8.g Administrators report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: December19, 2017
To: City Council
From: Neil Soltis, Administrator
Re: Administrator’s report
Building permit activity – Through 11/30/17 a total of 712 permits have been issued with a
combined value of $27,283,646. This compares to 222 permits with a value of $8,692,769 for
the same period in 2016. The 2017 permits include 20 new houses with a combined value of
$6,155,000 and 3 community solar gardens with a combined value of $10,359,000. The number
of new house permit compares favorably with the whole year totals for 2016 – 16 permits,
2015 – 14 permits, and 2014 – 7 permits. Another new home permit was received in
December.
Committee applications – Notice of the expiring terms on the Planning Commission (Travis
Loeffler) and Wastewater Advisory Committee (Brad Bergo) are been posted on the City
website, Facebook page and in the Country Messenger. Application are due by December 28
for review at the January 3 work session.
Comprehensive Planning – Bolton & Menk is working on drafting sections of the plan. The
Planning Commission will begin review of the drafts at the January meeting. Drafts of the
Introduction/History, Land Use, and Parks and Trails chapters are scheduled for review by the
Planning Commission at the January meeting. Review of the drafts for the Housing,
Transportation, and Water Resources chapters will be on the February meeting.
Property Insurance Dividend – The City has received a $4,090 dividend from the League of
Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. The Trust determined that $6,000,000 could be returned to
its members.
Fire Contract with May Township – May Township has been informed of the City’s position
that the contract amount be increased by 3% for 2018. The contract which expires on
12/31/2017 provides that, if the contract is not replaced by a new contract by December 31,
2017, the contract shall continue in force month to month at the then current yearly rate plus
5% prorated to a monthly payment basis until such time as a replacement contract is executed
or until either party terminates in writing. The contract can be terminated by eithe r party
during the extended period at any time with or without cause by providing 30 days written
notice to the other party of its intent to terminate. The contract was on the agenda for
discussion by the Town Board at their December meeting.
Lilleskogen Park – The Veterans Committee has installed the information stand at the park.
Solar projects
Berkshire Hathaway Energies (Zavoral) Solar Project – Xcel Energy has not yet provided
information as to the cost to relocate the interconnect poles.
New Energy Equity (Oldfield) – The berms have been installed and the landscape plan
submitted by Abrahamsons for spring installation has been approved. Xcel will be
replacing the existing single phase lines along Oldfield and Oren with three phase line to
accommodate the project.
Gateway Trail – Based on the meetings that Mayor Maefsky, John Herman, and I had with
Representative Detmer and Senator Housley regarding the 2018 State Capital request to
provide the DNR with funding for pre-development work on the section of the Gateway Trail
from William O’Brien to the former fire station on Oakhill. John Herman has drafted a bill to
submit to that would appropriate funds for the pre -development costs and would add a
provision that would allow for the agricultural preserve designation to automatically be
removed from lands acquired by fee simple or easement for state trails.
Broadband Access – Frontier has begun to call in utility locates and apply for utility permits for
the installation of telecommunication lines. I’ve also initiated contacts to assess the extent to
which white space technology can address the broadband availability.
Funding for Aquatic Invasive Species grants – MnDNR has announced that it will no longer
provide funding for AIS control grants. While the amount of funding for control projects
provided by the DNR was fairly small, the County is aware that even small reductions from the
DNR will impact those lake associations that are undertaking control projects. The County staff
recommendation to the county board is to continue to award grants for a variety of AIS
prevention projects in 2018 for those project requests for the control of existing
infestations. The County is committed to passing-through the aid it receives in a responsible
fashion, focusing on projects that are proven to slow or prevent the spread of AIS, and
innovative projects that hold promise for making a positive, lasting difference in tackling this
challenging issue. With limited funding, The County will not be able to fill the gap created by
the DNR’s decision but it certainly will be another consideration during the grant process.
Safety Training – The city has contracted with SafeAssure for employee safety training. They
have announced that they are updating their training to utilize interactive power point in
combination with “hands on” and are moving to a software program and format that is
smoother and more user-friendly to provide better access to who has completed the training
and is mobile friendly.
Audit of the 2017 Financial Statements – Schlenner, Wenner & Co. is scheduled to be on site to
perform their field work on March 5 and 6, 2018
2018 Local Board of Appeal and Equalization/Open Book Meetings – Scandia’s Board of
Appeals is scheduled to meet on Monday, April 9, 2018. There is a requirement that at least 1
of the Council have training in the past 3 years. Currently Christine & Steve taken the training
course and their training expires on July 1, 2020. Other Council members are encouraged to
take the on-line course. The County will also be holding regional open book meeting in Cottage
Grove on April 5, Oakdale on April 11, Woodbury on April 19, and Stillwater on April 25.
Code Compliance
Wetland fill –A notice of the decision by the Technical Evaluation Panel to deny the
request to purchase mitigation credits for a portion of the fill was sent to the property
owner on November 20 and provided 30 days to appeal the decision. The City Council,
as the Board of Adjustments and Appeals would hear that appeal if it is filed. Any
appeal of the Council decision would go to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil
Resources (BWSR) Board of Appeals.
Manning driveway – Based on review of a new driveway off of Manning by the
Washington Conservation District, Watershed District and City, the quantity of fill
exceeds the amount triggering the need for a grading permit and a significant portion of
the fill has been placed adjacent to a wetland and within the wetland setback.
Compliance action are in the process of being initiated.