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Wyoming Town Board delays appointments |
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Wednesday, 02 April 2008 |
Jackie Lallier
Wyoming Township Reporter
Because the Wyoming Town Board election of March 11th was contested, Dennis Freed, county auditor, did a recall of votes and the board of canvass certified the outcome as previously found.
Mark Utecht was sworn into office as a supervisor on March 25th.
It had been planned to reorganize the board at this meeting but because an election recount can be contested within 10 days and the annexation litigation trial started March 24th, Supervisor Jerry Owens recommended the reorganization be tabled until April 8 and the board agreed.
Ordinance debate
Board members went “round and round” while trying to agree on a lawn sprinkler ordinance. It was felt this is something that should be in place before the annexation takes place and the subject had come up previously to try to deal with systems put in right-of-ways.
The planning commission decided to model the ordinance after that of the city of Wyoming. Several members objected to the inclusion of people with private wells having to abide by the provisions of an odd/even watering schedule, a permit for using more than 10,000 gallons per day, a fee schedule and other permits.
Supervisor Ron Swenson questioned whether homeowners who get their water from a community well have specified rules for the use of water. Zoning Administrator Fred Weck said there are four community wells in the township now and their covenants do not address watering systems. The ordinance does apply to community wells. Owens said he felt there was no reason to include private wells as the water comes from different aquifers. He also said it appears “lawn water” goes back into the same soil. Supervisor Pat Fandel stated he thought this legislation is not necessary because township homes are on large acreage and city homes are on small acreage.
The planning commission voted for adoption of the ordinance three to two. Utecht said the three folks who voted for it did so because of a concern for natural resources and after the annexation, time will need to be spent anyway melding the two ordinances. He said for most municipalities where restrictions or bans are in place, it is because of the low water supply, not a loss of natural resources.
The use of alternate water sources came up and Weck explained Wyoming homeowners who have this use a particular small sign that is put by their mailbox to show their exemption from the rules. The original item of sprinkler heads in right-of-ways was readdressed again along with the subject of the rain sensor law. Steve Curtis, owner of Applewood Nursery, said this law has been in effect in Minnesota since 2005.
The proposed ordinance spells out that people who put sprinklers in the right-of-way do so at their own peril and the city is not responsible for damage caused by plow trucks or other city equipment; however, it does not address sprinkler heads in road beds so it needs language to apply to curbs, gutters and ditches.
It was finally decided the paperwork should go back to the Commission for revision and then be reviewed by attorney Dave Snyder.
Chairman Roger Elmore reported for the park board that the Easter Egg Hunt on March 22nd was attended by 247 children and was successful despite the snow. He added the board is looking to do some upgrading at Hawk Meadows by enlisting the help of Eagle Scouts.
Street Superintendent Byron Olson told the board the township has been renting a Bobcat for short periods of time to get various items of road work done. However, the retention ponds all need to be cleaned out and it will be time consuming.
Olson has checked out renting, leasing and buying the needed equipment and presented the board with a brochure advertising a small Caterpiller/Ziegler multi-terrain loader. The company gives a 15% discount to townships on new equipment and the city of Wyoming is willing to let the township use their attachments that will fit this equipment.
All the other township equipment is in good shape and does not need replacement for a long time. The township has funds available to spend $30,000+ for this equipment. The board decided to hold the matter over to the next meeting in order to check out the cost of an intermediate sized machine with a higher horse power.
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