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With Council member Brett Ohnstad and Mayor Lisa Iverson absent last week, the Wyoming City Council handled an abbreviated agenda.  The public comment portion of the meeting was the main focus of what was a 15 minute timeframe.  Public comment featured a citizen complaint about the state flag, which was adopted in 2024 in a re-design effort overseen by a state emblem design commission appointed in 2023.

Resident Daniel Witte requested the city discontinue flying the adopted official flag and hold a meeting for Wyoming citizens to discuss the issue.  He contended his request has no “political” motive but then said by not flying the new version of the state flag that was adopted in legislative action — Wyoming will “show the state” it prefers the old state flag.

He added citizens had no input and felt there ought to be a way to “choose” which flag design is locally preferred.

City legal counsel advised there is no city authority to choose the state’s flag. Displaying anything other than the design adopted by the legislature would be “symbolic only.”  

The laws also only dictate  the state flag must be flown over the capitol from sunrise to sundown (statutes 1.141.) There’s no legal mandate for cities or counties to even fly the Minnesota flag.

Acting Mayor Claire Luger responded that the city is approaching budget-setting time and staff are occupied with this, stating, “We need to be cognizant of their time.” 

In addition— the next work session is also reserved for a discussion about Liberty Ponds,  and  imminent wastewater system needs that the Homeowners Association plans to meet with council about.

Council agreed the issue of the flag could become a discussion item on a future agenda but it was not viewed as a priority.

FYI in Chisago County Taylors Falls and North Branch city council leaders have also rejected the redesigned state flag and display the “old” flag in chambers.

According to the Minnesota Historical Society and House legislative publication archives, there were numerous bills considered between 2000-2023 in St Paul to redesign the Minnesota flag. 

The old flag (last revised  as of 1957) was regarded as poorly laid out graphically, with small symbols and letters, it lacked individuality, and resembled  other state flag designs.  It basically carried the state seal in the center surrounded by a field of dark blue.  The seal, now featuring a loon, was re-designed at the same time as the flag.  The seal is displayed at state press conferences, and denotes official documents and state communications.

In 2023 a commission of 13 members and four legislators (which dropped to two later) was tasked with recommending a new state seal and flag.  The commission  was composed of arts board members, tourism council reps, someone for the MN Historical Society and three “ethnic council groups” were involved.  Public meetings were held around the state for about a year,  and Mall of America hosted a display of six finalist designs. 

News outlets statewide in print and broadcast made 1,000 “mentions”, according to a final report compiled on the effort, presented to state lawmakers. There were 236,000 visits  to the historical society flag design website and almost 22,000 forms were filled out on-line by the public. The Becker County Historical Society Museum hosted a design finalists display. 

In other business: council accepted a donation from Polaris of accessories for the off road utility public safety vehicle valued at $2,300.

There will be a tree planting event Saturday, April 25, from 10 to noon at Tolzmann Park for Arbor Day.

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