Victoria MN Newspaper

SHORTER CITY SCOOP FROM JULY

ELECTION JUDGES APPOINTED IN VICTORIA

*Council appointed the following residents as election judges for the upcoming primary and general elections: Linda Aaberg, Wendy Amundsen (head judge), Liz Anderson (head judge), David Barstad (head judge), Cathleen Beaver, Patti Bjorklund, Theresa Bourdage, Patsy Calhoon, Barry Calhoon, Jon Carlson, Joseph Carroll, Theodore Chalgren, Cecilee Christopher, Ronald Cordie, Jill Dahl, Lisa Debroy, Tapan Debroy, Katherine Fischenich, Mary Hadaway, Michelle Hammers, Stan Hamerski, Richard Harker, Rosean Harker, Joyce Heiland, Patrick Henning, Jim Hoffman, Joan Jendro, Judith Jorgenson, Joan Julian, Michael Johnson, Henry Todd Knutson, Linda Krantz, Lisa Ann Krumm Schmidt, Mary Leizinger, Doris Mielke, RaNaye Miller, Mary Moore, Cindy Polkow, Henry Pryor, Mary Ramseth, Nancy Robinson, David Robinson, Charles Schmidt, Doc Schmieg, Jane Sklenicka-Focht, Ruth Smith, Rae Ann Vandeputte, Judith Witt.

*Those residents wishing to file for election this fall to the Victoria City Council may file at City Hall until Tuesday, August 12th, at 5 p.m. The seats of Councilmembers Jim Crowley and Tom Strigel are up for election.

*Council approved a temporary liquor license for the City of Victoria 2014 Volksfest to sell beer and wine at the event on August 15th and 16th. The city obtained the temporary license on behalf of the Victoria Business Owners Association. In 2015 the VBOA will be eligible to apply for the license as they will have met the requirements of being a nonprofit for three years.

*Council accepted donations to the City of Victoria from the following: Deer Run Homeowners Group ($1,200) for a Memorial Trail Bench; David and Mary Thun ($100) for Concerts in the Park as a Memorial to Dave Lindgren; Barbara Lindgren ($250) for the Fire Department as a Memorial to Dave Lindgren; Chaska Lions Charitable Gambling Donation ($26,000) to Park and Recreation.

*Council approved a three-year bank pricing agreement with KleinBank. The city maintains a compensating balance and earns .2% in its checking account to cover the various fees charged.

*Council accepted and approved a grant of $4,338 from the MN Dept. of Labor and Industry. The grant pays for half the total cost of $8,677 for equipment for the Public Works Dept: a tommy gate, hydrant buddy, and a gas monitor. They are recommended by the League of MN Cities to reduce employee injuries.

*Council approved the Downtown Redevelopment Area to facilitate the repayment of lease revenue bonds through the Economic Development Authority, which has the same membership as the Victoria City Council. The area includes the new City Hall.

*Council accepted the recommendation of Rusty Fifield (Northland Securities) and approved Edward Jones to be the underwriter on financing the City Hall project. "We received three very fine underwriter proposals," he said. A resolution authorizes the negotiation of the sale of lease revenue and limited tax bonds.

*Council approved a drainage and utility easement at the Hartman property located 1600 Arboretum Boulevard. Said Cara, "The property owner would like to make some improvements but can't because of the easement. Maybe they're making parking improvements."

*Council approved the purchase of a new generator from Titan Energy Systems at a cost of $30,000. Said Ann, "One of four generators died. It was 15 years old. The cost to repair it came in at $19,000. It's mainly used for our lift stations. We average about 15 power outages per year and a generator keeps sewage from backing up into people's homes."

*Council approved a joint sealcoat project with Shorewood. Allied Blacktop got the job: $97,282 for Victoria streets (Kochia, Savanna Trail, and others) plus $292,784 for Shorewood streets.

*Interim City Manger Ed Shukle reported that the August 12th city council meeting will be held at the Community Room at the Fire Station/Water Plant because City Hall on Rose Street will be used for the Primary Election that day. Voting occurs from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

*Interim City Manager Ed Shukle reminded councilmembers that Victoria's Centennial occurs next year, 2015. Randy Miller suggested the kickoff event begin in the spring at the annual Discover Victoria Day, with the biggest celebration occurring at the annual Victoria Volksfest.