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The Victoria

GAZETTE

September 2012

MOTIONING TOWARD A NEW CITY HALL

AND A NEW PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING

       PUBLIC WORKS BUILIDNG:

       COUNCIL COMMITS TO BITE THE BULLET

       Two large motions were each approved 5-0 by the Victoria City Council on August 13th -- both regarding a new Public Works Facility for the City of Victoria.

         The first motion, made by Councilmember Jim Crowley, authorized city staff to enter into contract negotiations with Architectural Alliance of Minneapolis for architectural and engineering services for the Victoria Public Works building. 

         The Real Estate Committee had interviewed three firms -- Oertle Architects, Kodet Architectural Group, and Architectural Alliance -- in the selection process.  The interview panel included City Councilmembers Tom O'Connor and Jim Crowley, and Public Works staff Ann Mahnke and Chuck Almhjeld, and Ben Merriman, an area real estate broker.

         Stated Mayor Mary Thun, "This tells me we are dead serious about building a new Public Works building."

         The second motion, made by Councilmember Tom O'Connor, committed the current Council to build, "in the order of magnitude of $3 million, a Public Works building on the 96 acres."  The 96-acres of city-owned property are currently located in Laketown Township, one day slated to be annexed into the City of Victoria.

         Stated Councilmember O'Connor, "If there's anybody on this council who can't vote for this, you're not serious!  We will make the financing work because we need a Public Works facility."

         Although Mayor Thun had wanted to include in the motion a commitment to also build a new building for City Offices, she voted in favor of both motions with the understanding that Administrator Don Uram would bring them options and recommendations for a new City Hall in two weeks.

***

         As council and staff approached the issue that evening of August 13th, Councilmember O'Connor referred to the 96 acres of city-owned property in Laketown Township.  "It's basically two hills with a wetland in between," he said.  "Before you put a shovel in the ground, you want to make sure it's the correct spot not just for today, but for five to ten years down the road."

         Asked Mayor Thun, "If this is passed tonight, how do we get there, to a building you can walk into?"

         "From right here, it's a long walk," replied Mr. Uram.  "A general timeline ... probably six months of design work, probably release in the spring for bids, then a nine to twelve-month construction, probably an early 2014 occupancy ... and that's if we hustle.  We wouldn't want to start construction until next spring."

 

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Swanson Insurance

952-448-4580

CORNERSTONE

Insurance Agency Inc.

David Barsness, CPCU

Chaska 952-448-5028

Lake Auburn

Moravian

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Victoria 952-443-2051

Victoria Bar & Grill

Home of the Blue Dog

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City Scoop Continued

While city councilmembers were meeting at the Community Room of the Water Treatment Plant on Monday, August 13th, Victoria Firefighter Jeff Nordeen (pictured above) and several other firefighters were working next door at the adjacent Fire Station.  Explained Fire Chief Andrew Heger, "Jeff and the other firefighters were loading all the hose onto the new engine.  They would first unroll the hose and engrave both ends with a number.  This allows us to track the maintenance and repair of the hose.  We are required to test all the firehose  annually, so the numbering system comes in handy for that.  Once all the hose was marked and documented, it was loaded onto the appropriate hose bed on the truck."