2017 October - Fall Newsletter CITY OF SCANDIA
October
October 9, Columbus Day Observed— Office Closed
October 10, Fire Department Open House, 5-7 p.m.
October 15, Veterans Memorial Fundraiser at Meister’s
October 22, Lions Pancake Breakfast
October 24, Comprehensive Plan Open House, 6-8 p.m.
October 31, Safe Halloween at the Fire Hall
November
November 7, ISD 831 Special Election Day, 7 a.m.- 8 p.m.
November 10, Veterans Day Observed—Office Closed
November 16, Lutefisk & Meatball Dinner, Elim Church
November 17, Turkey Bingo, 7 p.m.
November 23 & 24, Thanksgiving Holiday—Office Closed
For more information and a City meeting calendar, see: www.ci.scandia.mn.us.
December
December 6, 6:30 p.m. Public Hearing, 2018 City Budget and Tax Levy
December 9, Lions Community Breakfast
December 10, Lucia Dagen, Gammelgarden
December 25 & 26, Christmas Holiday—Office Closed
January
January 15, Martin Luther King Day— Office Closed
January 26 & 27, Vinterfest
January 27, Lions Pancake Break-fast
February
February 19, Presidents’ Day— Office Closed
February 24, Fireball
March
March 11, Daylight Savings Time Begins
For Gammelgården events, see: http://www.gammelgardenmuseum.org.
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: Monday thru Friday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
City Council:
Christine Maefsky, Mayor
651.433.2684
Jim Schneider
651.433.3692
Bob Hegland
651.538.2129
Chris Ness
651.707.5689
Steve Kronmiller
651.538.0094
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:
Neil Soltis, Administrator
Brenda Eklund,
Deputy Clerk
Colleen Firkus, Treasurer
Adam Hawkinson, Director of
Public Works
Mike Hinz, Fire Chief
Andrew Pratt, Attorney
Eckberg Lammers
Ryan Goodman, Engineer
Bolton & Menk
Sherri Buss, Planner, TKDA
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Scandia, MN
55073
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Most Up-to-Date Information
Community Calendar, October 2017 - March 2018
Planning for Scandia 2040
OCTOBER 2017 VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2
CITY OF SCANDIA
Inside This Issue:
Levy Increase Proposed 2
Open to Business 2
Capital Improvements 3
Short Takes 3
Community Calendar 4
A twice-yearly publication for residents of the City of Scandia, Minnesota
The City is required to update its Comprehensive Plan to provide a path towards meeting the population projections for 2040. The City
Council established a Steering Committee to guide the public input portion of the project. The public input to date has incl uded 2 pop-up
meetings, 3 focus groups, and a survey sent out to all property owners in the City. Based on the 391 surveys returned and in formation
gathered at the public input sessions, the Steering Committee recommended a vision and a series of goals to include in the Co mprehen-
sive Plan.
The following vision and four overarching goals for the City of Scandia have been proposed to guide the preparation of the Co mprehen-
sive Plan update.
Vision: Scandia is known for its distinctive character and history. The City’s overall vision is to maintain its rural character typi fied by the
agricultural heritage and natural resources. In 2040, Scandia has an economically vibrant village center which is home to a d iverse popula-
tion that is surrounded by mix of natural resources and agricultural areas intermixed with rural residential and lakeshore ne ighborhoods.
As new development is proposed, the emphasis will remain on the protection of rural agricultural and natural resources.
Goals:
Maintain and promote the City’s cultural character and history.
Maintain and promote a variety of land uses and residential densities while maintaining
Scandia’s existing agricultural and rural character.
Preserve and protect the City’s natural resources.
Provide economic opportunities for residents and businesses.
The City Council, Committees and Commissions will be further refining the vision and goals
and developing specific goals, policies and implementation steps.
An open house will be held on Tuesday, October 24, at 6 p.m. to provide the public the op-
portunity to comment on the plan.
For more detailed information on the process and the information gathered through public in-
put go to: https://clients.bolton-menk.com/scandia/public-meeting/.
Message From the Mayor
We’ve had an active spring and summer in Scandia. Fortunate to have a wealth of residents who are excited about adding to th e vibrancy
of our community, several initiatives have begun: Cycling Scandia, Scandia Heritage Guild, and Good Neighbor Recognitions am ong
them. A number of community events were held including the Lions’ Fat Cat Triathlon and Taco Daze. Work began on the Veteran s
Memorial. Hundreds of residents submitted written input on Scandia’s future. Scandia’s gem Gammelgarden had a flow of events and
visitors all summer. Then there were our weekly community gatherings at the Scandia Farmers Market. Great locally grown food , locally
grown music, free tastings, educational offerings, and the enjoyment of our locally grown neighbors, all on the beautiful gro unds of
Gammelgarden.
Now comes the somewhat quieter fall and winter, but still with plenty to look forward to. School is back in session with all the activity that
brings. We’ve had the welcome news that Scandia Elementary has added a third kindergarten class, a positive sign of community growth
and confidence. Coming up will be Scandia Fire & Rescue Annual Open House, Lions Community Pancake Breakfast, the Settlers Valley
merchants’ promotion and, of course, Scandia’s celebration of winter – Vinterfest coming in January.
Remember to keep in touch, with me and with one another. Doing that will be our strength as a community. Call, email, or vi sit me at
Conversations with the Mayor, the first Wednesday of each month.
