2021 April - Spring NewsletterThe City of Scandia is chal-
lenging residents to log I,000
acts of kindness in 30 days.
Go to
www.cityofscandia.com/
ActsOfKindness
to describe your act of kind-
ness to be counted towards
our goal. We post Monday
through Friday in Scandia’s
Facebook page the total
count to date and a favorite
act of kindness for that day.
Our goal is to remind people
to be kind to each other re-
gardless of differences and
that we are ONE community.
Events:
Children’s Stories on
Acts of Kindness – Scan-
dia Parks and Recreation
Committee is holding a
story contest for Scandia
Elementary School stu-
dents in K-6th grade.
The stories are about an
act of kindness and how
it made a difference in
the world. The contest
ends Friday, April 9th.
All stories will be dis-
played in Lilleskogen
Park on The Children’s
Story Path.
Scandia’s 1,000 Acts of
Kindness Button Givea-
way – These buttons are
free to local businesses
to give to their custom-
ers through May 2; a do-
nation box for the Scan-
dia Marine Food Shelf
and the Green Grocery
Shares Program accom-
pany each button box.
Award ceremony for
Children’s Story Contest
– Mayor Maefsky will
preside over the Stories
of Kindness on Saturday,
April 17 at 1 p.m. at
Lilleskogen Park in Scan-
dia. There will be kind-
ness stickers, kindness
buttons, and cookies
given to all the children.
The winners for the best
stories will be an-
nounced and prizes will
be awarded. This event
is sponsored by Scandia
Parks and Recreation
Committee.
1,000 Acts of Kindness
Donation Day – Saturday,
May 1, Scandia and the
Scandia-Marine Lions
will co-host this event in
the Scandia Community
Center parking lot.
Scandia is hoping to do its
small part in helping to heal
the divide in our country.
We feel strongly that our res-
idents have more in common
than we have differences. We
hope that Scandia’s 1,000
Acts of Kindness Project will
show how much we care
about each other, and inspire
other people and communi-
ties to do acts of kindness to
make the world a better
place to live.
CITY OF SCANDIA
Dedicated to Rural Community Values
City of Scandia
Scandia Community/
Senior Center
14727 209th Street North
Scandia, MN 55073
Phone: 651.433.2274
Fax: 651.433.5112
E-mail:
mail@ci.scandia.mn.us
Hours: Mon. thru Fri.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City Council:
Christine Maefsky, Mayor
651.433.2684
Heather Benson
651-433-0168
Steve Kronmiller
651.538.0094
Patti Ray
612.812.5590
Jerry Cusick
651.433.5865
Regular Council Meeting:
Third Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.
Council Work Session:
First Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
Planning Commission:
First Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.
City Staff:
Ken Cammilleri, Administrator
Brenda Eklund,
City Clerk
Colleen Firkus, Treasurer
Bee Stignani, Office Assistant
Mike Hinz, Fire Chief
Chris Nelson, Attorney
Eckberg Lammers
Ryan Goodman, Engineer
Bolton & Menk
Evan Monson Planner, TKDA
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Scandia, MN
55073
PERMIT #6
Like us on Facebook for the
Most Up-to-Date Information
Scandia’s 1,000 Acts of Kindness Project
Message from the Mayor
APRIL 2021 VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1
CITY OF SCANDIA
After a tumultuous 2020, better days are slowly coming. More and more
citizens are being vaccinated, and with those vaccinations come greater freedom to safely gather and to
frequent our businesses. We’re thankful for those businesses who have managed to come through this
trying time and hope that soon they will be back to bustling. Despite the pandemic, quite a few positive
things have been happening in Scandia from a first ever Halloween Parade to a “Light Up Scandia” contest,
to changing children’s stories along the Lilleskogen Children’s Story Path, to a first ever Ice Sculpture Dala
Horse in the Village Center.
