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2007 October - Fall Newsletter City of Scandia Scandia Community/ Senior Center 14727 209th St. N. Scandia, MN 55073 • December 24 & 25, Christmas— Office Closed • December 31, New Years Eve— Office Closed January • January 1, New Year’s Day— Office Closed • January 21, Martin Luther King Day– Office Closed February • February 3, Lions Pancake Breakfast • February 18, President’s Day— Office Closed • February 23, Fireball 2008 March • March 20, Vernal Equinox— First Day of Spring For more information and a complete calendar of city meetings, see www.ci.scandia.mn.us . For Gammelgården and Elim Church events, see: http://www.gammelgardenmuseum.org . October • October 20, 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Saturday) Comprehensive Plan Open House • October 23, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Tuesday) Comprehensive Plan Open House (see story inside) November • November 6, Election Day (Schools) • November 12, Veteran’s Day— Office Closed • November 15,Lutfisk Dinner, Elim Church • November 16, Turkey Bingo • November 22 & 23, Thanksgiving Holiday— Office Closed December • December 3, 7:00 p.m. (Monday) Truth in Taxation Public Hearing (see story inside) • December 8, Lions Pancake Breakfast • December 9, Lucia Day, Gammelgården/ Elim Church • December 18, 7:00 p.m., City Council Budg- et Adoption Hearing Community Calendar, October ‘07—March ‘08 Dedicated to Rural Community Values We’re on the web! www.ci.scandia.mn.us Household Scandia, MN 55073 City Council: Dennis Seefeldt, Mayor 651 433-5999 Dolores Peterson 651 433-2229 Pete Crum 651 433-5034 Donnette Yehle 651 433-3602 Mike Harnetty 651 433-4883 Regular Council Meeting: Third Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. Council/Planning Commission Meeting: First Tuesday, 7:00/7:30 p.m. City Staff: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator Brenda Eklund, Deputy Clerk Colleen Firkus, Treasurer John Morrison, Public Works Supervisor Steve Thorp, Building/ Code Enforcement Official David Hebert, Attorney Hebert & Welch PA Tom Peterson, Engineer, BRA Dick Thompson, Planner, TKDA, Inc City Office: Phone: 651 433-2274 Fax: 651 433-5112 E-mail: mail@ci.scandia.mn.us Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to Noon & 1p.m. to 4 p.m. PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Scandia, MN 55073 The time has come again for Scandia to plan for its future. Every ten years, the city is required to sub- mit an Updated Comprehensive Plan to the Metropolitan Council. This document functions as a blue- print for the city – describing how natural resources will be protected, where development will take place, and how Scandia will continue to maintain its rural character and provide a high quality of life to all its citizens. The last Comprehensive Plan for New Scandia Township was adopted in 1998, and so Scandia’s next comprehensive plan must be adopted by the end of 2008. Issues to be addressed in the comprehensive plan include; de- mographics, natural resources, land use, housing, economic development, cultur- al resources, parks and trails, transpor- tation, and public facilities. Work has already started on the plan update. The City is leading the planning effort and has formed a Comprehensive Planning Committee. The Committee is chaired by Mayor Dennis Seefeldt, and includes members of the City Council, the Planning Commission, the Parks and Recreation Committee, and citizen representatives. A consultant team has been hired to provide the Committee with profes- sional guidance and assistance throughout the planning process. The consultant team is lead by Jean Coleman of CR Planning in association with professionals from URS Corporation and Emmons and Oliv- ier Resources. Citizen involvement is essential to the success of the Comprehensive Plan update and so the Committee hopes to involve the citizens of Scandia in the planning process as much as possible. Public “visioning” meetings will be held at the Scandia Community/Senior Center on Oct. 20th from 9 to 11 a.m., and on Oct. 23rd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Comprehensive Plan Committee is eager to learn what the citi- zens of Scandia envision for the future of their city. Additional citizen involvement will occur through- out the planning project. A series of focus groups will be held near the end of this year, and public meetings will again be held in March 2008. The Comprehensive Plan Update is set to be completed by June 2008. A graphic timeline is included on page 2. Major tasks between now and June 2008 include defining a community vision, developing a fu- ture land use map, creating goals, policies and objectives, and developing implementation strategies. Citizen input is welcomed throughout all phases of the process. If you have any questions or comments about the comprehensive plan update process, please contact Anne Hurlburt, City Administrator at 651 433-2274. For more information, check the City website (www.ci.scandia.mn.us) for meeting agendas, minutes and reports. Scandia Plans for the Future Comprehensive Plan Update is Underway Inside this issue: Scandia Needs Your Vision... Attend a Comp Plan Meeting on October 20 or 23 2 Citizens Serve on Committee 2 New City Staff 2 “Truth in Taxa- tion” Hearing Set 3 Where do My Tax Dollars Go? 3 Community Calendar 4 A TWICE-YEARLY PUBLICATION FOR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA October, 2007 Volume 1, Issue 2 Mayor Dennis Seefeldt chairs the Comprehensive Plan Committee. Also pictured: Greg Zauner and Mike White (citizen representatives), Moose Malmquist and Peter Schwarz (Planning Commissioners.) . Let’s talk about the future…. • What does "Rural Character" mean to you? • What will Scandia look like in 20 or 30 years? • How will our woods and waters be pro- tected? • Where will you shop? • How will you get to work? • Where will your children or grandchildren play? Plan to attend one of the two public meetings to learn more about the comprehensive plan- ning process, and to make sure your voice is heard. Citizen involvement is essential to cre- ating a plan that works for everyone. Both meetings will be held at the Community Cen- ter. Call the city office at 651 433-2274 with any questions. worked as a Building Inspector for the City of Blaine and has served several other communities. Donna