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2020 April - Spring Newsletter 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 Chris Ness 651.707.5689 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, Deputy Clerk Colleen Firkus, Treasurer Bee Stignani, Office Assistant Adam Hawkinson, Director of Public Works Mike Hinz, Fire Chief Eric Sherburne, Attorney Eckberg Lammers Ryan Goodman, Engineer Bolton & Menk Merritt Clapp-Smith, Planner, TKDA PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Scandia, MN 55073 PERMIT #6 Like us on Facebook for the Most Up-to-Date Information Community Calendar, April 2020 - September, 2020 April • April 6, 5 p.m., Board of Appeal and Equalization, Community Center Board Room • April 25 - May 2, Spring Clean -up Collection Week, SRC, Wyoming May • May 1 - May 3, Opening Week- end - Gammelgården • May 24, Immigrant for a Day - Gammelgården • May 25, Memorial Day, Office Closed June • June 10, Farmers Market - Open- ing Day, Gammelgården • Dalapalooza - 10 a.m. -3 p.m., Gammelgården • June 27, Midsommar Dag, Gammelgården July • July 3, Office closed in observance of Independence Day • July 11, St. Croix Fat Cat Triathlon August • August 4, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., National Night Out, Community Center • August 15, Spelmanstamma, Gammelgården September • September 7, Labor Day, Office Closed • September 19, Taco Daze Festival, DATE CHANGE For more information and a City meeting calendar, see the website www.ci.scandia.mn.us. For Gammelgården events, see: www.gammelgardenmuseum.org. Message from the Mayor APRIL 2020 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 1 CITY OF SCANDIA Inside this issue: A twice-yearly publication for residents of the City of Scandia, Minnesota Information on COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Instructions: How to Connect with Public Meetings Remotely It’s hard to know what to include in my Message from the Mayor and the newsletter in general this spring as our world has been so impacted by COVID – 19 and changing so dramatically day by day. As I’m writ- ing this message on Monday, March 23rd, I can tell you what the city has done to date to accommodate for the needs for social distancing. Our office remains open, but we are encouraging people to conduct any business over the phone or via email. All gatherings planned for the community center have been can- celled through May 1. Action beyond that date will be based on recommendations from the MN Depart- ment of Health. For the first time ever, our city council meeting was held remotely using the app Go To Meeting. We will continue with remote meetings going into the future as needed. Scandia Fire and Rescue has modified their response procedure to protect Scandia residents and themselves while still being available to those in need. By the time you receive this newsletter, we should have the PSN system set up for electronic payments to the city. Our community calendar reflects what has been planned before this crisis hit. Depending on what comes ahead, it may well change. We will do our best to keep you up to date via our website. Check it out frequently or call the city. Take care of yourselves and stay safe. Christine Maefsky, Mayor The Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention (CDC), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and Washington County Public Health & Environment are closely monitoring an outbreak caused by a nov- el coronavirus (COVID-19) first identi- fied in Wuhan, China. The situation sur- rounding the outbreak is rapidly evolv- ing. For the latest information on cases of COVID-19 in Washington County, visit MDH’s website for ongoing updates: https://www.health.state.mn.us/ diseases/coronavirus/situation.html MDH is also providing the following COVID-19 Hotlines for information: Health questions: 651-201-3920 or 1- 800-657-3903 | 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. School and child care questions: 651- 297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504 | 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. The following symptoms may appear 2- 14 days after exposure and include fe- ver, cough, and shortness of breath. If you have symptoms and can manage those symptoms at home, you don't have to seek health care or be tested for COVID-19. Just stay home while you are sick. If you are older or have underlying medical conditions, it may be helpful to let your health care provider know you are sick. They may have some specific advice for you. Some people with COVID -19 have worsened during the second week of illness. Contact your health care provider before going to the clinic or emergency room if your symptoms worsen at any point or you feel you need to see a doctor. For more information about managing symptoms and COVID-19 testing, visit MDH: About Coronavirus Disease 2019. Residents are encouraged to continue par- ticipation in the City of Scandia’s public meetings. There are several ways that residents may engage during this time in a safe manner. At the City of Scandia website, www.ci.scandia.mn.us/, select “Stream City Meetings”. This opens a page with the link to the city’s BoxCastTV page. Click the link “Scandia City Meetings,” and current live meetings, or recordings of past