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SHORTER NEWS FROM JULY

VICTORIA CONTINUES TO APPLY FOR GRANTS

*Council authorized application for $50,000 in grant money to help clean up the existing Public Works site, formerly the city dump. An environmental assessment has indicated a potential for hazardous waste and there are concerns with the septic system and high levels of arsenic in an adjacent well. It is a 25% matching grant so the city would need to contribute $12,500 toward the effort.

*Council accepted a bid of $91,800 to improve Lift Station No. 5, located along Rolling Acres Road just south of Mount Olivet, with new pumps, new control panel, additional storage capacity. An additional contract with Xcel Energy for $17,000 will install 3 Phase Power at the lift station to provide more reliable service.

*Council authorized staff to submit a grant application to the State Farm Foundation in the amount of $2,500 to provide training and support to Victoria businesses prior to the 2012 Hwy 5 project through downtown Victoria.

*Total contract cost of the improvements to Stieger Lake Lane and the Rose Street Parking Lot is $187,153. Wm Muller and Sons is the contract on both jobs.

*Council accepted the following donations: $400 from Fresh Seasons Market and $150 from Sara Miller for the Victoria Fire Department; $4,627 from Chaska Lions Chariable Gambling for the Victoria Parks and Recreation Department; $167 from TKDA and $250 from Kennedy & Graven for the city employee picnic.

*Mayor Mary Thun wrote a letter to Governor Mark Dayton, Senator Julianne Ortman, and Representative Ernie Leidiger about the state government shutdown on Friday, July 1st. "I wrote the letter myself," said Mayor Thun to fellow councilmembers. "I did not speak on behalf of the council. If you wish to sign it, great. I'm not trying to put pressure on you. I wrote it entirely on my own, but I'm open to suggestions."

*Council approved an expenditure of $2,269 for presentation equipment including an Epson PowerLite 95 LCD Projector and widescreen to be used for presentations at city meetings. As Councilmember Jim Crowley stated, "It helps the staff and it's budgeted."

*Council approved revised guidelines for the purchase of property in the city by public and nonprofit agencies. One of the criteria for purchase would be that at least 51% of the property is undevelopable.

*Council held the first reading of an ordinance that gives the city alternatives to contracting with the state to provide electrical inspections in emergency situations, such as a state government shutdown.

THE LETTER DATED JULY 12TH

MN SHUTDOWN LASTED 19 DAYS TO JULY 20TH

To Our Elected Officials:

Our beloved forefathers, in drafting the many documents that established the United States of America, anticipated that elected leaders entrusted with the operations of our great country would use every skill at their disposal to make long range decisions for the benefit of all citizens.

In 1858, the United States Senate admitted our State of Minnesota into the Union, and coming with that admittance, we believe, was the expectation that Minnesota's leaders would use their skills to make wide ranging educated decisions on behalf of Minnesota citizens as well as hold true to the beliefs and values succinctly outlined in the United States Constitution.

On November 2nd, 2010, you were elected to represent the citizens of Minnesota. Coming with that election is the expectation that you will use your talents and background to understand the needs of your constituents by making and influencing decisions that will benefit Minnesota citizens and the communities in which they reside.

The City of Victoria is a highly educated and, some say, wealthy and conservative community. In fact, we receive minimal dollars from the State and at this time we are minimally affected as a community by the current shutdown of the State.

We are proud that City Council has determinedly made decisions that remain within our operating budget. We have resisted the call for extraordinary spending and live well within our means; our tax levy has remained constant over the last six-plus years.

As mayor, councilmembers, and citizens of our State, we are highly embarrassed and chagrined by both the Governor and our Legislature.

We are not in favor of a broad-based or targeted tax increase, as rarely do taxes solve all problems, but neither are we in favor of hurting those who need assistance to simply live their daily lives.

Click here to continue the letter.

Drs. Dungey, Menser & Associates

Victoria and Waconia. 952-443-2816