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The Wyoming City Council voted unanimously last week to inform the Chisago Lakes Joint Sewage Treatment Commission, that the city is opposed to using commission land or funds for ballfields to be built at the regional sewer plant property.

The council was brought up-to-date by the city's joint sewer commission representatives Council members Gary Menne and Joe Zerwas, who put this on the regular agenda.

Council member Zerwas acknowledged, "Wyoming's outnumbered (votes on commission) but for now we've got it tabled until city council review."

Wyoming has two seats on the multi-jurisdiction wastewater treatment commission, based on population.

The city of Stacy has one seat, Center City has one, the county has one member and Chisago City and Lindstrom hold two seats.

Menne said the main controversy is that Wyoming shouldn't have to contribute to "fields that will be used by somebody else." Wyoming youth do not benefit from recreational programs through LARA-- which is the organization that would cooperate with the sewer commission on the project.

Menne described other concerns he said aren't being adequately addressed, in what he called the "rush" to develop these softball fields.

Menne referred to public health concerns in having open wastewater ponding adjacent to where the commission proposes the ballfield land to be leased. (The concept is a $1 per year "lease" for 99 years on 12 acres, with cancellation clauses. The idea is for four fields.)

Waterfowl and other wildlife spend time in the ponds, menne continued, and will certainly fly over or would visit the ballfield play area carrying possible pathogens. Menne said there is no suitable road access to the site, no potable water where fields are proposed; traffic will be an issue with commission plant vehicles mingling with the expected ballplayers' and spectator vehicles. He questioned what will happen when or if the wastewater treatment facility needs to expand and the land is in ballfields.

Menne added that the county road is not safe for youngsters to travel by bike or foot to the site. Although, there is doubt in Menne and Zerwas's minds that the fields will be used by youth teams. The two expressed concerns about a sewer commission member who, in their opinion, is pressing for these fields.

Chisago County's commission member is Bob Gustafson, who coordinates this area's adult and elite softball leagues for the American Softball Association. Menne said he has complained that Gustafson shouldn't even be involved in the discussions and certainly should not be actively voting on field related issues before the commission. (The votes so far have been to direct the commission attorney to draft a tentative lease and review commission insurance coverage.)

Lakes Area Recreation Association (LARA) official Craig Zupko, told the Chisago County Press that although LARA hasn't attended sewer commission meetings the youth organization does support this. "We have record numbers of kids' teams and we're running out of fields," Zupko stated.

He said LARA is working behind the scenes now on getting grants and is hoping Chisago City and Lindstrom also help carry some of the financial burden. There are "legalities" yet to be worked out, Zupko agreed. LARA may not be able to be named the leasee so a city might have to step forward.

There's also on-going discussion about the length of committment to realistically allow the ballfields to be used for many years. "We'd hate to have the fields open and then after a few years find out the land is needed for something," Zupko explained.

Wyoming Council member Blake Tiedeman commented at the council meeting, "I don't think this thing has been thought through."

He added the joint sewer commission has other issues it should be dealing with and was "getting sidetracked" with this. "I wonder why they are even wasting their time on this?"

Council member Tom LaBarre made a motion that Wyoming's city attorney send a letter informing the commission Wyoming finds this project unfair and ill-advised.

The city will also communicate it opposes dedicating commission member resources to a project that will not benefit all commission members. The communication will also detail Wyoming's concerns over the conflict of interest with Gustafson's active involvement in recreation.

The Chisago Lakes Joint Sewage Treatment Commission purchased its wastewater plant parcel, north of Chisago City on #77, in Chisago Lake Township over 20 years ago. The commission recently grew to include Stacy and Wyoming, when they dismantled their own city-run municipal treatment systems and connected to the CLJSTC.

The next meeting of the CLJSTC is May 15 at 1 p.m. at Lindstrom City Hall. The commission is chaired by Center City Mayor Mark Wolcott.

In other business last week council voted to okay the MRI machine funding that is being sold through the City of Milaca for Fairview. As the "host site" for the equipment Wyoming Council was required to hold a public hearing and act on the financing, but Wyoming has no responsibility for the debt or the purchase.

~ Trees on Kettle River Blvd. are in the way of underground utilities and are damaging the sidewalk (by the Cornerstone, etc.) so the city okayed removal of five problem trees. City public works people will meet with the county engineer on cost-sharing for sidewalk repairs because it is a county road, but the city is responsible for the trees. The new chiropractic clinic is now underway where the Sunshine Shoppe building was torn down, so now is a good time to tackle the tree issues, council was advised.

~ Administrative ticket appeals will be heard by city attorney David Snyder-- at least for the near future. Council approved holding admin citation appeals on city council evenings, when Snyder is in town anyway. Appeals would be held just prior to the council sessions.

The police department has been granted authority to issue administrative tickets for various violations, with all revenues from fines retained by the city. (The split that normally takes place on criminal citations send a third to the state-county-city.)

~ Peterson Companies, Inc. of Chisago City got the bid for decommissioning the former wastewater treatment site east of town. Peterson bid $577,036. There were 10 bids received.

During public forum Acting Police Chief Dexter made it clear he is not interested in the fulltime permanent police chief position. Citizens were advised any chief hire is still on-hold while the township consolidation matter awaits legal action. Dexter is willing to serve as acting chief as long as that takes, he shared. Resident Arnold Ladd asked about the pavement management study and priority road projects and was advised the council will probably be reviewing the Request For Proposal solicitation at the next council meeting. Study should take at least a couple months and then a roadwork plan would be created.

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