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2010 October - Fall Newsletter City of Scandia Scandia Community/ Senior Center 14727 209th St. N. Scandia, MN 55073 Hearing • December 24, Christmas Holiday Observed— Office Closed • December 25, Christmas Day • December 31, New Years Holiday Observed— Office closed January • January 1, New Years Day • January 17, Martin Luther King Day— Office Closed February • February 5, Vinterfest • February 6, Lion’s Pancake Breakfast • February 21, President’s Day— Office Closed • February 26, Fireball 2011 March • March 13, Daylight Savings Time Begins For more information and a city meeting calendar, see the website, http://www.ci.scandia.mn.us. For Gammelgården events, see: http://www.gammelgardenmuseum.htm. October • October 5, Fire Department Open House • October 10, Lion’s Pancake Breakfast • October 11, Columbus Day Observed— Office Closed • October 31, Safe Halloween at the Fire Hall November • November 2, Election Day • November 11, Veteran’s Day— Office Closed • November 18, Lutfisk & Meatball Dinner, Elim Church • November 19, Turkey Bingo • November 25 & 26, Thanksgiving Holiday— Office Closed December • December 7, 6:00 p.m. Public Meeting, 2011 City Budget and Tax Levy • December 11, Lion’s Community Breakfast • December 12, Lucia Dagen at Gammelgården • December 21, 7 p.m., Budget Adoption Community Calendar, October 2010—March 2011 Dedicated to Rural Community Values We’re on the web www.ci.scandia.mn.us and on Facebook Household Scandia, MN 55073 City Council: Dennis Seefeldt, Mayor 651 433-5999 Dolores Peterson 651 433-2229 Pete Crum 651 433-5034 Connie Amos 651 433-5772 (Vacant) Regular Council Meeting: Third Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. Council/Planning Commission Meeting: First Tuesday, 7:00/7:30 p.m. City Staff: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator Brenda Eklund, Deputy Clerk Colleen Firkus, Treasurer Steve Thorp, Building Official/Maintenance Supervisor Jim Finnegan, Fire Chief David Hebert, Attorney Hebert & Welch PA Paul Hornby, Engineer, Bonestroo Sherri Buss, Planner, TKDA, Inc PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Scandia, MN 55073 PERMIT #6 Minnesotans will go to the polls to elect a new Governor, Members of Congress and state representatives on Novem- ber 2. All Scandia residents vote at the Community Center Hall, 14727 209th St. N. Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. Scandia will also choose a Mayor and two City Council mem- bers. The Mayor serves a two-year term, and the Council members will serve four-year terms, all commencing on Janu- ary 3, 2011 (the first Monday of the new year.) Candidates for city offices are— Mayor: Michael C. Harnetty and Randall F. Simonson Council member: Tom Krinke, James R Schneider, Sally Swanson and Pete Crum Registering to Vote— If you were previously registered to vote in Scandia, and have voted at least once during the last four years, you are already registered. If you moved since you voted last, even if it is just to a new address within the city, you must update your registration. For the November 2 General Election, voter pre-registration closes at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 12. After that date, you may register at the polls on Election Day or at the same time you cast an absentee ballot. When you register to vote on Election Day, please be prepared to show proof of residency. Absentee Ballots are Available Now— You may vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to vote in person on Election Day because you are: away from home; ill or disabled; an Election Judge serving in another precinct; or, unable to go to the polling place due to a religious holiday or belief. Procedures for absentee voting have changed for 2010. Absentee ballots are no longer available at the city office. In person absentee voting: For most Scandia residents, the most convenient location to cast an ab- sentee vote in person may be at the Washington County Headwaters Service Center, Forest Lake (19955 Forest Road North.) You may also apply and vote at the Property Records and Taxpayer Services Department at the Government Center in Stillwater, or at the other County service cen- ters in Woodbury or Cottage Grove. Vote during regular business hours Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Saturday before the election. Absentee voting by mail: Apply early so you can mail back or deliver your absentee ballot before Election Day. Your absentee ballot must reach your precinct by 8 p.m. on Election Day. You may call, write, or fax to request an application. You can return your application by fax, but not your ballot. For more election information including links to downloadable registration and absentee