8.f Administrator's reportSCANDILA
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: October 18, 2016
To: City Council
From: Neil Soltis, Administrator
Re: Administrator's report
Log House Landing Boat ramp —Jim Shaver and I will be working with DNR and Watershed engineers on
revising the design for the ramp, including the use of concrete planking for the whole project. Based on
the erosions on the ramp and complaints from residents, minor repairs will be made to the ramp. The
National Park Service has delivered the sign to be placed at Log House Landing. That will be installed as
time permits.
IT Cabling — Web electric is scheduled to extend electrical service to the location that will be used for the
telephone and cable demarcation along with the IT equipment. After that is completed Midco will come in and
move the cable that provides the internet and telephone service to the building. Following that an IT cabling
company will relocate the existing connections from the mechanical room to the new location.
Oakhill Storm shelters —The work on the Oakhill Storm shelters is substantially complete.
Connexus Energy — We received a notice the Connexus will be replacing and upgrading all of their members'
meters with in the next 2 years. Notices will be sent to members in advance of the installation.
Sewer Inflow and Infiltration — With the rain events in September the records of pump run times indicate
that the sewer systems have a significant issue with inflow and infiltration. For example the flows at one
of the lift stations in the Bliss system were roughly 3x the average on 3 days in September. A discussion of
the issue will be on the agenda for the upcoming wastewater Advisory Committee meeting.
Watershed Districts — Following this report is a letter that was submitted by John Waller the Director of
the Rice Creek Watershed district to the Washington County Board of Commissioners addressing the lack
of accountability for expenditures where the taxing districts do not align with watershed boundaries.
Veterans Memorial — Chuck Priesler has issued the building permit for the construction of the Veterans
Memorial.
PUBLIC WORKS ACTIVITIES
Safety—The monthly safety inspection of buildings and equipment was completed
Roads and rights-of-way:
• The 2nd round of ditch mowing that was started on August 29tH was completed on September 30tH
• Adding material to the deteriorated road shoulders that was started in August 29 at the northwest
corner of the City has continued with most of the roads north of Scandia Trail (97) completed.
• The effort to improve sign visibility through minor trimming that was started in late August starting in
the northeast corner of the City is nearly complete
• Fallen trees were removed from the road rights-of-way after the rain event on September 23.
• Trees interfering with the use of the road were removed on 195th and Layton
• Log House landing was reshaped and some progress has been made to place rock checks to slow the
flow of storm water runoff on the north side of the road.
• The bicycle rack that was donated by the St. Croix River Association was installed in advance of their
Pedal and Paddle event on September 25.
• Fahrner Asphalt looked at options to repair the areas where the 2013-2014 seal coating material is
delaminating. They are recommending a spray seal, but the equipment is booked for the remainder of
the year and the cost for the work would be $5,000 / day. The deteriorated areas will be patched by
the crew in October.
• The updated street name signs for the roads that were sealcoated this year have been ordered.
• The crew cut out and paved deteriorated portions of the road on Oakhill, 228th, 195th, and Odell
• Potholes reported by residents were filled on Pomroy and Meadowridge Trail
• A faded stop sign was replaced at 197th & Oxboro. Additional replacement signs have been ordered
for 2 locations.
Parks and Grounds
• The south ballfield was mowed 1 time
• The lighted ballfield was mowed 1 time
• The t -ball field was mowed 1 time
• The rain garden at Lilleskogen Park was weeded and the invasive grasses sprayed
• The Public Works / Fire building was mowed 1 time
• The annex building was mowed 1 time
• Hay Lake Park and the Settlers monument were mowed 1 time
• The Community building was mowed 1 time
• Christine Mazucco, the seasonal parks and grounds worker, completed her 67 days of work at the end
of September. Continuing her employment beyond that number of days would have required her to
be a member of the union.
• The skating rink has been inspected for broken dasher boards and kick plates. The replacement
materials have been ordered and a portion of those have been delivered.
• Washouts at the Goose Lake boat ramp have been filled.
• Sentence to Serve worker will be used for 2 days in late October or early November to continue the
invasive species removal at Lilleskogen Park
Sewers:
• The August and September DMR reports for the Bliss drain field were submitted
• The September and October sewer inspections and testing have been completed.
• Smiley Sewer is scheduled to pump the tanks with levels of sludge or scum in excess of the
maintenance plan in the Anderson Erickson system 99 locations) Uptown drainfield, the former fire
station, and the Community building.
• One issue that still needs to be addressed is the City will need a permit from the MPCA for a location to
land spread the septage from the Bliss addition. Previously there were discussion with the City of
Marine on the St. Croix regarding using the same field to land spread the septage. I will be working
with the City and the MPCA on the permit.
• The meters for the Uptown sewer system were read and billing for the 3rd quarter sent out.
Projects for the next moth include:
• Regrading gravel roads
• Continued minor road patching
• Continue adding material to road shoulders
• Dasher board and kick plate replacement at ice rink.