And more good times are ahead: Scandia’s EDA is hosting “virtual breakfast” meetings via ZOOM for Scandia business own-
ers on the third Thursday of each month; the Planning Commission is working with a consultant on updating the City’s Devel-
opment Code; broadband services are expanding - for the second year Scandia has been awarded a DEED grant to expand
high-speed broadband services in the Scandia area, improving access to critical school e-learning and telehealth and stimu-
lating a more robust local economy; Scandia’s Snow Plows were named - Ole, Lena and Sven will now be clearing our winter
streets; the Farmer’s Market will again be open this summer starting with a plant sale May 12th; the Scandia Heritage Alliance
and the City are moving forward with the Water Tower Barn Arts and Heritage Center; the City has applied for State Bonding
for the project for the 2021-2022 bonding cycle; as of this writing, the Thirsty Buffalo bar and grill will be opening this spring
at the site of the old Brookside Pub, and the Thousand Acts of Kindness Project is underway for Scandia - be sure to send in
those acts you see or do. Wishing you a hopeful spring and summer.
Please keep in touch. c.maefsky@ci.scandia.mn.us,
Christine Maefsky, Mayor
A twice-yearly publication for residents of the City of Scandia, Minnesota
Inside this issue:
As part of Scandia’s 1,000 Acts of Kind-
ness Project, see article on page 4, the
city will co-host a Donation Day on Satur-
day, May 1, 2021 at the Community Cen-
ter with the Scandia Marine Lions Club.
A paper shredding truck will be available
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Recycling is kind-
ness to the environment. The truck has a
300-box capacity limit and will be filled
on a first-come-first-served basis. The first
5 boxes are free to Scandia residents and
the next boxes are $5 each. A photo ID
with address is required.
PC’s for People will be collecting elec-
tronic waste such as laptops, tablets, hard
drives, cell phones, cameras, DVD play-
ers, keyboards, mice & power cords etc.
The Scandia-Marine Lions will be collect-
ing:
• eyeglasses for the Lions’ vision pro-
gram
• non-perishable items for the local
food shelf
• diapers (infant and adult) for
The Baby Blanket and Ecumen
Hospice
• infant formula for local food
shelves
• aluminum cans for recycling
• aluminum tabs for the Ronald
McDonald House
• plastic grocery bags for recycling
• medical equipment (e.g., canes,
walkers, wheelchairs) to establish a
Medical Equipment Lending Library
in Scandia
• non-clumping clay cat litter and soft
dog treats for Northwoods Humane
Society
• cash donations to help local families
See the Lions’ Facebook page for updates
about the event as well as information
about additional items that can be
brought to the event for recycling:
www.facebook.com/ScandiaMarineLions
Check out the new website,
www.cityofscandia.com/index.php ! The Home
Page is large and colorful. Be sure to scroll
down to find News Items and Calendars. The
“Community” tab contains information of inter-
est to residents. City staff is developing the
“How Do I” tab. The goal is to assist residents
in their communications with the City. New:
submit non-emergency service requests direct-
ly to Public Works staff for items involving
roads, parks and sewer. City staff welcomes
helpful feedback to make the website more
user friendly.
Clean Up Week 2
Carnelian Marine Watershed 2
Visible Addresses 2
Yard Waste Disposal 2
Electronics & Hazzard Waste Days 2
Comfort Lake Bone Lake Update 2
Internet Expansion Update 3
2021 Assessments 3
Burning Permits 3
COVID-19 Vaccination Update 3
1,000 Acts of Kindness Project 4
1,000 Acts of Kindness
New Website
Donation Day—May 1, 2021
Page 2
CITY OF SCANDIA
The Carnelian Marine
St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) was formed by petition from
citizens of the area in 1981 who wanted to ensure the long-term quali-
ty of natural resources in Northern Washington County. Forty years
later, the Watershed District’s work with local landowners through
voluntary conservation and permitting of construction and landscap-
ing projects following water quality protection rules have helped
maintain low concentrations of algae-growing phosphorus and pro-
tects high water clarity. In fact, CMSCWD has some of the highest
quality waters in the metro area which support high property values.
