Alice Pickering
Wyoming Area Reporter

Miller Law Office was selected as Wyomingís legal counsel on April 5. Council interviewed three candidates March 31 and ranked their choices. Polled individually at Tuesdayís meeting, in every case council members picked Miller Law Office as their first choice.

Earlier in the meeting, Dave Boniface, EDA member, supported reappointment of Tom Miller as city attorney. With many projects in the works; land deals, acquisitions, all the business associated with the regional wastewater project, the agreements with Polaris, and new downtown development. He urged council to maintain continuity by retaining an attorney that knows the history.

Sewer update

Carolyn Drude, Ehlers & Associates Inc., provided financial information about the wastewater treatment project. Revenue for the project is estimated to be a little more than $3.2 million.

However, there will be a short period, near the end of 2005, when there will be a cash flow deficit of about $3 million. At that time, a short term loan might be necessary to cover payments.

The cityís share of the entire project is about $13,400,000. The revenue sources for this project come from city, state, and federal funds.

Funding sources include the sale of land to Polaris, with part of the money to come to the city when the cityís old septic treatment area has been vacated, a federal EDA grant awarded to the city last year for pipeline, DEED funds from the state, a Minnesota Investment Fund grant, and a PFA loan. Total revenue is just under $16,660,000.

Hospital news

After a public hearing, council unanimously approved the sale of revenue bonds by Fairview Hospitals. Because some of the money is to be used in the expansion of the Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center, the city had to approve the sale.

Plans are to expand the clinic services space, ER facilities, radiology, obstetrics, pediatric observation, and add hospital beds to bring the total to 70, up from the current 59. The vote was unanimous.

Change in towing

Council reconsidered its selection of towing services for the city. A decision made March 15 selected Danís Towing and Swedeís Towing. Danís Towing turned down the combination towing contract.

Pangal recommended contracting with Danís Towing because if necessary, the company can provide several trucks at one time to clear vehicles from an accident. Company trucks can also handle heavy equipment and semi-trailers. Pangalís concern is reliable service if more than one truck is needed. Price is $85 for a tow, no matter the time of day.

Swedeís rates are $55 during the day, $70 after 8 p.m.

Council members voted 3-0 to contract with Danís Towing. CM Tom LaBarre and Ted Phillips, who are part-time drivers for the company, abstained.

Check program

Council approved a worthless check program agreement between the city of Wyoming and the Retailers Protection Association/Financial Crimes Technology Services. Police Chief Tony Pangal said the organization provides the service directly to the retailers, at no cost either to the city, police department, or the retailers.

Bad checks may be for relatively small amounts, but police departments are obligated to follow-up on them, he said. The cost to departments is substantial in terms of the time spent on these crimes, especially if the check is from an individual from outside the local area. Retailers have been encouraged to use programs that directly debit checking accounts, but not all retailers have done so.

Council unanimously approved the agreement.

Guidelines for the cityís use of legal service were approved unanimously. With an eye to reducing some costs, CM Allen Juneau requested a way to review and screen some city business before referring it to the attorney at the March 15 meeting. Miller provided the information for council use.

Items may be submitted to the attorney only by the city administrator, mayor and council members. Requests by department heads must be submitted to the administrator first. Reasonably necessary items which are reimbursable to the city by developers may be submitted to the attorney by the administrator without prior approval.

Dealings with other attorneys about legal issues may be continued and concluded without approval. Items falling outside these categories may be submitted to legal council with prior consent of the mayor. Council has ìauthority to override decisions made by the city administratorî based on policy, but it canít act retroactively.

Jennifer Hegsted, park board chair, said Phase I work on Goodview Park has been completed. Phase II includes installation of a play set, picnic shelter and sand around the play equipment.

A third application for a grant to complete part of the work was denied. After checking bids, the total for this part of the development is $44,000 with money earmarked for the project in designated account.

Other business

In other business, council:

ïApproved a site plan for additions to the Wyoming United Methodist Church. Architect Rich Keillor said no expansion is planned for the worship center, but additions are planned for the fellowship hall and education wing. The same architectural style is planned. Access off Viking Blvd must be approved by Chisago County. Council approved the site plan unanimously, contingent on meeting all county requirements.

ïMet with County Commissioner Ben Montzka who brought a map to show council which roads would be under construction during the summer.

ïAt the request of Nancy Immel, tabled until the April 19 meeting, a decision about the supplemental agreement with Stars and Strikes.

ïApproved A Day of Prayer in the city to coincide with the observance of the National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 5. The Wyoming event is slated at noon at Wyoming City Park at the intersection of US-61 and Viking Blvd.

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Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
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