Victoria MN Newspaper

USING LESS WATER CONTINUED.

"Without a new well, we'll be pumping more from our other wells, beyond their capacity. We are always planning for a worst case scenario, like if one of the wells goes out."

Cara said the city opened bids for the new water storage facility at Rhapsody and will bring them to council on January 12th. "It looks like they're coming in under budget," she said.

She stated that 2012 was a peak year for water usage in Victoria, and that water usage in 2010 and 2011 was more similar to the usage in 2014.

Councilmember Lani Basa referred to the decrease since 2012. "I'm wondering if some of the education information is having a result. I do think there is more of an awareness."

Stated Mayor Tom O'Connor about the decrease, "That's in the face of the fact that we've added homes from 2012 to 2014."

"Plus those new homes are irrigating," added Cara.

"This is something we have to get on top of," said the mayor, "certainly from a cost point of view."

In 2012 the City of Victoria used 254,500,000 gallons of municipal water in the first three quarters of the year. In 2013 the city used 223,316,000 during the first three quarters. In 2014 the City went down to 201,059,000 gallons in the same time frame.

ROLLING ACRES RD IS COUNTY PRIORITY

IT MAY NOT BE A VICTORIA PRIORITY

Council voted 5-0 on December 22nd to table a request from Carver County to support their application for federal funding for reconstruction of Rolling Acres Road in Victoria. Rolling Acres Road is a section of Carver County Road 13 that lies between State Hwy 7 and State Hwy 5.

Discussion that evening centered on priorities and identifying which of the county roads in Victoria are most in need of reconstruction. City Engineer Cara Geheren stated that currently 78th Street and Kochia Lane are to be reconstructed in 2015, and are eligible for gas tax money. They connect a county road to a state highway. Rolling Acres Road could be reconstructed in 2017. Marsh Lake Road, currently a city toad, is programmed to be reconstructed as a county road in 2019.

As Cara pointed out, Victoria's gas tax money is held by the State. Victoria is eligible to use its state aid funds toward the project cost of reconstructing county roads in the city.

"We're using $800,000 toward 78th Street and Kochia Lane. We'd have $450,000 in the account for Rolling Acres Road," said Cara. "Rolling Acres Road was initially constructed in 1957. It is beyond its useful life. They would construct a center left turn lane along the entire length, right turn lanes, concrete curb and gutter. They would also construct the missing length of trail on the north end."

Cara said the total project cost is estimated to be $6.7 million and that the County is seeking to get $5.4 million. "The county has indicated this is a priority for them, but did want to go in search of additional funds. The city has an obligation to pay a portion of the cost. The policy outlines the city's share at $300,000."

Stated Councilmember Jim Crowley, "I'd prioritize differently. There are so many other priorities. I'm not comfortable recommending this as a priority. The county thinks this is a priority."

Replied Cara, "Rolling Acres Road has the highest traffic besides Hwy 5 and Hwy 7. It is substantially higher than other roads in Victoria." She said that there are several driveways onto the Road and that mailboxes are accessed across the road. "I get frequent calls about the road but I direct them to the county."

Said Councilmember Tom Strigel, "To me, Marsh Lake Road is a ticking bomb. If we know it's coming, we should put money in the bank." Currently, Marsh Lake Road is gravel but the newest residential developments in Victoria are occurring in that location south of Lake Wasserman.

Until Marsh Lake Road is reconstructed, traffic is directed to Red Fox Drive. Stated Councilmember Crowley, a nearby resident in that area, "If we drive more traffic to Red Fox Drive, people will be up in arms."

"What I'm hearing is that we need to understand the County's bigger and larger picture and their funding plans," said Cara. "There's a ton of demand for county road dollars. From my perspective, all the roads you mentioned are priorities, and it's a matter of when and how they're funded."

Said Councilmember Crowley, "Maybe Rolling Acres Road is the right one, but where do the others fall in the big picture?"

"I don't know if we want to jeopardize their funding," said Cara.

On a related note, it was mentioned that the section of County Road 18 that lies to the east of Bavaria Road and runs all the way east to Hwy 41, was not constructed because the cities of Chaska and Chanhassen were against the county project when it was proposed some time ago.

Mayor Tom O'Connor pointed out that when Victoria submitted a written letter this past November in support of the county project on Rolling Acres Road, "It didn't commit us."

Click here to continue Road Priorities.