meetings are available to view. To provide written public comment, send an email mail@ci.scandia.mn.us. These comments will be included in the meeting. Email Mayor Maefsky or any of the City Council members. These email addresses are c.maefsky@ci.scandia.mn.us , c . n e s s @ c i . s c a n d i a . m n . u s , s.kronmiller@ci.scandia.mn.us , p .ra y@ ci.sca nd ia.m n.us , a nd j.cusick@ci.scandia.mn.us. Or residents may contact the city office prior to the meeting for specific instruc- tions for how to be included in the meet- ing remotely if you need to provide public comment by this method instead. The office is currently available by phone M-F, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at (651) 433-2274. Burning Permits 2 Carnelien Marine Watershed 2 Internet Action Committee 2 Assist Small Businesses 2 Comfort Lake Forest Lake 2 Election Judges Needed 3 Art in Action 3 Filings for City Offices Open 3 2020 Assessments 3 Recycling Works 3 Community Calendar 4 Page 2 CITY OF SCANDIA A burning permit is required for open burning small amounts of dry leaves, plant clippings, brush, and clean untreated lumber as long as weather conditions do not pose a fire hazard. Please notify the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (651.439.9381) one hour before you burn to inform them that you have a burning permit at your address. There may be restrictions depending on weather or air-quality issues. A 3’x3’ recreational campfire is allowed without a burning permit. See the City office for more information and for permits. For further information visit the DNR web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html Burning Permits Like all of you, the Comfort Lake- Forest Lake Watershed District (CLFLWD) is taking every precau- tion available to ensure the health and safety of both our staff and our residents. While the District office is officially closed until further notice, staff and managers remain available to assist the public in a variety of ways. Whether you are looking for assistance on a permit, have ques- tions regarding ongoing and up- coming projects, or want to tune into one of our regularly scheduled Board Meetings (now held via vide- oconference), we have you covered. Visit us online at www.clflwd.org or give us a call at 651-395-5850 and we’ll get you connected! Upcoming projects in the Bone Lake area include Subwatershed Assess- ment Implementation (agricultural land management improvements) and numerous wetland restorations. For more information on these pro- j e c t s a n d o t h e r s , v i s i t www.clflwd.org/projects.php or email blayne.eineichner@clflwd.org The CLFLWD is also currently accepting applications for Watercraft Inspec- tors. Primary duties will include in- specting watercraft for Aquatic Inva- sive Species (AIS) and informing and educating the public on the threats of ecologically harmful AIS. All training provided, no prior in- spection experience required. Pay starting at $15/hr, must be at least 1 8 . w w w . c l f l w d . o r g / j o b - openings.php Wondering about how to stabilize an eroding shoreline? Thinking about a summer construction project that might include soil grading, a new building, a driveway or lakeside patio? The staff at Carnelian Ma- rine St. Croix Watershed District are your local resource for technical and permit assistance. Contact the watershed district early in the plan- ning phases of your project to apply for a permit and ensure that your project meets shoreline protection rules. Call (651) 433-2150 or email the Administrator, Mike Isensee at mike.isensee@cmscwd.org with questions. District staff work closely with landowners, Washington County, and the City of Scandia to protect and improve the unique wa- ter resources of within the District. Carnelian Marine Watershed District is Available to Assist! Scandia, working in conjunction with MidCo, was awarded a grant from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development in Janu- ary to expand high speed Inter- net to 219 households in our com- munity. Construction on this expansion project will begin mid-2020 and will be completed by the end of the year. When completed, the number of homes with access to speeds of 1 Gbps Down / 20 Mbps Up in Scandia will rise from 45% to 53%. The Internet Action Committee is currently working on the next steps to expand service to the remainder of Scandia. Additional assistance from State and Federal grant programs is being pe- rused. We’re also exploring ways to expand service by other means where practical, such as private funding of both wired and wireless technologies. Regular updates from the Internet Action Committee are available at the city’s website: https://www.ci.scandia.mn.us/ Scandia Internet Action Committee Progress Report Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District Works to Improve Lakes Find more complete information for these two offers in the News section of the City of Scandia’s webpage, www.ci.scandia.mn.us/. * The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is creating an emergency loan program to help Minnesota small business owners who need immediate assistance to meet their families’ basic needs during COVID- 19 closures. For the latest information from DEED for employers and businesses and workers, visit the DEED