Wyoming council handles mostly old business and donates sign to an Alaska tourist site

BY DENISE MARTIN

Four of five Wyoming Council members attended last week's meeting, and Roger Elmore's absence caused a slight hiccup in proceedings. A discussion about approving minutes on an Elmore motion from the prior meeting, went nowhere without him to chime in as to his intent. The matter, a funding denial for two non-profit entities, will be clarified at a future meeting.

The Wyoming Council approved extension of a conditional use permit that was issued to Spirit and Praise Pentecostal Church for a new building in Wyoming, on #30. The church pastor explained the facility financing is stalled and the congregation asked if the permit could be held another year. The request was okayed 4-0.
Council expressed slight dismay about the growing number of change orders in the process of assembling the new fire department rig. The fourth request to revise the truck bid sum came across the council's desk last week for approval.

Council member Russ Goudge also noted the new total for the truck in an invoice submitted by Rosenbauer-General Safety did not match the new total from staff.

City Administrator Craig Mattson said he's tracking the project and will report back. Staff told council the change orders approved for this fire truck have brought the total cost to $487,662 but the manufacturer's invoice has the item at $485,792.

City Engineer Mark Erichson reported the installation of lights at County Road 22 and #30 (old Hwy. 61) this summer won't involve any access projects. Bids for the lighted intersection are being opened in May. Completion of this project is set for prior to July 4.

The council asked Engineer Erichson to schedule a public meeting with state highway staff; so citizens can learn more about what the state has planned for access management along Highway 61. Two MnDOT planners had attended a recent city council meeting explaining that MnDOT is developing a work schedule to remove (close) some access points between Viking Blvd and 263rd, along Hwy. 61, and define where future access points will be allowed.

~Council okayed WSB Consulting Engineers to act as bridge inspectors in the city. The firm will complete inspection under the mandated bridge inventory at a cost not to exceed $1,536.

Three bridges are included: Viking Blvd. over the Sunrise; Greenway Road over the Sunrise and 260th Street over the Sunrise River branch.

~A fun item approved on the agenda was a request for an old city sign with the Wyoming name and population listed. The signs were replaced upon the merger of the township and city.

The old Wyoming City marker will be sent to the "famous" Watson Lake Signpost Forest, located just off the Alaskan Highway, in the Yukon. More than 48,000 signs from everywhere on earth are displayed at this spot, according to the promotional literature. Leroy and Judy Olheiser requested the donation of the sign.

~A request for a donation to the Forest Lake graduating high school Class Party was turned down.

~Mayor Sheldon Anderson asked for council consensus on a request he fielded personally. In constructing County Road 22, a homeowners' fence was taken out because it was in the right-of-way. The city had granted a permit for the fence.

Anderson asked if the city would waive the $45 fence permit fee should the man opt to rebuild the fence. Council agreed. If the fence is proposed for placement in a non-compliant location, however, the city would expect the usual $220 fee for a variance application.