|
8661 Deer Run Dr. * Victoria 952-443-2351 |
|
JOHNSON FUNERAL HOME |
|
Waconia 952-442-2121 |
|
Leipold’s of Excelsior Gifts. Books. Lamps. 952-474-5880 |
|
Metropolitan Ford Jerry Chapman 952-943-9000 |
|
Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic. Occupational Therapy. Speech Therapy. 952-443-9888 |
|
Victoria’s Corner Bar. Nightly Specials and Menus. 952-443-9944 |
|
Buying or Selling Victoria? Call Nan Emmer. 612-702-2020 |
|
Specialized assisted living for those with memory challenges. Victoria. 952-908-2215 |
|
Weinzierl Jewelers |
|
Waconia 952-442-2885 |
|
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 |
|
RUBBER TILE FLOOR FOR FITNESS CENTER RECOMMENDED BY VICTORIA PARK AND REC Council unanimously approved an expenditure of $49,483 on July 26th for the purchase and installation of rubber tile flooring for the Fitness Center at the Victoria Recreation Center, plus $2,355 for moving the equipment during the project. Stated Park and Rec Director Ann Mahnke, “The Fitness Center is about eight years old. The carpet is wearing out. The advantage of rubber tiles is that if damaged we can punch out a single tile, and there’s about a three to four day turnaround time.” She said the interlocking tiles are a little bit more expensive than a glued-down rubber roll, but it takes up to two weeks to install a roll, which is also more difficult to repair or replace if damaged. “The Park and Rec Committee recommended the carpet be replaced with rubber tiles,” she added. “It amounts to $7.90 per square foot, installed.”
ISSUES AT VICTORIA SOCCER FIELDS GRASS WON’T GROW IN THE POOR SOILS There are issues with two of the three soccer fields at Diethelm Park. Grass isn’t growing on them and you can’t play soccer in the mud. At one time they had grass, and they had high usage to the point where, in August 2007, city councilmembers approved a resting schedule for them in order to preserve their quality. Then, in August of 2008, Administrator Don Uram reported that School District 112 would have a lot of fill to dispose of as they constructed the second sheet of ice at the Field House/Recreation Center. The city administrator proposed regrading two of the soccer fields, adding four feet of fill on top of them to make the fields better. All would be at the school district’s cost. In May of 2009 residents reported that the soccer fields were raised five feet and this caused site problems for the nearby neighborhood. The city administrator said everything was graded within a fraction of the approved grading plan. On July 12th, 2010, Holly Kreft, Victoria Community Development Director, stated, “There are several challenges we’ve faced over these past months. We’ve been involved in discussions with the School District. We’ve determined that the grading contractor did not build the plan according to specs. There are not six inches of topsoil over the fields and there is a high concentration of salt, which is problematic for turf growth.” “This is a School District contract,” she said, “and the solution involves redoing the surface levels of topsoil on the fields. The School District would bring in an agronomist. We want the science and what’s going to make a difference out here. We’re trying to find someone locally to do the job at the School District’s cost.” Councilmember Kim Roden asked a string of questions. “What portion of the bill are we responsible for?” “Zero,” replied Administrator Uram. “They’re enforcing a contract that did not meet specs?” “Correct,” said the administrator. “Is this going to be contentious?” “This will be contentious,” he replied. “This is a financial issue. The financial person with the School District has resigned his position.” In the meantime, the City of Victoria has made other arrangements for soccer fields. Stated Councilmember Tim Amundsen, “Some people didn’t think this smelled right from the beginning. If we rely on the guys who messed this up to fix this, I’m a little leery.” He suggested it might be worthwhile to fly the expert agronomist from Michigan out to Victoria. Said Administrator Uram, “Anne and I have spent quite a bit of time discussing this. We need to have a field like what was planned for. We had a field growing grass and supporting soccer. It’s really a School District responsibility.” “Seems we should have somebody around here who can grow grass,” said Councilmember Paulsen. “We’ve got an issue with trace elements that I want gone from our property.” School District 112 has decided to proceed with the work and seek reimbursement of costs from the subcontractor’s bonding company. If seeding is completed in August (2010), the fields will probably become available for use in 2012.
|
|
August 2010 |
|
City Scoop Continued |
