|
Chanhassen * 952-934-5659 |
|
Leuthner Well Company Victoria * 952-443-2582 |
|
Dine in Downtown Victoria * 952-443-2858 |
|
MACKENTHUN’S Gourmet Meats Victoria * 952-443-1841 |
|
Holy Family Catholic High School Victoria * 952-443-4659 |
|
Island View Dining Waconia. 952-442-2956 |
|
Buying or Selling Victoria? Call Nan Emmer. 612-702-2020 |
|
Headlines and bylines |
|
Front Page Feature Story |
|
From the Editor |
|
Addie’s Drawing |
|
Letters to the Editor |
|
Victoria Moments |
|
Hook Line & Sinker |
|
Calendar of Events |
|
Click here to Advertise |
|
the Gazette |
|
Return to Home Page |
|
Order paper Gazette |
|
Notes and Quotes |
|
The Scoop at City Hall |
|
Home Page |
|
The Victoria GAZETTE |
|
POOL OF ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS TO STREAMLINE PROCESS IN VICTORIA Council unanimously approved a Professional Engineering Support Services Consultant Pool. To that end, City Engineer Cara Geheren reported that the City of Victoria received 22 statements of qualification from all over the metro area. "I would say that all 22 firms are qualified," she stated. The pool establishes a list of pre-qualified firms for staff to turn to for consulting engineering services when the need arises. Stated Cara, "The purpose of the pool is to end up with a more streamlined process. We can select the one in the pool that would have the greatest expertise to a project or task. It's a pre-qualification process." She explained that the city wouldn't then need to perform a "full blown background report" in order to hire a firm for expertise on a project. "We're not totally restricted to this pool," she said. "The pool is a guide." It was also explained that Cara would serve as the Team Manager on an engineering project. The pool consists of five large full-service firms and smaller specialty firms.
IDENTIFYING STRATEGIC GOALS FOR 2012 SOME ALREADY ACTIVATED AND UNDERWAY The city's 2012 goals are almost 100% identified and will be finalized in April. On March 26th, City Administrator Don Uram presented the Strategic Plan Update to councilmembers. It reflects a summary of previous discussion by Council and staff. "This is an opportunity for [additional]council input and comment," he said. The goals lie within six main categories: Financial (keep ongoing interaction between committee and council), Organization (change mayor's term from 2 to 4 years and change the city's form of gov't), Development (extend utilities to Lake Wasserman annexation area), Partnerships (continue to foster relationships, especially as related to Hwy 5 construction), Facilities (acquire land for new Public Works facility and also a building design), Parks and Trails (annually review Master Plan and prioritize needs, especially as related to trail connections). Most of the discussion that evening was related to Park and Rec -- acquiring a comprehensive list of projects, prioritizing them, putting a cost on them.
CONCERN ABOUT ZEBRA MUSSELS AND KEEPING THEM OUT OF SCHUTZ LAKE Councilmember Kim Roden said she is concerned about zebra mussels making an entrance into Schutz Lake where she is a resident on the west shore adjacent to Carver Park. "We have no public access on Schutz Lake," she said, "but we have Archie Leizinger who allows people to go out on the lake with unfettered access. I have a fear we'll have zebra mussels if somebody has stuff on their boat." Councilmember Roden said there is a resident who is considering filing to shut down that access on the southeast shore of Schutz Lake. "Then Mr. Leizinger would need a conditional use permit to operate the boat access," she said. "The resident has a valid point. Mr. Leizinger is operating a business in a residential neighborhood. We [the City of Victoria] operate on a complaint basis. There is a lot of concern about this, about zebra mussels getting into the lake." There was no action at the March 12th city council meeting and no further discussion.
FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ASTER TRAIL AREA LOOKING AT ASSESSMENT OF $35,000 PER LOT At the end of a long session during the March 28th city council meeting, Victoria city councilmembers voted 5-0 to approve a feasibility study for street, water, and sewer improvements at Aster Trail and Aster Circle located in the northeast corner of the city limits of Victoria. Estimated city cost of this phase of the feasibility study: $10,000. If the improvements are eventually ordered for that neighborhood, the assessment is estimated to be approximately $35,000 per unit. Some of the homeowners have acreage that can be developed into four or five single family lots, or units. Of the potential 19 residents who would be assessed if the project progresses, 10 were in the audience. All raised their hands in favor of moving the entire project forward, even the "land baron" with four developable lots. "Neighbors were notified of the meeting tonight," said City Engineer Cara Geheren. "We've had many meetings together. The neighborhood is located north of Hwy 7. You have to leave the City of Victoria to access the site."
Click here to continue Aster Trail project.
|
|
Sue’s Album A symphony of photos and fewer than a thousand words at www.VictoriaGazette.com |
|
April 2012 |
|
Southwest Christian H.S. 952-556-0040 |
|
WATERBROOKE Fellowship A place where all may experience God in a meaningful and personal way, in Victoria. 952-443-0062 |
