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2023 April - Spring NewsletterDedicated to Rural Community Values City of Scandia Scandia Community/ Senior Center 14727 209th Street North Scandia, MN 55073 Phone: 651.433.2274 Fax: 651.433.5112 E-mail: mail@ci.scandi&mn.us Hours: Mon. thru Fri. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Like us on Faeekook tos the most Up-to-Dak INomsation City Council: Christine Mae sf yk . MaVo 651.433.2684 Mike Lubke 715.429.0786 1 erM Cusick 651.433.5865 Heather Benson 651.433.0168 Steve Kronmiller 651.53&0094 Regular Council Meetin. Third Tuesday. 7:00 p.m. Council Work Session: First Wednesday. 6:30 p.m. Planning commission: First Tuesday. 7:00 1!— ciW St . Anne Huriburt. Interim Administrator Brenda Eklund. City clerk Colleen Firkm Treasurer Bee Stignani. Office Assistant shades Fischer. Director of Public Works Mike Hinz Fire Chief Eric Larson. Attorney Eckberg Lammers Ryan Goodman, Engineer Bolton & Menk TI Hofer Planner. Bolton & Menk PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Scandia, MN 55073 EDDM Household Scandia, MN 55073 Community Calendar, April 2023 - September, 2023 April • April 1, 8-11 a.m., Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Scandia-Marine Lions • April 15 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Service Project Sampler Day, Scandia-Marine Lions • April 17, 5 p.m., Board of Appeal and Equalization, Community Center • April 20, First Anniversary Celebration with Mellerud, Sweden, 11 a.m., C ommunity Center • April 22, Earth Day Activity, 1-3 p.m. Pinecone Bird Feeders, Hay Lake Park, Park and Recreation Committee. • April 29, Star Watch Party with Mike Lynch, Hay Lake Park • April 29-May 6,Spring Clean-up Collection Week, SRC, Wyoming • April 30, 1 p.m., Earth Day shrub give - a -way and info , Hay Lake Park, Friends of Scandia Parks & Trails May • May 4, Butik Opening - Gammelgarden • May 5-7, Opening Weekend, Gammelgarden • May 28, Immigrant for a Day, Gammelgarden • May 29, Memorial Day, Office Closed June • June 5, 1-6 p.m. Blood Drive, Scandia- Marine Lions • June 14, Farmers Market - Opening Day, Community Center • June 24, Midsommer Day, Gammelgarden July • July 4, Independence Day, Office Closed August • August 1, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., National Night Out, Community Center • August 19, Spelmanstamma, Gammelgarden September • September 4, Labor Day, Office Closed • September 9, Taco Daze Festival Formore information anda Citymeeting calendar, see the website www. cityofs candia.com For Gammelgarden events, see: www. aamme/aardenm us a um. ora For Scandia Marine Lions events, see: www.scandiamarin a/ions. oro VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1 APRIL 2023 A twice -yearly publication forresidents of the City of Scandia, Minnesota Message from the Mayor A busy spring, summer and fall lie ahead. C�0�00� - ' TT� The Scandia-Marine Lions will host the fourth annual Service Project Sampler SCAv L Day featuring 15 hands-on service projects and 21 collection drives. This event in the community center is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 151h. Gammelgarden's 51st Birthday Celebration & Picnic will be May 61h at Gammelgarden. Look for sign up information on the Scandia and Gammelgarden websites. Eight members of Scandia's Sister City initiative will be guests of our sister city Mellerud, Sweden in June. Mayor Christine Maefsky, Sister City Board members, Patti Ray, Sue Rodsjo, Paul Rodsjo, Darlene Holtgreve and Lynnette Welch, along with farm connection Sarah Nell Johnson, and bee connection Mike Mackiewicz will be in Mellerud from June 26 to July 4. The visit will coincide with "Kanalyran" Mellerud's yearly town festival The members of the group will stay with host families while in Mellerud. Scandia's committee plans to invite a group from Mellerud to Scandia around the time of Taco Daze, with Scandia families hosting the visitors. If you might be interested in hosting, please contact me. Our new community center playground will be opening early this summer, with an official opening ceremony to follow. Washington County Historical Society's Hay Lake Beer Tasting fundraiser is set this year for June 171h at Hay Lake School Museum. Once again we will have a Midco Day including a welcoming at the Farmer's Market, an internet story competition for elementary school students at Lilleskogen Park along with a hamburger picnic from Meisters. The date is August 23xtl. The Scandia Heritage Alliance will be hosting a number of events this summer and fall. On June 81h there will be a fundraiser honoring Vice President Walter Mondale with a boat tour out of Taylors Falls. Also, together with Gammelgarden, the Spe/mans tamman fiddle festival will be held this year on August 19'h at Gammelgarden. And, the Progressive Dinner will be back this year. It is set for October 141h. To find out more about these events and how to sign up for them, keep checking Scandia's social media accounts (website, Facebook, and NextDoor.) 