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CITY HALL AND PUBLIC WORKS BLDG PUT ON HOLD COST ESTIMATES HIGHER THAN EXPECTED Manager Don Uram reported December 10th the estimated cost to build a new City Hall and Public Works Facility is $7 million. Original estimate was $5 million. "Cost estimates came in higher than expected so we decided to slow down a bit and explore alternatives. These are very preliminary estimates based on sketch plans." The estimate is $2.5 million (originally $2 million) on City Hall and $4.5 million on Public Works (originally $3 million). Continued Mr. Uram, "We've got a hilly Public Works site and a county road that needs turn lanes. These add $1 million in costs. We're back looking at the project scope and how we can manage this." Stated Mayor Mary Thun, "I'm incredibly disappointed we can't keep this going at this time. I want to emphasize to the public how important these buildings are to the city. Staff is in a position and place none of us would be willing to work in. The Public Works building is an embarrassment, it has no bathroom facilities. This situation is not one I'm proud of. I encourage the future council to look very closely at what we're asking. I encourage the new council and public to support these projects in the future. You don't build two large buildings without doing something to the taxes. It's unsuitable to keep working in theses facilities. That's my final plea on this." Said Councilmember Kim Roden, "I don't want to be a slum landlord. That's what I think of our current facility. It is an embarrassment. Any taxpayer or business can go tour the facilities. That's something that hasn't been adequately revealed to the public. Why would we be comfortable having our staff in a substandard building? I ask the [future] council to take a large swallow and do what's necessary."
NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS FOR VICTORIA DECREASE IN LEVY, REVENUE, EXPENDITURES On December 10th Council unanimously adopted three resolutions related to city levy, expenditures, and revenues for 2013. Finance Manager Kelly Grinnell reported there were a few minor changes from the budget that was reviewed in November, but the bottom line remains the same. The first resolution approved a final tax levy of $3,947,646 which is very similar to the preliminary levy certified to the county in September. In fact, the final levy is $39,000 less than the preliminary number. And it is $102,846 less than the 2012 tax levy. As previously reported, this is the fourth year in a row that the city's tax levy will decrease. The city tax rate of 39.5% remains unchanged from 2012. The second resolution approved the General Fund Operating Budget for 2013. Total revenues amount to $3,611,730. Total expenditures amount to $3,581,730 plus $30,000 for the General Fund Reserve. Both revenues and expenditures for 2013 are less than those of 2012 -- by $67,275 and $97,275 respectively. The third resolution adopted the 2013 Operating Budget for the Victoria Recreation Center. Total revenues amount to $1,141,903. Total expenditures amount to $1,069,122 plus $72,781 for the Center's Reserve Fund. These numbers are identical to those in the preliminary budget adopted by the Council in September. Both revenues and expenditures are higher than those of 2012 -- by $68,825 and $72,876 respectively. Revenues are higher because of increased programming revenue. Expenditures are higher because of a new programmer position, increased utility costs, and building maintenance and repairs. More detailed budget information is located in the City Scoop pages of the online and archived October Gazette.
SHORTEST CITY SCOOP FROM DECEMBER NEW OWNER AND NAME FOR VIC’S IN VICTORIA *Council approved the transfer of liquor license from Mike Meents and Vic's Bar and Grill to Paul Carlson and Vic's Blue Dog. Those licenses transferred include On-Sale Intoxicating, On-Sale Sunday, and Off-Sale. *Council authorized the donation of six decommissioned pagers from the Victoria Fire Department to the Broad Channel Fire Department in Queens, NY. The pagers are no longer compatible with the upgraded frequencies used for communication today in Carver County. Estimated value of the pagers is less than $200.
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January 2013 |
