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RESIDENTS PROUD OF OUR CITY

ANONYMOUS LETTER MISREPRESENTS VICTORIA

City Manager Don Uram reported a number of residents received an unsigned letter in the mail the first week of July and that the city has drafted a letter that will be mailed to residents in response to the anonymous letter. Mayor Tom O'Connor's letter went out July 9th.

Said Mayor O'Connor about the unsigned correspondence, "It contained a number of mistakes and misleading comments. My intention was to write a letter and send it to every home in Victoria, also to Homeowners Associations. Anyone who received the anonymous letter deserves to hear the other side of the story."

About the anonymous letter content he added, "It's plain wrong. It needs to be rebutted. I was livid when I read it. People can call us. There were a series of charges leveled at us. There is a lot of experience and time that we put into the city. I encourage people to read my letter. We get lots of questions and I know that each one of us responds to them."

Said Mr. Uram, "I would recommend residents to please call me if they have questions or concerns. Government finance is different than other finance."

Said Councilmember Tom Strigel, "I received emails on the anonymous letter urging us to respond because it is a misrepresentation of our city and they're proud of our city. The letter was anonymous so that tells us something. It was mailed under a bulk mail permit out of Chaska."

Said Councilmember Joe Pavelko, "I look at this and don't know who's right. I don't think it's a bad thing. Are we setting a bad precedent by spending money to send a letter to everybody in Victoria?"

Replied Councilmember Strigel, "I think communication is an awesome thing. We're here to provide leadership and that anonymous letter is not communication but written by someone with an agenda."

Agreed Councilmember Lani Basa, "It's important to put the facts out there."

Repeated Mayor O'Connor to all residents, "Pick up the phone. Call us. Stop and see Don. We want the dialogue."

Said Randy Miller, President of the Victoria Business Owners Association, at the July 8th city council meeting, "My belief is that the anonymous letter writer is totally irresponsible. They didn't have the courtesy to sign their name. I've attended council meetings and I am very comfortable with information from the Council."

MAKING PROJECTIONS FOR 2014 BUDGET

MAINTAINING VICTORIA’S TAX RATE AT 39.6%

Kelly Grinnell, the city's Finance Manager, gave a preview July 22nd of projections for the preliminary 2014 city budget, levy, and tax rate. Council will hold its first 2014 budget workshop on August 12th.

Kelly said the scenario is based on 75 new housing permits in 2014 and includes $428,500 in annual debt service payment on a $6 million capital facilities bond. She said that the $1.8 million in city's Capital Facilities Fund will be used to offset the debt service from 2015 to 2021 to maintain the city's tax rate.

Total revenues budgeted for 2013. It was $3,611,730. Projected for 2014: $3,882,668.

Total operating expenditures and transfers budgeted for 2013 was $3,581,730. Projected for 2014: $3,816,548.

Total amount of levy budgeted for 2013 was $3,947,646. Projected for 2014: $4,119,000.

Tax capacity rate for 2013 was 39.57%. Projected for 2014: 39.65%.

City tax on a median valued home in 2013: $1,156. Projected for 2014: $1,179.

HEGER PROPERTY SOUTH OF WASSERMAN

SKETCHING 53 NEW LOTS FOR VICTORIA

Council received and discussed a sketch plat for the Mike and Jean Heger property south of Lake Wasserman, also called Ambergate Gardens. Prices on the proposed 53 homes would range from $450,000 to $600,000.

Main access would be from County Road 43. Holly Kreft, Community Development Director, said that this primary access aligns to the road at the Waterbrooke Fellowship Church. Other streets would lead west into the Hartman 40 neighborhood and south into the Rhapsody neighborhood. Trails and sidewalks are also part of the plan.

Discussion at the July 8th city council meeting was to give feedback to the developer. Council takes no action until they receive a preliminary plat, which leads to the final plat. Holly said that, overall, the Planning Commission is very supportive.

Holly reported there is a cell tower on the property, which was approved in 1997 when it was part of Laketown Township. "The city engineer is looking at a potential relocation to the municipal water tower," she said.

Said Mayor Tom O'Connor, "We look forward to seeing the preliminary plat."

Holly said that from the end of 2012 to the present, 225 new lots have been subdivided in the City of Victoria.

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