6. 2 Letter from Steve Collier Scandia Council Communication 4 2023
Steven Collier
19960 Maxwill Ave. N
Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047
VIA EMAIL
April 1, 2023
Mayor Christine Maefsky
Councilmember Steve Kronmiller
Councilmember Michael Lubke
Councilmember Jerry Cusick
Councilmember Heather Benson
14727 209th St. N
Scandia, MN 55073
Re: Scandia Internet Action Committee (IAC)
Dear Mayor Maefsky and City Councilmembers:
I read the city council meeting minutes that contained a motion about doing a mailing to residents of Scandia in order to
alert those with long driveways of funding available from the State of Minnesota. This topic was discussed in a 2022 IAC
meeting and a May 2023 application deadline was mentioned.
Due to travel schedules and a subsequent resignation from the IAC, there have been no further IAC meetings so I am
writing for two reasons:
1. Thank you for taking action on the long driveway deadline.
2. I have heard you are interviewing to fill the vacant IAC seat and would like to make a recommendation.
It has come to my attention that Patti Ray, former founder of the IAC and former City Councilmember has shown
interest in the seat. I realize John Carney of the same household as Patti is already on the IAC so I read some rules and
it seems that under Scandia Ordinances 30.07 and 30.08 regarding committees, that each committee makes their own
rules. I could not find any specific IAC rules so I assume having both Patti and John on the IAC would be acceptable.
I have watched Patti on the City Council for a few years and have been impressed with her effort and success in
garnering outside funding for internet expansion. In fact, her efforts have freed up funds originally slated for internet
expansion to be used for other critical infrastructure purposes in Scandia. I have also been impressed, for example,
when the 2023 funds for the internet expansion were no longer needed in full (due to state and federal funding
mechanisms), that she bravely suggested that the levy for Scandia could be lowered because of the significant budget
reduction that became available. It did not come to a passible motion, but it was a brave suggestion and I respect that.
As a current IAC member, I would like to respectfully make a recommendation to appoint Patti Ray to the IAC.
Sincerely
Steve Collier