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THREE METRO MEN & A PASSIONATE CITY COUNCIL METRO SEWER LEAVES TRAIL OF BAD SMELLS June 8th City Engineer Cara Geheren was asked by City Administrator Don Uram on June 8th to speak about the continuing Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Regional Sanitary Sewer Improvements. Phase One improvements centered on the area of Smithtown Road in Victoria and the culvert that connects Lake Minnetonka to Lake Virginia. Phase Two improvements will center on Rolling Acres Road in Victoria. It has been stated that construction work on Phase Two will last nearly three years with scheduled completion in 2012. As reported by residents and staff in past issues of the Victoria Gazette, Phase One improvements resulted in much dissatisfaction by residents, city councilmembers, and staff. The completion of Phase Two is very important to the future growth of Victoria. Phase Two consists of the construction of three deep, large-diameter, gravity tunnels from the Lake Virginia Shores Park in Victoria -- south to Rolling Acres Road, north up a shorter length of Smithtown Road and west down Hwy 7 to Baycliffe. (Phase Three will include tunnels west of Baycliffe in Victoria and beyond to St. Boni and Waconia.) City Administrator Don Uram reported that Mr. and Mrs. Pete Nelson, residents of Victoria at Smithtown, asked to speak to the City Council for 20 minutes about their situation and experience with Phase One of the Metropolitan Council project. Councilmember Tim Amudsen said, “We’re wasting our time if we don’t get somebody over here from the Met Council who can answer questions.” Replied Mayor Mary Thun, “The concerns I would have is that the story would be only from their perspective, and I’m making no judgment either way.” Stated Councilmember Kim Roden, “I recommend Council listen to their story.” Mr. Nelson spoke to councilmembers for close to a half hour that evening of June 8th with many details of experiences related to them and their property adjacent to the culvert and their dealings with contractors and others involved with Phase One. He spoke of endless noise, vibrations that damaged their home, cracks in the driveway, sunken pavers, loss of trees and privacy, continual frustration, rudeness, lack of apologies. He spoke of many issues particular to their property and to the project in general. He spoke of lack of honesty and trust. He said that the citizens need an advocate in projects of the Metropolitan Council. “It isn’t over,” he said, “at least not for us.”
June 22nd Three men connected with the Metropolitan Council attended a Victoria City Council Workshop at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 22nd. In a manner of speaking, they were read the riot act, mainly by Councilmember Kim Roden. First she demanded to know if any of them had any authority. Tom Buchal, principal contract administrator, stated, “I will be on site and I will have authority to a point. Tim O’Donnell, responsible for communications, stated, “I don’t have authority over the contractor.” Bill Cook, responsible for engineering, stated, “I have the authority to make decisions up to a certain dollar amount.” Responding to documents, exhibits, and draft agreements needing approval before Phase Two can begin, Councilmember Roden spoke to the Met Council men: “There’s no detail here, no time frame. I want dates and times. I want who, what, when, where, and why.”
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City Scoop Continued |
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Three Men and a Lady. Left to right, working on behalf of the Metropolitan Council, Tom Buchal, Tim O’Donnell, and Bill Cook. Mayor Mary Thun stated, “Please talk to our residents and talk to us. Please get back to us. Talk to me like a human being.” |