Victoria Gazette - The Scoop at City Hall

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CITY WORK A CALLING AS MUCH AS A JOB

LAURIE AND BEN WILL BE MISSED IN VICTORIA

Three residents spoke under the Open Forum at the December 11th council meeting about the loss of City Manager Laurie Hokkanen and Community Development Director Ben Landhauser.

STILL TALKING ABOUT LEGAL FEES IN VICTORIA

AND CONTINUING CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The final Victoria City Council meeting of the year on December 18th was similar to the other 2017 council meetings -- contentious, with little to no evidence of peace on earth and good will among men.

VICTORIA THANK YOU’S TO LAURIE AND BEN

“GOD BLESS YOU. GO ON AND PROSPER!”

Councilmembers said thank you to City Manager Laurie Hokkanen and Community Development Director Ben Landhauser at their last 2017 Victoria City Council meeting on December 18th.

VICTORIA CAN’T GROW WITHOUT MORE WATER

BORINGS TO HELP DETERMINE NEW WELL SITE

"Overall, your system meets fire needs," said Brian LeMon of Barr Engineering. "But if we had dry years like in the '80's, you'd be struggling. All the cities would be struggling."

"The thing that keeps me awake at night," said City Engineer Cara Geheren, "is if Well #4 goes out we'd have to put on a water ban."

FORMER VICTORIA MAYOR MARY THUN:

“PLEASE STOP FIGHTING THIS INSANE LAWSUIT”

"Please drop this suit,” begged Former Mayor Thun. “We've got enough blood in this city. My husband and I would like to keep investing in this city. Please, please, drop this lawsuit.”

FINAL 2018 VICTORIA LEVY AND BUDGET

SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL TO PRELIMINARY NUMBERS

Finance Director Kelly Grinnell noted that most of the final numbers are identical to those in the preliminary budget and levy adopted in September: The city's 2018 final levy for 2018 is $4,847,500 which is up 11% from 2017.

MIKE POPPITZ WILL BE MISSED IN VICTORIA

HE GAVE A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF HIS TIME

“He will certainly be missed by me and my staff because he worked with us closely over the years,” said Ann Mahnke, Director of Parks and Public Works.” I wanted to thank Mike for his time and wish him well in his resting place."

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC PARKING

SHOULD VICTORIA LEASE OR PURCHASE?

Ben spoke about property often used for overflowing parking west of Rose Street, across from Floyd's. "I reached out to owners of that property,” he said. "They would entertain a discussion. It handles approximately 35 to 45 spaces of overflowing parking.”

FLOODING ONTO PRIVATE PROPERTY

DOES CITY OF VICTORIA HAVE SOME CULPABILITY?

Terri and Chandler Carlson, residents at Baycliffe Drive, attended the December 11th council meeting asking once again that the City of Victoria pick up a portion ($90,000) of the expense to alleviate water drainage onto their property. The request was tabled to January 2018.

ARBORETUM/U OF MN NEEDS SEWER/WATER

REQUESTING CITY OF VICTORIA EXTENSIONS

City Engineer Cara Geheren gave a verbal update on December 18th in regard to the request of the U of MN Landscape Arboretum to obtain municipal water and sewer service from the City of Victoria.

VICTORIA’S 2018 STREET/DRAINAGE PROJECTS

SHOULD BE COMPLETED NEXT FALL

Total estimated cost of the 2018 street and drainage improvements is $1,189,400. Assessments to homeowners are estimated to range from $1,033 to $6,000 depending on density of homes on a street or in a neighborhood and location on public or private streets.

OUTSIDE FUNDING IS A NECESSITY

TO IMPROVE HWY 5 THROUGH VICTORIA

Council voted 5-0 December 18th to support a resolution in support of soliciting funding to expand Hwy 5 from two lanes to four lanes from Hwy 41 in Chanhassen west to Rolling Acres Road in Victoria. Hwy 5 is currently four lanes east of #41 and two lanes west of #41.

DOUG REED INTERIM CITY MANAGER

VICTORIA APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVE 12/23/2017

In the wake of the resignation of City Manager Laurie Hokkanen in December, council interviewed six candidates for interim city manager. They voted 5-0 to offer the position to Doug Reeder of Greenwood.

THE SEARCH IS OFFICIALLY ON

FOR NEW VICTORIA CITY MANAGER

The Victoria Fire Department

City of Victoria 952-443-2771

WATERBROOKE

Fellowship