8-15-05 incorp wkshF "T 11111,
&t will be needed; there will be a need for some commercial development. The town will need
f%r the fiat. -t. then Ceetition for
incorporation — don't rush into it.
August 15, 2005
Incorporation Committee & 'Town Board Workshop
Page 2
10711
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looked at in moredetail. Olson would like to wait r couple of years,but i only gi up
— an issue not addressed.
LaVayne Dupslaff said a city govemment gives us the opportunity to be a progressive
community. We should be standing on our own two feet when the County divests itself of
overseeing the township.
Kevin Nickelson came into the process with no preconceived notions and to try ai • be as fair a
possible. He was satisfied with the way the Committee worked and doesn't know of any
committee members that would benefit from incorporation. The County has started weaning us
from their services; first planning, then building permits. Nickelson feels it is a good move now
and thinks the County will be doing less and less for towns. The main reason we should
incorporate is that we can govem ourselves better than having the County in the planning
process. We can do as well as any other city in this state. One advantage is we will be able to
make decisionsnow, County.#
townshi�si with a Village Center, Most rural townsht�s 't have aMtA. It will cost Mre mone ti's
be a city, but we don't know what future costs may be. If it is a good idea, then we should
proceed. Nickelson doesn't find it inconceivable that a resident in the westem part of the
township would petition to be part of Forest Lake.
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47 townships and 129 cities with 55 smaller than Scandia. We would not be a small city. We
have 95of I•.1 and 75 milespaved. r town hall,` department,park and it
August 15, 2005
Incorporation Committee & Town Board Workshop
Page 3
recreational facilities put in by a township goveniment. We didn't need to be a city to build this
infrastructure. However, all were put in place as a response to change. Fourth, change will
continue to occur at an accelerated rate. We're an attractive community. Residential
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to fight with the County for things like senior housing. Hebert also feels part of the town could
be annexed and becoming atity will prevent annexation.
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meeting, but would have voted for incorporation. He questions on cost of County planning
services, which were estimated to have an $80,000 value for services provided. Swenson feels
we can govem ourselves. The County will have less and less oversight in the long-term.
Swenson doesn't think staff will be affected much whether we have a township of city form of
government. He believes that we'll have a population of $5,000 much sooner than 2017 and,
therefore, state road money. Annexation is not a worry now, but will come up in the future. One
change not discussed is that residents will vote for their mayor, not have a town board elected
chainnan. Swenson said the long-term interests of this community would be to incorporate.
Town Board discussion followed the Committee's statements. One resident's concem was
retaming maximum control over future zoning and subdivision regulations (Q. 21) to remain
rural and how that would happen. Mr. Joselyn said incorporation would give us more flexibility.
Hametty disagreed with the premise that rural character is related to form of govemment, We
don't need to be a township to be a rural community. It is more based on leadership. Havener
said annexation by another city would remove our control over remaining niral. Hebert stated
August 15, 2005
Incorporation Committee & Town Board Workshop
Page 4
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we're more restrictive than Chisago Township, which is a rural town. The city of Grant said to
remain rural they had to become a city. Seefeldt said an example of the County being more
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town had to accept a less attractive design.
The Committee did not discuss personnel issues. Harnetty feels we will need more staff to help
provide support to town board supervisors. Town board members could put 40 hours per week
into the job and are often called out during the day. Harnetty said the town should have
professional full-time help to answer complex questions. Hinz said we would need more help
regardless of the form of government.
The Committee looked at development tools of TIF and EDA, but not in detail. There were no
discussions of commercial development, other than a need for a larger tax base later through
commercial/industrial development. Swenson said such development could be a medical clinic,
nursing home, assisted living, etc. Right now we don't have much uptown employment to
support volunteer firefighters.. We lost a few firefighters when Nickelson Plastics left. Joselyn
stated there are no hidden, agenda& regarding commercial or business development. Hinz
commented that if we lose County road money, there are funds at the State for possible big
t)rojects. Hebert pointed out that the laws will not necessariLy stay the same and money available
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The Committee did not address this and we'd have to have personnel for oversight o mining
operations. Harnetty said taxes have gone up in other towns that incorporated. Grant had no
infrastructure and taxes went up to provide that. Forest Lake Township residents saw their taxes
go up as they now have to share city costs. Neither is a good comparison to Scandia. Scandia
does not have these situations. We already have our infrastructure and we're not adding any area.
Harnetty stated this is the opportunity to rise to the next level, or start to decline. Clerk Peterson
said we can be restrictive like Lake Ehno to manage commercial development. Schwarz urged
the board to recognize the work of Carol Joselyn for the Committee. Seefeldt thanked everyone
for his or her hard work and attending the workshop. Madden made a motion to adjourn and the
meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Firkus
Planning Commission Secretary