07-01-08 Council
July 1, 2008
A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Seefeldt
called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. The following councilmembers were present: Council
members Pete Crum, Michael Harnetty, Dolores Peterson, Mayor Dennis Seefeldt, Donnette
Yehle. Staff present: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, Deputy Clerk
Brenda Eklund.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Administrator Hurlburt added to the agenda a report on the Community Center’s well issue.
Councilmember Yehle, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, moved to approve the
agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously.
COMMUNITY CENTER WELL TESTING
Administrator Hurlburt reported that a routine testing of the Community Center’s water supply
by the MN Department of Health detected the presence of contamination. The recommended
steps have been taken to disinfect the well. In the meantime, notices are in place and bottled
water is available to all users of the Community Center. A certified well contractor is currently
working on the well and a retest of the water supply will be done soon.
The Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. The following were
present: Commission Chair Chris Ness, Commissioners Tom Krinke, Susan Rodsjo, Peter
Schwarz, Building Official Steve Thorp and TKDA Planner Berry Farrington. Absent:
Commissioner Christine Maefsky.
AM-TECH DESIGNS – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT, RESOLUTION
07-01-08-01
Bob and Michelle Carlson, owners of Am-Tech Designs, a light steel fabrication business, have
applied for an amendment to the existing Conditional Use Permit to allow for construction of an
accessory building. Am-Tech is located in the Hawkinson Business Park, 21080 Ozark Court.
The applicants propose to remove a current accessory structure and replace it with a 25 feet by
50 feet three-sided structure. TKDA Planner Berry Farrington presented the Planner’s report in
which approval of an amended CUP was recommended. The structure meets all standards of
Section 9.2 of the Zoning Ordinance. A recommendation to require decorative ground cover
along the building edge facing the right of way as required in Section 9.12 was added as a
condition of approval in the Planner’s report. A condition from the CUP granted in 1995 to
require that the parking lot be striped and marked for handicap parking was also included in the
draft resolution.
Chairman Chris Ness opened the public hearing. As there were no public comments, Chairman
Ness closed the hearing.
Councilmember Harnetty inquired about the reasoning behind the handicap parking requirement.
Building Official Thorp explained the federal law which requires the business to be accessible to
the disabled.
Commissioner Schwarz felt that requiring landscaping within the narrow area between the
building edge and the parking lot would be impractical and difficult to maintain. The area is
about one foot in width. Chairman Ness agreed and stated his view that natural vegetation would
be acceptable in that space.
Councilmember Peterson questioned if the building material will match the existing business
structure. Applicant Bob Carlson replied that it will be an exact match.
The Planning Commission recommended to the City Council to adopt draft resolution 07-01-08-
01 with the elimination of Condition #3 requiring decorative ground cover in the space between
the building and parking lot.
Councilmember Harnetty, seconded by Councilmember Crum, moved to accept the
recommendation of the Planning Commission to adopt draft Resolution 07-01-08-01 with
the elimination of Condition #3.
Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Crum, moved to amend the above
motion to include the requirement for decorative ground cover.
Councilmember Harnetty stated that he sees this as a nuisance ordinance that is not practical or
necessary in this situation. Councilmember Crum felt that the applicant should be held to what is
stated in the ordinance, otherwise the council is being ad-hoc in their decisions.
Voting yes on the amendment: Crum, Peterson, Seefeldt, Yehle. Opposed: Harnetty.
A vote to approve the draft Resolution 07-01-08-01 as amended passed unanimously.
SET SPECIAL MEETING FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The Comprehensive Plan Committee has recommended that a date be set for a public meeting
(Thursday, August 21) and a public hearing (Thursday, September 18) on the new
Comprehensive Plan. The public hearing would also be an official meeting of the City Council.
Councilmember Yehle, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, moved to set a special
meeting date for September 18, 2008 to conduct a public hearing on the Comprehensive
Plan. The motion passed unanimously.
Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
Deputy Clerk