09.d1 Engineering Updates 9-17-2024
City of Scandia
Engineering Updates 9/17/2024
Engineering italics = old information
· 2024 Street Improvement Project
Resident project notices were sent out on November 2nd and posted to the City website.
Anticipated project schedule is as follows:
o December 19, 2023
Approve Plans & specifications/Authorize Ad for Bid
o January 24, 2024
o Bid Opening
o February 20, 2024
All permits have been submitted with anticipated approvals throughout December and January.
CMSCWD was included on the December 7th plan review meeting and discussion, as well as been in contact for
project updates throughout November and beginning of December.
Request Approval of Plans/Specifications & Authorize Advertisement for Bid will be on the City Council agenda.
Change Order No. 1 has been prepared and agreed upon with Asphalt Surface Technologies.
The Preconstruction Meeting has been scheduled for April 3rd, at 10:00am.
Astech completed preliminary culvert cleaning on April 5th – 9th.
Astech will complete large tree removal on Saturday April 20th.
o Resident notices were delivered on April 9th to all impacted by these tree removals.
Pavement reclamation for Phase 1 is scheduled to begin on April 25th.
Base Paving was completed on Phase 1 the week of May 13th – 17th.
Pipework on Phases 2 and 3 will begin the week of May 20th – 24th.
Basin grading along 196th Street on City property will also begin the week of May 20th – 24th.
All pipe work has been completed for Phase 1, 2, and 3.
Base paving for Phase 2 has been scheduled for the end of next week, June 17th – 21st.
o This is dependent on completion of soft spot correction on Phase 2.
Phase 2 had the base layer of pavement placed from June 27th – 29th.
Phase 3 Pavement Reclamation took place from July 1st – 3rd.
Base Paving for Phase 3 has been tentatively scheduled for July 15th – 19th, weather dependent.
Contractor’s Request for Payment No. 3 has been included as a separate agenda item.
Base Paving for Phase 3 was completed between July 25th – 26th.
Wear Paving on Change Order and Phase 1 streets was completed between July 29th – 30th.
Wear Paving on Phase 2 and 3 street was completed between August 7th – 12th.
Shouldering has been scheduled for August 13th – 15th.
Contractor’s Request for Payment No. 4 has been included as a separate agenda item.
Striping was completed on August 26th on Lakamaga, 195th, Maxwill and Mayberry.
An updated punchlist was sent to the Contractor on September 3rd. The Contractor is
scheduled to complete the remaining punchlist work late the week of September 16th –
20th.
Contractor’s Request for Payment No. 5 has been included as a separate agenda item.
· 2024 Crack Fill and Seal Coat Project
Project Limits have been reviewed by City staff.
A separate agenda item is being submitted at the March 19th Council Meeting requesting Approval of Plans and
Specifications and to Authorize Ad for Bid.
Plans and Specs have been posted and the Bid Opening is scheduled for April 24th, 2024, at 10:00am.
Bids for the 2024 Crack Fill and Seal Coat Project were opened on Wednesday, April 24th.
A recommendation of project award is included as a separate agenda item.
A schedule has not been formally submitted yet; however, Pearson Bros. has told us that construction will take
place after July 4th.
Pearson Bros. began hauling rock to stockpile at City Hall on Monday June 24th.
Crack Filling was completed July 1st – 3rd.
Seal Coating began on July 9th and is anticipated to be completed on July 11th.
The first sweeping of excess aggregate will take place the week following completion of seal coating.
Contractor’s Request for Payment No. 1 has been included as a separate agenda item.
The second sweeping of excess aggregate was completed on August 13th and 14th.
A striping schedule has been requested, but not yet submitted by the Contractor.
Contractor’s Request for Payment No. 2 has been included as a separate agenda item.
The Contractor has not yet provided final closeout documents for this project.
· 2024 Tennis Court Reconstruction Project
Geotechnical research has been completed on Community Center and Barton Johnson Memorial sites. The report
is anticipated to be received in early April.
Wetland delineations will be completed in mid/late April. Delineations will require review and approval prior to
beginning construction. This will push the project bidding schedule back but will not impact the construction
schedule.
