02-01-2023 Work SessionFebruary 1, 2023
A work session meeting of the Scandia City Council was held on the above date with
modifications. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers at the Scandia Community
Center and over an electronic platform. All participants who joined the meeting remotely could
hear each other and contribute to discussions.
Mayor Christine Maefsky called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. The following were present:
Council members Heather Benson, Jerry Cusick, Steve Kronmiller, Mike Lubke, and Mayor
Christine Maefsky. Staff present: Interim City Administrator Anne Hurlburt, Public Works
Director Charles Fischer and City Clerk Brenda Eklund.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Council member Kronmiller added Agenda Item 5.a) Overview of Internet Action Committee
topic.
Benson, second by Kronmiller, moved to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried
5-0.
DISCUSS TRASH & RECYCLING SERVICES
At the January 4, 2023 Work Session, the City Council voted to direct staff to proceed with the
process for an organized collection for trash and recycling services in the city.
Interim City Administrator Hurlburt explained the next action needed is to provide formal notice
to the public and licensed solid waste haulers. The city must negotiate with Waste Management,
the one trash hauler in Scandia, for a 60 -day period. If an agreement with Waste Management is
not reached, the next step in implementing organized collection would be to establish a
committee to research various methods of organized collection and report to the Council. A
public hearing would be held and the Council would decide whether to implement organized
collection; if approved, a hauler would be chosen through an RFP process. Hurlburt
recommended working on a draft ordinance during the negotiating period. Hurlburt stated that
the city is advertising for citizen volunteers for appointment to a trash committee if and when
that time comes.
Hurlburt presented a draft public notice to initiate the 60 -day negotiating period, beginning with
publication in the legal newspaper on February 8, 2023 and ending on April 9, 2023. Hurlburt
advised that the negotiating team be comprised of staff (Administrator, PW Director, City
Attorney) and two Council representatives. Staff from Washington County Environmental
Services and Foth Consulting will provide expert advice in the confidential negotiations.
Council members Benson and Lubke volunteered to serve on the negotiating committee.
Benson, second by Kronmiller, moved to approve the Public Notice of Negotiation with
Residential Solid Waste and Recycling Collectors, and the formation of a negotiating
committee. Motion carried 5-0.
Scandia City Council Work Session
February 1, 2023
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Hurlburt stated that she will coordinate a work session with the city negotiating team to prepare
for a meeting with Waste Management.
AUTHORIZE RECRUITMENT OF FIRE FIGHTERS
Fire Chief Hinz submitted a written report for recruiting up to five new members to the Scandia
Fire and Rescue Department. The hiring process would begin in February, with hiring approval
being recommended to the City Council in May.
Benson, second by Kronmiller, moved to approve recruiting up to 5 new members to the
fire department. Motion carried 5-0.
DISCUSS GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR LEVEL 2 ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV)
CHARGING STATIONS
Interim City Administrator Hurlburt reported that resident Mary Hooley approached Mayor
Maefsky with a grant opportunity through the MN Pollution Control Agency to install a level 2
electric vehicle (EV) charger in the Scandia Community Center parking lot. The grant would
provide up to $15,000 for a dual -port EV charging station and require a 20% match from the
city. The grant has a deadline of February 28th. Hooley said she is looking for a volunteer to
write the grant application.
Hurlburt obtained a cost estimate from Dan Schmidt of Scandia Electric for a dual -port EV
charger. The $33,890 estimate was included in the meeting packet. Hurlburt explained that this is
the installation cost; the cost of electricity would be on-going as the idea is to offer the charger
free to the public.
With no funding in this year's budget for the $18,890 cost above any maximum grant award,
Hurlburt recommended the project be studied by the Capital Improvement Committee, as there
will likely be future grant opportunities.
Council member Cusick said there are some harmful consequences in the production of EV
batteries, and mining for the elements is causing global harm.
The Council was in consensus that money is not in this year's budget, the project needs more
research, and should be referred to the CIP Committee.
DISCUSS REQUEST TO PURCHASE VIDEO CONFERENCING BARS FOR AV
SYSTEM
Hurlburt explained the audio-visual design in the Council Chambers and large meeting hall is not
designed for small meetings. There have been several occasions for small group meetings which
require a complicated and difficult means of using the existing equipment. In trying to improve
this situation, consultants at EMI Audio recommend a video conferencing bar mounted on top of
the existing TV monitor to provide camera and microphone equipment to run a meeting. A quote
to purchase two video bars at a cost of $3,866 was included in the packet. Staff advised installing
the second video bar for meetings in the large hall. Treasurer Firkus wrote that the Cable TV
Fund has an adequate balance to cover this purchase. The 2023 budget expects revenue of
$20,500 and expenditures of $9,100.
Scandia City Council Work Session
February 1, 2023
Page 3 of 3
Kronmiller, second by Benson, moved to approve the purchase and installation of two
video bars from EMI Audio at a cost of $3,866. Motion carried 5-0.
ADDITION: INTERNET ACTION COMMITTEE PROPOSAL
Council member Kronmiller, liaison to the Internet Action Committee, explained the state's new
Broadband Line Extension Program. The purpose of the program is to award grants to providers
for the extension of existing broadband infrastructure to unserved locations. Kronmiller said
there are 350 homes in Scandia that are qualified as unserved and fit the program parameters,
and that homeowners need to register their address to the pool where broadband service
providers can bid to extend service to one or more of the addresses on the list.
The IAC is considering outreach to these homes to alert them to apply to the program.
Kronmiller provided an example of a postcard mailing to explain the program and provides a QR
code to bring one to the DEED registration page, estimated to cost under a $1,000 to prepare the
postcards and mailing. Kronmiller said the IAC will discuss this further at their February 16th
meeting, and anticipate making a formal request to the Council on February 21St, but he is first
looking to see if the Council considers this outreach a good idea.
Consensus of the Council was in favor of this outreach project to communicate to unserved
Scandia residents the ability to register to the state's Broadband Line Extension Program.
DISCUSS DOLORES PETERSON RECOGNITION
Mayor Maefsky announced that she will be awarding a posthumous Good Neighbor
Proclamation to long-time New Scandia Township Clerk Dolores Peterson. After her retirement,
Peterson was elected to the first Scandia City Council. Her family will be at the February 21St
Council meeting to accept the honor. Maefsky explained that she would like to further honor
Dolores Peterson by hanging her picture in the Heritage Room, and asked if there were any
concerns about this. No questions or concerns were voiced by the Council members.
ADJOURNMENT
Benson, seconded by Kronmiller, moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brenda Eklund
City Clerk