Victoria MN Newspaper-City Scoop

FIVE PARCELS DETACHED FROM VICTORIA

TO SLEEP, VOTE, PAY TAXES IN ONLY ONE CITY

Council approved on October 28th the detachment of five parcels currently located in the City of Victoria, to be annexed to the City of Chanhassen. These parcels are located in the northeast corner of Victoria up by Aster Trail and Aster Circle, near the border with Chanhassen.

Said City Engineer Cara Geheren, "Their houses are actually split between the two cities. Taxes are paid to both cities. Depending on where your bedroom is located determines where you vote. Water, streets, and sewer are provided by Chanhassen."

Cara said the impact is a loss of $2,400 in taxes annually for the City of Victoria. The five parcels have a market valuation of approximately $635,000.

NEXT STREET PROJECT INCLUDES

WORST ROAD IN VICTORIA

Council voted 4-0 on October 28th to authorize a feasibility study for reconstructing 78th Street and turning Kochia Lane from a gravel road into a paved road. Councilmember Tom Strigel was absent.

City Engineer Cara Geheren introduced the project by giving a summary of the last decade or so of reconstructing streets in Victoria. Nearly every year the city has included a $2 million street reconstruction project in its budget. The year 2014 is slated to improve 78th Street and Kochia Lane.

She pointed out 78th Street needs to be reconstructed from Highway 5 easterly to Bavaria Road, while Kochia Lane is currently a gravel road that needs to be constructed from Highway 5 northerly to 78th Street.

Cara added, "We also want to at least study making that link of Kochia to the high school." She said that connection would help relieve congestion at the Bavaria Road and Hwy 5 intersection because some people would choose Kochia to get to Hwy 5. That link is currently a gravel drive that serves the Jerry and Jane Michel farm.

"Streets are the most valuable infrastructure that a city has," said Cara. "78th Street is really in tough shape. It was built long ago ... Sealcoats and overlays prolong the life of a street. We're shooting for 50-year roads. Engineering standards evolved in the 1990's. Before that they didn't include four inches of sand and drain tile."

She said Victoria adopted an assessment policy in 2002-2003 whereby 50% of street cost is assessed to benefitting properties while 50% is picked up by the city. When it come to sanitary sewer and water, 100% of cost is assessed.

"The majority of our streets are now in good condition and scheduled for routine maintenance. Maintenance becomes less effective when it's delayed," she said.

She said that about 24% of the city's streets still need capital improvements at an estimated total cost of $5.3 million. Those streets are: 78th, Kochia, Deer Run, Rose, Sunflower, 80th, Commercial, Swiss Mountain, Field Creek, Katy Hills, Marigold, Sunny Shadows, Marsh Lake Road.

"78th Street is a State Aid road," said Cara, "and is eligible for State Aid funds but must be built to State Aid standards. Feasibility studies must meet state requirements." The City of Victoria receives about $200,000 a year in State Aid funds.

How is street construction paid for? "At the feasibility stage, you've already decided you're going to bond for the project," said Cara. "A feasibility study would be authorized in 2013 for a 2014 project. Generally I don't even recommend doing a study if you're not going to move forward with a project because there's not a budgeted funding source for the feasibility."

Approximate cost of the feasibility study is $15,000. It's not listed as a line item in the city budget, currently or in the past. When the project moves forward, the cost becomes part of the project cost and included in the bonding.

"We need a process change," said Councilmember Jim Crowley. "I want it all laid out so it's clear in the council packet. We're going to spend money on City Hall and Public Works and now a couple a million more?"

Replied Mayor Tom O'Connor, "It is included in the budget. It is funded as the project moves forward. These projects are not budgeted in 2013, but in 2014."

But the mayor agreed about a process change. "It wouldn't hurt to include reference to our policies when feasibility studies and things like this come up," he said. "We could improve explanation and communication by referencing things. We need to expand the write-up [in our council packets] to make it perfectly clear."

Said Councilmember Lani Basa, "It does state in the packet how things would be funded." She pointed out that the agenda statement reads, in part: "The project would be funded through a combination of Special Assessments, Municipal State Aid funds, and general tax funds in accordance with the City's adopted Special Assessment Policy and State Statute. Estimated cost for completing the study is $15,200 and is included in the overall cost estimates in the Capital Improvement Plan."

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