##VIDEO ID:3Av-3hQ5XcY## good called to order the city council regular meeting of the city of Wyoming Minnesota January 7th 2025 which is hard to believe let the record reflect we do have a quorum member Luger member onstad member Schilling member joerger and mayor Iverson are present please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all all right so first on the agenda is swearing in of elected mayor and council members and who are you starting with Rob yeah okay go through too many and I don't and you would think by now I would have this memorized okay I okay you want me just run through it Island and anager do solemnly swear or affirm to support the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the state of Minnesota and all the laws ordinances and resolutions of of the city of Wyoming and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duty of the office of council member for the city of Wyoming to the best of my judgment and ability congratulations [Applause] I'll read it yeah uh I Brett onstead do solemnly swear to affirm to or to support the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the state of Minnesota and all the laws ordinance and resolutions of the city of m city of Wyoming and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of city council member uh for the city of Wyoming to the best of my judgment and abilities congratulations thank you I'm gonna repeat after you your ionly swear or affirm I mayor Iverson do solemnly swear or affirm to support the Constitution of the United States to support the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the state of Minnesota the constitution of the state of Minnesota and all the laws ordinances and resolutions of the city of Wyoming and all the laws ordinances and resolution of the city of Wyoming and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of mayor for the city of Wyoming of the office of the mayor of the city of Wyoming to the best of my judgment and ability to the best of my judgment and ability congratulations mayor thank you all right let's roll up our sleeves and have a great four years right yep all right um we do um if anybody wants to leave at this point in time if you're here as a guest and swearing in go ahead no staying going whatever you want to do feel free we're going to start with our annual meeting number one designate the official newspaper for 202 5 resolution 25011 Mr Lynwood um it is a statut requirement for the city of Wyoming to designate an official newspaper for uh the year 2025 uh staff has prepared two different uh proposals from the Forest Lake times and the shago County Press uh and we have recommended the shago County press to council so that we would uh have any answer any questions for Council or uh if you don't have any questions it's a motion for the official newspaper okay we'll start with member jger no no questions no okay uh member Schilling uh no questions member onstead no questions member Luger no question I have no questions I'm glad we're going with a local newspaper in Chago County so happy about that uh we need a motion to approve I'll make the first do we have a second second we have a second by member onad all in favor I opposed so approved number two set Annual fees for the city services in 2025 resolution 2501 102 U Mr lywood I'm going to let Mr mcin handle this one honorable mayor members of council um each year uh the city annually sets its fee schedule for the the year that we're we're coming up to here so um with it we highlight each of the changes that have been made within the fee schedule um as you can see in your sheet chapter 12 cannabis retail um registration State Statute updated to state that um cannabis retailers are allowed within cities and so we updated our fee schedule to show what those retail um licenses would cost um chapter 18 fire prevention and protection we added a special event um fee for fire department members attending events within the city chapter 20 police administration fee we did the same thing with special events for um police department members um and then we or I guess that one has been updated uh and then the towing cost been updated as well uh chapter 24 is the food truck license application fees we discussed at a prior meeting um updating our um city ordinance on food trucks to match state statute for requirements and length fee schedule then as well need to be updated to show the um um the length of those um licenses within the city chapter 36 utilities uh our water and surface water rates were updated to reflect the most recent utility rate study um Additionally the water meter costs were updated for our cost to purchase and that's a pass through cost um emergency call out fees are also updated and then the cost for water uh hydrant water uh or hydrant sorry meter deposits have been uh removed chapter 40 zoning um we have Wetland service request escro fees that have been updated this year and then finally the public works equipment fees have been updated for what they they cost now this year okay all right questions from Council starting with member Luger no questions member onstead no questions member Shilling no questions member Jer for the uh fire department special events fee uh will the city have to pay that fee if the fire department is at one of our events is all you have a fire depart it's a City Event it's a city Fire Department we wouldn't charge them okay what but who are you going to be charging if a organization would request to have uh fire departments on standby for an event to provide fire protection okay uh like what events are there in the city charge like Marin for their Tire Burns um that was one example yes okay don't know about charging the church but what the heck uh any any other events in the city I mean do you go over to Pine Haven do you go does the fire department go to Pine Haven does the fire department go to like the pumpkin patches or no so it's just basically charging Mar if if that would come up um possibly if uh the other event we discussed was uh stop out suicide um for that we would if they would like them to stand by for that that would be a fee as well have they stood by the stood by for that event in the past we have yes okay so all right we need a motion to approve um the annual fees for City Services in 2025 resolution 25012 do we have a motion so moved we have a motion