Council debates Wyoming EDA appointments

Alice Pickering
Wyoming Reporter, Forest Lake Times

The Wyoming Economic Development Authority has been seeking two members to get up to full capacity. At the March 15 city council meeting, council members approved the EDA recommendations and approved appointments of Chuck Jerrick and Mike Soule to fill the slots on the committee.

Ted Phillips, EDA chairman, told the council five individuals had submitted letters of interest. Two individuals were eliminated, before evaluating other candidates. The goal was to fill two spots in the best interest of the city. The final list included Sheldon Anderson, Chuck Jerrick and Mike Soule.

Phillips was a member of the subcommittee, which included Administrator Craig Mattson and Council member Linda Yeager. This group interviewed the candidates. Phillips indicated that the decision for recommendation was close. No candidate stood out more than anyone else, he said.

Within the subcommittee, Soule was unanimously recommended. The recommendation for Jerrick came as a split vote. Phillips supported Anderson. The EDA recommended Jerrick and Soule to the council, but the recommendation was not unanimous.

Phillips supported Anderson returning to the committee, he said, because of his experience in the EDA and administrative duty as mayor. Phillips believed that the call for a vote in the full committee came quickly, before all the discussion was completed.

Council member Steve Zerwas said if there was not a lot of discussion or that discussion was cut off, it might be continued during the council meeting.

Jerry Owens, a member of the committee, said there had been a full hour of discussion before the vote.

Yeager said the interviews lasted over two days, but Anderson did not attend them nor did he call as suggested by Phillips.

Yeager described the discussion as fine and that while the EDA choice was a recommendation, she thought it was a good one and should be approved. “We should follow the majority recommendation of the EDA,” she said. Again, Steve Zerwas thought the split on recommendation suggested difference of opinion.

Council member Joe Zerwas supported Anderson being on the EDA as he was once EDA Chairman and he has had administrative experience. Council member Roger Elmore said any of the three candidates would be a good fit for a position on the EDA.

Yeager noted that Soule and Jerrick have indicated interest in wanting to serve on the EDA, regularly attend the meetings, and attended council meetings.

Yeager looked at the past two years of attendance at EDA meetings while Anderson was a member and said he missed four of 10 meetings in 2009 and missed two of the five in 2010. Only five were held that year because the committee lacked a quorum.  “We need candidates to show up all the time,” she concluded.

Mayor Eric Peterson said Jerrick has 12 years banking experience, is a member of the WABA, and has training beyond a bachelor’s degree.  He continues to develop knowledge and skills with continuing education credits and has extensive experience in business and sales, Peterson said.

Soule was a candidate for city council in 2010, taking a position of promoting businesses in downtown Wyoming rather than focusing on the Highway 8 corridor. He supports good research as an approach to problem-solving, thorough discussion, and reaching consensus so all parties win.  He favors considering input equally.

The vote came after 30 minutes of discussion. Council approved the appointments of Jerrick and Soule to the EDA by a 3-2 vote. Elmore and Joe Zerwas voted against while Peterson, Yeager and Steve Zerwas were in favor.

Gambling

The council voted 5-0 to change a city ordinance for the use of charitable gambling funds. The change designated charitable gambling funds for “the betterment of the Parks, Trails, and Open Space with the city of Wyoming.”

This means the funds can be used for programs as well as for equipment.

The action rescinds an earlier resolution which limited use of gambling funds to the purchase of park equipment.  Mattson said the change allows for flexibility to provide funds for program and equipment.

The main reason for the original resolution was to ensure that gambling funds are used within the city limits to benefit the city.

Swedish Trail

The council voted to send a letter of support to the Chisago County Parks and Trails. This is to support a grant application for further development of a 2.2-mile section of the Swedish Immigrant Trail.

Jill Sicheneder explained that the letter is to support the grant application process, not make a financial commitment or create a liability for the city.  The grant application is to be met by a 25-percent local match coming from plat fees for county parks.

The effort to develop a recreational trail from Taylors Falls west to Wyoming has been in the works for 10 years. The process has hinged on securing rights-of-way for the trail. The proposed route follows the railroad bed from Taylors Falls to Wyoming, but meanders because of the right-of-way issue. It crosses many privately owned pieces of land. Some land has been donated for the trail, other property owners have granted easements. It passes a little north of US-8.

Ultimately the goal is for Swedish Immigrant Trail to connect with the Sunrise Prairie Trail. Chisago City and Lindstrom are being asked to support the grant application as well.  Council approval for the letter was unanimous.

Other Actions

Council approved a proposal to provide engineering services for the Wellhead and Source Water Protection Plan, Part 1. The two-part plan is a state requirement. Engineer Mark Erichson explained state rules require a plan that basically defines, outlines, identifies vulnerable areas to municipal drinking water supplies. The study will identify areas around the city water supply which need protection to insure safe drinking water.

WSB & Associates, Inc., partnering with Barr Engineering, will satisfy the groundwater modeling requirements of the plan, according to Erichson.  The two companies will cooperate and coordinate with Minnesota Department of Health and other agencies, collect data, delineate the Wellhead Protection Area and Drinking Water Supply Management Area, assess areas where city wells are located and possible DWSMA vulnerability, aquifer test analysis, and prepare a report for the state and city.

There are project and public meetings required through the process, for which WSB and Barr will prepare any information, and company representatives will be present, according to Erichson.

Cost for Part I of the project is $34,901, according to the hourly fee schedule arrangement with the city. The proposal is for that amount to come from the Water Utility Fund, which has a current balance of $737,000.

Council approved spring clean-up dates at SRC on Wednesdays; April 27, May 4, and May 11, and two Saturdays, April 30 and May 7. This is for residents to take brush and leaves to the SRC site. There was renewed discussion of working out a recycling arrangement with SRC to dispose of other recyclables or partnering with Chisago City or Lindstrom to use recycling sites there.  There may be an agreement in the future, but for now, disposal is at the SRC site, on the stated days.

The police department has taken delivery of its two new squad cars.  Equipment is being transferred from the vehicles being replaced, into the new cars.  The city council approved the older vehicles being declared surplus, as soon as the equipment transfer is completed. Action also authorizes the department to sell them by on-line auction.

Proceeds from this sale are to be deposited into the General Fund.  Council approval was unanimous.

In council reports, Joe Zerwas reported that Peterson Companies, Chisago City, had a large fire which damaged offices. Officers of the company are looking to lease temporary space in the industrial park until the company can rebuild.

Yeager reported attending the first public hearing for Comprehensive Surface Water Management Plan. The second hearing is at 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 30.

Yeager learned from County Commissioner Ben Montzka that Chisago County businesses can now access the regional Revolving Loan Fund at the East Central Regional Development Commission. There is currently $115,000 in that fund.