Victoria MN Newspaper

Jim Donadio: Being on the Planning Commission for some time now, over ten years, I'm finding out how big of an effect we have -- from neighborhood disputes to broader issues. I'd like to continue.

The Planning Commission has a role in rewriting some of the city code. Some of it has been here since the 1970's. I see the Planning Commission has a big role. We can affect things greatly.

I'd like to improve our roads and get Carver County to fix the county roads.

Victoria has a tremendous amount of pressure from developers for big houses and small lots and cram them all together. We struggle with that, not giving in to pressure. We could literally almost have rooftops touching each other.

APPLICANTS FOR THE

PARK & RECREATION COMMITTEE

Randy Miller: I served on the Business Development Committee and the Victoria Business Owners Association. I like to think I bring accountability. I've been here since 2006. I want to get every resident to be visiting downtown Victoria.

The concentration should be on the city's 13.5 acres and City Hall and Public Works. I personally don't see Big Box retail here.

Kevin Roberts: I'm moving here in June. I want to be involved in the community. I've got a wife and two kids. My background is as a Director of Admissions for a college. I'm coming from Eden Prairie. It took us a while to move here because we didn't know what was all here. It's really great. But there's not a whole lot out here, so that's a problem when people move out here.

David High: I joined the Park Board eight years ago. I was new then and found it to be rewarding. I'd like to see more of a budget tie with the City Council. It's been a real challenge. Budgeting isn't so bad; it's the funding part.

A Big Box retail doesn't scare me, but things can be messed up by deviating from plans. As we grow, our service areas are going to get taxed. There are other growth things that will come with that. We shouldn't deviate from all the good plans.

Teresa Gregory: I've run a business here in Victoria for 18 years. I've got three kids. We use the parks and trails for biking and walking. I'm from Victoria. I'd like to be more involved.

I think a survey of what the citizens want would be a good idea, to see what residents would like and what they think is important.

Julie Hesse: I moved here from Chaska. I like the direction Victoria is going. I have three kids. I'd like more opportunities here for families. I'm happy to roll up my sleeves and help.

It's important to have a sense of what the citizens want. I'd ask what they want. I'd like something to keep kids in town, what works with development so we're all out there being a community. People are leaving town now to spend their money.

APPLICANTS FOR THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Susan Lovering: We moved here seven and a half years ago from Chicago. We were looking for something other than crowded Chicago. We have friends here. We had a realtor looking at the outer circle for us. We wanted to get outside the concrete jungle. We love Victoria. We found a house that we loved too.

I was in commercial banking and I worked for 3M managing acquisitions. Now I'm the manager of an animal care business and just recently decided to take off because I wanted to get involved in the community. Now I have time to get involved. I thought this would be a good fit. Maybe you do too Otherwise it's been 25 years of one intense job after another.

Derek Gunderson: I work for Convey Compliance Systems and I'm a graduate student at Hamline. Lived six and a half years in Eden Prairie. I got to know the area through playing in the Lions Tournament. We found the perfect place -- a house with a yard, there's some work on the house for me to do, the community, the environment, it's not too far from necessities but away from the clutter.

When you move to a community, you put yourself in a position to help move things forward and get to know the community.

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