by member Luger we have a second by member Schilling all in favor I opposed so approved number three designate electronic fund transfers and payments for claims resolution 2513 Mr lmid I will let M Mr far take this one too wow send it back to me good job um yeah another annual item here with the electronic um fund transfer approval this is just something that our auditor asked that we do annually um it states that the the C will passed resolution um adopting the electronic fund uh transfer and payment of claims resolution um essentially gives the city administrator authorization to pay or transfer funds electronically prior to approval with the city council it's important to note still that um all those transfers will still go through claims at the relevant city council meeting um this is just important for certain situations such as with bonds um to get ahead of that okay uh questions from Council starting with member onad no questions member Schilling no questions member joerger no questions member Luger no questions we need a motion to approve a designate electric um fund transfer and payment for claims resolution 25013 do we have a motion so moved motion by member onstead do we have a second second second by member Schilling all in favor I I oppose so approved Number Four review Council appointments to boards commissions committees and Boards of Trustees of Fire Department volunteer relief Association resolution 25104 who's taking this one Grant all right uh yeah honorable mayor members of the council um each year the the city council appoints U various members to their boards commissions and so forth um exhibit a on the resolution States or each of the individuals of council will be going whether it's acting mayor super and so forth um in addition then we do have one member of the Planning Commission that's Katie West um who's due for for Renewal uh this year and then same with um Park advisor commissioner Jessica Bergen okay all right um has everybody had a chance to look over the appointments we didn't make any changes but does anybody have anything to say about that no all right I will make the motion to approve Council appointments for boards commissions committees and Boards of trustee for Fire Department volunteer relief Association resolution 2514 we need a second second second by member Schilling all in favor I opposed so approved number five designate uh official depository depository for City funds for 2025 resolution 25015 Mr McFarland yay uh yeah each of the city council designates um the depository where we'll be handling our banking with the city um again we do this annually so this year we're looking at and past Year's I should say we have the first day in Baker Wyoming Minnesota with The Prudent man advisor and 4m fund um pretty pretty standard for what we do here okay sounds great um questions from uh member joerger no member Luger member onstead no questions member Schilling no questions all right we need a motion to approve resolution 25105 do we have a motion so moved we have a motion by member Luger do I hear a second from Member onstead all in favor I opposed so approved number six elect elect an acting mayor to serve in the absence of the mayor during the 2025 year Minnesota State Statute 412. one21 um currently we have um the same as last year so member Luger does anybody want to make any other nominations for that no I I think it's perfect the way it is okay fastest council meeting on record oh my go really no was actually so all right I'll make a motion to approve um member Luger as the acting mayor to serve in the absence of the mayor during 2025 do we have a second second we have a second by member Schilling all in favor I opposed so approved number seven establishing a 2025 regular meeting night of the city council of the city of Wyoming and establishing um budget calendar for 2026 budget Mr mccaran uh this items just to set the meeting dates that we'll be having with the city council we meet on the the first and third Tuesday of every single month um the item does include all the dates that are proposed to meet um with the city council we do bold the ones if they do fall on a holiday um or an event in which case we would move the the city council for um there's only one this year that's August 6th um originally was scheduled to be August 5th but that is night two night so we then proposed August 6th the Wednesday following in addition then there's also the 2026 budget process calendar we've uh recently then been doing these on work session um nights as well the calendar there as well goes more in depth on that but each of the dates is on there for 2025 and if you have something to add just one one thing just we'll continue to we we had School Board elections last year so we don't anticipate that we don't have caucus this year but if there were any kind of special election staff will keep um just alert on that to make sure if we were to have to move a meeting because of that on the election day but we don't anticipate that right now in regards to the three school districts that are in Wyoming but we'll keep Council um up to speed on that if we to change okay perfect I'm just going to ask this any questions no on the calendars seeing none we need a motion to approve the 2025 regular meeting nights of the city council of the um city of Wyoming and the budget calendar for the 2026 budget do we have a first so move we have a first by member Schilling do we have a second second second by member onstead all in favor I opposed so approved all right so open Forum do we have anybody here for open Forum no okay we'll move on to approval of minutes number eight consider approving the minutes of the regular meeting of the Wyoming Minnesota city council for December 17 2024 if there are no questions um or changes do we have a motion to approve so moveed we have a motion to approve by member Luger do we have a second second second by member Schilling all in favor I I opposed so approved number nine consider approving the minutes of the work session of the Wyoming Minnesota city council for December 17th 2024 if there are no questions or comments do we have a motion to approve so moved motion to approved by member Schilling do we have a second second second by member Luger all in favor I opposed so approved um consent agenda number 10 11 12 13 and 14 does anybody wish to pull an item from