10.b Bone Lake Association Funding RequestStaff Report
Date of Meeting: April 18, 2017
To: City Council
From: Neil Soltis, Administrator
Re: Request for funding from Bone Lake Association
Background:
Mayor Maefsky received the following email from Dave Bakke of the Bone Lake Association
Attached is the letter that Margie Schmidt wrote to Kristina Handt in May of 2013
requesting funds for treatment of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Bone Lake. Margie did
receive a phone call from Ms. Handt indicating the request was denied. We did not find
evidence of the Scandia City Council reviewing this request.
Therefore, the Bone Lake Association is again requesting support from the City of
Scandia. We are currently working with the Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District
to plan delineation and treatment of AIS. The City of Scandia owns the property on the
north shore of Bone Lake that runs from the boat landing to George Haug's property.
This is verified by looking up the Washington County Property Tax Records, Parcel ID:
05.032.20.12.0002.
Scandia residents use Bone Lake for enjoyment and recreation and it is our goal to
improve the water quality for all residents of Scandia.
Issue: Should the City of Scandia provide funding to supplement the efforts of the Bone Lake
Association and Watershed District in their efforts to control aquatic invasive species?
Proposal Details:
No specific funding request has been presented for 2017.
The request for funds received in 2013 was discussed by the Council for funding in the 2014
budget; however, no funds were budgeted. Below is an excerpt from the budget narrative
regarding the request.
The Bone Lake Association is requesting $5,000 to fight invasive species. This represents
one third of the proposed $15,000 cost. A copy of the letter requesting these funds is
included with the budget materials. Staff has not included this expenditure in 2014. If
the Council should decide to include funds for this purpose, staff would recommend
they establish some guidelines to help make future decisions on similar requests.
Scandia has a number of lakes and the City owns property on nearly every one. As was
discussed at the May workshop with the Carnelian -Marine -St. Croix Watershed District,
many lakes are facing this issue so a policy on how the City would participate, if it does
participate, in this type of funding should be determined.
The issues raised in the 2013 budget narrative remain valid due to the multiple lakes in Scandia
that are within 3 separate watershed districts.
Fiscal Impact: No funds have been provided for grants in the 2017 budget.
Options:
1. Amend the 2017 budget to provide funding
2. Take no action on 2017 funding
3. Discuss establishing a policy or guidelines on participating in aquatic invasive species
with Lake Associations and Watershed Districts
4. Review funding for Aquatic Invasive Species control in the 2018 budget discussions
Recommendation: Options 2 and 3 — Establishing a grant policy for this purpose will help to
afford an equal opportunity for funding to the respective Watershed Districts and Lake
Associations.
CITY OWNED PARCEL ON BONE LAKE
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