Victoria MN Newspaper

VICTORIA’S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

KEEPING PUBLIC UTILITIES IN WORKING ORDER

Left to right: Chuck Almhjeld (Public Works Superintendent), Jeff Borg (P.W. Worker), Randy Brandt (P.W. Worker), Matt VonBank (P.W. Worker), Brady Lee (P.W. Worker), Ann Mahnke (Director of Parks and Public Works), Al Zellman (P.W. Worker). Missing: Corey Scharpe (P.W. Worker).

VICTORIA SUPPORTS COUNTY RD. PROJECT

BUT IS WARY OF CITY COST IT WOULD ENTAIL

City Engineer Cara Geheren reported on November 24th about federal funds that are available for improvements to County Road 13, that section in Victoria also called Rolling Acres Road. There was a December 1st deadline for grant applications and Carver County asked for the written support of the City of Victoria.

Said Cara, "I was happy to receive a phone call from the county about that portion of County Road 13 located between Highway 7 and Highway 5. There are a number of private driveways with direct access to the road. A number of turn lanes would be constructed. The application also includes linking the trails,which connect to our new trail to the Arboretum and Regional Trail."

Cara commented on the continuing traffic issues on Rolling Acres Road and that they are a real concern. "This road gets a lot of traffic," she said.

Total project cost is $6.7 million, she said, and the county is hoping for a grant that would cover 80% of that cost. "The city would have a share of the 20% in cost that's left. We should anticipate those costs and look at our state aid funds to help with those costs. By 2017 Victoria should have $500,000 in that fund again."

Cara remarked that even 20% of the 20% is a rather large number.

Councilmember Jim Crowley confirmed that a letter of support has no financial commitment, adding, "I support the letter but we sure have a ton of work to do. It's like, 'Congratulations! You won! Now you owe us this amount of money."

Councilmember Joe Pavelko commented on a possible expenditure of city funds to improve Rolling Acres Road. "When we say yes to this project, we're saying no to another one. Is the proportion [that Victoria would pay] negotiable?"

There were more questions than answers but it was agreed that the City of Victoria would write a letter of support for the county road project in Victoria.

PROBLEM WITH CAMPAIGN SIGNS

VICTORIA TEAM WILL DRAFT A POLICY

Mayor Tom O'Connor commented November 10th on campaign signs during the recent election season. "During the last campaign, there was much frustration about where signs were placed and the moving of signs," he said. "How do we manage that next time? There is a lack of clarity in recourse. What is the expectation and who is responsible for what pieces of it?"

Said Councilmember Tom Strigel, "A number of signs were placed where they shouldn't have been placed, but the complaints went in and nothing was done. Who can do something about this?"

Said Councilmember Jim Crowley, "It was clear the county and the state have their act together."

Said Mayor Tom O'Connor, "We had complaints from everybody, all sides. I recommend we put together a team to deal with illegal signs so we don't have to go through this again in two years."

City Manager Laurie Hokkanen will take the project under her wing.

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