyoming Township. Chisago City, in two separate annexation filings with the state, hopes to pick off another 4300 acres of township land.
City, town opposed
As the administrative law judge hears the case next week, it will be the intent of the township and city of Wyoming to prove that the loss of another 5000 acres of land will strip away valuable tax base and diminish the new city’s ability to function at full strength and serve all areas of the planned city.
Also at stake, the city and township contend, is the future of a state annexation grant to assist with the merger.
The city and township also contend the loss of another 5000 acres will defeat joint planning efforts that have taken place in the past year related to a joint comprehensive plan and long-range efforts for sewer and water extensions to serve areas that request those public utilities.
Stacy and Chisago City will attempt to prove to the judge that they can best serve the landowners in the annexation areas.
Roger Elmore, town board chair, said last week the city and township have done hard work of governance and planning while Chisago City has been cherry picking.
“Chisago City wants the tax base benefits, but did not want to do any of the hard work to come to a joint agreement or to take on any of the township’s burdens,” Elmore said.
Wyoming Mayor Sheldon Anderson doesn’t buy the idea that who can best serve land should be the factor in determining what city the land is in. If that principle is allowed to stand, boundaries in many cities should be contested on the basis of public service availability, he said.
“Should that be the case? I don’t think so,” Anderson said.
Elmore and Anderson said the annexation petitions by their neighbors reveal that Stacy and Chisago City want the “pick of the prime land.”
“They don’t want any of the Carlos Avery property,” Elmore said, pointing to the wildlife management area owned by the state.
Anderson sees the protracted legal fight as a major setback to progress for the new Wyoming. “They’ve (Chisago City and now Stacy) stopped three years of progress for the city,” he said.
By delaying the merger, Anderson estimates the city has lost some $500,000 in state municipal aid for highways that would have been available to the combined city.
The hearing plan
Next week’s hearings will be hosted in the Wyoming City Municipal Building and are open to the public.
Dates have been reserved starting Monday through Wednesday, April 2 to allow ample time. All sessions start at 9 a.m. with the exception of Wednesday, March, 26. That session has been designated as a hearing to collect public testimony. The session will begin at 6 p.m.
Elmore and Anderson hope the public will become energized and take part in the process to help impress Judge Mihalchick of the city-town case.
They know that the result of the judge’s ruling will determine the shape of the new Wyoming when it is established in late June. But after a series of defeats in the courts, the two are prepared to move forward no matter what.
“We’ll do the best we can and just move on,” Elmore said.
Side issues
There are side issues tied to the hostile annexation bid.
Don Taylor, who once was part of Wyoming Township before the first Chisago City annexation, has gone on to win the mayoral seat in Chisago City. He is now seeking the Republican endorsement to run for House District 17B seat.
Anderson has also jumped into the race and will challenge Taylor for the party endorsement during the district convention on April 5. He has also hinted that he may force a primary challenge if he does not get the endorsement.
A second side issue involves a request from 17 current and former city, township and county officials who have asked the city and town to approve a full election of a new council. The town board and city council have passed on the request, sticking to the signed agreement that provides for a blended five-member new city council with representation from both current boards.
Anderson blames that move as part of the frustration tied to the protracted consolidation process that has been long delayed. “We wouldn’t have these issues coming up at the eleventh hour,” Anderson said.
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