Victoria MN Newspaper

NEW COMMAND VEHICLE

FOR THE VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT

Council voted 5-0 on August 11th to purchase a 2nd Command Vehicle for the Victoria Fire Department. As reported, command vehicles are primarily used by a senior level officer who responds directly to incidents rather than going to the Fire Station first and then respond to the scene. Purchase price: $40,111 including emergency lighting and accessories.

As Interim City Manger Ed Shukle summarized, "It's purpose is to decrease response time."

Fire Chief Andrew Heger said the Department does have one command vehicle. "In 2004 the white pickup truck was donated to the city by the Hartman family," said Andrews. "It's a two wheel drive with lots of miles. It's a 2001 vehicle."

He said the Fire Department shared a second command vehicle before Firefighter Tim Walsh resigned, since Tim also worked for Carver County as an Emergency Management Specialist and that job came with a Command Vehicle.

Andrew commented that there might have been a drowning in Chaska recently if a Command Vehicle hadn't arrived fast and saved the victim's life.

Responding to questions from the council, Andrew said that Chaska has four Command Vehicles, Chanhassen has four or five, Waconia has one. "I'd be happy with two," he said. Most cities supply their full time Fire Chief with a Command Vehicle. The City of Victoria is expected to consider hiring a full time Fire Chief.

VICTORIA’S PERSONNEL POLICY

REVISING AND UPDATING SOME SECTIONS

Council held a workshop on August 25th to consider changes in the Personnel Policy which was adopted in 2006. At the end of the discussion, Council preferred an incentive change in pay structure rather than continuing sick leave severance pay for new employees.

Interim City Manager Ed Shukle preferred continuing the policy of compensating employees for unused sick leave. "I'm advocating that the benefit remain. It's rewarding people for coming to work," he said.

Said Councilmember Jim Crowley, "I'd incent people by putting it in their pay. I don't see severance pay as an incentive. I'd be against continuing severance pay down the road. I don't see any direct evidence that this drives a person seeking employment."

Mayor Tom O'Connor commented on Mr. Shukle's 30+ years of city experience and stated, "I feel awkward that we're at odds, given the fact that you're responsible for hiring and firing."

Replied Mr. Shukle, "It doesn't hurt my feelings. If Mr. Crowley thinks we should instead look at higher pay, we can look at that."

"I see this as an opportunity to make changes for the better," said Councilmember Crowley.

Agreed Councilmember Lani Basa, "I know we're competitive now, but I can support paying more." The intent is to attract the best employees for the City of Victoria. The City is currently in the process of seeking candidates for the City Manager position and the Community Development Director position, recently vacated by Don Uram and Holly Kreft, respectively.

Existing employees will retain their unused sick leave severance pay benefit, which amounts to 45% [of wage value] after being employed with the city 15 years.

The Personnel Policy will also allow employees to use their own cell phones rather than a city-owned device, and be reimbursed a stipend of maybe $15/month. Said Councilmember Lani Basa, "I know companies are moving away from providing a device."

It is also proposed that the revised policy remove Columbus Day as a paid 8-hour holiday, adding 4 of those hours to make Christmas Eve a full day holiday and 4 hours of vacation to employees who go 365 days without a time-loss accident.

SITE PLANS & BLDG MATERIALS OKAYED

FOR NEW MAIN STREET BUILDING IN VICTORIA

Council voted 4-0 (Tom Strigel absent) on August 25th to approve the site plan and building materials for the Main Street Building as proposed by Hartman Brothers.

Interim Planner Ben Gozola showed sketches, elevations, and design of the proposed retail-commercial building in downtown Victoria. Among other amenities, he said, "it will have dual fronts on both the east and west sides, a decorator garage door to hide the dumpsters, a ten-foot walkway between this building and the Post Office."

Said Mr. Gozola, "Staff and Planning Commission are in support of this. Intent of code was to require high quality materials Plans appear to be very nice and would fit in nicely with what is already in town."

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