Victoria MN Newspaper

Floor to Ceiling

In-Town Auto Repair 952-443-2868

VICTORIA GETS ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

SOURCE OF PETROLEUM IS UNKNOWN

Council received the City Hall Environmental Report on January 27th. It had been ordered in 2013 because of petroleum fumes in city offices to the point where staff was sent home from work. The report by Peer Engineering concluded that the petroleum contamination was limited to the soil that was excavated for testing last fall.

City Manager Don Uram reported, "The source of the odors in the building is unknown."

"Five cubic yards were excavated," he said. "Soil borings found little, less than the standards. There was no harmful vapor in the samples taken in December. It's a mystery to the staff." It was noted that in December, the ground was frozen or becoming frozen."

Said Mayor Tom O'Connor, "I was there when you sent people home," said Mayor Tom O'Connor. "The odor was mean and foul."

Councilmember Jim Crowley remarked that he had just discovered that the building that houses city offices (versus the Hall/Council Chambers) was once the old Victoria Fire Hall. "I didn't know that," he said.

Said Mr. Uram, "They certainly did things differently 50 years ago."

Council asked, "Now what do we do?"

Replied Mr. Uram, "We close the files, demolish the building, and pave over it."

COMMENDATIONS FOR CITY MANAGER

WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Mayor Tom O'Connor reported on January 27th that council reviewed the performance of City Manager Don Uram, as they do on an annual basis.

He read the summary report outloud: "Mr. Uram was evaluated by each councilmember in the areas of leadership, strategic and organizational thinking, communication and interpersonal relations, customer focus, planning, and financial management. Overall the councl was satisfied with his performance. For 2014, Mr. Uram was asked to focus his efforts on improving the level of communication with the council and to spend more time on strategic and organizational thinking. As the city continues to grow, the council feels that these areas will become increasingly important. Mr. Uram was commended by the council for his skills and expertise in the areas of financial management and in managing the day to day city operations."

VICTORIA DRAFTING NEW POLICY

TO ALLOW MORE CITIZEN INPUT AT MEETINGS

City Manager Don Uram asked councilmembers on January 13th how they might want to allow for citizen input on the city council agendas. Currently, citizens are allowed to address councilmembers during the Open Forum part of the agenda, as well as when occasionally invited to speak.

"There is no standard per se," said Mr. Uram. "Some larger cities hold an Open Forum off camera, before the council meeting. Some smaller cities adopt a general conduct policy. Some allow citizen participation on any agenda item. I'd like some direction. Some cities adopt specific rules."

Said Mayor Tom O'Connor, "As long as discussion is civil and constructive ... I've always wondered why citizens can't speak during the meetings."

Agreed Councilmember Tom Strigel, "I've never understood that either. I think a set of rules would be good for everybody. It would be an encouragement." The city manager will draft a format for council to consider at a February meeting.

APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NEW YEAR

TO VICTORIA COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS

At the very first city council meeting in 2014, assignments and appointments of city councilmembers to the city's various citizen committees and commissions were made for the New Year as follows:

Acting Mayor: Lani Basa.

Economic Development Authority: President Tom O'Connor, Executive Director Don Uram, Commissioners Lani Basa, Jim Crowley, Joe Pavelko, Tom Strigel.

Fire Relief: Tom O'Connor, Don Uram, Chief Andrew Heger.

Park and Rec: Tom Strigel.

Finance Committee: Mayor, Finance Manager, City Manager, and Joe Pavelko.

Personnel Committee: Mayor, City Manager, and Jim Crowley.

Senior Commission: Tom O'Connor.

Click here for more City Scoop.