the consent agenda seeing none we need a motion to appr to approve the consent agenda 12 I'm sorry 10 11 12 13 and 14 do we have a motion so moved motion by member Schilling do we have a second second second by member Luger all in favor I I opposed so approved moving on to acknowledge receipts of reports of officers boards commissions and department heads um number 15 16 17 18 and 19 does a council member wish to pull anything for further discussion seeing none we'll move on to new business number 20 to consider the hiring of Rebecca Peterson for the police officer position with a tentative start date of January 12th 2025 um Chief Bard yes uh mayor and members of council um this is one of two of the positions we're going to be looking at approving this evening um as you know we've had two vacant positions for a period of time um and that hiring process that we've had throughout the last year identified um Miss Rebecca Peterson as an excellent applicant or candidate for this position um she has a good background in security and community service um she's worked for a security company out of actually had a university in Minneapolis for several years um that she provided security for students faculty visitors of the University um she's shown a long-term commitment to the city of Wyoming as a reserve and which is a volunteer position um and then as most recently as a Reserve Cadet um as you remember this Reserve Cadet program offers tuition reimbursement to Future police officer applicants um and she took advantage of that opportunity and that's kind of the idea is that we're able to uh make those connections and continue U moving them forward in their desire to become an officer she has degrees in early childhood education and in theater which I'm really curious to see how that's going to play out as I read that was like could be fun um her hands-on experience and security and Community oriented roles makes her a really good fit for for our department and our community um she completed all the required education and she completed the screening and testing for the police officer position uh recommending that she begins at 3772 hour which is the starting rate in the uh Wyoming police officer contract collective bargaining unit and with a effective start date of January 12th of this year Chief B I'll start with one question and I I have talked with um Miss Peterson a lot how long has she been with the city in terms of volunteering and all that right um if I remember correctly it's been just over two years last year was with the uh Cadet program and then she was the volunteer prior to that it's um great when the state has a program and we're able to utilize it and people take advantage of it yeah yep so that's all my questions we'll start um with member Schilling uh no questions member y no questions member onad no questions member Luger no questions all right we need a motion to approve the hiring of Rebecca Peterson for the police officer position with a tentative start date of January 12th 2025 I'll make the first do we have a second second we have a second by member onstead all in favor I opposed so approved number 21 to consider hiring of Joseph Joseph V for the police cadet temporary position with a tentative start date of January 13th 2025 Chief Bower uh actually there's an update that went out on this um it is going to be for the actual police officer position not the cadet position this was minute by minute um unbelievable the number of people that were involved in making this happen um henip and Tech the program director out there on the week off over the holidays helped me out with this to get this done it's been pretty incredible so you were waiting for that certificate or something there was a many things had to fall into place to allow him to take the test um and I'll run through his bio here but um I'm very appreciative of all those that helped out to make this happen so um like I mentioned we had two vacant positions um and Mr Joseph angang was identified through a hering process and he was given a conditional offer off offer of employment um the only thing that is hanging out there still is the final certification test which he will take tomorrow morning um that was the absolute soonest we were looking like February so this was amazing that it came together um he has incredible experience from both military and his roles within as a community service officer with the City of Blaine uh he served in the US Military and the US Army where he gained experience in leadership discipline and problem solving in some really high pressure situations he was deployed to begad Iraq um and worked in a lot of different environments there currently he is a community service officer with the city of Blain um doing law enforcement supporting law enforcement engaging with the community in that role uh he has a degree in law enforcement from the north Hanan technical I'm sorry North Han Community College as of today uh he is fluent in both English and mang and which that provides him eff ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of community members um his experience and in both military and Community Service Officer make him a great fit for our department um like I mentioned he takes the final test tomorrow morning um and once that is that's the only thing that's left um but we want to make sure this got before Council we so we could start him the same time as um the previous candidate here recommending that he starts at 3772 the same uh rates and with a start date of January 13th perfect okay questions from Council we'll start with member onad uh I just assume that he starting the day later he'll be the seniority has been worked out yes but other than that no no questions I I usually would default for current or volunteers or employees to get seniority so that was why that was determined that way okay thank you member Luger um so are we fully staffed now yes don't there we go y okay awesome no questions it's been a while yes we'll just leave it at that let's wait I need five votes yeah we'll just leave okay um let's see uh member jger all right so if our vacancies will both be filled what are we going to do with the gentleman who's already a Cadet who we hired with the expectation of making him a police officer corre from April 1st yep which I I believe I've addressed previously that we'd be pre-hiring