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The Wyoming City Council last week denied a request from a Finley Avenue resident asking for $350 to help pay for what the man spent responding to a misdemeanor ticket issued for dumping spoils from an excavated pond project into wetlands. There was no evidence the city shared any responsibility in the violation, cited by state officials in 2007. No permit was issued by Wyoming for the creation of the pond.

The Soil and Water Conservation District, DNR and county wetlands specialist all noted excessive fill had been placed into wetlands near the project site. The pond creation wasn't the problem, but the disposal of the dirt was, council was told.

On motion by Russ Goudge the council voted 5-0 to deny the $350 request from Eugene Gajeski. Gajeski did comply with the remediation order issued and has removed the soils. Staff told council the city assisted in the remediation by taking some of the spoils for use on city properties, which had already helped keep Gajeski's disposal costs down.

In another environmental matter, council unanimously issued the declaration of no need for any additional review of the 257th Street project. The Environmental Assessment Worksheet is satisfactory and addresses stormwater and other concerns, according to the city's engineer.

Council also authorized bids to be re-advertised for the 257th Street improvements. Bid opening will be in June. Bids received about 14 months ago were officially "rejected" as there was some delay in obtaining easement for the street alignment.

A resident from along Ashton Lake asked if the council would consider a moratorium banning irrigation water pulled from Ashton Lake. Ray Johnson said the lake level is well below desireable depths and he said using lake water to sprinkle lawns should be disallowed, at least until the level bounces back.

Council put this on its May 19 agenda. City staff will visit with DNR officials to see what amount of jurisdiction Wyoming has over lake issues. Mayor Sheldon Anderson advised Johnson that if he has neighbors who share his concern about watering lawns with lake water, they should attend next week's council meeting.

Council accepted the contract for incoming Chief of Police Paul Hoppe. The chief was to be sworn-in at a special meeting Monday, May 11.

During public comment, resident Steve Sicheneder questioned how the budget can handle the wage of $82,000 noting this is about $10,000 more than what was budgeted. After a six month probation period the wage goes to $85,000.

Sicheneder continued, saying the police department has "great personnel" and he's not complaining about the department, but he observed that the police budget has grown by $300,000 in just four years. "The increases just are not consistent with the economic times," he felt. In wages alone, he said the budget has increased 70 percent in four years.

Mayor Anderson declared that the council is "...not here to satisfy Mr. Sicheneder," in response to Council member Linda Nanko-Yeager's request that staff address the concerns he put forth. Still, City Administrator Craig Mattson said the contract is "standard" and is used with all employees and said Hoppe, is a "highly qualified" individual for this position so he is starting on the "higher end" of wages.

Council unanimously okayed a request to waive a $45 permit fee for a gazebo project being undertaken by a Boy Scout for his Eagle award. Troop 142 scout Ron Brinkman plans to construct the gazebo at Hawk Meadows Park. Readers who might like to donate to this project can contact Brinkman at the [email protected] or call 464-8196.

Requests the council reviewed for funding-- from the Initiative Foundation and the Forest Lake Safety Camp program-- were tabled.

There was debate over whether there should be a "policy" developed on these non-profit funding requests. Mayor Anderson stated he prefers to take each on a case-by-case basis. Nanko-Yeager argued for a policy that could contain better direction for council to have criteria when evaluating these requests. The council felt they might take up the policy during a "retreat" which has been scheduled and canceled and not been re-scheduled.

The sex offender ordinance revision was tabled while council awaits a map to go along with this.

The former Wyoming city (pre-annexation) had adopted sex offender residence restrictions and council is working on extending these restrictions to include the former township area that was recently annexed.

#22 project

There are potentially 20-plus parcels that could be hooking up to city sewer and water after the County Road #22 project is done. On recommendation of the city engineer council unanimously agreed the city will grant five years for hook-up--if the septic system is less than 10 years old or has been inspected and is in good working condition. This is an extension from the existing ordinance that had required hook-up to available services within one year.

County Road 22 is closed near downtown Wyoming to through traffic at this time, and Wyoming is accessible from the east only by way of #36 and down from the north-- or from Highway 8 and up from the south.

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