ballot appli- cation forms, please see the city website at www.ci.scandia.mn.us and click on “Election Information” on the home page. Mayor, City Council will be on the ballot— Election Day is Tuesday, November 2 Inside this issue: 2011 City Budget Drafted 2 Staffing Update 2 Development Code Ready for Review 2 EIS for Proposed Sand and Gravel Mine Progressing 3 Have a Safe Halloween 3 Short Takes 3 Community Calendar 4 A TWICE-YEARLY PUBLICATION FOR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA October, 2010 Volume 4, Issue 2 A public hearing on updates to the Scandia De- velopment Code has been scheduled for the Tuesday, October 5, 2010 Planning Commission Meeting (7:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Community Center.) The earliest date that the new Code might be adopted by the City Council is (tentatively) Wednesday, November 3, 2010. The Development Code is composed of all the ordinances that regulate the use and develop- ment of land. These ordinances must be con- sistent with the local comprehensive plan. Scan- dia adopted its latest Comprehensive Plan on March 17, 2009, and changes must be made to be consistent with the new plan. This is also the first update since Scandia changed its form of government from Township to City. Anyone considering developing their land, or Development Code Ready for Review 2011 City Budget Drafted Page 2 At the September 7 meeting, the City Council took the first steps toward adopting the budget and tax levy for 2011. The Council set the max- imum, "not to exceed" tax levy at $2,013,651, a 5% increase from 2010. The final budget and levy will be set in December. The 2011 levy will include $117,728 to recover "unalloted” funds due to Scandia to pay for the state’s Market Value Homestead Credit program in 2010 and 2011. The city is now paying the full cost of this state program. (Scandia receives no state aid.) It also includes $51,484 in new debt payments for the Fire Rescue Truck purchased in 2010. The maximum city tax increases to individual homeowners are expected to range from 0.0% to 2.4%, depending on the change in market value of the property and how it compared to the city’s median change (-12.6%) from 2010 to 2011. No new major initiatives are proposed for 2010. No large road paving projects are planned, but the contractual road repair budget would increase from $250k to $300k. Replace- ment of one of the city's two dump truck/ snow plows is being considered for 2011. Not including expenses for preparing an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement), the costs for which will be paid by the project proposer, the city’s draft operating budget for 2011 would be 3.5% less than the 2010 operating budget. In November, each property owner will re- ceive a “Truth in Taxation” notice with their estimated 2011 property tax bill. Scandia will hold a public meeting on its 2011 budget and tax levy on Tuesday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center. The budget and tax levy will be finalized after the adoption hearing scheduled for Tuesday, December 21, 2010. Public Meeting on 2011 Budget Tuesday, December 7 6:00 p.m. Community Center planning some significant change to their prop- erty would be the most affected by the new Code. The Council, Planning Commission, consultants and staff have worked hard to sim- plify the Code and permit application processes in many areas. For example, a new Administra- tive Permit process will eliminate the time- consuming step of City Council approval for many simple permits. Copies of the proposed new code chapters, the new zoning map and other materials relat- ing to the code update are available for review at the City office during regular office hours (9:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.) Documents are also available for download from the City’s website: www.ci.scandia.mn.us Staffing Update • Scandia maintenance supervisor John Mor- rison retired in June after 14 years with the township and city. John also retired from the Fire and Rescue Department. • Steve Thorp is now supervising the city maintenance staff, in addition to his duties as Building Official. • Jeff Anderson joined the city’s maintenance staff on September 13, 2010. Jeff brings many years of experience with road and utility construction, repair and maintenance, excavation, grading and heavy equipment. Jeff and his family are Scandia residents. Council will Appoint to Fill City Council Seat Anyone interested in filling the va- cancy created by the resignation of John Lindell should submit an applica- tion no later than Friday, October 15. Applicant must be a Scandia resi- dent, an eligible voter and over 21 years of age. They will serve until an election is held. See the city website (www.ci.scandia.mn.us) for details. In March 2009, the City Council ordered preparation of an Envi- ronmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Tiller Corporation’s Zavoral Mining and Reclamation Project. Tiller Corporation pro- posed to operate a gravel mine and processing facility on a 114- acre site located east of State Highway 95 (St. Croix Trail) at State Highway 97 (Scandia Trail) owned by Dr. James Zavoral. In August 2009, consultants (AECOM) were hired to pre- pare the EIS for the City, and a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) of agency and community representatives was formed to provide advice to the Council about the EIS. Then, in Decem- ber 2009, Tiller changed its proposal by eliminating on-site processing activities (such as washing or crushing.) Instead, material excavated at the site would be transported directly to users or to the company’s Scandia mine (located at 22303 Manning Ave) for use as “add- rock” in products produced at that site. This change resulted in a modified scope for the EIS and a new contract with the con- sultants, delaying the EIS. In the 6 months since the last newsletter, the PAC has met twice (April and July) and some of the EIS tasks have been com- pleted, including a preliminary traffic analysis and a well pump- School, (January and February) and Vinterfest (February 5.) The popular learn-to-skate and after- school hockey programs will also be offered. Watch the city website for details. Burning Permits— A (no- charge) burning permit is re- quired for open burning when there is no snow cover. In all cases, please notify the Wash- ington County Sheriff’s Office (651 439-9381) one hour before you burn. There may be re- strictions depending on weath- er, time-of-day or air-quality issues. See the city office for more information and for per- mits. Burning permits are also available at the Big Marine Lake Store, 19261 Manning Trail N. Signs— Permits are required for all signs, including temporary signs for garage sales and com- munity events. There’s no fee Attention snowbirds— Leaving town for the winter? Make sure to contact the Wash- ington County Sheriff’s Depart- ment (651 439-9381) for free home-checks while you are away. Do I really need a permit for that?— Protect your investment in your home. Building Official Steve Thorp is here to help you do the job right. It’s a buyer’s market, so don’t jeopardize a future sale or refinancing with improvements not up to code. It’s more costly to correct prob- lems later. Call Steve at 651 433-2274, Ext. 102 with any questions. Winter Rec Programs Planned— The Parks and Rec- reation Committee is planning a variety of winter programs in- cluding the Saturday morning open-gym program at Scandia for temporary sign permits. No signs may be placed in any public rights-of-way, on any roof, or painted on walls or attached to utility poles. Animal Control— The City of Scandia does NOT require licensing of pets. However, if dogs are not on a leash, they must be under voice command and shall not infringe on your neighbor's property. Stray dogs that are impounded may be reclaimed at Hillcrest Animal Hospital (1320 County Road D Circle East, Maple- wood) after payment of im- pound, boarding and any veteri- nary fees. Biting dog?! The city has re- cently updated its ordinance. See Ordinance No. 120 on the website. EIS for Proposed Sand and Gravel Mine Progressing Short Takes Page 3 Volume 4, Issue 2 On Sunday, October 31, 2010 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the Scandia Fire and Rescue Depart- ment will hold a fun family event for all ages. Activities will in- clude a large bonfire, games, hot dogs & hot chocolate. Co- sponsors are the Scandia Marine Lions Club, Elim Lutheran Church and Helke Tree Service. Location: Scandia Fire Hall, 15040 Scandia Trail (Hwy 97.) “Safe Halloween” at Fire Department Free E-mail Alerts on Timely Topics Including the EIS, City Council meeting agen- das and Park and Rec- reation programs can be delivered to your mailbox! Visit www.ci.scandia.mn.us and click on “E-Mail Updates” to sign up. ing test. The next meeting will not occur until the City re- ceives Tiller's complete plans for review by AECOM. To be notified when meetings are scheduled for the project, sign up for e-mail updates on the city’s website (http:// www.ci.scandia.mn.us.) Materi- als related to this project are available for review at the City of Scandia Office, 14727 209th St. N., during office hours (9:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Fri- day) and on the website. Con- tact City Administrator Anne Hurlburt for more information. Stray dogs may be reported to the Sheriff's department at 651 439-9381. Attend the Fire Department Open House Tuesday, October 5 5:00 pm to 7:00 p.m.