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On Stieger Lake * Victoria 952-443-1331 |
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Island View Dining Waconia. 952-442-2956 |
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Chaska School of Dance Mary Pieper 952-873-6781 |
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Fahey’s Window Cleaning 952-467-2447 |
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Country Life Therapeutic Massage Jan Sutton, M.A. * 952-474-0999 |
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MVT Excavating No job is too small. 952-446-9341 |
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Waconia 952-442-2885 |
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“Trees Are Our Roots” 8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990 |
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1915 Arboretum Blvd * Victoria 952-443-2808 |
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City Scoop Continued |
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Asked Councilmember Roden, “What rights do we have on this matter? Can we even stop it?” Replied Mike, “I don’t have a complete answer to that, and I’m not clear on their funding source.” Said Kim, “We do have other options besides protesting. We can look at legal remedies.”
SEEKING “WATERSHED FOR DUMMIES” RULINGS IMPACT VICTORIA DEVELOPMENT January 25th, 2010 Discussion continued on January 25h about the potential land grab as City Engineer Cara Geheren stated, “The watershed district is looking to purchase four parcels here as part of their Marsh Lake/Wasserman Lake corridor plan,” she said. “We have the responsibility to expand our infrastructure in the best and most cost efficient manner, and our plan and the watershed’s plan are opposed to each other ... Had we known that land was going to be preserved, we wouldn’t already have pipe in the ground.” Councilmember Tom O’Connor pointed to “painstaking detail” evident in the watershed material and advised that Victoria must also be scientific in discussion in order to refute their plan. Said Councilmember Jim Paulsen, “It’s not clear to me that there’s any science here.” The city engineer reported that 94% of the phosphorous is located in the lake and not around the lake. According to online information, an overload of phosphorous within lakes causes unsightly, odoriferous blue-green algae blooms. The problems originated when untreated sewage went into the lakes. Phosphorous is something that, once it gets into the lakes, is very hard to get out. Cara spoke on January 25th about TMDL’s, which stands for Total Maximum Daily Load. “This is happening slowly but surely in all lakes in the state,” she said. “These are big issues with big implications.” When City Planner/Community Development Director Holly Kraft referred to plans for better communication with other governmental bodies and public participation, Councilmember O’Connor stated, “Seems we need more than communication. Isn’t it our responsibility to land use property in our city?” “And what did it mean for us to see information with ‘Three Mile Creek’ in it?” asked Mayor Mary Thun. “We know what it is now, but we didn’t before.” As pointed out on January 11th, the Creek is in fact a ditch constructed about six decades ago in a wetland area. That area will become part of the City of Victoria through the orderly annexation agreement, and Victoria has spent money on infrastructure in preparation for future development of that area. Stated Councilmember Tim Amund-sen, “There’s always a sense of impropriety when you have to work to get the information. It just doesn’t smell right.” City Administrator Don Uram pointed out however, “We’re not in a position to comment on their data practices.” “But we can comment on their anecdotal practices,” replied Councilmember O’Connor, especially in light of the fact that rulings of the Watershed District greatly impact the development of single family homes in Victoria as planned in the city’s Comprehensive Plan. “Seems we want to be in the Team Water Business,” stated Councilmember Paulsen. “Yes,” agreed Councilmember Tom O’Connor, “and to work with us. Our track record is good. They are affecting their good neighbors.” “I’d still like to see where they’re getting their money from and how it’s being spent,” said Councilmember Amundsen. “Are we up to working on this?” asked Mayor Thun. Staff is putting together information for a February 22nd workshop among councilmembers and staff in order to brush up on details for a joint meeting with the Watershed District. “And I want a copy of Watershed for Dummies,” stated Councilmember Paulsen. This workshop would be in preparation for a requested March 3rd meeting. As Holly reported, “Victoria has requested a joint meeting with the Watershed District Board of Managers. The proposed land purchase would be one of the items we would like to discuss. The agenda for the meeting will be generated by the City of Victoria. We have not finalized the location for the meeting, but the Watershed District has requested a neutral location. The meeting is scheduled to run from 7 to 9 p.m.”
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Sue’s Album A symphony of photos and fewer than a thousand words at www.VictoriaGazette.com |
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February 2010 |
