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Chaska Community Center

Victoria Memberships. 952-448-3176

Fairview Jonathan Clinic

Chaska * 952-448-3500

Dine in Downtown Victoria * 952-443-2858

Victoria * 952-443-2022

St. Bonifacius * 952-446-1338

NOISE ORDINANCE APPROVED

VICTORIA TO PURCHASE AUDIOMETER

Councilmembers agreed to send an ambassador to a meeting of the Association of Carver County Elected Leaders, and not two representatives from the Victoria City Council as requested by that group. Last month Bob Roepke of Chaska spoke to councilmembers about this new organization composed of members from various units of government.

Stated Mayor Mary Thun about sending an ambassador from Victoria, “I want it clear this is only to get information. I have some serious questions. We are not committing ourselves to anything with this. We have in no way agreed to money, governments, or anything.”

Mayor Thun said, “By agreeing to send two people, we’d be agreeing to the bylaws of the group. When I got this, I was pretty surprised. It’s another level of government. We’ve already got city councils and a county board. This group could end up asking for staff ... I’m a big proponent of working with others, but we already have representatives and senators and school boards and us councilmembers.”

Said Councilmember Kim Roden, “I’m not in the position to take on another meeting for myself. I can’t take it on. If someone else wants to do it, fine.”

Councilmember Tim Amundsen said, “It smells like a metropolitan council appointed by us. I’m not ready to move forward or participate in this.”

Added Councilmember Roden, “I don’t want someone telling us we have to appoint two people, when that’s our decision.”

Asked Councilmember Jim Paulsen, “Why would we do this when it has no central authority?”

Although City Administrator Steve Sarvi had originally recommended the appointment of two city councilmembers to this new unit of government, it was his impromptu recommendation that evening that Council followed. “My recommendation is to send an ambassador to the meeting and see what this is about,’ he said.

“I’d be willing to give it a try,” said Councilmember Richard Tieden, who accepted the ambassador job.

VICTORIA PAYS $1,935 TO LMCD

LAKE MINNETONKA COSTLY TO 14 CITIES

Responding to the city’s request for more information regarding purpose and function of the LMCD, to which the City of Victoria contributes approximately $20,000 annually, two people spoke at the April 10th council meeting.

Bill Olson is the Victoria resident who represents Victoria on the Board of the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District. Gary Nybeck is the Executive Director of the LMCD.

Said Mr. Olson, “I was asked to present what I’ve learned since my December [2007] appointment. The LMCD has been around for a while. It was formed in 1967 by the MN State Legislature to protect Lake Minnetonka. It’s made up of 14 cities that touch the lake. There is a board of directors consisting of 14 people, one from each city. Our mission is to monitor use of the lake. The lake now hosts over 24,000 boats on a busy weekend. Boats are getting bigger and the number of them is getting bigger.”

Mr. Nybek said the LMCD spends about $198,000 fighting invasive species. That total includes a $114,000 levy to the cities, $30,000 for herbicide treatment from a volunteer groups called Save the Lake, and $53,600 on the zebra mussel program.

Mr. Olson said that levies to the 14 cities is not based on the amount of Lake Minnetonka shoreline within those cities but on the net worth of the particular cities. He said the levy is calculated by state statute. The annual levy for Victoria in 2008 is $19,135. There are, in fact, 56 Victoria homes on Lake Minnetonka.

He said the annual levy to the City of Minnetonka, which also has a very small shoreline presence on the lake, is much higher than the City of Victoria’s.

Total 2008 LMCD budget is $548,000, according to Mr. Olson. Asked Councilmember Jim Paulsen, “What is the amount spent on administration?” Mr. Olson said the number was $409,000 for administration. Mr. Nybeck stated, “Your best way to have input is to have an active board member.”

Said Mayor Mary Thun, “Thank you, Bill, for the presentation. You are an excellent representative for us on the LMCD.”

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