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The Victoria GAZETTE |
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July 2011 |
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VICTORIA SOCCER FIELDS TO BE FINALLY REPAIRED APPROVED WITH SPLIT 3-2 COUNCIL VOTE For the first time in 2011, there was a 3-2 split vote. It happened Monday evening, June 13th, and the topic was the soccer fields at Diethelm Park. In summary, the fields were playable three years ago, but then given a huge overlay of bad soil from the excavation of the second ice sheet, and they've been unplayable ever since. The city received $98,000 through School District 112 (a partner in the operation of the Ice Arena) to help alleviate the situation but it's not enough to correct the problem or return the fields to their original quality. Mayor Mary Thun and Councilmembers Kim Roden and Tom O'Connor voted to expend a total amount up to $222,910 to fix the fields. It is the plan recommended by the Victoria Parks and Recreation committee. As Councilmember Roden stated, "This means we could still spend less than that amount." New councilmembers Jim Crowley and Tom Strigel voted against that plan. Administrator Don Uram presented the case. "Earlier this year we reached an agreement to do something with the soccer fields. We've received approximately $100,000. The Park and Recreation committee supports Option 4. They also said it's not an appropriate location for a dome facility." Little or no information has publicly come forward regarding a dome facility, which was first mentioned earlier this year, in passing, by Councilmember Crowley. Explained Administrator Uram, "We've met with an individual who is interested in constructing an indoor dome facility. Ann and I have also spent time with the City of Chaska in this regard. There's only room for one such facility in this area. The amount of revenue they generate across the board is approximately $300,000. It costs about $450,000 to manage and operate." Ann Mahnke, Parks and Rec Director for the City of Victoria, said the goal tonight would be for councilmembers to autorize the preparation of plans and specs and solicit bids for the soccer field improvements. "We recommend that council move forward with this project," she said. As for a multi-purpose dome facility, Ann stated, "I don't believe we're at that point yet." Councilmember Crowley questioned why the city would spend money on a non-revenue generating project such as soccer fields, and said he'd rather spend money connecting Victoria's trails. Mayor Thun pointed out, "There is no contingency that says we have to use that $98,000 on a soccer field." Councilmember Roden referred to the continual delays of not getting the soccer fields done. "The Park and Rec Committee has given us a recommendation," she stated. Stated Councilmember O'Connor, "This has been studied for three years. I say we vote it up or down." "The fields are not usable at all now," said Ann. "They're rocky. There's too much salt in the soils. The fields would also be used for lacrosse, football, minimal adult organizations, with some school use also. It would mainly be people from this community utilizing the fields and the community's tax dollars." Added Councilmember Roden, "If we don't fix those fields, what do we do with them? What's the expectation of the community? It would be a fairly abrupt decision to get this money and then say we're not going to do anything to them. There's an expectation these fields will be repaired." Stated Councilmember Crowley, "I think we have an opportunity to do somethign better."
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