8.d) 2-13-14 Ltr from TillerIr
TILLER
CORPORATION'
Corporate Office:
P.O. Box 1480
7200 Hemlock Lane; Suite 200
Maple Grove, Minnesota 55311-6840
February 13,2014
Sherri Buss
City Planner, TKDA
City of Scandia
14727 209th Street N.
Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Tiller Corporation
and its affiliated companies
Barton Sand & Gravel Co.
Commercial Asphalt Co.
Barton Enterprises; Inc.
Barton Industrial Sands, LLC
General: (763) 425-4191
Facsimile: (763) 425-7153
Web: ivw v.tillercorpxom
RE: Proposed Revision to the Reclamation Plan: Alternative Transition Area Development,
Zavoral Mining and Reclamation Project
Dear Ms. Buss:
Tiller Corporation (Tiller) is proposing an alternative to the transplantation method selected
for development of a transition area between existing woodland outside of Phase 1 Reclamation
and the planted prairie, approved in the Reclamation Plan dated April 18, 2013. The method
Tiller is proposing has been developed to provide a practical and effective approach to
establishing healthy transition areas following the determination that transplantation is not an
effective method due to the significant rock (boulders, cobbles and gravel) in the areas
surrounding the Phase I Reclamation Area. To avoid mining out the rocks and boulders, an
alternative method is needed.
Tiller understands the National Park Service (NPS) has had a chance to review information
pertaining to reclamation activities within Phase 1 Reclamation. The City of Scandia and the
NPS should be advised that in order to transplant large trees into the portion of Phase 1
Reclamation that lies within the St. Croix Scenic Easement Area using the method currently
approved in the Reclamation Plan, the existing vegetation would need to be removed, the rocks
and boulders would need to be removed and final grading would need to occur prior to
transplanting trees to develop the transition area. With this in mind, Tiller believes that
proposed preservation of the existing perimeter areas as potential transition areas, active
management of these perimeter areas and supplemental planting of white pine seedlings is a
more practical and effective method of accomplishing the goals of the Reclamation Plan.
Furthermore, we believe that the proposed amendment to the Reclamation Plan will result in
superior transition area and overall end result.
Febmanj 13, 2014
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If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call. I may be reached at (763) 425-4191.
Sincerely,
Tiller Corporation
Mike Caron
Director of Land Use Affairs