Updated Project Schedule is as follows:
o Approve Plans & Specifications/Authorize ad for Bid – June 18, 2024.
o Bid Opening – July 10, 2024.
o Consider Contract Award at City Council Meeting – July 16, 2024.
Geotechnical report was received on March 26th, 2024.
o The report soil borings determined that Barton Johson and Community Center Tennis Courts should
both be reconstructed with new bases and pavement. Proposed sections have been discussed with
City Staff.
Wetland Delineations were collected on Thursday April 11th.
o Plan and permitting updates will be completed once delineations have been reviewed and
discussed with City Staff.
All permit applications have been submitted with potential approval scheduled for June 14th.
Plans and specifications have been completed. City comments were received and implemented throughout this
design process.
Request to approve plans, specifications and authorize ad for bid has been included as a separate agenda item.
Bids for the 2024 Tennis Court Reconstruction Project were opened on Wednesday, July 10th, at 9:00am.
A recommendation of project award is included as a separate agenda item, as well as a copy of the bid plans.
The City Council awarded the Base Bid + Alternate 1 to Veit & Company, Inc. at the August 7th Council workshop.
Change Order No. 1 has been put together and sent to Veit & Company on August 12th.
A preconstruction meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday August 20th at 10am.
Construction will begin after September 9th.
Tree removal began by the City on Monday September 9th, with the Contractor beginning
removal work on September 10th.
The Contractor stockpiled, and plans to test, the existing aggregate base layer to determine
whether it can be re-used as base material. If passing, they will re-use what material they
can, and supplement with new class 5 aggregate for the additional tennis court.
Change Order No. 2 has been put together and sent to Veit & Company on September 11th
for unit pricing. Change Order No. 2 includes a price adjustment for removing unforeseen
bituminous pavement below the aggregate base layer (this was not captured by soil borings
due to the sporadic nature of the bituminous pavement).
o This Change Order has been attached to the end of this report (unit price not yet
received from Veit).
· Tii Gavo Development Phase II
Watershed permit has been obtained and grading work began on Tuesday July 11th. BMI will have staff on site
for public infrastructure inspections.
The bituminous base layer was paved on 8/17/2023.
Aggregate shouldering was completed on 8/30/2023.
Restoration Punchlist will be created in early April 2024.
Hand auger borings have been scheduled for each of the non-functioning basins along with a grain analysis and
hydrometer testing.
Once this revised work has been completed, an updated restoration punchlist will be created and sent to the
Contractor.
A request to reduce the Letter of Credit for this development has been included as a separate agenda item.
Plowe Engineering is still waiting to receive the hand auger boring results.
Braun is still completing lab tests on the borings samples collected in June. Once completed, Plowe will begin
corrective design in coordination with CMSCWD.
Plowe is currently working on the corrective design for the basins on-site, in coordination
with the watershed.
· Floodplain Risk Assessment
Watershed District has received notification from the MPCA they did not receive the grant that was applied for.
CMSCWD Board is considering allocating funding for the Risk Assessment in 2024 at their 2024 CMSCWD Budget
Workshop.
The draft 2024 CMSCWD budget currently includes funding to address model data gaps for the Big Marine Lake
outlet, Carnelian Channel, and Carnelian Creek flowages. This is the first step in a multi-year process to
complete the Floodplain Risk Assessment.
Application #3 was not awarded.
Application #4 is due on December 14th, 2023.
The 2024 CMSCWD budget includes funding to address model data gaps for the Big Marine Lake outlet,
Carnelian Channel, and Carnelian Creek flowages. This is the first step in a multi-year process to complete the
Floodplain Risk Assessment.
Application #4 was not funded.
Application #5 is being prepared for submittal on April 30th, 2024.
Application #5 has been prepared and submitted for the MPCA-Small Communities Planning for SWC Resilience
on April 30th, 2024.
When the CMSCWD begins their 2025 budgeting process in July, the board will consider funding the next steps in
the planning process, with or without a grant.
A survey of the Big Marine Outlet and channel has already been completed, assessing the conditions of the
culverts, and evaluating the existing channel profile. This was an important step to improve the watershed’s
model for planning and future maintenance.
