05-20-08 Council
May 20, 2008
A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Seefeldt
called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following councilmembers were present:
Councilmembers Pete Crum, Dolores Peterson, Donnette Yehle, Mayor Dennis Seefeldt. Absent:
Michael Harnetty. Staff present: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert,
Bonestroo Engineer Paul Hornby, City Planner Sherri Buss, Building Official Steve Thorp,
Deputy Clerk Brenda Eklund.
PUBLIC FORUM
Jeff Fusco, property owner at the corner of Highways 95 and 97, stated that he was opposed to
the proposed re-zoning of that property from its current Retail Business to General Rural, as part
of the updated Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Fusco was informed of the Comprehensive Plan
Committee’s meeting schedule and that a public information meeting and public hearing will be
held prior to the adoption of the new Comprehensive Plan.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to approve the
agenda as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
The following consent agenda was presented:
a) Minutes
1) April 15, 2008 Regular Meeting
2) May 6, 2008 Meeting with Planning Commission
b) Treasurer’s Report
Beginning Balance 04/01/08 $1,127,312.64
Receipts + 16,673.06
Expenditures 134,877.15
Payroll 19,634.77 - 154,511.92
Ending Balance 04/30/08 $ 989,473.78
c) Payment of Vouchers
Councilmember Yehle, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, moved to approve the
Consent Agenda as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
POLICE REPORT
Deputy Chris Majeski presented the past month’s report on police activity. A mail burglary
suspect was apprehended on the west edge of Scandia.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Steve Spence summarized the recently completed Insurance Services Office survey.
Scandia’s Fire Department maintained an ISO rating of “7” for those residences within a 5-mile
driving distance of the fire station. Fire Chief Spence stated his satisfaction with the report, as the
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Scandia City Council
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requirements for fire protection have increased along with Scandia’s growth. Fire Chief Spence
also relayed a positive development in silencing the alarm siren. Reprogramming the alarm in the
next few weeks to an alternate analog frequency will allow the Washington County dispatch
center to activate Fire Department pagers without sounding the alarm. A separate tone will sound
the siren as a back-up only in the case of pager failure. This modification will require no new
equipment, and will still be in compliance with state statute. Fire Chief Spence presented two
quotes for resurfacing and sealing the interior floors of the Fire Department/Public Works
building. Advantage Coating, Inc. submitted a quote that is near the budgeted amount of
$11,000. Councilmember Crum, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, moved to accept
the bid for resurfacing the floors of the Fire Department/Public Works building from
Advantage Coating, Inc. in the amount of $11,368.00. The motion passed unanimously.
CITY ENGINEER
Paul Hornby, Bonestroo, presented the monthly engineering update. Council reviewed a draft
survey that will be sent to property owners affected by the future paving of Pilar Road. Mayor
Seefeldt recommended that the deadline for return to the city office be extended to June 13,
2008. Council agreed that it is a well-done, thorough survey and a good start to the street
improvement project proposed to begin in 2010. The surveys will be mailed out this week to all
residents of Pilar Road and the cul-de-sac streets off of Pilar Road (Paris, Perkins and Penfield).
BUILDING/CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL
Building/Code Enforcement Official Steve Thorp presented a summary of permits and zoning
actions for the month of April.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Civil Defense Siren at Big Marine Lake Park Reserve
Administrator Anne Hurlburt reported on a meeting she attended with County staff to explore the
options of providing civil defense siren coverage in the southeast corner of Scandia. County
Parks staff plans to purchase a siren for the new Big Marine Park Reserve sometime in 2008. For
approximately $20,000, a siren covering a radius of 6,000 feet could be installed. This would
cover significant areas in Scandia and May Township and much of the surface of Big Marine
Lake. The park budget allows for $7,000 towards installation, resulting in a funding gap of
$13,000. The Sheriff’s Department has found no available grant funds. Council agreed that
because of the public safety that this siren would provide, it would be worthwhile to set up a
meeting with Washington County Board representatives, the Sheriff and May Township officials
to discuss funding options. Councilmembers Crum and Yehle agreed to represent the Council at
this meeting.
