3. SHA Letter to City Council - Arts Heritage Center Project - 26Feb2021
PO Box 159 | Scandia, Minnesota 55073
ScandiaHeritageAlliance@gmail.com | 651.233.0267
www.ScandiaHeritage.org
February 26, 2021
Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Scandia
14727 209th St. N.
Scandia, MN 55073
Regarding: Scandia Heritage Alliance, Finding of Site Suitability and Proposed Minimum
Redevelopment Plan and Request for Extended Exclusive Development Period
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council:
As provided in Section 5.1 of the Redevelopment Agreement between the Scandia
Heritage Alliance (the “SHA”) and the City of Scandia (the “City”), SHA hereby advises
the City that its various site investigations (soil borings, preliminary soil infiltration
investigation, survey, wetland delineation, civil engineer feasibility study and preliminary
grading plan, and master plan development) have shown the site to be a suitable for
the reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Water Tower Barn, the construction of an
amphitheater, and all necessary site improvements (the “Project” and “Minimum
Improvements”). SHA hereby requests approval by the City of its site suitability analysis
and its Minimum Preliminary Project Plans, in accordance with Section 5.2 of the
Redevelopment Agreement, and the approval of the 5-year extended Exclusive
Development Period (All capitalized terms not otherwise defined shall be as defined in
the Redevelopment Agreement).
First, as contemplated in Section 4.3, SHA has provided to the City final copies of its soil
borings, survey, wetland delineation, and various site engineering and investigation
reports. In addition, SHA and its architect and other consultants have met with the City
staff and the Washington Conservation District (wetland advisor to the City) and the
Carnelian Big Marine Lake Watershed District regarding the site suitability. Based on this
work, pursuant to Section 5.1, SHA has determined the site to be suitable, not only for
the initial Project, but also for later additional development beyond the initially
contemplated Minimum Improvements. The City staff have voiced agreement in this
finding of the Property suitability in our meetings. SHA requests the City Council formally
accept this determination.
Second, as contemplated in Section 5.2, the SHA has provided the City with the
Minimum Preliminary Phase 1 Project Plans (copies of which are attached hereto)
showing the architectural plans, location and elevations of uses, including buildings,
parking, trails/driveways, and the amphitheater. SHA requests the City’s approval of
these Minimum Preliminary Phase 1 Project Plans and the extension of the Exclusive
Development Period for an additional five (5) years.
PO Box 159 | Scandia, Minnesota 55073
ScandiaHeritageAlliance@gmail.com | 651.233.0267
www.ScandiaHeritage.org
Third, SHA has been working with the area’s legislators, Rep. Bob Dettmer and Sen. Karin
Housley, in preparation of legislation requesting State Bond Financing for the Project.
This legislation has been introduced in the House by Rep. Dettmer and in the Senate by
Sen. Housley. SHA believes the Project will have excellent prospects for inclusion in the
2022 bonding bill.
In accordance with Section 6.1 (a), SHA requests the Council approve the submission of
a bonding request pursuant to Minn. Stat. §16A.695 for 2022 bonding for the Project in
the amount of $1.5 Million. Further, SHA requests the Council authorize and direct City
staff (i) to prepare such submissions as required by Minnesota Management and
Budget for the bonding request and (ii) to work with SHA in support of the bonding
legislation as appropriate and consistent with other City staff obligations.
SHA is extremely excited and pleased to submit these requests to the City. We have
made extraordinary progress in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to bring the
Project to this level of feasibility. We eagerly anticipate working with the City on the next
steps to bring the Project to the point of full funding and construction. We have
assembled a very strong advisory group to help us launch our next phase financial
efforts, and we are well along in our efforts on State bonding, with the able legislative
assistance of local resident Bill Strusinski.
Thank you for your attention to this request.
Sincerely,
SCANDIA HERITAGE ALLIANCE
_________________________________________________________________
Susan Rodsjo, Scandia Heritage Alliance President and Board Chair
Scandia Heritage Alliance Board of Directors:
Leila Denecke, Scandia Artist |John Herman, Esquire | Pamela Plowman Smith, Business
Owner | Christine Maefsky, Scandia Mayor | Sarah Porubcansky, Scandia Tourism
Committee Chair | Susan Rodsjo, Marketing Communications Consultant
Enclosures:
-Minimum Preliminary Project Plans, including proposed area for the land lease
-Signed Redevelopment Agreement between City of Scandia and SHA