1 ,Please keep in touch. c.maefskvaci.scandia.mn.us, Christine Maefsky, Mayor r � al Scandia sought out Mellerud— First Anniversary Celebration with Sweden!�,SISTER CITIES Join the fun at the First respective internationScandia liii Mellerud Anniversary Celebration of location. to be our sister city because Scandia's Sister City charter many of Scandia's founding We thank all of the Sister City signing with Mellerud, Please come and support families came from the Committee members for all their Sweden! Festivities will this important event. Mellerud area with names valuable time, dedication, and occur on Thursday, April Following the brief such as Isaacson, creativity! 201h, starting at 11:00 a.m., ceremony, a Swedish FIKA Abrahamson, Dahlin, at the Community Center. will be held. This is a Edstrom, Kuno, and Inside this issue: beautiful Swedish tradition Anderson. An online ceremony on Trash &Recycling Services 2 le drinkeo which pp large monitors with our duringListed are connections friends in Sweden will coffee, tea, or juice, eat between our cities set up by Public Works News 2 include Swedish songs Swedish cakes, cookies, and Scandia's Sister City other light snacks, and talk Fire &Rescue News 2 performed by the Bettes Committee: connecting the d r&gar Choir from to each other! The Scandia's Lions Clubs, our elementary Watershed: Building & Landscape 2 Mellerud, American songs Sister City Committee plans schools, our choral groups, Project Notification Requirements by Unexpected Company to serve the towering a farm program, tourism Chorale, remarks Kransekake cake, Princess exchange, museum Waste & Recycle News 3 by Mellerud Mayor Karl-Olof Torte, and Krumkaka waffle collaboration, ancestry 2023 Assessments 3 , Pettersson and Scandia's information, commercial Mayor, Christine Maefsky, food and the company will trade, arts and crafts idea 2nd Annual City -Wide Garage Sale 3 and an update of our be excellent! The City of exchange, classic antique Burning Permits 3 connections during the past Scandia and The Scandia- cars, beekeeping clubs, year. The celebration will Marine Lions Club sponsor quilting club, Girl Scouts Parks& Recreation News 3 this no -charge FIKA. All are and a lake fishin g New City Administrator Selected 3 �b e b r o a d c a s t \simultaneously in each welcome to attend; you will connection. � learn a few Swedish words! Community Calendar 4 W7 S("ANT. — for Proposals) to solicit for waste & 1 Page 2 recycling companies. Reviewing lI Trash &Recycling Services proposals, negotiating a contract and Trash & recycling service updating ordinances will take some time, became a hot topic after Scandia's the process to update Scandia's ordinance likely until later this year. dominant trash & recycling provider, SRC, and pursue an "organized collection" was acquired by Waste Management system. With organized collection, the As this newsletter goes to press, Scandia (WM) in late 2022. city chooses the city's waste haulers. is still in the required 60-day negotiation Advantages include a greater ability of period with WM and is actively meeting For nearly 30 years, Scandia has the city to manage services, guarantee with the company. Council will receive a contracted with SRC to provide recycling service to all, decrease the wear and tear report in April and decide whether to service, with the city providing a small on streets, reduce truck traffic, and keep pursue a contract with WM or move to the subsidy. SRC also contracted directly with costs lower. Some neighboring cities next step in the state -defined process (a many residents and businesses for trash (including Forest Lake, Marine on St. committee and RFP.) service. As WM, the only other company Croix and Stillwater) manage their trash & serving Scandia, began serving former recycling this way. In the meantime, WM will continue to SRC customers and the recycling contract provide waste & recycling services to expired, there has been some confusion. State law dictates the process a city must Scandia customers. Concerned residents The city also learned that it had been follow. The first step is to provide formal are encouraged to follow updates on the operating under an obsolete ordinance notice to the public and current solid city's website