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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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THE CASE IS STILL IN THE HOPPER AND THERE ARE MINUTES TO PROVE IT Councilmember Joe Pavelko asked on November 24th if taking lengthy minutes of each city council meeting is necessary or normal. The minutes run several pages and, although not quoted verbatim, are thorough. "Is that normal?" he asked. City Attorney Bob Vose replied, "It is becoming less common because of videotaping." Every city council meeting in Victoria is recorded and archived, later ones also available on the city's website. Said Councilmember Jim Crowley, "Given the current legal issues, I think it's important to read and review the minutes to make sure they're correct." The City of Victoria is currently involved in two lawsuits, one related to the open meeting law and the other related to eminent domain near Lake Wasserman. Stated the attorney, "Basically, the minutes are the official record. There are competing arguments to do it one way or another." One of the arguments against it is the costliness of hiring the Recording Secretary and the price per page of minutes. Said Mayor Tom O'Connor, "Given the events of the past two years, it behooves us to have the minutes reflect proceedings accurately." The mayor added that the four city councilmembers (being sued by some seven residents) are covered by up to $200,000 in legal defense costs by the League of Minnesota Cities. A total of $130,000 has now been spent. A trial is set for March 3rd and costs continue to escalate. "It's still in the hopper," said the mayor. Defense costs over $200,000 will need to be born by the councilmembers personally or perhaps the city taxpayers. The seven residents who brought the lawsuit are Thomas and Carolyn Funk, Mark and Karen Bjornlin, Marvin Gregory, Jerry Osmonson, and Jane Piney.
SHORTER SCOOP FROM NOVEMBER VICTORIA SUPPORTS PAVING THE TRAILS *Council authorized a letter of support to Carver County for their grant application for federal funds to pave the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail from the Stieger Lake boat landing in Victoria to Rolling Acres Road The length is just over one mile. If the grant is successful, the trail will be a paved trail from Kirke Lachen Park east to the MN Landscape Arboretum. *Council approved the certification of delinquent utility bills for collection with the 2015 property taxes. The city sent 187 letters to customers with delinquent balances totalling $82,880. Since the letters were sent, $25,571 was received. Certification fee/penalty per property is $45. *Council approved city employee benefits for 2015 and moved to Health Partners because it was less expensive than Blue Cross. City employees have coverage for health, spouse, family, dental (Delta), life and disability (Lincoln Financial), and identity theft. *Council accepted the donation of a Honda Pump and Hose ($750 value) from Richard Hacket for the Public Works Department, $250 from the Victoria Business Owners Association for Park and Recreation, and another $250 from the Victoria Business Owners Association for the Victoria Fire Department. *Council adopted the final assessment roll for the Aster Trail and Aster Circle utility improvements. Owners of assessed properties were notified. No one spoke at the public hearing on November 10th. Street and storm sewer assessment: $13,900 per unit. Sanitary sewer assessment: $7,500 per unit. There may be two assessment deferrals. *Council approved the final plat for Chevalle 17th addition in Victoria, located south of 86th Street, east of Co. Rd. 11. The plat consists of 43 single family lots, access to 86th Street, the Chaska municipal water system, 7.5-foot sideyard setbacks, and payments to Victoria for 86th Street improvements and cash in lieu of parkland dedication. Said City Engineer Cara Geheren, "It's been an interesting process." *Council certified the City of Victoria November 4th, 2014, election results. As reported in the Gazette last month, Jim Crowley (1,477 votes) and Tom Strigel (1,413 votes) were re-elected to the City Council. Those not elected: Tom Gregory (1,334 votes) and Lawrence Gubbe (902 votes). Approximate percentages received from top to bottom: 28.5%, 27.5%, 25.5%, and 15.5%. *Mayor O'Connor reported he got a call from the MPCA about the penalty fee of $5,540 that they imposed on Victoria because of silt caused by the 100-year rain this past June. "I think we could get a credible hearing," said the mayor. "They expressed a strong desire to work us in the future. Maybe we'll get our money back." *Mayor O'Connor said he invited Mary Thun, former mayor of Victoria, to the January 5th council meeting to talk about WeCAB. *Jim Crowley said there is interest from Carver County in developing a senior parcel in downtown Victoria for independent living. All councilmembers said they were interested. *Council approved the Service Agreement for Joint Assessment with Carver County, effective through 2015 at a cost of $44,596. The county charges $12 per residential valuation, $12.50 per agricultural valuation, and $13.50 per commercial/industrial valuation. |
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December 2014 |
