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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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City Scoop Continued |
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VICTORIA QUESTIONS $20,000 LEVY FROM LAKE MINNETONKA CONSERVATION DISTRICT Council voted unanimously on May 10ty to get additional questions to City Administrator Don Uram to be answered by the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District. The main question to be posed: What does the City of Victoria get from them, the LMCD, to warrant the $20,000 annual levy to the City of Victoria? Reported Mr. Uram, “What concerns me is that 78% of their budget goes to administration-type things and only 22% to projects.” Stated Councilmember Kim Roden, “I can’t approve a budget when I don’t know what we’re getting for it.” The LMCD submits their draft budget to each of the 14 member cities each year for review. Their proposed budget for 2011 is $547,449. “I’m sure they’re doing very good work,” said Councilmember Tom O’Con-nor, “but the process troubles me. I’m sure there are answers to our questions but I don’t have them.” In general, the purpose of the LMCD is to control docks and use on the lake and conserve and improve water quality of the lake. Staff asked the LMCD Director to visit a Victoria City Council meeting. At the following city council meeting of May 24th, Greg Nybeck, Executive Director of the LMCD, and Bill Olson, Victoria’s representative on the LMCD, spoke to councilmembers about how levies to cities are used. Mr. Nybeck said that in 1989 the LMCD purchased four milfoil harvestors, that their useful life is ten years, that a fifth harvestor was purchased, that they are now down to only three harvestors. He said the LMCD puts money aside each year for the purchase of necessary equipment and that they now have between $80,000 and $90,000 for depreciated equipment. Other monies are solicited from private donations. He added that any of the 14 member cities of the LMCD can request a public hearing and the LMCD would have to react to that, based on the objection. He invited Victoria to attend a board meeting on June 3rd. “There are often six or seven cities that show up,” he said. “It’s a good way to get feedback to the board.” Bill Olson mentioned that the LMCD also has hauling equipment to get harvested material to the arboretum for composting. He stated, “All of the LMCD projects directly affect the City of Victoria.” He referred specifically to invasive species control, safety items in the lake such as buoys and directional signs, equipment for the Sheriff’s Water Patrol, inspection programs for zebra mussels, and communications such as newsletters. In commenting on the budget of the LMCD, Mr. Olson stated that the overhead burden is approximately $275,000 and expenses approximately $270,000. He said that $60,000 was spent on save the lake projects. He added, “With our studies we are learning what works and what doesn’t work. Homeowners can use that information to improve their bays.”
SHORTER CITY SCOOP FROM MAY VICTORIA SEALCOTEING PROJECTS TO BEGIN *Council approved bids for the city’s 2010 sealcoating projects and accepted the low bid of $22,299 from Precision Seal Coating. The sealcoating project includes 73rd Street, 74th Street, Kochia Lane, Lilac Lane, Tamarack Lane, Iris Street, Smithtown Terrace, and Virginia Shores Circle. *Council approved an on-sale one-day temporary liquor license for the City of Victoria for the 2010 Victoria Volksfest. The Victoria Business Owners Association was denied a license because the State requires a nonprofit to be in existence for a minimum of three years. The city will be reimbursed for costs related to the license, such as $1,700 in liability insurance. *Council approved the annual service contract with Frontline Plus Fire and Rescue for maintenance of the city’s four outdoor warning sirens at a cost of $150 per siren. The sirens are located at Hwy 7 and Smithtown Road, Bavaria Road and 78th Street, Lions Park, and in the Rhapsody development. *Council approved the hiring of seasonal employees for Victoria’s Public Works Maintenance and Recreation Programs. They include Jay Von Bank, Brady Lee, Hannah Anderson, Samantha Brown, and Leanne Paddock. *Council approved an exempt gambling permit for the Church of St. Therese of Deephaven to conduct a raffle in conjunction with a fundraiser to be held at Deer Run Golf Club in Victoria. *Council accepted a $100 donation from Norsemen Travel for T-Ball and Coach Pitch in Victoria, and $358.70 in cash and products for the Victoria Fire Department from Fresh Seasons Market.
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June 2010 |
