Page Title

On Stieger Lake * Victoria

952-443-1331

Island View Dining

Waconia. 952-442-2956

Chaska School of Dance

Mary Pieper 952-873-6781

Fahey’s Window Cleaning

952-467-2447

Fairview Jonathan Clinic

Chaska * 952-448-3500

Country Life Therapeutic Massage

Jan Sutton, M.A. * 952-474-0999

MVT Excavating

No job is too small. 952-446-9341

Weinzierl

Jewelers

Waconia 952-442-2885

“Trees Are Our Roots”

8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990

1915 Arboretum Blvd * Victoria

952-443-2808

MET COUNCIL PROJECT IN VICTORIA

“IT’S BEEN A NIGHTMARE AND IT SMELLS”

Councilmember Kim Roden asked for more information about the Met Council project along Rolling Acres Road and State Highway 7 where they’re installing a 72-inch diameter sewer pipe.

Replied City Engineer Cara Geheren, “The project is covered under a 2006 agreement with the Met Council.” According to information in the October 2006 issue of the Gazette, the Metropolitan Council is paying for the installation and replacement of sewer facilities and box culvert in the area as well as related road reconstruction. Estimated city cost of survey work is $16,000. Estimated city cost of design is $200,000.

Stated Councilmember Roden, “My sense is that we need a leverage opportunity with the Met Council. Neighbors along Rolling Acres Road have talked to neighbors along Smithtown Road. I’m not satisfied at all how they responded to homeowners at Smithtown.”

Asked Councilmember Jim Paulsen, “Is it a contractor problem or a Met Council problem?”

“Both!” said Councilmember Roden. “My opinion is that their staff hovers around the Met Council and treats them like royalty. They have been unresponsive, in my opinion. I couldn’t approve another permit to dig up more ground in Victoria.”

Councilmember Tim Amundsen mentioned that the new representative on the Met Council from this area has said that he works for the Governor and not the city. The representative’s name is Craig Peterson.

Declared Councilmember Roden, “When they work in our right of way, we have every right to deny them a permit.”

Said Councilmember Tom O’Connor, “It seems they are impervious to criticism.”

“It’s been a nightmare,” said Kim. “It smells. I’d like to not repeat it. I don’t want to be fooled twice. I could not in good conscience vote to approve their work in Victoria again. There’s got to be a chain of accountability.”

Stated Mayor Mary Thun, “I think we need to outline the process and how grievances are addressed.”

CITY OF VICTORIA 2008 AUDIT RESULTS

UNQUALIFIED CLEAN FINANCIAL REPORT

Aaron Nielsen, independent auditor with MMKR, presented the 2008 audit and financial report to Victoria councilmembers at a 5 p.m. workshop on Monday, April 27th. At the podium he outlined a few highlights of the audit.

“The City of Victoria received an unqualified clean opinion,” said Mr. Nielsen and he also mentioned Victoria’s recent award for excellence in financial reporting accepted last month by City Finance Director Jylan Johnson. “That was quite an award,” he stated.

Stated City Administrator Don Uram, “There were no issues whatsoever in this year’s audit.”

Mayor Mary Thun commented that the Finance Committee already spent over an hour reviewing the audit and she had no further questions.

Councilmember Kim Roden referred to the city’s water rates. “Are there other actions to take?” she asked. “We have good water rates according to the consultant who did the study, but if you speak to the consumers, you get another story.

Replied Administrator Uram, “Our consultant has recommended a 2% annual increase every year.” About the possibility of going from quarterly billing done by city staff to outsourced monthly billing, he said, “The nice thing about outsourcing water utility billing is that people can see just what amount of water they use every month.”

Commenting on complaints received, the administrator added, “We’ve got 2,200 use customers. Our calls are less than 50.”

Councilmember Roden asked about “trueing” the market value of both residential and commercial properties, since property values have decreased with the current economic woes, a fact not exactly reflected on property tax statements.

Replied the city administrator, “We’re running the operation pretty efficiently. We have looked a reduction in tax capacity. It could be a challenge. And you have to remember that the city is just part of the overall pie.” Property taxes also significantly fund Carver County and School District 112 budgets.

Councilmember Jim Paulsen pointed out, “The city has $34.9 million worth of debt.” According to Don Uram, the major portions of that debt are generally for the field house, the water treatment plant, and road reconstruction projects.

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