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The Wyoming City Police department was down one officer who is relocating to Duluth; but last week council okayed hiring a replacement. Officer Scott Boecker succeeds Officer Vollman as of January 16.

Council then discussed at length a request from the department for a new squad and refurbishment of an existing squad. The new vehicle was to be a Crown Victoria or an Impala, with the cost difference of $19,000 for the Impala and $21,000 for the Crown Vic. The refurbished vehicle-- a 2005 Crown Victoria the department owns-- can be practically rebuilt for $14,500.

City Administrator Craig Mattson recommended delaying the purchase of the new squad until a new police chief is hired. (Scott Dexter is still leading the department while the chief search is underway.) Mattson added he's "optimistic" that'll be sometime in March. Wyoming officials will be doing interviews of police chief applicants in February. Mattson felt the new chief should have input on the fleet.

Mayor Sheldon Anderson commented that any new chief is "gonna want a new car" so council should just make the decision now.

A motion was made by newly-sworn in Council member Russ Goudge to refurbish and purchase an Impala. Newly-sworn member Roger Elmore asked if Goudge would take a friendly amendment and make it the Crown Vic instead.

The final vote was unanimous for the new Crown Victoria and to refurbish the four year old squad.

Wyoming P.D. has seven vehicles but one is out of service and one is a reserve squad.

The council oversaw a public hearing last week to accept a feasibility study on engineering for improvements to Wyoming Trail and the related Fallbrook Ave. stormwater projects. The council chambers was filled with residents attending. The council eventually voted 5-0 to endorse the project and order the improvements and direct staff to develop specs.

Residents had concerns about costs. There were questions about rules to require hooking up to the available sewer and water lines being extended east out from town as well.

Council asked staff to reconsider the requirements to hook-up, which right now allows five years for former township residents to hookup. Some people said during the public hearing that with the orderly annexation and tax increases, and now this project being assessed based on buildable units, the expenses to reside in this #22 corridor are quickly mounting.

Assessments will be against 22 units along this project, which the county hopes to break ground on in spring 2009. Much of the work for redoing Wyoming Trail (22) is being paid for by state "turnback" funds that must be utilized by 2011, citizens were reminded. The city can get much infrastructure improvement done for less cost by coordinating with this project.

Residents asked if they could continue to use their wells for water, and not have to connect to the water portion of the project.

Engineer Mark Erichson said the corridor is a 24 inch trunk extension, and the city needs this project to improve water quality and flow and to loop the system. But if there are property owners with good private wells there may be accommodations for hook-up. Still, City Administrator Mattson noted the system needs fees and permit revenues to be maintained. "These systems don't run themselves," he stated. Mattson said more discussion could continue later with financial analysis of how delayed hook-ups will impact the budget.

The 257th Street (a new build) was also on the agenda for accepting the project report and setting a public hearing date. Council set January 20 for the hearing on this new street off #61, south of town, that will end by the freeway parcel proposed for the future Xccent plant. The new North Lakes Academy is being constructed at the intersection of this new street and Hwy. 61.

Council member Goudge requested staff see if the Fairview property benefit can be re-evaluated. Goudge said there's at least two lots possible on one of the Fairview parcels and he felt that assessment could be increased, thereby reducing the assessments spread overall.

The city released the escrow held on the CU Recovery development on #61. The work has been done to the satisfaction of the city. Residents, however, had complaints. Sally Detlefson, speaking for the neighborhood, said the landscaping is not sufficient and the soils are still loose and sand is everywhere. She asked that the yards to the rear of the project get at least as nice landscaping as the "motel" side of the project is enjoying. Staff will work with neighbors and the developers.

The council appointed the 2009 city planning commission. Members are: Sean Wagner, Judy Coughlin, Frank Storm, Ken Meyers, Mike Thomas and alternate Mark Lobermeier.

Council adopted the 2009 firefighter roster of about 30 members.

Elmore was voted vice-mayor. Goudge was the lone opposition.

City fees were left unchanged.

In making appointments:

Linda Nanko-Yeager is on the Forest Lake Comfort Lake watershed district, Rush Line Task Force, and Library committee.

Joe Zerwas is on the Chisago Lakes joint sewage treatment commission, police/fire liaison,

Roger Elmore serves on the library committee, planning commission liaison, park board;

Russ Goudge is on the EDA and sewer commission

Mayor Anderson's on the fire relief association, EDA, and is public works liaison.

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