12-18-07 Council
December 18, 2007
A regular meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date. Mayor Seefeldt
called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following councilmembers were present:
Councilmembers Pete Crum, Michael Harnetty, Dolores Peterson, Donnette Yehle, and Mayor
Dennis Seefeldt. Staff present: Administrator Anne Hurlburt, City Attorney Dave Hebert, City
Engineer Tom Peterson, and Treasurer Colleen Firkus.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were no public comments.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Seefeldt added to the agenda an updated on planning services with TKDA. Dolores
Peterson, seconded by Pete Crum, moved to approve the agenda as amended. The motion
passed unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following consent agenda was presented:
a) Minutes
1) November 20, 2007 Regular Meeting
2) December 3, 2007 Special Meeting (Truth in Taxation Hearing)
3) December 4, 2007 Meeting with Planning Commission
b) Treasurer’s Report
c) Payment of Vouchers
d) 2008 Tobacco Licenses
1) Big Marine Lake Liquor
2) Big Marine Lake Store
3) Todd’s Home Center
e) 2008 Liquor Licenses
1) Big Marine Lake Liquor Store (Renewal, Off-Sale)
2) AJL Enterprises, Inc. dba Scandia Olde Towne Liquor (Renewal, Off-Sale)
3) The Scandia Creamery, LLC (Renewal, On-Sale, On-Sale Sunday)
4) Meister’s Bar and Grill (Renewal, On-Sale, On-Sale Sunday, Off-Sale)
5) Prospects (Renewal, On-Sale, On-Sale Sunday)
6) Scandia Fire & Rescue Relief Association (Temporary On-Sale, February 23, 2008)
f) Contract with Washington Conservation District for Technical Assistance in 2008 and
2009
g) Abatement of Special Assessments (Resolution No. 12-18-07-01)
Councilmember Crum, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, moved to approve the
Consent Agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING – ADOPTION OF 2008 BUDGET & FINAL TAX LEVY
Administrator Hurlburt presented the final 2008 Budget and final tax levy noting the changes
discussed at the Council’s special budget workshop on December 17. There were no public
comments. Councilmember Harnetty, seconded by Councilmember
December 18, 2007
Scandia City Council
Page 2
Peterson, moved to adopt Resolution No. 12-18-07-02 to approve the 2008 Budget and
Certify the Property Tax Levy for 2008. The motion passed unanimously. Councilmember
Peterson, seconded by Mayor Seefeldt, moved to approve the minutes from the December
17, 2007 with budget changes. The motion passed unanimously.
PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE REPORT
Winter Program
Dave Smith, Park Committee Chair, requested Council approval to spend funds on a four week
winter program at the Scandia Elementary gym. The total cost is approximately $550. A
donation may be forthcoming from the Lions Club. Councilmember Harnetty asked if FLAA had
been contacted for a donation. Mr. Smith indicated he had not contacted FLAA.
Wind in the Pines
Smith asked for an extension of the contract with Great River Greening to finish the trail work at
Wind in the Pines next spring. Wet weather prevented completion of the project last fall.
Councilmember Harnetty, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to approve an
amendment to the contract with Great River Greening. The motion passed unanimously.
Smith said a trail at Wind in the Pines infringes on DNR and private property where serious
erosion is occurring. The Parks Committee would like to see a loop trail created to keep trail-
goers on City property. Great River Greening has provided a plan for a loop trail and Smith
would like to put it out for bids and then try and get some grant money for construction.
Administrator Hurlburt suggested that the City get quotes, rather than bids, to get an estimate of
construction costs. Councilmember Crum, seconded by Councilmember Harnetty, moved to
get quotes for a loop trail at Wind in the Pines park and then seek grants for construction.
The motion passed unanimously.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Deputy Chris Majeski spoke about a rash of burglaries occurring during the daytime during the
last two weeks, starting in Stillwater and moving north through Hugo and May Township to
Scandia. The sheriff’s office will be putting out warning notifications in people’s newspaper
boxes with advice to lock their homes during the day and be on the lookout for suspicious
activity. There was also some discussion about keeping snowmobiles off sidewalks. The City
would need an ordinance for the deputy to enforce this. Staff was directed to research examples
of snowmobile ordinances for discussion at a future meeting.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Chief Steve Spence presented the Fire Department’s activity report noting the presentation
th
of the Fireman’s Fund $5,200 Heritage Grant will be December 19. When asked about any
changes to the siren uptown, Spence noted it was difficult to monitor in the winter with
everything closed up. Assistant Fire Chief Steve Yehle said the installers were notified to either
fix the timer or remove it. The installers responded by changing to a Stillwater company. Yehle
noted that it may not be possible to match up new technology with an old siren. Councilmember
December 18, 2007
Scandia City Council
Page 3
Harnetty asked what purpose the siren served. Spence responded that it was a backup to the
County’s notification system as parts of Scandia are in a borderline communication area.
PLANNING & BUILDING
Steve Thorp, Building Official, presented a report on Code Official activities as requested by the
Council. Mayor Seefeldt asked if Code Enforcement information could be added, such as the
types of violations being addressed. Councilmember Peterson asked how code enforcement was
conducted. Thorp indicated he usually made a personal visit and then followed up with a letter.
TKDA Planning Services
Administrator Hurlburt announced that the City’s Planner, Dick Thompson, is retiring, but would
be working part-time on Scandia’s mining permit process. TKDA would like to appoint another
planner to work with Scandia.
2008 FIRE DEPARTMENT COMPENSATION
Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Harnetty, made a motion to
approve the 2008 pay schedule for the Fire Department with Resolution No. 12-18-07-02.
The motion passed unanimously.
LIGHTED BALL FIELD AGREEMENTS
The Council received a report from the residents/organizations involved in the Scandia lighted
ball field, regarding 1) a request to amend agreements put in place when the Township took
ownership of the field in 1996, and 2) improvements to the field requested in 2008 and beyond.
Councilmember Peterson, seconded by Councilmember Yehle, moved to accept the
proposal and move forward with drafting a new agreement that will satisfy all parties. The
motion passed unanimously. It was noted that ball field improvements for 2008 are not
included in the City’s 2007 budget and no cost estimates were presented. However, the Lions
Club does have a park improvement budget with annual income from their 30 advertising signs
at the park. Any reconstruction would probably need to be scheduled for next fall, after the ball
season.
2008 CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
Councilmember Crum, seconded by Councilmember Peterson, moved to approve the 2008
Schedule of Council Meetings. The motion passed unanimously.
Donnette Yehle, seconded by Dolores Peterson, moved to adjourn the meeting. The meeting
adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Firkus
Treasurer