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MORE PARKING SPACES FOR VICTORIA WHEN THE KIRSCH BUILDING COMES DOWN Administrator Don Uram reported August 23rd that results were in from the soil borings taken 60 days ago from the Kirsch building property. A small amount of diesel contamination had been found. “I’ve now received an email from the Pollution Control Agency,” he reported. “In a sense they’re basically saying it’s not an issue.” Mr. Uram reported that the tentative closing date is September 8th with demolition hopefully occurring by October 15th. “We hope to have the building down by early fall so the space will be available for parking.” Stated Mayor Mary Thun, “I’d recommend doing this as quickly as possible.” This new parking area, which adjoins parking space for the Victoria Post Office and Floyd’s, will provide 18 parking spaces for general public parking. Paving will occur at a later date. The city purchased the Kirsch property this spring for $145,000. It is located on Rose Street adjacent to Victoria City hall.
COUNTY CONTINUES PROSECUTION CASES VICTORIA’S COST SHARE INCREASEES TO $9.726 On August 23rd Carver County Attorney Jim Keeler reviewed the 2011 Prosecution Contract with the City of Victoria. “When you are contracting with the Carver County Attorney’s Office, you are contracting with a very experienced group of prosecutors,” he said. Staff includes eight criminal prosecution attorneys, two paralegals, a victim witness coordinator, and four support staff personnel. “We are very pleased with our use and interpretation of technology, including eCharging,” said Mr. Keller. “This reduces staff time for the routine process of a criminal complaint. It also includes electronic signatures. It is a program recommended by the court system for adoption statewide.” He said the Attorney’s Office prosecutes misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, and gross misdemeanors, including with DWI’s. Since 2010 the Office prosecutes criminal violations at no additional fee. Cost to the cities equates to $79.15 per case. “This figure includes all cases, from uncontested speeding tickets to issues that require multiple days of work, like DWI’s and domestic assault,” he said. Mr. Keeler said the total caseload for city prosecution services is handled by three staffers at a total 2011 salary expense of $203,929. That expense is covered by fine revenue (46%), the city contract (42%), and county subsidy (12%). He said fine revenues have decreased by 8%, so the county subsidy will not be decreasing as planned. Two-third of fines go to the city coffers, and 2/3 to the State. Total fine revenue for 2009 amounted to $94,992. While the biggest amount of that revenue came from Chaska ($50,482), the second biggest amount came from Victoria ($15,856). Total number of city prosecution cases handled by the Carver County Attorney’s Office in the three-year period 2007-2009 amounted to 1,074. Of that amount, 553 were from the City of Chaska, followed by 149 from the City of Waconia, and 122 from the City of Victoria. In descending order, the remainder came from NYA (89), Watertown (58), Carver (43), Cologne (27), New Germany (15), and Mayer (13). Victoria’s caseload is 11.4% of the total. Mr. Keeler reported that Victoria’s annual contract rate will increase substantially -- from $6,436 in 2010 to $9,726 for 2011. “The reason for the increase,” he said, “is that you had a three-year increase in caseload but a decrease in fine revenue. We’re making up for that loss. Victoria should have more than enough fine revenue to cover its costs.” He said there are, in fact, a fewer number of caseloads overall, and he said it’s due in part to the fact that judges are calling them “court costs” rather than fines. While 2/3 of fines go to the city, no percentage of court costs go to the city. Asked Councilmember Kim Roden, “Why is our fine revenue more than Waconia’s when their population is greater?” Replied Mr. Keeler, “This model is not predicated on population. Victoria has really stepped up enforcement, especially related to DWI’s. More cases are going through the system.” Asked Councilmember Tom O’Connor, “Where does the Social Host Ordinance stand at the county level?” Relied Mr. Keeler, “It was 3-2 vote [at the County Board of Commissioners] a while back, and I’ve heard little discussion about reviving it at the county level. The social host initiatives really do address a gap. There ought to be criminal liability if you’re furnishing the alcohol or furnishing the place for underage consumption of alcohol.”
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September 2010 |
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City Scoop Continued |
