The council authorized the purchase of a 2016 Mack truck for the Public Works Department.
Purchase price through the state contract, including tax and license, is $89,117. The equipment-build from Towmaster, also on state contract, is $101,757. Total with attachments and setup is $190,874.
Trucks are used for plowing snow in winter and hauling heavy equipment in the summer. They are also used for street sweeping and street repair in summer.
Heavy equipment like this is on a replacement schedule about every 15 years.
Wellhead protection
City Council members formally adopted the city’s Wellhead Protection Plan. Engineer Mark Erichson reported that the Minnesota Department of Health officially approved Part 2 on Jan. 9.
The plan has as its basic purpose protection of the city’s drinking water supply from contamination. It is a state requirement for all cities.
There are two parts to this plan.
The first part was a study delineating the protection area and a study of any vulnerable parts of the area. Part 2 describes how information in Part 1 can be applied to best protect a community’s water supply, considering environment, land use, public utilities, water quantity and water quality and an inventory of potential contaminants.
Other news
A public hearing related to the Wyoming Street Reconstruction Project is scheduled for the City Council meeting on Feb. 17. For that evening, the council meeting site is changed to Maranatha Church at 24799 Forest Blvd. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
The council authorized the purchase of the 2015 street sign order from EFA Division of Safety for $13,243. Public works Superintendent Jason Windingstad explained that the reflectivity policy, city plans to have reflective features on all street signs. The department is working on a four-year plan, replacing street signs in one section of the city at a time. The plan is to switch out all signs in turn. New signs have reflectivity as a feature, are larger and are easier to see.
Attorney Mark Vierling reviewed the city ordinances regulating animal ownership within the city. Based on his recommendations the council amended the ordinance to include a section expanding the term “abandoned” to include purposely leaving an animal in the possession of animal control to avoid paying impoundment and/or boarding costs. Also recommended was a section prohibiting deliberate cruelty to animals; to include failure to provide humane care and treatment, provide wholesome food and water, proper shelter, and veterinary care. Another part of this prohibits cruel treatment, neglect, abuse or combat between animals. Council members approved the ordinance.
Erichson reported that the city has submitted the annual Certification of Minnesota State Aid to Streets to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The city has 67.89 miles of roads; 20 percent, or 13.56 miles, are eligible to be designated at MSAS. In 2015, Wyoming is receiving a total of $430,876 in MSAS. Of this, $407,326 is for construction, and the balance is for maintenance.
The city has been granted the order needed to clean up the property at 25795 Forest Blvd. Lindstrom Environmental Inc. was awarded the bid ($8,940) for asbestos abatement on the site. A court hearing is scheduled for April 3 to determine final cost for the cleanup. Demolition of the structure is complete.
In other business, the council:
–Discussed the sources of money to pay for stormwater improvements in the Wyoming Street Reconstruction Project area.
–Authorized employment offers to Jeff Radich and Josh Brown at part-time police officers in the Wyoming Police Department. Both have completed all the qualifying requirements.
–Learned that Police Chief Paul Hoppe is working with the Planning Commission to update the snowmobile ordinance to address complaints and concerns by residence and rides. There have been more complaints about riding in yards and ditches than in previous years.
–Learned that Attorney Vierling is reviewing city ordinances to implement a potential franchise fee covering street lights and other applicable utilities. A draft street light ordinance is being given to staff for preliminary review.