Contacting CMSCWCD’s specialized staff can save you time and
money planning your project and can also provide guidance on eligi-
bility for cost share.
C o n t a c t t h e C M S C W D a t ( 6 5 1 ) 4 3 3 -2 1 5 0
or mike.isensee@cmscwd.org if you are planning any of the follow-
ing projects:
• Shoreline or streambank project
• Landscaping that changes drainage patterns (i.e. the direction
the water flows)
• Remodeling or reconstruction of any structures
• Constructing a structure (like patios and decks) within 1,000 feet
of a lake or stream.
Check in with
the Watershed District
City-Wide Clean-up Week is scheduled for Saturday,
May 1, through Saturday, May 8, at the SRC/Forest Lake
Sanitation site, 6320 E Viking Blvd., Wyoming, MN. Resi-
dents may drop off rubbish items not taken by their regu-
lar trash hauler such as appliances, tires, furniture, mat-
tresses, scrap metal and wood at the SRC facility. During
this week, Scandia residents will receive a 20% discount
off regular collection prices. Be prepared to show proof
of residency such as a driver’s license. Hours of operation
are 8:00 am to 1:30pm on Saturdays, and 8:00 am to 4:30
pm M—F. Please call SRC at 651 464-2321 for more infor-
mation. A pricing schedule is posted on the city’s web-
site, www.cityofscandia.com/residents/recycling_.php
Make certain your
address is visible from the road and easy to identify which
home is yours. Many emergency calls happen at night and
during bad weather. Response time for emergency services
depend on your assistance. Please use at least 2” reflective
numbers on both sides of your mailbox and/or at end of
your driveway. Shared driveways, or multiple mailboxes
together, may need additional address markings to show
the way to your home. If you have any questions, please
contact the Scandia Fire Department at 651-433-4383.
Excess nutrients, like phosphorus, are a
major factor in water quality degradation
as just one pound of phosphorus can sup-
port up to 500 pounds of algae growth.
The Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed
District (CLFLWD) is currently working
on two wetland projects in the Scandia
area that will reduce phosphorus inputs
to Bone Lake and further improve its wa-
ter quality.
Meadowbrook Wetland Enhancement:
This project is located just east of the
Meadowbrook Ave N/Melanie Trail N
junction. Construction began this past
winter with the excavation of a shallow
pond along a drainage path to Bone Lake.
This pond will slow the water from this
drainage path, allowing time for excess
nutrients to settle out before the water
continues downstream to Bone Lake. It is
estimated that
this project will
reduce the phosphorus load entering
Bone Lake by 33 pounds per year. The
soils that were excavated from the pond
were taken to a nearby agricultural field
and will be incorporated into the soil this
spring and planted to both stabilize and
improve the health of the soils / field.
Northeast Bone Lake Wetland En-
hancement Project: This project is locat-
ed at the NE corner of Bone Lake near the
junction of 238th St. N. and Melanie Trail
N. During the 1950-1970‘s, a dairy farm
operated adjacent to this wetland. Soil
core samples taken from the wetland in-
dicate the presence of decomposing ma-
nure in these soils that are slowly releas-
ing nutrients and impacting the water
quality of both the wetland and Bone
Lake. The CLFLWD has received a Clean
Water Fund grant to remove these ma-
nure laden sediments and restore the
wetland. The proposed project is estimat-
ed to reduce the phosphorus load enter-
ing into Bone Lake by 6-10 pounds per
year. The CLFLWD plans to implement
the project during the winter of
2021/2022.
These projects are just two of many activi-
ties undertaken by the CLFLWD in the
greater Bone Lake drainage area such as
the Moody (250th St.) Wetland Enhance-
ment Project, the Moody Lake Alum
Treatment (Moody Lakes contributes flow
to Bone Lake), and several agricultural
conservation and field stability projects.
