3. Draft minutes of the 12-17-18 EDA MinutesCITY OF SCANDIA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Monday, December 17, 2018
6:30 P.M.
Scandia Community Center Board Room
The Scandia Economic Development Authority met in the Board Room at the Scandia
Community Center on Monday, December 17th beginning at 6:30pm.
Commissioners Present: Bob Hegland, Brad Borg, Steve Kronmiller, and Kirsten Libby
Staff Present: Neil Soltis
Also present: Chris Eng
Minutes - Motion by Kronmiller, seconded by Borg to approve the minutes of the November
19, 2018 meeting. Vote: Yes 3-0. Motion carried.
Agenda - Motion by Borg, seconded by Kronmiller, to approve the agenda. Vote: Yes 3-0.
Motion carried.
Update on Fiber to the Premise feasibility study and Internet Focus Group – Kronmiller
reviewed a set of assumptions relating to providing fiber to the premise and the funding that
will be required for the project. The assumptions indicate that after a DEED broadband grant
for 50% of the non-Midco area and 50% participation after the grant from a private partner, the
City portions of the cost would be roughly $4.8M which equates to about $2,500 per household
in Scandia. The annual benefit of fiber to the premise is estimated to be $1,850 per year. The
Board discussed the need to upgrade the whole community and the potential to work with
legislators to seek a budget earmark for Scandia since the DEED criteria for grants does not
align well with Scandia situation. The discussion will be brought forward to the Council at the
January work session. Kronmiller reviewed the draft request for proposals for a fiber to the
premises partnership that has been prepared by a member of the internet focus group and
asked for input on the RFP. The Board discussed the extent to which any system constructed
should be owned by the City.
Update from Washington County CDA – Eng noted that the next County ED work group
meeting will be held on January 9 with discussion on a 2019 marketing plan for the County and
a website landing page for the County that would provide links to the various cities. Eng also
noted that the County budget includes continued funding for the predevelopment loan
program and for the Open to Business program.
Discussion on the development of a 3-year work plan – The Board discussed the draft of the
work plan and the goals from the previous meeting. For the agricultural economic
development goal the consensus was to limit the action steps to identifying businesses, making
an outreach to the businesses and to work on increasing awareness and promoting ag
businesses in Scandia. Libby suggested obtaining lists of state and FDA licensees to help build
the list. It was noted that there will be overlap between the ag and the tourism opportunities.
No changes were suggested to the action steps for the tourism, broadband and life-cycle
housing goals. The business retention and expansion visitation program action steps will be
revised to reflect a more informal business visitation with a limited number of questions. The
Board was in agreement that an additional goal related to opportunities for new businesses
should be added to the work plan. A discussion on strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and
stand-in-the-ways will be on the January agenda.
Update on Community Septic System – The Board reviewed the community septic system
information from Bolton & Menk. Soltis noted that the system as designed will serve the village
mixed use area with gravity sewer to a point where a lift station will be need to pump to a
drainfield. Bolton & Menk looked at a treatment plant but felt that the drainfield was a more
scalable option since the project can be constructed in phases. The cost of $4m spread over the
roughly 100 acres in the project area was felt to be reasonable based on land values and noted
that the drainfield could serve additional undeveloped parcels to the north. The Board
discussed submitting a follow-up predevelopment grant application for water service to this
area.
Financial report and approval of claim – The Board reviewed the year-to-date financials. A
motion to approve claims to Bolton & Menk for work performed on the community septic study
and to the University of Minnesota for the Tourism Assessment was made by Kronmiller and
seconded by Borg. Vote: 4-0. Soltis reported that the at year end the EDA is projected to have
a cash balance of $22,406 of which $20,000 is reserved for the revolving loan fund for façade
improvements.
Director’s report – There was nothing to report
Commissioner Reports – There was nothing to report
Items for future agendas – No new items were identified for future agendas
Next Meeting Date – The date of the next meeting was set for January 14, 2019
Adjournment – Motion by Libby, seconded by Kronmiller to adjourn. Motion carried. The
meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Neil Soltis, Secretary