Looking forward to the fall and winter ahead,
Christine Maefsky
Mayor
Page 2
CITY OF SCANDIA
Levy Increase Proposed for the 2018 Budget
Open to Business Now Available in Scandia
At its September 19, 2017 meeting, the City Council set a maximum levy amount of $2,353,102, which is an increase of $95,231 (4.2%) over
2017. The 3 major components of the levy increase are: debt service for the plow truck purchased in 2017 ($35,463), changing the Fire Chief
to a part-time position ($33,000), and increasing the levy for the Local Road Improvement Fund ($29,050). The levy for operatio ns in most
departments will remain roughly the same as 2017 with the exception of the funds budgeted for the Comprehensive Plan where mo st of the
cost to update the plan will be paid in 2017. The preliminary budget reduces the funds levied for road maintenance and real locates those
funds for major road repairs which are proposed in the Capital Improvement Plan for 2018.
The impact of the change will be an increase in the levy per $1,000 of taxable market value from $3.82 in 2017 to $3.93 in 20 18. The maxi-
mum tax levy amount is preliminary and will be used by the County in the property tax notices that are mailed out in November . The
Council is continuing budget discussions and may reduce, but not increase, the levy before final adoption in December. A publ ic hearing
on the 2018 budget will be held at the City Council Work Session on Wednesday, December 6, at 6:30 p.m.
Through the efforts of the Washington County Board and the Washington County Community Development Authority, the Metropolita n
Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) Open to Business Program is now able to provide services to businesses located in, or
seeking to locate in, Washington County. This program provides free one -on-one assistance from MCCD’s expert staff, customized to
meet the specific needs of each entrepreneur. Open to Business will provide prospective and existing entrepreneurs in Scand ia with
free one-on-one counseling with a business advisor. The program provides assistance in the following areas:
Business plan development
Financial management
Cash flow financial
Bookkeeping set‐up and training
Loan packaging
If you are interested in learning more about the program, a representative of the program will be making a presentation at th e Scandia
Economic Development Authority business breakfast on Thursday, October 19, at 7:30 a.m. Please contact the City offices by
October 13 if you would like to attend.
Commercial real estate analysis
Marketing assistance
Strategic planning
Networking and professional referrals
Short Takes
Page 3
VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2
The Capital Improvement Committee met to update the previous 2016 – 2020 Capital Improvement Plan. The Committee’s report on
projects to be included in the 2018 – 2022 Capital Improvement Plan has a total estimated cost of $11,186,200. All cost estimates are pre-
liminary and based on current dollars. Most of these projects are for replacing existing equipment and vehicles at the end o f their ex-
pected useful life; however, there are two projects that have a significant impact.
Road Improvements: The Committee worked with Bolton & Menk to look at modifying the 2008 Pavement Management Plan to address
the roads that are in the greatest need. The plan calls for the reclaiming and repaving of all the roads rated very poor or poor with ditch-
to-ditch improvements in 2018 and then providing for a mill and overlay of the road surfaces that are currently rated fair in 20 20, 2021,
and 2022. The 2018 improvements are to be funded primarily through the issuance of $4,400,000 of debt. To minimize the prop erty tax
impact, the plan calls for $115,000 of the General Fund levy for street maintenance (seal coating) and a portion of the levy for the Local
Road Improvement Fund to be redirected to service the debt. The program as recommended will address roughly 50% of the City’s
paved streets over the next 5 years. With a 30+ year life cycle for roads, the other 50% of the roads that are not included in the proposed
program will likely need similar improvements in the 15 years that follow 2022. Throughout the life cycles of the roads, the City will need
to continue to allocate funds for preventive maintenance.
Capital Improvements on the Horizon
201 Sewer System: Improvements to the 201 Sewer System are intended to be
funded through user fees. The MPCA permit for the Bliss addition requires the
City to submit a plan to address the high levels of nitrate at one of the test wells by
September 2019 as a part of the permit renewal process. A 2022 date has been
used as an approximation of when construction is anticipated. Additionally, im-
provements are anticipated at the Anderson Erickson drainfield in order to ensure
the system functions properly. Pending further study of alternatives, the Capital
Improvement Plan includes estimated costs of $960,000 for the Bliss addition im-
provements and $200,000 for the Anderson Erickson improvements.
Other Capital projects recommended for 2018 include:
Conversion of lighting at the Community Building to LED - $33,300
Resurfacing on the Community Center tennis courts - $40,000
Purchase of an emergency generator for the Fire/Public Works Building -
$66,000
Addition of a picnic shelter at Lilleskogen Park - $15,000
Detailed specifications showing the proper installation of a
mailbox are available on the City’s website or at https://
www.usps.com/manage/mailboxes.htm, Reminder: Only
mailboxes that were properly installed and located and which
were damaged by physical contact with City equipment will be
the responsibility of the City. Make sure no obstructions, in-
cluding refuse containers are in the right-of-way that a plow
driver might hit when pushing back wing rows. Lastly, make
sure not to deposit snow or ice within the right-of-way. It cre-
ates a hazard for traffic and City staff; and, it is against the law.
Free, Fun Events at the Scandia Fire Department
Annual Open House— Tuesday, October 10, from 5 p.m. to 7
p.m. Join the Scandia Fire Department for their annual Open
House. Bring the kids and learn about fire safety, see the fire
trucks and other equipment, and meet your neighbors for some fun
and food.
Safe Halloween Party—Tuesday, October 31, from 5 p.m. to 7
p.m. This is a fun event for all ages at the Scandia Fire Hall. Activi-
ties will include a large bonfire, games and food.
Both Events at Scandia Fire Hall, 15040 Scandia Trail (Hwy 97)
Snow is Coming… Is Your
Mailbox Ready? Now is a
good time to look at your mail-
box and landscaping within the
right-of-way. If your mailbox is
in need of repair, consider re-
placing the post with a swing-
arm style support.
Vinterfest 2018
January 26-27
Check website for details