8.g Administrators report
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: March 20, 2018
To: City Council
From: Neil Soltis, Administrator
Re: Administrator’s report
Fire Contract with May Township – The planner for May Township analyzed the listing of a
listing of May township addresses that are served by the Scandia Fire Department to determine
the valuation of structures and the number of households in May Township that are served by
the Scandia Fire Department. That information is being reviewed by the May Township Board.
Lake Keewhahtin - On February 8, 2018 U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved the
proposal to change the name of Halfbreed Lake in Washington County to Lake Keewahtin.
Audit – Schlenner Wenner completed the field work on the audit on March 6. No significant
changes to the financials were proposed. In the compliance portion of the audit it was noted
that a 2017 change to Minnesota Statutes request the Council to annually designate a person
who is authorized to make electronic fund transfers. A resolution making that designation will
be on a future Council agenda.
Bond issuance – The 30-day petition period for the Resolution approving the issuance of bonds
ends on March 22nd. The engagement letter with S&P Global Ratings has been signed and the
rating calls have been scheduled for Monday, March 26 th. The next steps will be the adoption
of a Financing Plan and Trigger Resolution and the Construction Bid award at the April Council
meeting followed by the Resolution ratifying the bond sale at the May Council.
Assessment report – Washington County release the 2018 report on assessments.
Residential assessments in Scandia increased from 529,235,600 to $574,413,700 or by 7.2%.
The value of new construction added $7,136,400 to the total assessed value. Of the 2,238
residential and seasonal recreational properties in Scandia, 1,914 had no change or a decrease
in the assessed value. The assessed value of the 322 agricultural parcels in Scandia decreased
by 1.1%. The assessed value of the 76 commercial and industrial properties increased by 5.9%
From 10/1/2016 to 9/30/2017 there were 38 residential sales in Scandia with an average sales
price of $354,600
Assessor proposals – Besides the proposal from the current assessor and Washington County,
we have received an additional proposal. The deadline for requests for proposals for services
to Hugo, Lake Elmo, and Scandia are due by March 30. Review of these proposal will be on the
April work session agenda.
Reinhardt appeal – The deadline to appeal of the Board of Adjustment and Appeals to the
BWSR Board was March 1. The Reinhardts requested the City extend the deadline. The
deadline was extended until April 30, 2018 with will provide sufficient time for any needed
surveys to be completed, the appeal to be heard, and time for any restoration to take place
during the growing season.
Forest Lake Cable Commission - The City’s withdrawal from Cable Commission is effective at
the end of June. The Commission has requested that the City continue to provide accounting
services and would like an agreement to formally approve. We’re working on a draft of the
agreement that will be on the agenda for the Council for review at the work session on 4/4 and
then to the Cable Board in April.
Legislative Session
Gateway Trail bill – In the House the Mayor and I testified before Agriculture Policy
Committee on the bill. The Committee adopted the bill as amended to remove the
funding portion of the bill and referred the bill to the Taxes Committee. The bill has
subsequently be re-referred to Property Tax and Local Government Finance. In the
Senate a companion will was referred to Local Government and re-referred to
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy. That Committee has not scheduled
a hearing on the bill, but is scheduled to meet on March 21 and March22. Based on the
action by the House Committee the House and Senate bills have been split to separate
the Metropolitan Agriculture Preserve issue and the bonding for the project.
Retainage on public contracts – SF 2783 requires release within 30 days of substantial
completion of a project. This bill was passed by State Government Finance and Policy.
There has been no action on a companion bill in the House
Wireless Application fees – HF 3497 limits the application fee for wireless facilities to
the actual cost incurred, including the cost of any third-party consultant used to assist
with the application review, to $3,000. This bill has been referred to Government
Operations and Elections Policy. SF 3166, the companion bill, has been referred to
Energy Utilities Finance and Policy