for one of the retirements this year do we have has a formal retirement uh date been set for one of both for the Sergeants I I can't ask that if they would like to provide that they could in writing so we don't we don't know if there will be a retirement they both have given me that indication that they will retire this year but you don't have anything in writing no and we've addressed this I believe in work sessions prior to this as well yeah I've heard that um you know personally I'm not comfortable offering this gentleman a position when we should have the cadet take the position and most of it's because I'm not offer I'm not comfortable hiring a second an extra officer when we don't even know if there's going to be a vacancy I mean we don't have anything in writing we have indications and I've heard this for since what 2023 24 it's it's been talked about for years but I I don't see any you know anything writing or anything formal um I would as much as I would love to have Mr bang I think it would be a disservice to the cadet to keep him strung along as what a Cadet or or an extra or just having an an extra officer that we didn't budget for I the the cadap position that was the understanding that would be hired for retirement that would be a decision that council could make at that time when I bring that forward at that point oh you would at April first you would ask to hire the gentleman at the cadet as a police officer which would be basically a a temporary expansion of the department until such time there is a vacancy or a retirement that's correct yeah I'm not totally comfortable with this okay member Shilling uh Claire actually took my question but I will address it this way based on Linda's comments as well how long have we had these positions open uh I'd have to do some significant bar charting to figure out when what person left yeah so my concern I I have the same concerns as well um but I have spoke with one of the two um and I know the the intent is there but it it's not a date but I'm comfortable with that just based on the fact that we have not had full positions and we've had them budgeted for so I don't really see it as a financial impact if it does cross over uh in that event that that happens so but that was my only concern so perfect okay I'd like to just sure go ahead when these three people come on or two people right now there's going to be a they're not going straight on the street there's going to be a training period I would assume yeah they're not ready on their own until June so it's it's even if uh we hire one in April it might be 6 months before they actually are patrolling on their own it's all of five months absolutely yeah so that that almost brings it out to October is I believe if he's hired in in April which is still going to be a challenge because we only have four officers that can train so hiring two is already difficult yep to get them trained because they have to train full-time then for for those five months so this creates a good buffer it is already going to be challenging with but we have to do it yes uh Chief bow with the um senior officers do they help train the newer officers and kind of I know when we have a new employee kind of we bring them in and you know there's the training there's getting to know people and that sort of thing is that what our senior officers do as well absolutely okay so having all that experience is probably very beneficial to the new um cadetes or the new police officers coming on correct yeah that's that organizational knowledge and the experience that's being passed along yes so if we were to hire somebody after the retirement or retirements plural they're not going to get that same kind of knowledge if you will from I mean there still be Knowledge from some of our other officers but there is that that knowledge of people that have been here for a long time that's correct okay all right um I will make the motion to hire mayor erson um I think that the motion should be contingent upon the uh gentleman passing the test I know that's likely a job requirement but I think part of the motion the hiring will be is it yep it's in the recommendation but it's do I not right it's not on the motion but we can add add it to the motion for procedural sure okay so um contingent on his passing certification exam is fine okay it's a license isn't it yes okay all right I'm going to make a motion to hire um the hiring of Vincent or sorry of Joseph bang for the police officer position contingent on his completion of um his passing of the licens or test that's coming up tomorrow um with a tenative start date of January 13th 2025 does that suffice Mr Lun okay I'll make that motion so do we have a second second second by member onad all in favor I opposed so approved 22 to consider hiring a Vincent Schilling for the building inspector position with a tentative start date of January 27 2025 Mr wack is that you yes mayor M mayor and council members um Mr Schilling um has been selected is our top candidate um he's received a two-year building inspection technology certificate from North hennipin he had a six-month building inspection internship with the City of Blaine and he's been working as a building inspector for R River Construction Consultants doing Building Inspections and plan review in multiple jurisdictions um he holds certification with the state of Minnesota as a building official limited and holds a building inspector one certification with the International Code Council they're the ones that write the code based on his qualifications wage history and work experience I'm recommending starting Vincent Schilling's wage ascept three of the position scale at $36 81 per hour with a six-month probationary period for the city W personel policy there a tentative start date of January 27th 2025 okay we will start with questions from Member onad no questions member Luger no questions member joerger the one obvious question is he related yes he is my son so I'll be abstaining from this okay you guys so cool with nepotism that's I have an issue with the word nepotism he is a he is well what you keep going with your question if you have one well no um all right so now we're okay I know in the past we've hired the grandchildren of council members um this okay Mr L Minnesota law allows us to to make the hire as long as an interested family member in this