9.e Staff Report - May 2022 Administration ReportPage 1 of 3
City of Scandia
14727 209th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433-2274 Fax (651) 433-5112 http://www.ci.scandia.mn.us
DATE: May 17, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator
RE: May 2022 Administration Report
Legislative Updates
We are winding down to the last few days of this year’s regular legislative session, which
officially ends this upcoming Sunday, May 22nd at midnight. Rumors are circulating around
the capital that the legislature may consider the potential passage of a 1.4-1.5 billion dollar
capital budget. Should this be the case, this would set a new state record as is is current
projected revenue surplus of nearly $9.3 billion dollars.
Bill Strusinski, our lobbyist, has reported that both our legislators have made considerable
efforts to support our bonding requests. He has expressed optimism for both the Heritage
Barn Project and the Gateway State Trail Extension for the Scandia Village Center to
William O’Brien State Park, but he has also noted that there has been challenges getting the
Bliss Sewer request similar attention, as the project is not on the 2022 Project Priority List
and will only be introduced into next year’s list.
Unlike previous sessions, this year, the legislature has not held conference committees
between the Senate and House. Instead, the House Speaker, the Senate Majority Leader and
the Governor have been holding continuous meetings in an attempt to reach a compromise
before the legislature is forced to adjourn. The atmosphere has been cordial suggesting a
reasonable probability that a deal can still be reached. However, given how close the session
is coming to a close anything can still happen, including a no deal.
LCCMR State Grant Request for the Gateway Trail
At the City Council’s previous meeting, the City Council approved a resolution to apply for
state grant funding for the buildout of a segment of the Gateway State Trail between William
O, Brien State Park and the Scandia Village Center. The grant application is on track to be
submitted on-time for the submission deadline on Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 4:30PM. Staff
is currently sorting out fiscal agent arrangements with the Minnesota DNR to better enhance
the grant request’s likelihood for funding. We hope to have this question sorted this week
before the applicant goes before one more round of vetting before final submission. The
City has retained a lobbyist to help facilitate the application through this process.
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City of Scandia
14727 209th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433-2274 Fax (651) 433-5112 http://www.ci.scandia.mn.us
2022 Elections
Scandia will have new legislative districts due to the State’s approved redistricting plan
starting next year. Scandia will be in Minnesota House District 33B and Minnesota Senate
District 33. We are currently in Minnesota House District 39A and Senate District 39.
Primary Election Day is Tuesday August 9th. Early voting by mail or in person will be
available between June 24th and August 8th. Absentee ballots can be obtained when online
applications become available or by contacting Washington County’s Property Records and
Taxpayer Services Department.
Voters are encouraged to register in advance by July 19th to save time when arriving at the
poling place, however same-day registration will Be available.
The filing deadline for any County, State, or Federal office begins today and will close at
5:00pm on Tuesday, May 30th. Fillings for these offices must be made with Washington
County at the Government Center in Stillwater.
Registering for City Offices and School District Offices begin Tuesday, August 2nd and close
at 5:00pm Tuesday, August 16th. Fillings for Mayor or City Council can be made here at the
City Office. School district filing must be made at your respective school district office.
If you have any questions regarding elections or wish to volunteer to serve as an election
judge, please contact our City Clerk, Brenda Eklund.
Park Planning Project
The MSA Contract was signed and executed last week. Arrangements are being made this
Thursday to schedule the kick-off meeting with MSA to begin the City’s new Parks,
Recreation & Open Space Master Plan. The kick-off meeting assembles City and
community representatives to refine the project timeline and schedule, identify key
stakeholders, identify information to assist in the planning process, and to clarify
deliverables. It's also a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about the process.
Staff will schedule this meeting, and will assist in promoting the meeting.
Code Enforcement Updates
Staff is working closely with Deputy Boesel to begin the first round of nuisance enforcement
this season. Properties found to be in violation will receive violation notices detailing what
issues need to be corrected, and will be offered an opportunity to remedy any issues within a
specified deadline. Matters that are not resolved at the staff level will be advanced to the
City Council for hearing. Staff will be mindful of scheduling hearings to coincide with
currently scheduled City Council meetings. The first hearings are anticipated to be in July or
August.
Page 3 of 3
City of Scandia
14727 209th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433-2274 Fax (651) 433-5112 http://www.ci.scandia.mn.us
2021 Audit and Bond Rating Revaluation
The City’s 2021 Audit Report prepared by Schulenner Wenner, & Co. will be presented at
next month’s City Council Workshop meeting.
Staff met last week with the firm that was responsible for preparing the City’s 2018 Bond
Rating, Standard and Poor’s. The meeting went well, and preliminary accounts suggested
that the City will potentially maintain its AA Bond rating or see improvement to AA+. Both
categories are high quality for investors and are only outranked by a AAA rating, which is
considered to be best quality.
Bond ratings are typically assessed by considering the city’s economy, debt structure,
financial condition, demographic factors, and the management practices utilized by the
governing body and administration.
An update will be provided when we receive a determination.
Please let me know if you have any questions.