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Huber |
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Funeral Home & Cremation Services 952-474-9595 |
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Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic. Occupational Therapy. Speech Therapy. 952-443-9888 |
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Victoria’s Corner Bar. Nightly Specials and Menus. 952-443-9944 |
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Buying or Selling Victoria? Call Nan Emmer. 612-702-2020 |
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Weinzierl Jewelers |
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8 First Street in Waconia. 952-442-2885 |
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Preschool and Childcare in Victoria. Call 952-443-2121. |
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MVT Excavating No job is too small. 952-446-9341 |
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The Key |
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The Key to advertisers in the Victoria Gazette. Located at www.VictoriaGazette.com. |
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952-443-2808 |
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Specialized assisted living for those with memory challenges. Victoria. 952-908-2215 |
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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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City Scoop Continued |
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BUDGETING THREE VICTORIA UTILITIES COST OF SEWER AND WATER ON THE INCREASE Council voted unanimously on November 9th to adopt the 2010 enterprise budgets for water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater utilities. The budgets include rate changes for water and sewer and no rate change for stormwater. Water. As Finance Director Jylan Johnson reported, the 3,000-gallon water allowance was eliminated and the base fee was reduced from $32.80 to $24.85. Because of the decline in developer fees, the city needs to rely more on the water-user fees and cash reserves. Of the budgeted expenses for the Water Enterprise Fund for 2010 ($1,184,675), the largest portion (80%) is going to service the debt. Much of the debt is related to the $9.5 million Water Treatment Plant constructed in 2006. Councilmember Kim Roden reminded people that the 2006 project also included needed improvements to the Fire Station. “We’ve got to remember what problems we were trying to solve,” she said. The city issued 20-year general obligation bonds to pay for water treatment plant and the addition of a bay to the fire station. The bonds are paid through water core fees collected when new home permits are issued. The number of new homes being built in Victoria, and elsewhere, is substantially down, which means current water users have to pick up some of the slack. Sewer. “We’re proposing a rate increase of 12% to offset the charge that the city pays to the Metropolitan Council,” said Jylan. “We need to increase the rate to offset the expense.” Of the budgeted expenses for the Sewer Enterprise Fund for 2010 ($776,754), the largest portion (64%) is going to contractual services which include Met Council charges. Since 2006, the city has realized a 60% increase in MCES charges. “This is highway robbery,” said Councilmember Tim Amundsen. “This should have been a huge topic with [Rep.] Paul Kohls and Senator [Julianne] Ortman,” referring to a recent gathering at Victoria. “We kinda heard that people aren’t complaining. We’ve got to have action to stop the insanity. We’ve got to demand that the task force dial it up a notch. Sixty percent is incredible!” Stormwater. Jylan reported that the current rate of $12 per quarter will not be increased. The 2010 budget allows for cleaning the city’s inlets, outlets, and stormwater ponds. Of the budgeted expenses for the Stormwater Management Enterprise Fund for 2010 ($153,892), the largest portion (70%) is going to supplies and the maintenance program.
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December 2009 |
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Merry Christmas, Tanya. Tanya Schmieg is the Recording Secretary for the City of Victoria, working for TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial Inc. for about five years now. Tanya attends and takes minutes at all city council meetings and city Planning Commission meetings in Victoria. She and her family, husband Josh and children Ashlyn, 5, and Tyler, 3, live in Chaska. You do a wonderful job, Tanya, especially considering those taskmasters at hand! |