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Elmore keeps town board chair duties |
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Wednesday, 16 April 2008 |
Jackie Lallier
Wyoming Township Reporter
Roger Elmore has retained the duties on town board chairman.
The first order of business at the April 8 meeting was reorganization of the board and Elmore was reelected chairman and Ron Swenson was reelected vice-chairman.
Buck Schott’s seat is up on the planning commission and he was appointed. Shelly Elmore was reelected to the park board and Annette Storm was named a citizen at large to the board of appeal. Rick Duncan’s appointment was tabled until he can be contacted to find out if he wants to continue to chair the Emergency Management Committee.
Since there is a short time remaining before the township is expected to be resolved, all the liaison board members are willing to continue in their same positions.
Supervisor Mark Utecht asked the board to consider a policy that all board and commission members vote one way or another in making a decision unless they have a conflict of interest. It was decided that the clerk will record people who do not vote so there is a complete record of all votes.
It was noted that a non-vote or an abstain vote should not be taken as a “no” vote.
The town board elected to keep the upcoming meeting dates as the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. and keep the First State Bank of Wyoming as the official depository.
Representatives from various organizations explained their monetary requests for the services they provide:
Roger Sellman from the Chisago County Service Center said they received 18,000 referrals last year and served 3400 dinners including Meals on Wheels. He said the food program keeps costing more money and is short on food service.
Matt Mathison explained Communities Invested in Families began in 1997, became a non-profit organization in 1992 and provides aid to Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec and Pine counties with family counselling, unemployment help, bilateral linguistic training, tuition assistance, financial literary materials, credit counselling (have 400 people attending this session) and have a “ways to work” program involving car donations, car loans and ways to buy used cars.
Vickie Sandvick from Community Partnership - Youth and Family Pathways stated their organization started in 1978 and serves five counties. They now have seven food pantries that are in dire need of more supplies, have two technical centers (in Stacy and Mora), have a respite program, have a program pairing up “special needs” kids with “normal” kids and have started sessions dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Crystal from New Pathways said they have the only local homeless shelter and they partner with sixteen churches in the area that provide sleeping accommodations. They concentrate on job-related skills and can handle six families at one time. Their day center has laundry facilities, a computer, kitchen, playroom and personal care items. They have a 70 percent success rate.
Shellene Johnson from the Refuge Network says they provide constant 24 hours of crisis help and have a network of “safe houses.” They had 450 new clients last year and are hoping to open a shelter for at least fifteen women and children this fall.
Pam Trudeau from the Youth Service Bureau emphasized their organization tries to work with kids before they get too far into the criminal system by an intervention program with first time offenders and a heavy expectation for parental involvement.
The Forest Lake Area Teen Center has 211 youth registered with 50 to 60 on a daily basis. The homework room is successful as well as the tai kwando program.
They wanted to start a “drumming circle” so went to Home Depot and solicited orange buckets for this project. Their aim is to move beyond a place for kids to feel safe and also thrive.
Wyoming Mayor Sheldon Anderson talked abut his wish of getting a senior program going in Wyoming including a food shelf, blood pressure testing, monthly speakers, etc. Mr. Sellman (Chisago County Service Center) said there had been a dining site in Wyoming a few years ago but when the leaders died, the program faded out.
The decision of how any monies will be contracted for the above services will be decided upon at the next board meeting.
Forest Lake Contracting has applied for renewal of their interim use permit to continuation of mineral extraction. Since they have proved to have their business in good order, the board approved the permit.
Street Superintendent Byron Olson had procured further information on the purchase of a new multi-terrain loader. After discussing the difference in price for a larger piece of equipment and the very small difference in capability, the board approved the $37,685 for the 61 horse power machine.
Olson was also given approval to sell the two small generators that have not been used for quite a while.
The plans and specs for the road work on Fawn Trail have been completed and Engineer Mark Erichson was given authorization to ask for bids in May for work to be completed in June.
The joint powers agreement with the Forest Lake Fire Department was discussed and a resolution passed to pay the bill of $16,353 and that the clerk can sign a resolution ending the contract on or about an expected termination date of July 30th.
Supervisor Pat Fandel asked that a better process be put in place to call emergency meetings as he does not always have a chance to read his e-mail every day. In the future, the town board will send e-mails and also make sure a solid contact is made such as a telephone call.
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