A location map for this channel has been provided at the end of this report.
No Update on Application #5 as of July 10th, a verbal update will be brought to council on July 16th.
Application #5 has been selected and the CMSCWD will receive a grant in the amount of $50,000. This will be
used to supplement the funds that CMSCWD has already allocated for this assessment in their 2025 draft
budget.
CMSCWD is planning to have a budget public hearing and approve the final 2025 budget on
October 9th.
· Bliss Drainfield System
The final permit has been issued. The assumption is that we’ll end up on Track 2, with required system
improvements due to the nitrate issue. Only thing that needs to take place in the next 6 months (February 28,
2022) is for new flow meters to be installed at the system, something we’ll begin working on. At the one year
mark (September 1, 2022), we’ll need to have a Facility Evaluation Report drafted to summarize the system’s
ability or inability to meet the nitrate limit.
New flow meters were installed by Public Works at the beginning of 2022 and specific flows to the three
drainfield cells is now being monitored. Some additional nitrate testing was also performed in August 2022 to
provide additional data points and to get an idea of how much nutrient removal is currently taking place
through the sand filters.
As of September 1, 2022, the Facility Evaluation Report has been sent to the MPCA. We await their review, but
based on the monitoring well samples taken throughout the last year it appears we’ll be on Track 2, with
improvements to the system needed to deal with the nitrate issue. Assuming this is the case, the next step will
be to complete a full Facility Plan by August of 2023 which evaluates the facility and its performance as a whole
and provides options/recommendations for improvements to be made. This is required by Track 2 but is also the
next step in obtaining PFA funding for the project.
We met with MPCA on December 16, 2022 to discuss funding options and laid out a schedule to complete a
facility plan and apply for Point Source Implementation Grant (PSIG) funding.
City Council authorized work to complete the facility plan on January 4, 2023. Facility plan to be submitted by
March 3, 2023. Also, Council authorized BMI to complete permit documents for permit modification due to
added treatment for nitrate removal.
Testified at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 requesting funding for the Bliss Wastewater Treatment
Facility.
Facility plan has been submitted for the City of Scandia’s Bliss Wastewater Treatment Facility along with and IUP
request and PPL application to the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority on Friday, March 3, 2023. As of June 22,
the MPCA has issued preliminary approval of this facility plan.
PSIG Funding application was submitted at the end of July (2023). Received follow-up questions from the MPCA
and responses were sent at the end of August (2023).
City review period for draft MPCA SDS permit ended on 4/5; the public comment period has begun and will
continue through 6/17.
Initial review comments have been received from the MPCA and responses returned.
Depending on multiple other factors, we’ll likely be re-applying for PSIG (Point Source Implementation Grant) by
the end of July (deadline), as if obtained this could fund up to 80% of project.
Plans and specifications were submitted for MPCA review at the end of March.
Response has been received on the environmental review of the project and the DNR has identified the site as
potential nesting land for Blanding’s Turtles. We are working to address the requirements associated with this
in addition to the other revisions.
Comments from the MPCA have been addressed and have been certified by the MPCA as of the end of June.
As of the end of June, the new SDS Permit for the Scandia WW system has been issued. This means that
groundwater monitoring well GW 008 now needs to be sealed within 180 days, as that is part of the permit
requirements.
Bolton and Menk re-applied for PSIG at the end of July. The PFA has indicated that it’s unlikely that Scandia will
be in the fundable range for 2025 given the lack of a bonding bill.
A meeting was conducted between City Staff, Bolton and Menk, and the MPCA on August 14th regarding lack of
project funding.
Per that discussion, BMI has drafted a letter to be formally sent by the City to the MPCA
which explains the situation and all steps that have been taken (and are continuing to be
taken) to try and obtain funding to complete this required project. The letter also
requested a modification to the permit schedule which would extend the timeline to
construct from 2025 to 2026 with the assumption that a bonding bill will be passed which
funds PSIG and allows Scandia a realistic path to obtaining this funding. This letter has been
attached to the end of this report for the Council’s review.
