09.g City Administrator Report1
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: October 15, 2024, City Council Meeting
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kyle Morell, City Administrator
Re: City Administrator Report
______________________________________________________________________________
Gateway Trail Project
City Engineer Ryan Goodman and I met with Nathan Moe and Kent Skaar from the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Monday, July 10, 2023. We discussed the next steps in the
work plan, including the environmental review, soil borings, and topographical survey. Ryan and the
DNR are working to complete these items before the end of the year. This group plans to meet monthly
to ensure the project stays on schedule.
Kent explained that the LCCMR funding has a hard deadline of June 30, 2027. All spending must be
completed before that date. The City plans for 2026 construction to complete the project before the grant
funding disappears. Our DNR Grant Administrator has also contacted me. LCCMR administers the
project, and the funding comes from the DNR.
I have submitted our first required update to LCCMR. I will have to file a budget amendment to
redistribute the funds we received from construction to engineering, as the money allotted for
engineering will not cover the projected cost. The City’s first reimbursement request has been processed
and received by the County and will be forwarded to the City.
Water Tower Barn Project
The Scandia Heritage Alliance installed a sign on the property over the weekend. The sign will mark
the property as the future site of the Water Town Barn.
The City’s LCCMR proposal was selected to move forward in the review process. I presented it to the
LCCMR committee on June 28. The Committee met on July 31 to determine funding amounts for all
projects. The City received $907,000 of the $998,000 it requested.
2
Scandia City Center Study
The Consultant presented the Community Involvement Plan to the Council at their December Work
Session. Staff updated contact information for the local businesses listed in the Plan. The County and
the Consultant attended Vinterfest and positively interacted with the community. The comments left on
the project website have also been very insightful. These comments will be gathered, analyzed, and
used to determine areas that need further review in the coming months.
The Consultant has shared the results of their analysis with Gammelgarden, the Elementary School, the
City, its Parks and Recreation and Tourism Committees, the Scandia Heritage Alliance, and Greg
Amundson to get final review and comments on the Study. They are working to put the final report
together for presentation to the County and the City.
Bliss Stormwater Project
The project is mostly complete. The Watershed and contractor are finishing up punch list items.
Cannabis Legislation Update
Public hearings are scheduled for November 6 for the new City ordinance language and November 12
for the Unified Development Code updates.
Midco Border 2 Border Grant
Midco was awarded $689,700 for its Scandia Broadband project, which will cost $1,379,400. The City
has pledged $300,000, the grant money, and Midco will pay the rest. The grant will provide high-speed
internet to 161 unserved and underserved locations along the St. Croix River in Scandia. The project
must be completed by June 30, 2027.
Bliss Sewer Project
The City has been asked to explain to the Senate Capital Investment Committee how the delay in bond
funding has affected the Bliss project. That presentation will be on October 29 over Zoom.