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With one city council member opposed, the Wyoming city hall and law enforcement/fire hall facilities plan took a giant step forward last week with contractors being awarded bids to get started on renovation tasks.  

The current city offices are moving out of the building next to the Wyoming library and the space the offices shared with fire department activities will become all-fire department.  

The city offices will head south to 26263 Forest Boulevard.  The city has purchased a former commercial building here,  and a phased retro-fit and move-in is planned.  This space will be re-done to be used for governmental administrative activity and eventually, police.  The law enforcement operations have been sharing the public works complex on Wyoming Trail and this square footage will then become public works only.

The total awarded for the fire hall/city hall retrofit is $5,739,000.

Those council members in favor agreed the time has come to “quit kicking this can down the road.” Costs will only escalate if the work doesn’t get started. Council member Dennis Schilling also stressed the spaces the city has now “are so inadequate.”

Wyoming is consulting with Kraus Anderson and Wold Architects on the projects.  

The contractors recommended and approved included: site clearing and earthwork to Swan Companies of Columbia Heights for $243,500, structural steel to Noble X in Amery, WI for $110,730, masonry to Ebert Construction out of Corcoran for $818,300, carpentry to Kellington Construction for $429,270, drywall to Custom Drywall of St. Paul for $154,895, roofing to Endurance Exteriors in Shoreview for $504,957 and combined mechanicals to Falcon in Dassel for $1.3 million.

Council member Linda Nanko Yeager voted no because she felt the budget for the projects has failed to be contained — and estimated costs for shifting police functions into the Forest Boulevard building are not yet known.  She said what she hears from constituents is they could support an estimated max of $9 million for the entire package. She expressed doubt this will be the price tag when all is said and done.

Mayor Lisa Iverson remarked the city is getting the use of two structures for this initial $5.7 approximately and this is far more cost effective than building brand new. Iverson commented it is necessary to give employees “good conditions” in which to work.

For the remainder of the 35 minute long council meeting, the business included:     

~ Approving a franchise agreement with Midcontinent Communications for cable.

~ Nanko-Yeager was again the sole no vote on hiring a part time firefighter with emergency medical technician experience and who already holds Firefighter #1 and #2 qualifications. Pam Mrozik is also slated to be enrolled when she comes aboard to be trained in an inspection course. She starts at $29.28 an hour.

~ Council approved a plat for a one-house lot and two lesser outlots at Heath and West Comfort Drive.

~ A number of door-to-door peddler permits were authorized.  Staff reminds the public to ask to see a city permit if approached by transient merchants or home repair crews. If they don’t have one, residents should suggest they get one at city hall.

~ An informal workshop was scheduled prior to the July 7 council session to begin at 5:30 p.m.  This is a chance to go in depth on capital improvement projects.  

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