www.citvofscandia.com/ (from 1970) requiring review and waste haulers. The city must negotiate Alerts, follow the directions to receive updating. exclusively with current haulers for a 60- notification for 2023 Waste and Recycling day period. If an agreement cannot be Updates. After discussing citizen concerns and reached, the city must then create a options available for both residents and "Solid Waste Options Committee" to businesses, the City Council has begun study the issues and draft an RFP (Request Fire & Rescue Public Works Out of the tab Streets: Ice and Snow Control freezer Contact your local post office for and into construction season! Public placement details including height and Works' road improvement projects are distance from the edge of pavement paving and seal coating. Look to regulations. Additional details at Scandia's social media accounts www. cityofscandia.com/Mailbox. (website, Facebook, and NextDoor) for updates. As snow recedes and rain begins, clearing culverts is key to preventing As spring is springing, please consider flooded ditches and roadways. Well installing swing -arm style mailbox drained ditch areas also prevent supports. They cushion impact by mosquito habitat. Please help to clear swinging out of the way if a vehicle or culvert openings on either side of your snow from the plow blade comes in driveway by removing brush, sand or contact with the mailbox. soil, and fallen leaves. Specifications are available at: w w w. c i t y o f s c a n d i a. c o m/ Have a safe spring and summer this StreetsIceSnowMailboxes under the Year! Notification Requirement - Building and Landscape Projects If you have a stream, wetland, or lake requirements seek to not only protect on your property, or within 1,000 feet the water resources during of your property, PLEASE contact the construction, but also incorporate long City of Scandia and the Watershed -term habitat and water protection District prior to beginning any project. practices such as adding trees and Contractors are frequently unaware of shrubs, low maintenance perennial local requirements and we will assist buffers, and rain -gardens. These you to prevent stop work orders and practices add up to large benefits to unintentional violations. In addition to your property, water resources, and helping you understanding local community! permitting requirements, the Watershed District may be able to Before beginning a project, please provide free plan development either go to Scandia's website, services and identify portions of your w w w. c i t y o f s c a n d i a. c o m/ project eligible for cost share funding. WatershedsInScandia., or call office staff during regular business hours When permits are needed, our (651) 433-2274 for watershed contact information. Please Help US Find You Mark your driveway or mailbox with at least 2" tall reflective numbers (visible from either direction at the road). This will allow fire, police, ambulance & other public safety services to quickly find your home in the event of an emergency. Additional markings may be needed for shared driveways and mailbox clusters. See city ordinance 152.20 on the city web site for further details - www.cityofscandia.com/FireAddress Smoke alarms Smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out. Like coupons and canned goods, smoke alarms have an expiration date. Per NFPA they have a life of 10 years, but if it has a built-in CO detector you may need to replace it sooner per the manufacturer's recommendations. According to Consumer Reports, most CO detectors come with a five- to seven-year warranty. Spring Projects? Remodeling? Adding a storage shed? Building a deck? Any new project —check out the NEW UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE adopted in October 2022 for guidance to meet all zoning requirements—www.citvofscandia.com/UDC /Waste & I Recycle News • Clean -Up Week- City -Wide Clean-up Week is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, through Saturday, May 6, at SRC, Inc. Waste and Recycle site in Wyoming, MN. Residents may drop off rubbish items not taken by their regular trash hauler such as appliances, tires, furniture, scrap metal and wood at the SRC facility located at 6320 East Viking Boulevard, Wyoming, MN. Discounted prices and other information is located at www.citvofscandia.com/Recycle • Mattress Clean-up Coming in early May —In collaboration with Ramsey/Washington County Recycling and Energy, Scandia residents may schedule free mattress and box spring recycling collection pick up by Second Chance Recycling. Curbside collection on Monday, May I" and Wednesday, May 3xtl. Registration opens up April 24°i. To schedule your curbside pick-up, watch for instructions on Scandia's social media accounts (website, Facebook, and NextDoor) or contact staff during regular business hours (651) 433-2274. You MUST resister to participate. • Film Plastic Recycle - Bring clean and dry plastic film products that are free of food residue to the collection bin in the Community Center to earn a park bench for Scandia! Accepting grocery bags, produce bags, newspaper sleeves, bread bags, bubble wrap and other such plastic film with the recycling numbers 2 and 4 printed! 