• Prepping snow removal equipment
• Street name sign replacement
CONNEXUS"'
ENERGY
Your Community Energy Partner
September 19, 2016
Mr. Neil Soltis, City Administrator S[P L 1 Z6
City of Scandia
14727 209th St N CITY OF SCANDIA
Scandia, MN 55073
Dear Mr. Soltis:
14601 Ramsey Boulevard
Ramsey, Minnesota 55303
763.323.2600
Fax: 763.323.2603
www connexusenergy.com
info@connexusenergy.com
As one of our valued community partners, we want to make sure you are informed and aware of what Connexus
Energy has planned for all members throughout our service area. As part of our commitment to continuously
improve service and reliability, Connexus plans to replace and upgrade all our members' meters within the next
two years. Our current metering system is 22 years old and will be replaced with Advanced Meter Infrastructure
or AMI.
This new technology will pinpoint outages, allowing us to respond faster and improve reliability. It will also serve
as the platform to deliver improved programs and services that empower our members with information to
make informed decisions on their electricity use.
Installing 100,000+ new meters will take time. Starting in October 2016, we will begin installing the meters in
phases, going from neighborhood to neighborhood. We will be sending notices to all our members a few weeks
prior to the installation of the new meters. We expect to have all advanced meters installed by sometime in
2018.
Some people have asked about the potential health effects from exposure to the radio frequency emitted by
advanced meters. The meters we are installing meet all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines
and safety standards. Members who choose to keep their current meters can opt out of the transition to
advanced meters and pay a monthly service fee.
While other utilities have been installing the Advanced Meter Infrastructure for years, we wanted to make sure
the time was right, the technology was proven, and that costs came down before we invested money and
resources toward this effort. We are convinced the time is right to take the next step. In doing so, we promise
you three things: we've done our homework, the technology is safe, and we will protect our members' data. We
are excited about this next step in providing affordable, reliable, safe electricity to the communities we serve.
If you'd like more information about our AMI project, please visit us at connexusenergy.com.
Sincerely,
Greg Ridderbusch
Chief Executive Officer
Connexus Energy
October 4, 2016
LVED
U(;i 1 "l 2U.ici
Washington County Board of Commissioners L CITY OF SCANDIA
Washington County Government Center
1494962 d Street North
P.0_ Box fi
Stillwater, Minnesota 55082-0006
Dear Commissioners -
I am John Waller. My address is 14010 Homestead Ave. N., Hugo, Minnesota 55038. I
am the sole Washington County manager on the Rice Creek Watershed District Board of
Managers.
I was a member of the work group which produced: The Report for Water Governance
Study Washington County, Minnesota, dated May, 1999. On page four of the study the
Work Group suggested that during the second decade of the new millennium, the
structures and systems that manage surface and ground water be formally evaluated by
the County Board to determine whether the systems and structures for establishment and
exercise of political and administrative powers which determine, direct, and control
surface and ground water, are meeting the county goals for water governance. It is now
the second decade of the millennium and I am asking the County Board to conduct a
formal evaluation of water governance.
I believe, since beginning in 1972, the Rice Creek Watershed District has treated the
cities and residence of within the districts portion of Washington County very, very
badly. The structure of Board of Managers inherently prejudices the cities and taxpayers
of Washington County. This inherent structural prejudice has caused the loss of the local
control of water governance and local control of water governance needs to be restored.
The Board of Managers structural prejudice has been manifested in their adversarial
actions to providing the service needs of cities and taxpayers of Washington County. I
could recite a long list of adversarial actions take by the Rice Creek Watershed District,
but these details are better left for a future workshop.
It is easy for a Washington County city or taxpayer to follow the tax revenue paid into the
watershed district. Three documents provide disclosure.
First, the Minnesota Department of Revenue, Rice Creek Watershed District 038
Certification of Apportioned Levies Payable 2017 lists for that portion of Rice Creek
Watershed District within Washington County as 19.7761% of the watershed district
property tax levy.
Second, the Washington County Pay 2015 Watershed District Tax by Municipality (only
includes that part of the watershed district within Washington County) lists taxes for Rice
Creek Watershed District as $842, 065. The Washington County taxpayers in the Rice
Creek Watershed District have paid approximately $8 million in the last ten years.
Third, the Washington County Department of Property Records and Taxpayer Services,
Tax Statement 2016, item 10: Special Taxing Districts (c) Rice Creek Watershed District
reveals for a property the watershed district tax bill.
These documents provide transparency, accountability, objectivity, and impartiality of
taxes inbound to the Rice Creek Watershed District from the cities and taxpayers of
Washington County.
However, the Rice Creek Watershed District budget does not provide the same easy
transparent, accountable, objective and impartial disclosure of taxes spent for services
needed by Washington County cities and taxpayers. The budget does not break out
spending by county or city. A Washington County city or taxpayer is unable to find out
how much of the $8 million paid in the last ten years was spent in Washington County.
Further study and evaluation water governance structures and systems are needed.
Currently cities are mandated to adopt watershed district rules into local storm water
plans. Implementation of this mandate brings opportunity for greater meshing and
coordination of the watershed budget with cities storm water budgets.
I, again, respectfully request the County Board to authorize a formal study to determine
whether the systems and structures that manage surface and ground water be formally
evaluated by the County Board to determine, whether the systems and structures for
establishment and exercise of political and administrative powers which determine,
direct, and control surface and ground water, are meeting the county goals for water
governance.
Thank you for your help.
Respectfully yours;
John Waller
Cc: Washington County Administrator Molly O'Rourke
Washington County Health and Environment Director Lowell Johnson