06.a3 Draft minutes 06-02-2021 Work Session
June 2, 2021
A work session meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date with
modifications. The meeting was conducted in-person at the Scandia Community Center and over
an electronic platform. All participants who joined the meeting remotely could hear each other
and contribute to discussions.
Mayor Christine Maefsky called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. The following were: Council
members Heather Benson, Jerry Cusick, Steve Kronmiller, Patti Ray and Mayor Christine
Maefsky. Staff participating: City Administrator Ken Cammilleri, City Attorney Chris Nelson,
and City Clerk Brenda Eklund.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Ray, second by Benson, moved to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0.
CONDUCT INTERVIEWS WITH COMMITTEE APPLICANTS
Applications for Committee vacancies were advertised on the City’s website. The following
applicants were interviewed by the City Council.
• Nick Santrach – Scandia Internet Action Committee
• Jon Engstrand – Scandia Planning Commission
• Andrew Essling – Scandia Planning Commission
• Greg Amundson – Scandia Economic Development Authority Board
• Susan Dickens – Scandia Economic Development Authority Board
Ray, second by Benson, moved to appoint Nick Santrach to fill a vacancy on the Scandia
Internet Action Committee. Motion carried 5-0.
Council member Patti Ray announced her resignation from the EDA, leaving two vacancies.
Greg Amundson announced that he will step down from the Planning Commission if appointed
to the EDA, leaving two vacancies on the Planning Commission.
Cusick, second by Ray, moved to appoint Jon Engstrand and Andrew Essling to the
Planning Commission, and Greg Amundson and Susan Dickens to the EDA based on the
two resignations put forth tonight. Motion carried 5-0.
PRESENTATION ON MELLERUD SISTER CITY – LYNNE MORATZKA AND PATTI
RAY
Lynne Moratzka, Gammelgarden Museum Director, requested support to pursue a Sister City
collaboration with the town of Mellerud, Sweden. The Tourism Committee has offered its
backing and endorsement, finding it would benefit businesses and visitors to Scandia. Two
members offered to pay the fee to the official Sister City organization. The Mellerud Mayor has
asked for a virtual meeting with the Scandia City Council to kick off the friendship.
Benson, second by Kronmiller, moved to approve a joint virtual meeting with the Council
of Mellerud, Sweden. Motion carried 5-0.
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Scandia City Council
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DISCUSSION ON NUISANCE REGULATIONS
Administrator Cammilleri and City Attorney Nelson addressed nuisance regulations which could
be adopted to address storage on property, noise and disruptive activity. Ordinances which seek
abatement may be more effective; the current criminal misdemeanors do not conclude with
abatement as civil misdemeanors could. Council member Kronmiller noted the number of years
the same exterior storage problems continue. Cammilleri said the current ordinances are not
adequate and are confusing; the final outcome should be compliance, but some individuals are
not cooperating. Council directed staff to draft an updated set of ordinances for nuisance
regulations and to research the performance of the City’s prosecutor.
The number of noise complaints and reckless driving related to Meisters Bar & Grill was
discussed. Cammilleri stated that owner Scot Taylor is cooperating by posting signage to
discourage this behavior from patrons, and making efforts to address the complaints; however,
it’s difficult to catch all patrons who violate speed and driving laws when it occurs. There are
additional patrols happening to try to catch this activity.
Josie and Jeff Blomseth, 14823 Oakhill Road, spoke on the speeding and reckless driving
they’ve witnessed and asked for the City to address safety concerns along Oakhill Road. They
would like assurance that this issue is being handled.
Randall Simonson, 14925 Oakhill Road, said there are consistently speeding vehicles over the
30-mph limit near his home, and suggested driver feedback signs be installed in both directions.
Pedestrians and bicyclists are common users of the road, and speed needs to be controlled for the
safety of all.
Scot Taylor, owner of Meisters at 14808 Oakhill Road, said he wants to do the right thing for the
community. He has notified the motorcycle groups, posted signage and coached his staff, all to
discourage disruptive behavior. He said he will work with the Sheriff’s Department to keep the
community safe, and agreed noise and recklessness is not appropriate behavior for Scandia.
Council directed staff to set up a Council meeting with Washington County staff to work on
solutions to improve safety along Oakhill Road (County Road 52).
CARNELIAN-MARINE-ST. CROIX WATERSHED DISTRICT PRESENTATION –
PREVIEW OF THE CMSCWD DRAFT 10-YEAR MANAGEMENT PLAN, OUTCOMES
AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS. ADMINISTRATOR MIKE ISENSEE.
Mike Isensee presented an overview of the draft 10-year management plan for the Carnelian-
Marine-St. Croix Watershed, to be available for public review and comments starting on July 29,
2021. Revised rules, stream and lake bottom monitoring, capital improvement plans, and the
delisting of Goose and Hay lakes from impaired waters by 2025 were described.
COMFORT LAKE-FOREST LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT PRESENTATION ON
THE GREENWAY PRESERVATION PLAN. ADMINISTRATOR MIKE KINNEY
Mike Kinney described the Greenway Preservation Plan as a concept of the Comfort Lake-Forest
Lake Watershed to improve water quality, flood mitigation, and greenspace corridors. More
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Scandia City Council
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details will be shared as the project develops, as a way to be an assistance to the Scandia
community and potential project collaboration.
ADJOURNMENT
Benson, second by Ray, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
City Clerk