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Wyoming City was heading into 2010 in the unenviable position of having to beef-up cash flow accounts at the same time council wanted zero tax increases. The city's 2010 levy and budget were unanimously approved last week and both goals have reportedly been met. Council member Linda Nanko-Yeager stated, "I think we did a good job."

Council member Roger Elmore voted yes but said he wished money could have been put in the levy for street projects.

City Administrator Craig Mattson said people need to keep their eye on "outcomes." He said considering what was realistic for revenue; the city is providing through this budget what it needs to provide.

The city's levy at $3,250,000 is less than it was in 2009. Additional non-property tax revenues have been accessed post-township merger and some capital needs are being delayed, namely roadwork.

The approved budget was adjusted by $70,000 from what was described in the late November taxation hearing with citizens. Mattson moved this out of capital expenditures into fund balance, so the city's bank account could support 33 percent of annual expenditures. (Ideally it should be 45 to 50 percent on hand for cash flow.)

No city staff are being cut in the adopted budget, although Mattson said, "It is still possible."

Residents received tax hearing notices from the county. The approved tax is now less than what was distributed in the mailed materials. The mailer declaration is based on preliminary budgets set in September. This final Wyoming budget is reduced by some $200,000 from the maximum preliminary budget adopted a few months ago.

The budget also includes $1,800 for the annual bill from Xcel for streetlights in the Bridgewater neighborhood.

Mayor Sheldon Anderson, who a few weeks ago voted with Joe Zerwas against picking up the streetlight bill, put the matter back on the agenda.

Anderson and Zerwas voted last week with Roger Elmore and Linda Nanko-Yeager and okayed the city picking up the tab.

After the meeting Mayor Anderson and Zerwas explained they reconsidered and decided the neighborhood should be treated just like all others and streetlights should be paid for out of the city budget. Bridgewater (near Comfort Lake) came into the city of Wyoming via the township orderly annexation and was a unique development with lighting operations paid for privately.

Council member Russ Goudge abstained because he lives in Bridgewater.

#22 trail policy

The council voted unanimously to NOT maintain (clear) the new paved trail on the south side of #22 (Wyoming Trail) over the winter.

The trail will not be open to snowmobiles.

The city allows sledders to run on city streets at 10 mph in order to travel between destinations/homes. Police Chief Paul Hoppe said he met with public works staff and all staff recommended to council to not clear the trail in winter and to disallow motorized uses.

The council agreed, noting the lifespan of the trail increases without the wear and tear from snowmobile traffic and the abutting private yards will be spared snowmobile traffic.

The city also wanted to avoid any confusion leading to #22 becoming a "trail" within the snowmobile route system. The Chisago County Sunrise Prairie Trail (alongside #30) allows snowmobiles in the non-paved edges of the route. It also qualifies for state aid through the proceeds from sale of "stud" traction device snowmobile stickers, which a city trail would not qualify for, council noted.

Adjacent property owners also are not expected to clear the trail. Because there is no room for snow storage on right-of-way-- plows will probably be tossing large amounts of road plow debris onto the trail and it wouldn't be reasonable to expect citizens to tackle this.

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