The MPCA appears to be open to this process as a viable path forward. Ultimately if this is
approved, we will re-apply for both the CWRF and PSIG programs in 2025 with the goal of
being funded for construction in 2026.
· Bliss Addition Stormwater Planning
Watershed still working toward 90% plans based on City Staff input received in November 2022.
City and Watershed have completed the MOU.
Watershed/Consultants redesigning project practices after a final utility meet locate identified previously un-
marked conflicts.
Due to delays caused by utilities not marked on the initial locate, the CMSCWD will delay construction to
2024. Upon completion of the final plans, submittals will be prepared to the City for their review. CMSCWD
anticipates soliciting bids in October 2023.
Revised plans were submitted to the City and review comments were sent back to the Watershed District on
January 5, 2024.
Bid Opening was held on April 2nd, 2024 (Abstract of Bid Results at the end of this update).
Council chose to accept the Base Bid for this Project at the April 16th Council Meeting, and award the project to
the lowest bidder, Dresel Contracting, Inc.
CMSCWD is currently working with residents on final vegetation selection for this project.
A preconstruction meeting is planned to be scheduled for the week of June 17th – 21st, pending City staff
availability.
A preconstruction meeting was held on Tuesday June 25th with the Contractor, EOR, City Staff and Bolton &
Menk.
Tree removal will take place in July, with the remainder of the project taking place during September to meet the
substantial completion date of September 30th.
Private utility relocation and tree removals were completed during July.
The remaining construction is still scheduled to be completed in September.
The Contractor has been completing construction of BMPs the week of September 9th –
September 13th.
Anticipated project completion is the week of September 23rd – 27th.
· Highway 8 Study (Chisago to Taylors Falls)
Project website: https://talk.dot.state.mn.us/hwy-8-chisago-taylorsfalls
o Comments and questions can be submitted on the project website.
Public meeting scheduled for October 1, 2024, 5:00-7:00pm at Lindstrom City hall
Schedule:
o August 2024 through December 2024
· Analyze existing conditions and engage stakeholders.
o November 2024 through June 2025
· Develop and evaluate ideas for improvements with stakeholders and
public involvement.
o June 2024 through October 2025
· Finalize study recommendations.
o 2032
· Construction (pavement resurfacing).
· Highway 243 Osceola Bridge
Project website: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy243osceola/index.html
Public Meeting scheduled for May 10, 2023, 5:00pm-7:00pm at the Osceola Village Board Room
Schedule:
o Environmental documentation and preliminary design: 2022 through 2024
o Final design: 2024 through 2026
o Anticipated construction: 2027 through 2028
· The bridge is anticipated to be closed sometime in 2027 through 2028. The duration of this
closure is being considered during alternative detour evaluations.
o Restoration and project completion in 2029.
Project website has been updated with a location plan showing the extents of the work. The project will span the
distance between TH 95 and TH 35.
Traffic Impacts are currently under review, and potential detour plans are being developed.
o See the project website for up-to-date figures.
Denise Workcuff Dmitry Tomasevich
Communications and Engagement Project manager
denise.workcuff@state.mn.us dmitry.tomasevich@state.mn.us
651-775-0025 651-245-4406
· Gateway Trail / County Road 52
Survey update
o Topo survey was completed on November 7th, 2023.
Soil Boring update
o AET submitted the lowest bid at $21,382.00 to perform this work and had the soonest drill rig
availability.
o AET has been authorized to complete soil boring and hand auger boring work on 11/10/2023.
o Soil Borings are scheduled to be completed within 8-10 weeks, with a report coming a few weeks
after completion of field work (Braun was at least a month behind this schedule and came in at
$24,735.00). Hand Auger Borings in off street locations will be completed earlier prior to snowfall.
o AET has been instructed not to begin any work on site until after December 19th. Once approval
has been received, AET will begin hand auger borings (HABs) and then drill rig soil borings (SBs) a
few weeks after.
AET began collecting hand auger borings (HABs) from December 22nd - 26th, and soil borings on December 26th -
29th.
A Geotechnical report is anticipated to be received the week of 3/18 - 3/22.
