02. Gravel Bed Nursery communicationGravel Bed Tree and Nursery Agenda Item #2
City Council Work Session May 3, 2023
On Apr 12, 2023, at 6:17 AM, Tom Furey wrote:
City Council members,
As you probably know, I am about to embark on a long-term project of having a gravel bed tree
and shrub nursery in Scandia and for Scandia. I hope that it will be something that continues for
many years to come, with each year establishing 50-100 trees and shrubs for the Scandia
area.With just this one gravel bed nursery, we have the chance to establish 500-1000 new trees
and shrubs throughout Scandia.
I would like to encourage the city to consider establishing a forestry committee to help manage
all aspects of the nursery, including selecting trees and determining the best way to distribute
these trees over the long term. This year's trees are pretty well along the way of being spoken for,
but I want this to be the best it can be for Scandia for many years to come. If it would be helpful,
I would be glad to discuss the topic with the council.
Tom Furey
Bone Lake property owner
Bone Lake association board member
Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District CAC member
Minnesota Water Steward
On Wed, Apr 12, 2023 at 8:36 AM Christine Maefsky wrote:
Tom,
Would you be able to address the council at our May 3rd Work Session about your nursery
project? The meeting starts at 6:30.
Thank you.
Christine Maefsky
Mayor, City of Scandia
On Fri, Apr 14, 2023 at 10:43 AM Charles Fischer wrote:
All,
If you have not been previously informed of the Gravel Bed Nursery, Ken and I met with Tom
Furey many months ago along with other Washington County and Watershed representatives to
discuss possible Gravel Bed Nursery sites. I agreed to allow the gravel bed to be placed behind
our facility due to the availability of a secure area, water source, and space. At the time the
project was just starting up as Tom had received grant money to establish the Gravel Bed. We
also discussed that City staff would not be involved in the building of or maintaining the nursery.
The only offered service from the City was to purchase the materials (tax exempt) and to be
reimbursed with the Grant funds through Tom.
Gravel Bed Tree and Nursery Agenda Item #2
City Council Work Session May 3, 2023
Questions were also raised at the time of long term planning, which no remark of a future
Forestry Committee or City involvement mentioned. I support the Gravel Bed nursery being
available to Scandia residents and consider it a great idea, but it should remain a program
operated by a local non-profit community organization. This program involves a lot of work
maintaining the nursery, time invested in the planting and maintenance, coordination of receiving
orders, and collecting funds for the purchase of the plant material. Public Works would be unable
to support nursery operations of the gravel bed and recommend to keep all aspects of the
program managed and operated by a local non-profit group.
If you have any questions or need any clarification please contact me directly or if to benefit the
group through this email.
Thank you,
Charles Fischer | Public Works Director
City of Scandia
14727 209th Street N, Scandia, MN 55073
P 651.433.5223 | F 651.433.5112
c.fischer@ci.scandia.mn.us
www.cityofscandia.com