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The Wyoming Council approved cooperating on a bond issuance for Family Pathways last week. The city of Pine City is hosting the sale but cities where Family Pathways have facilities located were required to support the financing by council motion.

Wyoming City Council attached some conditions to its action.

On the motion by Ted Phillips the Family Pathways’ request was okayed so the non-profit can refinance outstanding debt at a lower interest rate and help keep its operations budget healthy. But, Phillips’ motion required Family Pathways to meet applicable city ordinances in regards to the Thrift Store in Wyoming. Phillips noted dumpster screening does not exist and the signage does not comply with city code as a couple of obvious issues Family Pathways must address.

Mayor Sheldon Anderson asked Phillips to add to the conditions that there be discussion toward some form of Payment in Lieu of Taxes to the city by Family Pathways. Family Pathways Director Steve Martin told council that when Family Pathways first located its thrift store in a vacant former sporting goods building there was discussion about Payment in Lieu of Taxes but the council at that time felt the benefits of having the organization set-up shop in Wyoming outweighed collecting funds in lieu of property tax. Martin also noted the thrift store site does not have city sewer and water and added Family Pathways brings in 200 to 250 people daily to Wyoming. Martin estimated Family Pathways is serving 75 Wyoming area families regularly through either the Food Pantry in Forest Lake or Lindstrom.

Phillips did not take the mayor’s suggestion as a friendly amendment. The motion passed 3-2 with the mayor and Council member Joe Zerwas opposed. Zerwas expressed concern over Family Pathways’ services and methods of outreach and dissented.

Pine City will attach its name to bonds for Family Pathways to obtain tax exempt status to refinance about $1.4 million in debt at an interest rate at least a couple percentage points lower than existing. Wyoming; as one of the cities where Family Pathways has a facility was required to hold a public hearing and sign onto the bond sale paperwork. There is no Wyoming responsibility for the debt. The debt does not count towards city liabilities.

In action regarding pending legal action on the termination this spring of chief of police Tony Pangal-- council voted after meeting in a closed session with the attorneys involved-- that the city will honor the terms of a settlement.

Details of the settlement won’t be disclosed until Pangal signs the agreement.

Mayor Anderson voted no on the settlement with no explanation.

And, the new Wyoming City Administrator attended his first council session last week. Craig Mattson succeeds Jill Teetzel who left the city upon receiving a severance package over a year ago.

How ‘bout those streets

Council member Zerwas also spoke at length toward the end of the meeting about city street conditions and how there needs to be some plan formulated to address problems. Zerwas said he counted over 500 potholes in one small area just a few blocks-square. “It’s not Bill’s (Eisenmenger, public works) fault,” Zerwas said. “The roads are all in such bad shape we need to start taking this on.”

City engineer Mark Erichson said he could prepare a presentation on a “pavement management plan” for the next council meeting and council consensus was that he do so.

Eisenmenger mentioned he has a few bids in for outside contractors doing high level repairs on 20 locations in the city. Eisenmenger said the city doesn’t have the equipment or capability to do these patches. He’ll bring a recommended bid to council at the next meeting for this summer’s work.

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