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Wyoming City Council was hit with a couple of critical concerns last week in the open microphone portion of the regular council meeting.  

The deteriorating functionality of drain fields and septics in the Liberty Ponds development are causing concerns for homeowners.

HOA president Brian Benson told council they need some government involvement in finding an agency that offers financial help or in getting municipal services extended.  

The second issue had residents on Pioneer Road— between Hwy. 8 and Wyoming Trail— requesting council to at the very least reduce the speed limit,  in the wake of a triple fatal crash there April 26.  Having lived on property fronting Pioneer for over 30 years, the Coughlins stated they have expressed concerns to council before and added “every resident (on Pioneer) has stories” about the dangers on that stretch of roadway.  The stretch was improved but sight lines are still hazardous and curves not straightened nor was the pitch given a safer tilt, when Highway 8 last had construction done, making the 40 mph speed limit too fast.

Public safety Director and Chief of Police Neil Bauer agreed and said data is being collected now on actual speed and daily traffic counts, etc.

Council directed staff to gather the needed information, and to put the speed limit on a future agenda.

A third issue brought up in open microphone by Jason Roberts was related to a rezoning request near his home at Hamlet Avenue and Hwy. 8.  The applicant wants the 5.4 acre site rezoned from rural residential to commercial.

Council was shorthanded with Members Schilling and Luger absent, so on motion to table,  by Council member Ohnstad, acting on the rezoning was unanimously pushed back to May 21.  The law that sets an action deadline on land use application imposes a deadline of May 28.

A public hearing for June 4 was scheduled for officially informing property owners of road improvements assessments.  Wyoming City will cover 80 percent of the scheduled 2024 projects, and property owners who benefit pay 20 percent.  (See list of roads.)

Notices of the hearing will go out to affected parcels.   The costs are still being estimated until bids actually come in,  and assessments are potentially $6,100 to $6,500 per unit.

Council approved the hire of Nicole Fraser for a police officer vacancy.  She was most recently with the City of Edina and also worked enforcement for the Winona State Campus.  She starts this week.

County Commissioner Ben Montzka gave a brief update on some issues.

The city financial audit was presented by Bergen KDV.  The FY 2023 audit showed Wyoming was underspent on budgeted expenditures and also brought in more revenues than expected especially due to the one time state public safety aid.  The $4.2 million budget was basically balanced and presented no glaring problems, council heard.

The tax rate saw a dip from 45.7 percent to 34.4 percent.

The city also has about seven months’ of expenses in a balance that is not “restricted’ which is meeting policy set by council. 

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