Victoria MN Newspaper

To serve two years on the Victoria for a Lifetime Committee, they re-appointed Tari Clay and appointed Cindy Anderson and Bill Cain. Also serving on the Victoria for a Lifetime Committee: Henry Pryor, Jim Hoffman, Linda McNulty, John Stubstad, and Mary Hadaway. This committee can have up to 11 people so there's room for four more. Interested residents may contact City Hall.

Said Mayor Tom O'Connor to the applicants, "Thank you for your willingness to serve the city. People don't know how important these committees are. They are vital. Without them, the city wouldn't do as well as it does. This place is a much better place to live because of people like you. We don't do these things for the money. Thank you for volunteering."

Speaking specifically to applicants to the Finance Committee, Mayor O'Connor stated, "We have some fairly consequential expenditures. The challenge is balancing. Basic services cost money. There are scarce dollars. Every dollar we put into streets, we can't put into parks."

Added City Manager Don Uram, "This is about more than accounting. It's about high level finance and how to pay for things. Huge capital expenditures are coming up."

During the interviews at the workshop, responding to questions from staff and councilmembers, the applicants had an opportunity to tell why they applied, their qualifications, their vision, their role.

APPLICANTS FOR THE

PLANNING COMMISSION

Gerald Brown: I'd like to offer some service. I love Victoria. We've been here three years. I'd like a chance to help Victoria grow in a positive way. I'm very much retired, a lawyer. I do some work from home. I graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1966. Went to the University of Minnesota at Duluth.

I'm a founding partner of the last law firm I was with. I've handled hundreds of real estate transactions in my business. I understand building codes. I bring a good solid sense of judgment. I have a willingness to listen.

I'm not sure I have a vision. I'm rather ignorant about what has gone on in the City of Victoria. I learned what I do know from the local paper. I'm impressed by the growth. I trust it's been well planned. I know you've worked hard to get a new City Hall. Doing those things involves a lot of time and sacrifice and I'd like to be part of that. I'd like to be part of the planning process.

I have no grievances whatsoever. I don't see the Planning Commission as the engine of change but as a body that applies what we have. I want development that is orderly. I'd like more commercial development.

Given the amount of residential development here, I'm surprised there's a lot of pressure to succeed, to make a dollar. When you see population projections for the next years, my goodness!

Derek Gunderson: I came from Eden Prairie and have been in Victoria five years. I like new challenges and new opportunities. I'm in sales. I work with a broad range of personalities. I'm in the graduate program at Hamline for Business and Public Administration. I like finding where things line up between the public and private sectors. I've never stopped learning.

We moved here because we like the area. It's a small town. I went to Winona State. Victoria is a fast growing suburb. with predictions of 15,000 to 20,000 population by the year 2030. My kids will be in college by then.

I'd be interested in getting a Splash Pad here for the kids, maybe a Water Park.

You have to do small things well.

Debbie Kelly: I've been here 15 years. I want to get more active in the community. I like to see the city thrive. I work well with a variety of different people.

I've run a nonprofit and for-profit and worked for Ridgeview and Lifetime Fitness. I like to help make situations a win-win for everyone. I like Victoria's lakes and parks. I would like a more business friendly atmosphere.

I appreciate what I'm hearing. I don't know all the needs, but I'm willing to serve and see what's going on. I plan on staying here and there are things I want to preserve. Why do we not have as much tax base in business? So what's my role? I am an able willing body.

I'd like to give myself a Victoria zip code rather than an Excelsior zip code. I'd like to see more activity downtown on the lake, maybe fish tacos

You have to have standards. You don't want all homes or all parks. You want to have a balance for the future. I'm just a resident willing to serve.

Click here for more Applicants.