When combined, the projects eliminate a
significant amount of nutrients from enter-
ing into Bone Lake and help to ensure that
the lake’s water quality meets state water
quality standards. Learn more about
these projects and others online at
https://www.clflwd.org/projects.php
CLFLWD Bone Lake Project Update
Clean Up
Free disposal of leaves, grass clippings, brush, and other plant
materials to Washington County residents at Northern Yard
Waste Collection Site at 5527 170th St. N in Hugo, just west of
the 170th Street roundabout on Highway 61.
Summer Hours: April – November
Wednesday................ 11 a.m. – 7 p.m (or until dusk)
Friday & Saturday...... 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday...................... Noon – 4:30 p.m.
Washington County is hosting free collection events for elec-
tronics and hazardous waste on June 5 and 12, and September
11 and 18 at the Forest Lake Transit Center, 19987 Fitzgerald
Trail N, all from 8am-2pm. In addition to these remote col-
lections, the Washington County Environmental Center in
Woodbury provides residents with a free disposal option for
household hazardous waste, electronics, and recyclables all
year round. 4039 Cottage Grove Drive, Woodbury, MN.
Free Electronics &
Hazardous Waste Days
Visible Addresses
Page 3
VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1
Washington County has released the 2021
assessment information for the City of
Scandia. In total, the value of residential
properties in Scandia increased by 1.68%
over 2020. Of the 2,232 parcels assessed,
there was a decrease in value or no
change for 930 of those parcels, and in-
creases of 1% to 9% for 1258 parcels,
and 10% or more in 44 of the parcels.
Questions, concerns or appealing your
2022 value? Step one is to contact Patrick
Poshek, the City’s Assessor,
at 651.430.0360. More information can be
gathered at one of the two regional Open
Book meetings (tentatively scheduled
April 21 or April 22, 10 a.m.—6 p.m.,
Washington County Government Center,
14949 62nd St N., Stillwater) Please refer-
ence the link below for current meeting
schedules and instructions: https://
washington.minnesotaassessors.com/
index.php.
2021 Assessments
Reminder; that you need a burning per-
mit from a local fire warden, located at
City Hall or Big Marine Lake Store, for
any fire that is not in a fire ring and
larger than 3 foot in diameter. Also
please call the Washington County dis-
patch center non-emergency phone
number to notify them of starting a con-
trolled permit fire at 651-439-9381. This
will limit the chance of the fire depart-
ment being dispatched to your location.
For further information visit :
www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/
firerating_restrictions.html
Burning Permits
Expansion of high-speed broadband
Internet service in Scandia will contin-
ue this year as a result of the city and
MidCo’s successful application for an-
other Minnesota Broadband grant.
Construction will begin later this sum-
mer with completion expected in the
fall.
The new construction will use Fiber to
the Home with speeds of up to 5 Giga-
bits per second. Over 90 homes will be
connected during this phase of the pro-
ject.
Homeowners in the expansion area will
receive postcards from MidCo later
this spring with further details.
MidCo has also won their bid for feder-
al funding to expand further in Scandia.
The schedule of this construction is still
under review, but when complete it
will add another 62 homes.
Further updates will be posted on the
city’s website, www.cityofscandia.com.
Look for ‘Internet Expansion’ under the
‘Community’ tab.
Scandia Internet
Expansion Update – Spring 2021
Residents who have not yet been vac-
cinated should sign up for the Minne-
sota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector:
https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/
connector/connector.jsp Fill out the
form to get updates on vaccination
opportunities in your area and be en-
tered into the random selection pro-
cess for the state’s Community Vac-
cination Program sites. Vaccines are
also available through your health
care provider.
The State of Minnesota is opening its
eighth state-run, permanent vaccina-
tion site in Oakdale. To get an appoint-
ment at one of the state’s Community
Vaccination Program sites, including
Oakdale, individuals must sign up for
the Vaccine Connector. If you have
questions about the form or need lan-
guage assistance, please call the Min-
nesota Department of Health COVID-
19 Public Hotline at 1-833-431-2053.
Covid-19 Vaccination Update
Who is eligible ?