2. August 27, 2020 MinutesCity of Scandia
Capital Improvement Committee
August 27, 2020
A Capital Improvements Committee meeting was held on the above date with modifications.
Due to the health advisory issued by the State regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, to avoid public
gatherings and limit social contact, the meeting was conducted over an electronic platform. All
committee members and staff who joined the meeting remotely could hear each other and
contribute to discussions. City Administrator Ken Cammilleri was the presenter and displayed
the meeting materials for participants to view on their remote screens.
City Administrator Cammilleri called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. The following were
participants to the meeting: Committee members Terry Gorham, Perry Rynders, Dominic
Mitchell, Mark Lofstrom, and Council member Steve Kronmiller. Staff participating: City
Administrator Ken Cammilleri, City Fire Chief Mike Hinz, Public Works Director Adam
Hawkinson, City Engineer Ryan Goodman, and City Treasurer Colleen Firkus.
The agenda was approved with a motion by Rynders, seconded by Kronmiller. The minutes from
the August 8, 2019 meeting were approved as amended with a motion by Kronmiller, seconded
by Rynders. No Committee Chair was appointed.
Review of draft Capital Improvement Program 2021-2025
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND 401
Administration Dept.’s only item was a $165,000 DEED grant match to fund internet expansion in the
city. While the Internet Action Committee comes up with a long-range plan for how that expansion
will play out, it was decided to continue to use $165,000 in 2021.
Community Center Upgrade was pushed out to 2024 as it needs to be timed with the Heritage
Alliance’s Art Center project. The amphitheater also would be moved to 2024. Projects will be
combined to put together a bonding package with state matching grants if available. Community
Center playground equipment will be left in year 2023 as it won’t impact either of the other
projects. Camilleri suggested a long-term park amenities plan be developed with community input.
Fire Chief Hinz stated the radios for next year are a high priority as they are obsolete and spare parts
can be obtained through the County for possibly only one more year. The second fire station would
ideally be on the west side of the city allowing coverage to that area and increasing the ISO rating to
properties within 5 miles of a fire station. It would also provide a wider range of potential recruits
who are required to live within a certain distance for the fire station, which would help with the
departments ongoing recruiting struggles. The city owns one piece of land at Mayberry & Manning,
or property could be acquired more to the northwest. The quote is for a pole building with 3 to 4
bays. Cammilleri suggested that size and zoning may be issues and a site plan would need to be
developed to address those issue. In response to a committee member’s question, Cammilleri
responded that while the City received CARES funds, they cannot be spent on these types of capital
purchases and have a November 30, 2020 expenditure deadline. Funding for this by selling the
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Capital Improvement Committee
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Annex is no longer an option as the City has entered in an agreement with the DNR for that property
to be a trailhead for the Gateway Trail, as well as being used for the Lions Club storage and gambling
office.
Hinz requested and increase in the grass rig in 2022 to $60,000, and add Annex roof replacement for
$40,000 with the PW/FD roof replacement. Also, in 2027 add Thermal Cameras for $8,000 at a #2
Priority, a UTV & Trailer for $28,000 as a #1 Priority, and in 2028 replace Jaws of Life for $12,000.
Fire Chief Hinz asked to ad $10,000 in2021 for 5 radios. He indicated the Public Works needs to get
on their radio system including one radio for the city office.
PARK IMPROVEMENTFUND 404
Hawkinson reported that the signs for Hay Lake and Lilleskogen in 2021 should be increased to
$10,000 each. Sign design is waiting for comment by the Tourism committee before ordering.
Hawkinson also suggested skating rink board replacements be added to the CIP at $50,000 in 2024.
It was suggested the rink board expense be spread out $10,000 a year for five years.
Gorham asked to add in 2025 trail planning for $30,000 for Bone Lake and Lilleskogen to Olinda Trail,
increase the city’s portion of the Lilleskogen picnic shelter to $10,000, and in 2026 add $10,000 for
wetland maintenance to contain invasives. It was decided to move the Wayne Erickson playground
to 2022 and the Community Center playground to 2023 to even out the expenditures.
Councilmember Kronmiller requested $5,000 added to 2021 for a long-range park plan.
EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND 406
Public Works Director Hawkinson asked for a replacement riding mower for $9,000 be put back into
2021. The current Bolens mower is 35 years old and has no safety features. Instead of putting the
skid steer on a replacement schedule, Hawkinson suggested it would be more economical to lease
one. TheJD-6410 Tractor and Tiger Boom Mower needed to be added at $133,000 and $17,000
respectively in year 2022.
LOCAL ROAD IMPROVEMENT FUND 408
City Engineer Goodman suggested the Bliss Stormwater Plan in 2023 be split between 2022 and
2023 for $250,000 each year. He indicated the top three priorities in this plan would cost $210,000.
Then add $35,000 in 2024 and 2025 to address ongoing stormwater issues.
Road Projects – the 2020 project budgeted at $587,000 came in at $355,305. Goodman asked that
the extra $50,000 that was tacked on to the future road project estimates be removed and added to
the revenue side of the fund for building up additional reserves. Goodman requested a crack sealing
and seal coating project be added to 2025 for $252,000, and to 2026 for $335,000 to protect the
roads reconstructed in 2020. Generally, roads are seal coated on a 5 to 7-year cycle to maintain
protection from oxidation and traffic degradation. Alternatively, would to not spend that money and
replace roads every 20 years, patching them in the meantime. Seal coating is planned for in the
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Capital Improvement Committee
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General Fund operating expenses for Public Works road maintenance. Scandia has 90 miles of road
spread over a large area and smaller density comparable to other cities such as Forest Lake. It is also
not eligible for state road funding as its population is under $5,000. Goodman suggested the city
could look at refinancing the 2018 bond when it becomes callable in 2024 and take out a new bond
to finance another large road project. Cammilleri indicating he was recommending to the Council to
hire a financial advisor firm to establish a long-range financial plan to address not only the City’s
road maintenance needs, but also long-term sewer utility needs.
Committee requests for next meeting were to have options to consider when addressing shortfalls
and include a current road rating map in the next packet.
Next meeting tentatively scheduled September 9 at 5:30.
The meeting adjourned at 7:48 with a motion by Rynders, seconded by Gorham.
Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Firkus, Treasurer