02. Minutes of May 13, 2024 Meeting
City of Scandia
Capital Investment Committee
May 13, 2024
A meeting of the Capital Investment Committee was held on the above date. City Administrator
Kyle Morell called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. Also present were Committee members
Council Member Mike Lubke, Parks & Rec Committee Greg Zauner, Planning Commissioner
Perry Rynders, Public Works Director Charles Fischer, Fire Chief Mike Hinz, Dominic
Mitchell, Engineer Isaiah Bubany, and Treasurer Colleen Firkus.
Rynders, moved, seconded by Greg to approve the minutes from June 22, 2023. Motion
passed 6 – 0.
Committee agreed to keep City Administrator Morell as Chair.
Morell presented a sheet showing all capital expenditures approved by the City Council since
2023. The City is committed at this point to spend just over $5 million with the 2024 Road
Projects the largest part at $3.48-million including crack filling & seal coating. The city is
expected to save 12% on bond payments bundling projects under one bond in 2024.
The Tennis Court Reconstruction is out for bids with two alternates. Alt. 1 is for adding a tennis
court at the Community Center. Alt. 2 is redoing Elim Church’s Barton Johnson tennis court and
have a signed an agreement yet to be presented to Council. Project is to be paid from the balance
in the Capital Improvement and Park Capital Funds. No discussion for Elim’s participation in the
cost has occurred yet.
Fire Chief Hinz reported that an engine ordered, originally not expected to be delivered until
2027, is going to be delivered in 2024, replacing a 25-year-old engine which has become
unreliable. Also, the ISO rating discount on homeowners’ insurance policies would be lost if
keep the city keeps an engine over 25 years. The engine will be paid from Equipment
Certificates.
City Hall Renovations include updating the AV Equipment Room, new paint in the Hall,
refreshing the office space, adding a new service window, and replacing laminate in Council
Chambers to be paid from the Capital Improvement Fund. Quotes are currently being obtained.
Engineer Bubany presented road projects information. Bids for the 2024 Road Project came in
under by projections by $260,000 because unit prices are lower with larger projects, soil borings
were done in a less expensive way, and the size of the project generated better pricing. Seal Coat
& Crack Filling projects scheduled for 2025, 2026 and 2027 will also be completed as part of the
2024 Road Project. Staff is recommending a much smaller projects going forward in odd
numbered years and larger reconstructions in even numbered years. While the plan does not
fully support the needed road maintenance, it takes into account the effect on the levy and impact
on tax payers. The current bond will increase the levy by approximately $345,000.
The Committee had much discussion on Paser ratings and how it is determined which roads get
reconstructed and when. Roads are evaluated every year with the ratings updated. Currently there
is a highly experienced engineer doing the ratings for about $2,000. There is new AI Paser
rating technology available that is less subjective and gives more data points. Cost is more at
$12-$15,000, but it is not necessary to do it every year.
Mitchell suggests not all roads deteriorate at the same rate based on less traffic and number of
homes on the road. Staff also pointed out truck traffic passing through Scandia use roads that are
not residentially dense. Truck traffic due to development also causes faster road deterioration.
The city can require developers pledge money to pay for the first crack fill/seal coat required.
While it may deter development, the cost is usually passed on to new home owners.
The Committee would like to see estimates as to what the recommended annual amount would
be needed to fully keep up with road maintenance and the impact on the levy. They would also
like to see traffic counts taken into consideration as to when roads are selected for repair.
Bubany stated their firm has traffic counters and will check into it. It was suggested the public
have the opportunity to comment on the city’s Street Reconstruction plans and be informed as to
the cost of maintaining the roads. Bubany suggested an Input ID map to gather resident
feedback on road conditions via the city’s website. He can bring a finished one to show the
Council to discuss its merits and the cost.
Next steps: Staff will provide what has been budgeted and spent on past road projects and the
effect of future projects on the City’s tax levy.
The next meeting will be mid-to-end of July to review and rate the other capital projects.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10.
Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Firkus
City Treasurer