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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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September 2012 |
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"We could construct a new building on the 13.5 acres which is city-owned next to the Dairy Queen," continued Mr. Uram. "The advantage is that it would be a permanent solution. The disadvantage is an additional $1.2 to $1.3 million for infrastructure." The area has no sewer, water, or streets. We could build on the vacant city-owned property next to the Post Office," he said. "The advantage is that it's available immediately. The disadvantage is that the site is small, probably a ten-year fix for us. We recommend a two-story building with a basement, designed to expand to the north and to the south." "A fourth option is temporary trailers," said Mr. Uram. "The advantage is immediate availability. The disadvantage is that it's temporary and costly -- $100,000 for first year, $50,000 in subsequent years, and it doesn't solve our needs." Said Councilmember Tom O'Connor who is on the Real Estate Committee, "There was considerable discussion. It can be a perfectly generic building next to the Post Office that can be expanded or sold. The building we're in is 50 years old. The one next door is 62 years old. It's time to move forward. This is a reasonably acceptable alternative from a space and financial point of view. It's the most acceptable solution in my mind ... We would be asking Architectural Alliance to piggyback this project to the Public Works project." Said Councilmember Jim Crowley, "It does cover our near-term needs, not necessarily long term. It's minimal cost to the taxpayers. It allows expansion of staff. It keeps everybody downtown. Utilities are here." Added Mr. Uram, "It's a much easier site to develop than the others. We'd want to implement as quickly as we can." Said Mayor Mary Thun, "I lean toward what Tom and Jim said. It tells me, since you've said the site is shovel ready, that the shovels can come in." "Well, we don't know how long the plan and design would take," said Mr. Uram. Replied Mayor Thun, "It seems to me that they'd be used to doing this. It's a second job for them. I want to hear from staff what is the priority to move this through!" Replied Mr. Uram, "This is a priority for several months. We'd be looking at maybe a spring construction." Said Councilmember Tom O'Connor, "It can be a plain vanilla two-story building. This council should make the decision to move forward." Agreed Mayor Thun, "This council has a vested interest," and added, "I'll go along with vanilla as long as it's attractive for Victoria." "We'll want to spend time on the front end to be sure we get what we want," said Mr. Uram. "I bet there are plans in the archives." Said Councilmember Crowley, "First we authorize permission to engage. Let's get this design down very quickly, one step at a time. Let's get going." "I would say that both buildings -- Public Works and City Offices -- are of equal priority," said Mayor Thun. She advised staff to "sit down now and talk about what you'd like." Said Councilmember Kim Roden, "I like this option. I'm comfortable with it." She asked about the possibility of environmental issues. Replied Mr. Uram, "I think we need to assume we have environmental issues." Asked Mayor Thun about current city office,"Is the plan that this building would be demolished?" "Yes," said Mr. Uram, who added that the building in which the city currently offices -- in fact, it's the old Victoria Fire Hall -- is 62 years old, and the building in which city council meetings are currently held -- it was for years called the Village Hall -- is actually 46 years old. Asked Councilmember Tom Strigel, "Does your staff have the capacity to handles these three big projects simultaneously?" He was referring to a new Public Works Building, a new City Offices, and bringing trunk utilities to properties south of Lake Wasserman. Mr. Uram suggested, "Yes," and that a combination of resources can be used including a project manager. Said Councilmember Strigel, "Raising taxes has got to be our last option. We're doing this because it's necessary, not because it's fun." Mr. Uram said the city has a combination of reserves, and tax increases that would be minimal at first, increasing as the population increases. Council was unanimous in its decision to move forward toward a new City Offices building. It has been reported several times in the past that current city office space reeks of petroleum, that at least one city staff member needed to move from that location, that water pours in the back door when it rains, that there are holes in the wall, and it's simply not big enough to adequately meet the growing demands of a growing city. Added Administrator Uram, "There will be discussions with the Victoria Lions." The Lions currently rely on the "Village Hall," which has a large kitchen with commercial appliances, for their hugely popular and successful Pancake Breakfast fundraisers. The Lions and others also hold their regular meetings at the Hall.
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CORNERSTONE Insurance Agency Inc. |
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David Barsness, CPCU Chaska 952-448-5028 |
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Lake Auburn Moravian Church Victoria 952-443-2051 |
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Southwest Christian H.S. 952-556-0040 |
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City Scoop Continued |