Dust Control Policy
Administrator Hurlburt presented a draft policy for dust control application to gravel roads. It is
necessary to update the dust control application policy from the past practice of placing ads in
the local paper. Due to dust control being needed on only a few streets, residents will be notified
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by mail with the cost of application for that year. The City will continue to subsidize
approximately 50% of the cost for dust control to public roads, with this year’s fee being $65.00
per 300 feet of road frontage. For treatment to private roads and businesses, the total cost will be
billed back along with a 15% charge to cover staff time and administration costs.
Councilmember Peterson suggested lowering the 15% overage to residents of private roads, i.e.
Cedar Cliff development, but Attorney Hebert advised that it would be difficult to write this into
the policy. Administrator Hurlburt reiterated that fifteen percent is a nominal fee to recover costs
for this service. Councilmember Yehle, seconded by Mayor Seefeldt, moved to approve the
Dust Control Application Policy as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
Technical Assistance from CMSCWD for Erosion Control Projects
Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed has offered to provide technical assistance at no cost to
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the city to design erosion control improvements to sections of 197 Street and also 205 Street.
No project or improvements would occur without Council approval, and would be contingent on
further funding. Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to
authorize staff to accept the offer from Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed for
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technical assistance for both 197 and 205 Streets. The motion passed unanimously.
LILLESKOGEN PARK PLAN
Councilmember Peterson requested that the trail plan portion of the Lilleskogen Park Plan be
opened for discussion after she was contacted by property owners adjacent to the park. Greg
Benson, 21120 Olinda Trail, was present to state his opposition to having a trail connecting the
loop trails in the park to the sidewalk on Olinda, as this trail is adjacent to his property. Mr.
Benson is concerned about liability and theft, and pointed out the trail passes over a large
drainage ditch that slopes into the park. Verona Kees, 21115 Olinda Trail, voiced her concerns
about parking and misuse of the trail. Councilmember Peterson felt that one entrance to the park
on Oakhill Road is sufficient. Karen Schik, chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee, stated
that the intent is to provide connections in the City to natural areas and there may be a
connection to other trails in the long-term. Ms. Schik stated that it is good to hear the concerns of
neighbors in the early planning stages. Councilmember Yehle stated that these concerns will be
kept in mind as the plan moves forward.
WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY – TEMPORARY ON-SALE
LIQUOR LICENSE
Brent Peterson, Washington County Historical Society, has applied for a temporary on-sale
liquor license for a fundraising event to be held at the Hay Lake School Museum on June 14,
2008. Liability insurance has been verified. Councilmember Peterson, seconded by
Councilmember Yehle, moved to approve a Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for the
Washington County Historical Society. The motion passed unanimously.
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CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS FOR MINING OPERATIONS
The Planning Commission approved Conditional Use Permits for gravel mining operations at
their May 6, 2008 meeting, subject to findings and conditions on the city planner’s reports.
Resolutions have been drafted and reviewed with the applicants and the City Attorney.
Resolution 05-20-08-01—Bracht Bros., Inc.
Applicant Natalie Fitzpatrick asked for a revision of condition #14 in which dust control to Old
Marine Trail is applied only when actively used for hauling. This change was made.
Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Mayor Seefeldt, moved to approve Resolution 05-
20-08-01 Approving a Conditional Use Permit Application for Bracht Bros, Inc. for Sand
and Gravel Mining and Processing. The motion passed unanimously.
Resolution 05-20-08-02—Dresel Contracting, Inc.
Councilmember Yehle, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, moved to approve
Resolution 05-20-08-02 Approving a Conditional Use Permit Application for Dresel
Contracting, Inc. for Sand and Gravel Mining and Processing. The motion passed
unanimously.
Resolution 05-20-08-03—Tiller Corporation
Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Mayor Seefeldt, moved to approve Resolution 05-
20-08-03 Approving a Conditional Use Permit Application for Tiller Corporation for Sand
and Gravel Mining and Processing. The motion passed unanimously.
Councilmember Yehle, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, moved to adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
Deputy Clerk