Victoria MN Newspaper-City Scoop

COUNCIL IS INTERVIEWING ARCHITECTS

TO DESIGN VICTORIA’S NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS

City Manager Don Uram reported at a council workshop September 23rd that he received proposals from 14 architects vying for the job of designing a new City Hall for the City of Victoria. Council chose five of the firms to interview:

•David Linner, Bloomington.

•D.J. Medin, Faribault.

•292 Design Group, Minneapolis.

•Oertel Architects, St. Paul.

•Brunton Architects, North Mankato.\

At a special workshop on Wednesday evening, October 2nd, councilmembers will also interview three architectural firms vying to design the new Public Works facility. One of the firms (name it) is competing to design both new city buildings. Interviews will be limited to 30 minutes each.

The 3 firms vying to design the Public Works facility who will be interviewed by Council:

•D.J. Medin, Faribault.

•I&S Group, Mankato.

•Leo Daly, Minneapolis.

"We hope to get contracts to Council by October 14th, which is the first regularly scheduled council meeting that month.

Back on August 21st, councilmembers interviewed candidates to be the Construction Manager for the new City Hall and Public works facilities. Stahl Construction was chosen. Mr. Uram is working on the negotiation of a contract for the services of Stahl Construction. Total cost of their pre-construction phase services, construction phase services, and job site reimbursable expenses is $198,000.

It is anticipated that a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a construction manager agreement between the City of Victoria and Stahl Construction will be approved at the October 14th city council meeting.

SHORTER SEPTEMBER VICTORIA SCOOP

TANYA SCHMIEG LEAVES AFTER 8 AND 1/2 YEARS

*Tanya Schmieg, the recording secretary for the City of Victoria council meetings since 2005, resigned her position with TimeSavers. Her final evening with Victoria city councilmembers and staff was Wednesday, September 4th. Tanya said she may occasionally be filling in as recording secretary. Council thanked her for her many years of work for the city. The new recording secretary assigned to Victoria is Allison Burr of Chanhassen.

*Council authorized the purchase of an outlot on tax-forfeited land located in the 2004 Tall Trees subdivision. It should have been deeded to the city; it wasn't. Cost to purchase/record the deed: $96. It is, in fact, a rain garden which is part of the city's stormwater conveyance system. Asked Councilmember Pavelko, "What are we doing to manage all of these properties that the city owns?" Replied the city engineer, "It's easier to maintain these properties when we own them rather than just have easements."

*Council approved an increase of $13,624 to the South Lake Virginia Shores Park Improvements to excavate poor soil and import good soil. Said the city engineer, "We're building a tennis court there and we want to make sure we have a good support system. We anticipated poor soil but the problem was bigger than we thought. We found a lot of buried trees and peat. Also, our clay soils can vary, especially if it's been disturbed."

*Council authorized the sale of miscellaneous Public Works equipment valued under $3,500.

*Council authorized the issuance and sale of $1.8 million in General Obligation Bonds to pay for 50% of the street construction project at Aster Trail. The other 50% is picked up by special assessments to the benefitting property owners.

*Council approved 5-0 the final plat for 79 lots at Lakeside Estates as submitted by Pulte Homes for property located south of Lake Wasserman and north of Marsh Lake Road.

*Council approved 5-0 the preliminary plat for 49 lots at Rhapsody North as submitted by Hartman Communities for property located north of Rhapsody and south of Carl Krey Lake.

*Councilmember Lani Basa thanked Holly Kreft for leading residents of Lakebridge on a discovery trail ride to Watermark and Downtown Victoria.

Floor to Ceiling