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08-19-08 Council August 19, 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: Councilmember Michael Harnetty. Staff present: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, Bonestroo Engineer Paul Hornby, Building Official Steve Thorp, Treasurer Colleen Firkus, Deputy Clerk Brenda Eklund. PUBLIC FORUM There were no public comments. 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) July 15, 2008 Regular Meeting 2) August 5, 2008 Meeting with Planning Commission 3) August 6, 2008 Special Meeting b) Treasurer’s Report Beginning Balance 07/01/08 $855.992.25 Receipts 909,004.42 Expenditures 67,643.91 Payroll 47,265.42 -114,909.33 Adjustments: Safe Box Rental Adjustment + 35.00 Postage ACH - 300.00 Ending Balance 07/31/08 $1,649,822.34 c) Payment of Vouchers d) Utility Permits for Xcel Energy e) Excluded Raffle Permit, Scandia Elementary Enrichment Foundation Councilmember Crum, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion passed unanimously. POLICE DEPARTMENT Deputy Chris Majeski reported on the past month’s police activity. Suspects in the vandalism case which occurred within the Village Center in early August are being investigated. A report of mailbox burning on the west edge of the City recently occurred. Mayor Seefeldt commended Deputy Majeski for the well organized National Night Out event held on the Community Center th grounds on the evening of August 5. Approximately 150-200 people attended the event. August 19, 2008 Scandia City Council Page 2 FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Steve Spence presented the department’s activity report. Assistant Fire Chiefs Finnegan and Yehle have completed ICS 300 training. Repairs to the well are complete following July’s lightning strike damage. Contract recommendations are forthcoming regarding the joint agreement with May Township for fire coverage. Mayor Seefeldt extended a thank you th to the department for participating in the National Night Out event on August 5. CITY ENGINEER City Engineer Paul Hornby, Bonestroo, updated the Council on engineering issues. Costs to repair the concrete apron at the south approach to the firehall are being put together and will be th presented at August 26 budget meeting. A cost estimate for the bituminous wear course at The Sanctuary development is being prepared. BUILDING/CODE ENFORCEMENT Building/Code Enforcement Official Steve Thorp reported that a high number of re-roof permits have been issued this summer. An update on zoning enforcement actions was given. CITY ADMINISTRATOR Community Center/Uptown Water System Administrator Hurlburt reported on the recent developments concerning the Community Center well issue. Following the disconnect from the older well next to the former maintenance building, the Center is now connected into the newer city well that also serves the warming house, Elim Church and the Gammelgarden museum. The MN Department of Health has determined that this water system was never properly classified, as determined by the number of people served by the system. This reclassification will require a number of standards be set in place, including the appointment of a certified well operator. Building Official Steve Thorp will take the required training to become certified. A well-head protection plan must be established and an evaluation of all plumbing systems connected to the well, along with additional testing for contaminants. These costs will be incorporated into the 2009 budget. City Attorney Hebert advised that it may be feasible to share these costs with the other users of the uptown water system. Public Works Department Staffing Administrator Hurlburt reported on staffing issues within the Public Works Department. Supervisor John Morrison will be out for an undetermined length of time due to a medical condition and part-time Maintenance Worker Bill Poidinger has announced that he will retire on October 31. Administrator Hurlburt stated that plans to advertise for a temporary maintenance worker should be discussed prior to the start of the snow plow season. A recommendation will be reported on at the next Council meeting. August 19, 2008 Scandia City Council Page 3 LETTER OF CREDIT REDUCTION, SUPERIOR LAND PRESERVATION (TII GAVO) Superior Land Preservation, LLC has requested a reduction in the letter of credit for public improvements in the Tii Gavo subdivision. The site was inspected by the city’s engineering firm and Code Enforcement Official Steve Thorp. They have recommended that the guarantee be reduced to $300,000 to cover 125% of the estimated cost of the remaining work. Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to approve the reduction of the letter of credit for the Tii Gavo subdivision to a new amount of $300,000. The motion passed unanimously. WASHINGTON COUNTY RECYCLING GRANT AGREEMENT Washington County has submitted the 2008-09 grant agreement for municipal recycling. The agreement provides for the county paying the city up to $15,928.00 for curbside recycling expenses in 2008 and 2009. City Attorney Hebert has found the agreement to be in order. Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Crum, moved to approve the Recycling Grant Agreement and authorize the Mayor to sign on behalf of the city. The motion passed unanimously. DISCUSSION ON 20780 OLINDA TRAIL PROPERTY The city had entered into an agreement with property owners Hall and Hermina Rasmussen to purchase their property at 20780 Olinda Trail for future expansion of the community sewage treatment system. The Rasmussens recently vacated the property to move into a senior housing community. Based on an inspection report and appraisal from 2002, the home, which was built in 1902, is dated and may need extensive repairs. Council discussed various options to deal with the house, such as renting it out for residential use, tearing down the building or selling it to a house mover. Building Official Steve Thorp will inspect the property and report back at a future meeting with cost estimates necessary to repair the condition of the house to make it viable for a rental property. Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Eklund Deputy Clerk