Figures/layouts are being created to discuss with City staff on 3/19.
DNR comments have been received and are being implemented into the figures/layouts.
County comments have been received and are being implemented into design for discussion at the June monthly
design review meeting.
The next design review meeting with City Staff, County and the DNR is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18th at
1:00pm.
Our anticipated project design timeline is as follows:
o 30% Plans in August
o 60% Plans in September
o 90% Plans in November
o County ROW/Easement acquisition from November 2024-November 2025
30% Plans have been compiled to be discussed with City Staff, Washington County, and the DNR at the August
20th monthly meeting.
60% Plans have been compiled and discussed at our monthly meeting with City Staff,
Washington County, and the DNR on September 17th.
Owner City of Scandia
Engineer Bolton & Menk, Inc.
Contractor Veit & Company, Inc.
8 -435 CY 18.25 (7,938.75)$
55 435 CY -$
Subtotal -$
Original Contract Amount + Change Order No. 1:$395,026.00
Change Order No. 2:$0.00
New Contract Amount:$395,026.00
EXCAVATE BITUMINOUS PAVEMENT (LV)
Project:2024 Tennis Court Reconstruction Project
COMMON EXCAVATION - UNSUITABLE MATERIAL (EV) (P)
CHANGE ORDER NO.: 2
Engineer’s Project No.:
Owner:
0N1.133754
City of Scandia, MN
Change in
Contract Amount
Veit & Company, Inc.
Estimated
Quantity Unit Unit
PriceDescription
Contractor:
Item No.
14727 209 th St. N., Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433 -2274 Fax (651) 433 -5112 https://www.cityofscandia.com
September 17, 2024
Julie Henderson
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
520 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155
Re: Bliss Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements (SDS MN0054119)
Dear Ms. Henderson,
I am writing to you with regards to Scandia’s Bliss Wastewater Treatment System and the future
improvements planned for the system. These improvements are required by the sequence laid
out in the final 2021 SDS Permit and the recently -modified 2024 SDS Permit, and are solely for
the removal of nitrogen from the waste stream. Based on the current schedule in the permit,
construction on the improvements is required to start by 365 days after the submittal of the
project plans and specifications, which took place at the end of March of this year.
The lack of a bonding bill by the MN Legislature this year has put the City of Scandia in an
exceedingly difficult position to try and meet this timeline for the improvements. Since the
requirement for these improvements became a reality, with the help of Bolton & Menk, our
engineer, we have been doing everything within our ability to obtain funding assistance for the
project. This includes applying for both major programs through the MN PFA which would apply
low interest loans through the CWRF and in particular PSIG grant money. Scandia applied to
these for the 2024 cycle and although the project did not rate high enough on the list to receive
PSIG funding, it was listed so as to receive 80% coverage via PSIG and the other 20% via the
CWRF and became a carryover project for the 2025 cycle. This spring/summer the design was
completed and certified by the MPCA, putting it in excellent position move into the fundable
range. We applied for both the CWRF and PSIG programs for the 2025 cycle but are now being
told that with the lack of a bonding bill it is extremely unlikely that the project will be eligible for
PSIG funding.
The 80% grant coverage through PSIG is the most critical portion of the funding that we are
pursuing for this project. The Bliss Wastewater System, although in good condition considering
its age, was not originally designed for nutrient removal and a proje ct of this type and scale was
not anticipated until a few years ago. The City of Scandia does not have the means to fund this
project themselves or through user revenue. Because of this situation, we are formally requesting
either a modification to the current schedule in the SDS Permit or a compliance schedule which
would allow Scandia the ability to obtain PSIG funding for the project as soon as it becomes
available through the passage of a bonding bill. Our project will be a carryover again next year
and should be in excellent position to receive funding if the MN Legislature makes it available.
14727 209 th St. N., Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433 -2274 Fax (651) 433 -5112 https://www.cityofscandia.com
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Kyle Morell
City Administrator
City of Scandia
651-433-2274
k.morell@ci.scandia.mn.us
cc: Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Isiah Bubany – Bolton & Menk
Jacob Humburg – Bolton & Menk
Bill Dunn – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency