05-19-2026 MeetingMay 19, 2026
A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date in the City Council
Chambers. The meeting was conducted in person and over an electronic platform. All
participants who joined the meeting remotely could hear each other and contribute to
discussions.
Mayor Steve Kronmiller called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Following the Pledge of
Allegiance, roll call was taken. The following were in attendance: Council members Jerry
Cusick, Jim Gribble, Kirsten Libby, and Mayor Steve Kronmiller. Council member Mike Lubke
participated on Zoom. Staff present: City Attorney Amanda Johnson, City Engineer Isiah
Bubany, Planner TJ Hofer, Police Deputy Jake Anderson, Fire Chief Mike Hinz, Public Works
Director Charles Fischer, and City Administrator Kyle Morell.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Kronmiller added “Summary of Closed Session” to the agenda before the Law
Enforcement Report.
Gribble, seconded by Libby, moved to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 5-0.
SUMMARY OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Kronmiller stated that the Council held a closed session earlier in the evening to review
the City Administrator's performance. The review was positive, the Administrator is meeting
Council’s expectations.
LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT
Deputy Anderson reported on calls and statistics over the past month. In April, there were 107
incidents; 28 traffic stops and 5 citations issued. There was one burgherly and one domestic
incident in the City last month.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were no public comments.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following Consent Agenda was presented:
a) Minutes
1) April 21, 2026 Regular Meeting
2) May 6, 2026 Work Session
b) Treasurer’s Report
c) Payment of Vouchers
d) Approve Excluded Raffle Permit for Scandia Elementary PTO, May 29, 2026
e) Approve Special Event Permit for Taco Daze, Scandia-Marine Lions Club (September
12, 2026)
f) City Engineer – Engineering Updates Report
g) 2025 Street Improvement Project -- Contractors' Request for Payment No. 5 & Final
h) Variance at 18521 Langly Avenue North to allow the replacement and expansion of a
nonconforming structure within the roadway setback and Ordinary High-Water Level
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May 19, 2026
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(OHWL) setback of Big Marine Lake. Applicants Joe and Cindy Radatz. Resolution No.
05-19-26-03
Kronmiller, seconded by Gribble, moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
Motion carried 4-0.
OFFICE ASSISTANT JOB DESCRIPTION AND JOB POSTING
City Clerk Eklund is retiring at the end of July. Administrator Morell plans to promote current
staff member to take on her role as City Clerk. The City is seeking to hire an Office Assistant to
fill the vacancy. An updated job description and job posting were presented to the Council for
review and approval. The position will be posted through mid-June, and interviews will be
conducted in late June, with plans to hire in July.
Lubke, seconded by Libby, to approve the updated job description and job posting.
Motion Carried Unanimously.
MPCA CLEAN WATER LOAN PROGRAM RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR
WYLDEWOOD ACRES HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION – RESOLUTION 05-19-26-01
Mayor Kronmiller and Administrator Morell attended the Wyldewood Acres Home Owners
Association (HOA) meeting on Wednesday, May 13. The MPCA has required the HOA to
upgrade its wastewater system and to submit a plan for the improvement by February 2027. The
HOA voted to request City approval of the attached resolution of support in anticipation of
submitting an application in the coming weeks.
Carrie Mitchell, 14192 209th St N., is a member of the Wyldewood Acres HOA and addressed
the Council. She believes the HOA needs to do more work to determine how to move forward.
She stated that there are other options the HOA has not considered, and that she has a meeting
with the Board in June to discuss them. She asked the Council to delay its approval of the
Resolution of Support to give the HOA time to evaluate its other options.
Kronmiller, seconded by Lubke, to table Resolution 05-19-26-01 to give Ms. Mitchell time
to work with the HOA on alternative solutions. Motion Carried Unanimously.
SERIES 2026B TEMPORARY GO IMPROVEMENT BOND, RESOLUTION 05-19-26-02
Administrator Morell explained to the Council that the temporary improvement bond is needed
to fund the Gateway Trail project's cash flow. Even though the State has provided grant funding
for the project, the funding is a reimbursable grant, meaning the City must show it has made
payments to contractors before it can request state funding. The City has funds to cash-flow the
Scandia Trail project, which is also a state-reimbursable grant project underway this summer, but
it does not have enough funds to cash-flow the Gateway Trail project. The Council was
presented with a $1.2 million issuance from Security Bank and Trust. The bond is a 12-month
term with no prepayment penalty. The City will work to pay off the bond as quickly as it can
once the project is completed. If approved, the bond will close on May 27, and payments on the
Gateway Trail construction will begin in June.
Kronmiller, seconded by Lubke, to approve Resolution 05-19-26-02 issuing the 2026B
Temporary GO Improvement Bond. Motion Carried Unanimously.
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May 19, 2026
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PARK & RECREATION COMMITTEE
There was no report from the Parks and Recreation Committee.
PLANNING COMMISSION
City Planner Hofer provided an update on the Planning Commission to the Council. The Radatz
Variance, which the Planning Commission recommended for approval, was included on the
Consent Agenda. The Commission discussed an amendment to the UDC for accessory structure
height when the house is single-story. The Commission also discussed meeting with the City
Council to address shoreland screening regulation concerns that have been a major focus of the
last two variance applications. Mayor Kronmiller and Councilmember Libby volunteered to
meet with members of the Planning Commission.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Planner Dahle presented a housing memo to the EDA, outlining the code sections reviewed when
a housing development application is submitted to the City. The discussion was informational
only and may lead to suggested changes and help the EDA formulate suggested changes to the
Comprehensive Plan.
SCANDIA INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE
The IAC did not meet in April; its next meeting is Thursday, May 21.
TOURISM COMMITTEE
Tourism Committee Chair Sue Dickens appeared via Zoom and reported that the Committee is
reworking its original plan for a September bicycle ride. The citywide garage sale is on
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after Memorial Day.
BUILDING OFFICIAL
The April building activity report was in the meeting packet. In March, 19 building permits were
issued at a valuation of $232,000.00. So far in 2026, 78 permits have been issued at a valuation
of $1,904,106.00.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Hinz reported on the past month’s activity. In April, the department responded to 20
calls: 9 fire-related, 10 medical, and 1 dive. Hinz stated that the department is working with the
Scandia Heritage Alliance on their music series event and their kayak event. He is also working
on a grant for new pagers for the department. He also stated the department is set to receive a
donation of 20 pages from another Washington County department.
CITY PLANNER
Planner Hofer presented a memo on wetland public amenities to the Council. The request that
Council determine whether the trail network at the Scandia Heritage Alliance(Alliance) project
site is considered a water-oriented public amenity. The City defines a “water-oriented public
amenity” as: Any structure or impervious surface, wholly located on land owned by a local, state,
or federal government agency and intended for the use and passive enjoyment of a water
resource by the general public. This may include, but is not limited to, trails, gazebos, and
docks…. Staff believes that the trails and proposed wetland overlooks do meet the definition of
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May 19, 2026
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a wetland public amenity. The Alliance had a variance approved in 2021. If the location of trails
has moved, then a variance amendment would be needed if their system is not classified as a
wetland public amenity.
Kronmilller, seconded by Libby, motioned to declare the Scandia Heritage Alliance trail
and wetland overlooks wetland public amenities as defined in the City Code.
CITY ENGINEER
2026 Street Reconstruction Project - Request to Approve Plans, Specs, and Authorize
Advertisement for Bid
Engineer Bubany requested that the City Council approve plans for the 2026 Street
Reconstruction project and authorize ads for bids. Bid opening is scheduled for July 15, 2026,
with Council awarding the bid at the July Regular Meeting. Construction will occur in
September and October.
Kronmiller, seconded by Libby, motioned to approve plans, specs, and authorize
advertisement of bid for the 2026 Street Reconstruction Project. Motion Carried
Unanimously.
Olinda Trail N. Pedestrian Crossing Quotes
Engineer Bubany requested that the City Council authorize the solicitation of quotes for a new
pedestrian crossing at Olinda Trail N. and 209th St. N. The work will be completed as part of the
ongoing trail project at City Hall. Funding will come from the street reconstruction fund.
Kronmiller, seconded by Libby, motioned to authorize the solicitation of quotes for a new
pedestrian crossing at Olinda Trail N and 209th St N. Motion Carried Unanimously.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
Public Works Director Fischer’s report on department activities was in the meeting packet.
Fischer stated the Bliss wastewater project has begun, with the contractor on site this week. The
work will continue into June, and will be finalized in the fall.
Hiring of Two New Public Works Employees
Fischer and Administrator Morell conducted Zoom screenings with 13 candidates. Five
candidates were chosen for in-person interviews, which were conducted by Fischer, Morell, and
Mayor Kronmiller. Based on those interviews, Fischer requests that the Council hire Owen
Dylong at Step 1 and Brian Granvelle at Step 2 for the position of Full-Time Maintenance
Worker, pending completion of the pre-employment screening.
Lubke, seconded by Gribble, motioned to approve the hiring of Owen Dyling at Step 1 and
Brian Granvelle at Step 2 for the position of Full-Time Maintenance Worker. Motion
Carried Unanimously.
CITY ATTORNEY
There were no updates from City Attorney Johnson.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
City Administrator Morell provided a written report in the meeting packet. There were no
questions.
ADJOURNMENT
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May 19, 2026
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Gribble, seconded by Lubke, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kyle Morell
City Administrator