Terry Traver
Scandia Reporter
The Scandia City Council dealt with a number of business items at its June 16 meeting, including the resignation of City Administrator Kristina Handt.
City administrator
Handt decided to resign her position effective Nov. 6 to stay home and care for her child after she is born. The City Council reluctantly but unanimously accepted her resignation. Mayor Randall Simonson jokingly wondered if there was a way to make Handt stay in her position, and Councilman Dan Lee asked, “Is there an option that she could change her mind down the road?” Staff said it was possible for her to withdraw her resignation.
Handt has been the administrator for three years. She reminded the council that the hiring process takes between four and five months to complete. The council decided to have the staff move forward and search for a recruitment firm to assist in hiring a new administrator.
Bond for fire truck
The purchase of a new fire tanker truck was unanimously approved at a previous May council meeting. At that time, the purchase price was determined to be $215,000, and initially it was suggested that the money for the purchase be taken from the Equipment Replacement Fund. However, there was additional discussion about alternative ways to finance the purchase. The council asked staff to get quotes on financing. Security State Bank offered the best interest rates on the certificates of indebtedness.
The City Council was presented with a resolution to award the sale of bonds and providing for the payments of the bonds to come from the general tax levy. Assistant City Attorney Andy Pratt prepared bond documents and a draft resolution providing a schedule for the payment of the bonds, which will not require an increase in the tax levy in 2016. The council voted unanimously to approve this resolution.
Solar ordinance
Property owners in Scandia have received inquiries regarding the potential to create solar energy systems like solar farms and solar gardens that would be principal uses on their properties. This use is not currently permitted as a principal use in the city’s development code. The Planning Commission has been working on the topic since April and has developed an ordinance that would permit solar gardens and solar farms in some zoning districts in Scandia.
Key elements of the new ordinance:
–The ordinance permits solar farms and community solar gardens as primary uses in the agriculture core and general rural districts and as accessory uses in the agriculture preserves district. The uses are prohibited in the shoreland district, wetlands and floodplains.
–The ordinance requires a conditional use permit for both uses.
–Applicants for a permit must submit detailed site plans and vertical sketch elevations for the proposed facilities.
–The minimum lot size is 5 acres.
–The city may require a payment in lieu of taxes to compensate the city for any prospective tax revenue that may be lost due to reclassification of land for this use.
–The ordinance includes performance standards, including setbacks, screening, and other standards to manage the potential impacts of the uses on other properties.
The council unanimously adopted this ordinance.
Am-Tec expansion
Am-Tec Designs requested a conditional use permit to add on to existing buildings at its current business site. City Planner Sherri Buss said that the Planning Commission has no issue with granting this request. She reported that in other jurisdictions such as Forest Lake and Hugo, Am-Tec would not be required to apply for a use permit. Am-Tec is not changing the use of the structure. The council unanimously adopted this resolution.
Log House Landing
Jim Shaver, administrator of the Car Mar Watershed District, contacted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and checked into getting concrete cable boat ramp planks donated for the Log House Landing Boat Launch. The DNR agreed to donate the planks, and the Watershed District agreed to provide $2,000 for the installation of the planks. The DNR will also deliver the planks for free. However, the city must get permits from the DNR Water Division and the Army Corps of Engineers, which includes a review by the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service and the city approving an agreement with the DNR.
The planks provided by the DNR would cover the launch but not the entire landing. It is estimated that additional planks would cost approximately $80 per foot. The city engineer estimates a cost of approximately $2,900 for the crushed rock needed to be laid between the planks. The council directed staff to apply for permits and the agreement will be reviewed for adoption at a future council meeting.