case council member Schilling discloses the relationship and recuses himself from the discussion and the vote okay so he can't participate it's ultimately up to the other four of you if the hire is going to make okay so then in the future because I know we had a problem with this in the past when um right like last meeting weal we when we gave raises to the non-union employees would council member Schilling be able to vote on a motion like that because the raise would affect his son as long as his son is an employee of the city council member Schilling will have to recuse himself from any vote relating to that employment uh including salary or any benefits or anything that may be relate to his son's employment with the city okay because I know the when we talked when this came up before there were kind of like two answers that came first it was recusal then it was uh okay and so right the law the law is very clear this it's it's permitted as long as the family member recuses themselves um there's really no second answer um the under Minnesota statute this is permitted just any decisions relating to this employee council M Shilling will have recues okay so Mr wack yeah how we've had this position open for how long since August okay and how many approximately interviews have you done six or seven this time around I I was gonna raise my hand Madam May um I too was concerned about at least the perception of nepotism um Vincent has been the best person I've interviewed since I've started as building official he he to be perfectly honest with you he's been the best candidate I've ever had to to interview so um so again like I said I I I was was concerned about that too but I'm not concerned you know with his experience and knowledge I I was very impressed yeah so and so let me ask you this obviously and did um member Schilling have anything to do with bringing forward this candidate to you no he did not okay and so at any point in time did Mr Schilling um talk to you about his I talked to Mr Schilling okay and actually asked him to have his son apply Okay so okay because you have so the reason why you did that was because well because we need candidates for one true we do you're right um and and he has experience and he's young so so I thought it'd be a good chance and and he lives in the area so so again having someone that that's from the area um that may not leave after a year like the last three people did um and I'm looking at retirement and and hoping to have someone that I can train in before I leave so yeah okay those were the answers or questions I was looking for so all right did I get everybody you can't so okay um so we need a motion to hire Vincent Schilling for the building inspector position with a tenative start date of January 27 2025 I will make that motion do we have a second second second by member onad all in favor I opposed so approved number 23 to consider consider a city council work session on January 21st 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Mr Lynwood or Mr McFarland be myself mayor thank you mayor members of council um just as a State Licensing academist draws closer and there are things keep um kind of evolving and changing um we think it would be pertinent just to kind of give Council the latest and greatest that the office of canis management is giving us we also will have uh our City attorney Mr Lunen present um to kind of advise the council regards to some of the changes that we're seeing and things that just keep on coming before we potentially will see retail Sal sales in the city so we just like to give an opportunity to to share that with Council and um go through that so we just like to have a work session prior to our next council meeting at 5:30 does that work for everybody Mr lywood does any has anybody expressed interest in setting up shop yet we have had individuals contact us um saying that they are interested checking to see if we had you know essentially ordinances in place um that started 6 months ago to be honest but I don't think we've had any thing I guess you know where you know they have a lease or a spot picked out or Etc but um you know essentially what the like I said is this continues to evolve we probably could see somebody on see people on on our doorstep per se even in March so it's going to be coming but like I said with some of the changes and I'm speaking with Mr Lun and we got it be pertinent just to kind of go through some of those things um prior to prior to that than all right we need a motion to approve um a city council work session on January mayor I I might not make this I have a jury trial that day and I know we are slated for the late afternoon so okay well we'll make it work yes I just wanted you to be aware I will keep you guys that's price all thank you so we need a motion to approve the council work session on January 21st 2025 at 5:30 p.m before our Council me uh meeting do we have a motion so moved we have a motion to approve by member Luger do we have a second second second by member onstead all in favor I opposed so approved we'll do Council reports we'll start with um member Luger um I have no report thank you all for attending okay and m onad i attended the park advisory commission meeting last night um member Schilling um happy New Year to everybody and congratulations to our sworn in members um and thank you for those that came in have a great night great and member joerger no report thank you for coming and thank you all for watching right I just have one thing we started the meeting of the state elected officials today um Mr lywood spent the morning um with the house um dfl Senate this morning okay and this afternoon I was able to also attend um the Senate GOP um um we've got tomorrow and the next night and it's all about really talking to these elected officials about how important our public safety building is um why we need it and why we need the help and I think it went really well um today so several of the elected officials remembered us in a good way I felt so I felt in a good way so all right and again Happy New Year to everybody and congratulations on your election wins and looking forward to a great um next four years so with that we need a motion to adjourn so moved oh everybody's excited to get out so I have a motion to adjourn by member Schilling and a second by member Luger all in favor I weour 7:36