Thordson is the new part-time office assistant. Donna’s duties will include receiving visitors, answering the phone, helping with li- censing and permits, filing and general clerical support for the Council, committees and staff. New city, new faces! In the last six months, three new staff members have joined the Scandia team. Mike Egelkraut is the new full-time Maintenance Worker. Mike will assist Mainte- nance Supervisor John Morrison with all public works functions. His previous experience in- cludes working for the Chisago County Highway Department, and with Northwest Airlines as an aircraft mechanic. Steve Thorp is Scandia’s new Building and Code Enforcement Official. In addition to in- spections, Steve is available during office hours and by appointment to help residents plan their building projects and answer code questions. He will monitor and enforce conditions of approval for new developments and zoning permits, and investigate complaints. Steve most recently Scandia Needs Your Vision… Plan to attend a Comprehensive Plan Meeting in October New Staff Members Join Scandia Page 2 Citizens Serve on Comprehensive Plan Committee Everyone who lives or works in Scandia is invited to participate in the development of the Com- prehensive Plan. But the following people de- serve some special recognition for rolling up their sleeves and volunteering to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Committee. They will meet at least twice a month for the next year to help plan Scandia’s future. Committee members are: Mayor Dennis See- feldt, chair; Councilmember Mike Harnetty; Plan- ning Commissioners Chris Ness, Moose Malmquist, Christine Maefsky, Peter Schwarz and Kevin Nickelson; Parks Commission Rep Karen Schik; Citizens-at -Large John Lindell, Michele McNulty, Michael White and Greg Zauner; City Attorney Dave Hebert and City Administrator Anne Hurlburt. Public Meetings Saturday, October 20, 2007 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. or Tuesday, October 23, 2007 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Comprehensive Plan Timeline Scandia Needs You! Volunteer to serve your community. Mem- bers are needed on the Park and Recrea- tion Committee and in many other capaci- ties. See the website for applications and more information. When Scandia was New Scan- dia Township, the budget and property tax levy were set at an annual Town Meeting. As a city, the process is a little bit different. In September, the City Council reviewed a draft budget and determined the maximum property tax levy needed to fund city services for 2008. In early November, each property owner will receive a “Truth in Taxation” notice with their estimated 2008 property tax bill from each of the property taxing jurisdictions. The coun- ty, school district and city will each have their own “Truth in Taxation” hearings, at which citizens are invited to comment on the proposed property tax levy. Scandia’s hearing will be on Monday, December 3 (7:00 p.m. at the Community Cen- ter.) If necessary, the hearing will be continued on December 10. After the “T in T” hearing, the property tax levy can be re- duced, but cannot be raised beyond the maximum levy certified in September. The final budget and tax levy will finalized after the adoption hearing scheduled for Decem- ber 18, 2007. 2008 Budget— The city’s operating budget is expected to increase by 2.02% from 2007 to 2008. The increase is less than the rate of inflation, even as some costs are increasing fast- er. For example, the police services contract with Wash- ington County will increase by 12.02%. Health insurance costs will go up 17.6%. Changes between the 2007 and 2008 budgets include: • Hiring new and replace- ment staff members, and initiating basic employee benefits to attract and retain a quality workforce • Funding capital expendi- tures to improve efficiency (such as computers, a salt/ sand storage structure for public works) and maintain existing facilities • Implementing some rec- ommendations of the new Capital Improvements Committee, including starting an equipment replacement fund to bet- ter plan for major pur- chases, and preparing a pavement management plan to recommend the most cost-effective meth- ods to maintain roads Levy and Tax Rate— The total city property tax levy will increase by 11.06% from 2007 to 2008 (from $1,533,930 to $1,703,589) The tax increase is more than the operating budget increase because other revenues (interest, permit fees, state aid) are down. Also, a large part of Scandia’s resources are spent on road paving projects, includ- ing debt service. This is a con- tinuation of the program start- ed by New Scandia Township over fifteen years ago. The 6% growth in taxable property value from 2007 to 2008 absorbs some of the levy increase, so the tax rate would increase by 4.67% The proposed 2008 tax rate of 25.116% is less than the New Scandia Township tax rates for 2005 (28.036%) and 2006 (26.551%.) Impact on Individual Tax- payers—City property taxes on the average value home in Scandia ($391,700 in 2008) will increase by a maximum of 6.15% ($56.61.) Part (about one-fourth) of this increase is due to an increase in the average home value, which was $387,000 in 2007. Scandia has consistently ranked low for municipal property tax burden compared to other Metropolitan Area communi- ties. In 2006, Scandia ranked 82nd among 113 cities and towns above 2,300 population. Your “Truth in Taxation” notice will show the proposed 2008 property taxes for each of the jurisdictions receiving a part of the “property tax pie.” The chart to the right shows how the dollars were distributed in 2007. City services represent about 35% of the average property tax bill. Your own tax bill may differ, depending on your school district and watershed district. This example is for property in the Forest Lake School District and the Car- nelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District. Council to hold first “Truth in Taxation” Hearing on 2008 City Budget Where do my property tax dollars go? “T in T” Hearing When: Monday, December 3, 2007 7:00 p.m. Where: Scandia Community Center, 14727 209th St. N. What: Comment on 2008 Property Tax Levy Page 3 The city logo design includes an image of the Dala Häst (Horse), part of the folk art and lore of Sweden. In 1850, Scan- dia was the site of the first Swedish settlement in Minnesota.