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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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MAKING APPOINTMENTS IN VICTORIA SEVERAL RESIDENTS STEP FORWARD TO APPLY Several citizens of Victoria stepped forward to make application to fill vacancies on various city commissions and committees. Administrator Don Uram and city councilmembers interviewed some of the candidates at a 5 p.m. workshop on March 14th. The city administrator asked the candidates questions about their interest in the position, their qualifications, their vision for Victoria. Each candidate said that they had the time to commit. Three candidates were interviewed for the Park and Recreation Committee, which meets once a month on the third Monday. Pete Isabell said he's lived in Victoria for a year and a half. As an employee at Lifetime Fitness he helped implement processes and works with energy efficiency. He would like to expand existing soccer fields in Victoria. His vision is to bring people to Victoria and have them get more active in the community. Toni Dauwalter, who works at the Chaska Community Center, is active with her children, visits city parks in the neighborhood, and uses the trails. She said she sees what the Chaska Community Center offers and what could be brought to Victoria. She said she has energy and a vested interest in Parks and Recreation because of her children. "I've never been on a city committee before," she said. "I'd like to look at new opportunities. I think the Victoria Recreation Center is kind of under-utilized. I have a passion for nutrition and healthy families and maybe healthy family promotions in the community." Brian Deffaa said he lives at Lake Bridge, has four children, moved to Minnesota in 2007 from Ann Arbor, Michigan, works for 3M. He has a political science background and was part of a lobbying group for light rail in St. Louis. He said he has experience with counties and with state legislators. He recommended the city talk to families and sports enthusiasts to get that voice into the city and help set up multi-year goals. "We've lived from the east coast to the west coast," he said. "Amenities and parks bring families together. I enjoy seeing the downtown development and would like to be part of the future development." One candidate was interviewed for the Planning Commission, which meets twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays. There were a total of four applicants for three openings. Todd Triethart said he's seen Victoria go from a small town to a city, that he has a 25-year background in the construction business and is currently a supervisor for a company, seeing projects from start to finish. "No one was filling this position, so I stepped forward," he said. "There are a few things still undone in downtown Victoria. We need a permanent home for City Hall. We've got to get a professional building for the city and also a Public Works building. We need some type of industrial tax base here, someone from the outside paying taxes besides us." *** Councilmembers then responded to questions from the candidates and made comments of their own. Stated Councilmember Tom O'Connor, "I'm impressed by the qualities of these candidates." Stated Councilmember Kim Roden about the importance of these particular appointments, "Victoria has more than a superficial commitment with 'lakes and parks' in its name. Carver Park has to remain an 80% passive park and we've got numerous neighborhood parks. We look to the Park and Recreation Committee to give us a vision. We do have a 20-year park plan with big ideas. Big ideas cost money. There is a limitation of available funds." Councilmember Roden pointed out that all people currently serving on the committee have re-applied. "We have a number of people who have served a long time," she said. "If we don't turn these positions over, we don't get new blood. We want to balance experience with new blood." Mayor Mary Thun stated the number of people on the Planning Commission is five, and it will remain five. "We use the Planning Commission to do the heavy lifting so when it comes to the council, it's been scoped out." *** Four candidates were next interviewed -- three for the Business Development Committee, which meets once a month on the fourth Wednesday, and one for any committee the council might choose for her. Questions again revolved around their reason for applying, their qualifications, and their vision for Victoria. Councilmember Tom O'Connor told the candidates that Holly Kreft is Victoria's very strong Community Development Director, "the glue that holds all the personalities together" on the Business Development Committee. "It's a free swinging group. Local businesses are represented plus also individuals. It's really a dynamic group. The goal is to get development of the city essentially along the guidelines of the 30-year comprehensive plan."
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Sue’s Album A symphony of photos and fewer than a thousand words at www.VictoriaGazette.com |
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April 2011 |
