Victoria MN Newspaper

NEW SERVER AND PHONE UPGRADE

TO SUPPORT ALL OF VICTORIA’S APPLICATIONS

Council voted 5-0 on September 8th to prepare, purchase, and install a new server and to upgrade the phone system. Total server cost is $34,184. Total phone upgrade is $2,520. Said City Clerk Jennie Kretsch, "We need to replace the server due to age. Eleven years is pretty old. We're lucky that nothing has happened to it."

It was reported that the new server, which is a computer system that provides data to other computers on a network, will be located at the Water Treatment Plant. Since that is also the location of the Fire Station, the benefit is that the Fire Department is the Emergency Operation Center and has a backup generator to keep the network powered in case of an emergency.

As for the upgrade, said Jennie, "This will eliminate the need for a new phone system. We would be doing this even if we weren't moving into a new City Hall." The phone server, which is already housed at the Water Treatment Plant, is seven years old. The upgrade will extend the life of the phone system five to six years and result in cost savings.

A representative from Solution Builders, which is the city's IT consultant, said the new computer server will probably be moved to the Water Plant in about 30 days.

MCWD ASKED TO TELEVISE MEETINGS

VICTORIA WANTS ADDITIONAL TRANSPARENCY

Council voted 5-0 on September 8th to send a letter to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District in support of them televising their Board meetings.

Said Mayor Tom O'Connor about the seven MCWD board managers, "Our relationship with the Watershed District has, in fairness, improved the last couple of years, but there still is a glaring error in the way business is approached with these folks. They are all appointed, yet they have the power to levy taxes. They have a budget of $13 million with a levy of $7.9 million. And there's no oversight! No one elected them!"

"And yet their meetings aren't televised," continued Mayor O'Connor. "There is a movement among many mayors of the area mayors to request, demand, suggest, require to the extent we have influence, that their meetings at least be videotaped and made available to the public ... so the public can, if they choose to, be aware how how they do business. An $8 million levy! And there's no way to get information from them unless you read their reports or be at their meetings. I'd like council to authorize me to prepare a letter requiring, requesting, suggesting, wishing a screening of their meetings."

Council gave that authorization. This provides additional transparency for the residents of Victoria and other communities in Carver and Hennepin Counties.

Stated Councilmember Joe Pavelko, "Ask them to put it on their website."

PERSONNEL POLICY AMENDMENTS TABLED

VICTORIA TO REVIEW ENTIRE COMPENSATION PKG

The issue was sick leave severance pay and other options that could provide incentives to recruit and retain city employees. Interim City Manager Ed Shukle was asked for additional investigation related to Paid Time Off and Tuition Reimbursement for continuing education.

Councilmember Lani Basa had asked on September 8th, "What about education incentives? What are the impacts on the budget? What recruits people here to Victoria? There is more movement within city staffs than there used to be."

On September 22nd much additional information and more options were presented by staff. Councilmember Basa stated, "I appreciate your research and effort. But I'd like to take a step back and review the entire compensation package to be sure it's competitive, to review all the pieces. What does a really good compensation package look like? I'd like to look at it as a complete package. I'm willing to lead that effort."

Mayor Tom O'Connor made a motion to table action on the Personnel Policy in favor of a broader compensation package. The motion passed unanimously. Said Councilmember Joe Pavelko, "I still had questions, too." He agreed with an approach that would not be piecemeal.

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