500# collected before July 1, 2023 earns a bench. • Electronics/Hazardous Waste —Washington County sponsors free one -day household hazardous waste and electronics events. Paper shredding is available. Restrictions and details at www.cityofscandia.com/Recycle Forest Lake Transit Center Saturday, May 6 1 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, June 3 18 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, September 9 1 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. More Recycling News—www.citvofscandia.com/Recvcle Parks & Recreation News • Free Earth Day Activity -Build a pine -cone bird feeder at the Hay Lake Park pavilion Saturday April 22"d, 1-3 pm. Materials for the feeders and refreshments for participants will be provided while supplies last. • Star Watch Party with Mike Lynch -Learn about and enjoy the spring -time night sky with the popular Twin Cities meteorologist. Saturday April 29°i at Hay Lake Park. Sponsored by Security State Bank of Marine. Watch Scandia's social media accounts (website, Facebook, and NextDoor) for more specific details. • Tai Chi Class - Tai Chi is a great fitness and mindfulness activity. Register for an 8-week class, held at the community center on Wednesday nights, starting on May 31d - for more information and registration, go to www.cityofscandia.com/TaiChi • Children's Story Path at Lilleskogen Park - Walk the path to look for regularly updated stories and drawings from the elementary school kids around Scandia. • A new `Little Library' is coming this summer to \Lilleskogen Park. Exchange your used books for new readinq adventures in a miniature Water Tower Barn. 2023 I rtiyr Assessments Washington County has released the 2023 assessment information for the City of Scandia. In total, the value of all taxable properties in Scandia increased by 4.7 % over 2022 assessment. Of the parcels assessed, approximately there was a 0 to 5% increase for 2000 parcels, 6% to 10% increase for 250 parcels, 11% and up increase for 250 parcels. If you have questions, you are encouraged to contact Patrick Poshek, the City's Assessor, at 651.430.0360 or attend the Local Board Review & Equalization meeting Monday April 171h 2023 Im 1 5:00 to 6:00 pm S c a n d i a y! Assessor Center 14727 209th St N (listediiKd on your valuation 2nd Annual City -Wide Garage Sale The 2"d Annual City -Wide Garage sale will be Thursday, June I" through Saturday, June 31d. All residents and businesses are encouraged to register their garage sale to be included in the digital map. Register at www.citvofscandia.com/GaraaeSale, or contact staff during regular business hours (651) 433-2274 for assistance. Participants have the option to set up a sale table in the Community Center parking lot on Saturday only. Mark your calendars to both sell and shop! Burning Permits Apply online at www.cityofscandia.com/BurnPermit for open burning permits. Please notify the Washington County Sheriff's Office (651.439.9381) one hour before all burns except recreational 3'x3' campfires which do not require permits. Watch for Spring Burning Restrictions! New City Administrator Selected Kyle Morell has been and Inver Grove Heights. appointed to serve as Scandia's Morell has Bachelor of Arts in new City Administrator. The History from Marquette Mayor and Council approved University in Milwaukee and an employment agreement at Master of Public Administration their March 21, 2023 meeting. and Master of Arts in Morell will begin his duties on Management from Hamline Monday, April 17, 2023. The University. He is a resident of Council chose him from a field Forest Lake, Minnesota. of five finalists who were interviewed on March 10'. Mr. Morell replaces Anne Hurlburt (retired Scandia Mr. Morell currently serves as Administrator, who served from the City Administrator and City 2006 to 2012.) Hurlburt has Clerk for Hinckley, Minnesota been serving as Interim City and has 16 years of experience Administrator since the in local government, having departure of Ken Cammilleri in previously served the cities of December of 2022. -1/Clara City, Columbia Heights