COVID-19 Information page on the DEED website, https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/ covid/. Minnesota small businesses should send questions about this emergency loan program to ELP@state.mn.us. * Minnesota's small businesses are now eligible for the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and can apply online. We HIGHLY recommend you complete your application online at www.sba.gov, do not mail them in. Assistance for Small Business Owners Page 3 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 1 Scandia Parks and Recreation is sponsoring the Art in Action summer camp offered through St. Croix Festival Theatre. Participants will:  Create, rehearse and perform in an original short play  Design and paint  Create characters and design costumes  Choreograph an original dance  Perform their play for a live audience of fami- ly and friends Dates: August 12- 16, Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to Noon at the Community Center Cost: $60 Register Online at www.FestivalTheatre.org or by calling 715.483.3387 Washington County has released the 2020 assessment information for the City of Scandia. In total, the value of residential properties in Scandia increased by 3.2% over 2019. Of the 2,232 residential parcels assessed, there was a decrease in value or no change for 489 of those parcels, and increases of 1% to15% for 1702 par- cels, and 15% or more in 41 of the parcels. The City Council will meet as the Local Board of Appeals & Equal- ization on Monday, April 6th, 5-6pm to hear appeals of property values. If you have questions in advance of the meeting, you are encouraged to contact Patrick Poshek, the City’s Assessor, at 651.430.0360. Information on the appeals process and calendar are available by selecting the Board of A p p e a l s meeting on the website City Event Calendar. 2020 Assessments Art in Action Summer Camp Recycling Works - When We All Work Recycling is a major contributor to the solution of global gar- bage. It works, but only if you participate. The responsibility belongs to all of us, as citizens of the world, but it begins with you and your family. Through a con- tract with SRC, free curbside recycling is available to all Scan- dia residents, even if you have trash service with another com- pany. If you haven’t already, call SRC today to begin your recycling service – 651 462- 1099. Please NO styrofoam pea- nuts, toys, footwear, cat litter boxes, fly swatters, bubble wrap, cellophane, plastic shov- els and no car parts. These are some of the examples of “wish cycling” that are being collected in recycling carts that must be manually removed at the recy- cling center – a time consuming task and a contributor to equip- ment malfunctions. Consult the Washington County Disposal Directory to find alternate dis- posal solutions for plastics, con- struction debris, electronic waste and many other materials that can be kept out of the waste stream. Washington County is hosting free collection events for elec- tronics and hazardous waste on June 8, September 12 and 19 at the Forest Lake Headwaters Ser- vice Center, all from 8am-2pm. In addition to these remote col- lections, the Washington County Environmental Center in Wood- bury provides residents with a free disposal option for house- hold hazardous waste, electron- ics, and recyclables all year round. Scandia will elect a Mayor and two City Council Members at the November 3 gen- eral election. The Mayor serves a two-year term, and Council Members serve four-year terms. The terms of Mayor Maefksy and Council Members Kronmiller and Ness end at the end of this year. Filing opens Tuesday, July 28, 2020 and ends on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. Office hours for filing are 9:00am to 4:00pm Mon- day through Friday, and will be open until 5:00pm on the last day of the filing period. Candidates must file an affidavit of candida- cy with the City Clerk, signed in the pres- ence of a notary, and pay a $2.00 filing fee. Candidates may withdraw from the election by filing an affidavit of withdrawal with the City Clerk not later than 5:00pm on Thurs- day, August 13, 2020. Filing fees are not refundable. Scandia will need election judges to staff the local polling place on Prima- ry Election Day, August 11 and Gen- eral Election Day, November 3. Serving as an election judge pro- vides an opportunity to learn more about the election process and serve the community. With advance no- tice, employers must allow workers time off to serve as election judges. Qualifications for serving include being eligible to vote in Minnesota, being fluent in English, and complet- ing a two-hour training session, ei- ther on-line or by attending an in- person training on July 8, 2020. Elec- tion judges need to be able to com- municate clearly with voters, pay attention to detail, and enjoy helping others. Election judges are paid an hourly wage of $10.00. Would you like to serve? Call the City office at 651 433-2274 no later than Friday, July 3. Filings Open for City Offices Election Judges Needed Qualifications for candidates are: • Eligible voter • At least 21 years of age when assuming office • Resident of the city for thirty days preceding the General Election (November 3, 2020) • Has not filed for another office in the same election