Page Title

Waconia Dodge Chrysler Jeep

Highway 5 * 952-442-2010

Jay Swenson

Chanhassen 952-906-2405

Sue’s Album

A symphony of photos

and fewer than a thousand words

at www.VictoriaGazette.com

The Victoria Lions We Serve.

Lake Auburn Moravian Church

Victoria * 952-443-2051

ABC Family Chiropractic

952-443-3710

Call for a clinic near you.

952-442-8094

Headlines

and bylines

Front Page

Feature Story

From the

Editor

Addie’s

Drawing

Letters

to the Editor

Victoria

Moments

Hook

Line & Sinker

Calendar

of Events

Click here to

Advertise

the Gazette

Return to

Home Page

Order

paper Gazette

Notes and

Quotes

The Scoop

at City Hall

INTRODUCING GARY VAN EYLL

MEMBER OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL

Gary Van Eyll, new member of the Metropolitan Council representing District #4, which includes the City of Victoria, attended the May 23rd meeting of the Victoria City Council.

"Thank you for this opportunity," he said, informing that there are 16 members of the Metropolitan Council, 17 with the chair, and 15 of them are brand new, and the administrator is new.

"We're all learning now from our staff," said Mr. Van Eyll. "We are a regional planning organization and we'll be trying to work together. We will be going to a retreat in June, spending some time together as a Council, talking about goals."

Stated City Councilmember Kim Roden in that regard, "I'm still not convinced that your staff have the same goals as elected officials. I hope the spirit of regeneration filters down to the [Met] Council."

"Besides being a planning organization," continued Mr. Van Eyll, "the Metropolitan Council runs the bus and light rail, wastewater, coordinates water resources, provides housing opportunities for low income individuals and families. We have four-year terms, serving the seven-county metropolitan area, and are appointed by the Governor."

Gary Van Eyll was appointed to the Metropolitan Council in March 2011 by Governor Mark Dayton. District 4 includes Carver County, the Hennepin County cities of Minnetrista and St. Bonifacius, and Scott County excluding the City of New Prague.

He served as the mayor of Chaska from 2003 to 2009. While mayor, in 2007, Chaska was named one of the ten best small towns to live in the U.S. by Money Magazine. He was a member of the volunteer Chaska Fire Department for 20 years, serving as chief and in other leadership roles.

In 2009 and 2010, Mr. Van Eyll led the U.S. Census in Carver and Hennepin counties, where he managed a workforce of 1,000 people and served as the media spokesperson for the Census in the metro area. He has worked as Service and Parts Director and management positions with other metro area companies featuring new vehicle sales.

On the Metropolitan Council, he serves on the Environment and Management committees. He lives in Chaska with his wife Barbara. Mr. Van Eyll is also active in the American Legion at the district and state levels of the organization.

He can be reached at gary.vaneyll@metc.state.mn.us.

COUNCILMEMBERS REVIEW STUDIES

VICTORIA’S 13.5 ACRES LIE IN WAITING

Councilmembers held a workshop on May 9th to talk about a housing study and retail market analysis done as part of a grant from the Metropolitan Council for the 13.5 city-owned acres located adjacent to the west side of downtown Victoria.

According to minutes taken that evening (the editor was out of town), Jim McComb of the McComb Group reported there are 73 retail and service establishments in the Central Business District, an increase of 28 since a 2007 study. He said 11 businesses participated in the survey; four of them are looking to grow.

Mary Bujold of Maxfield Research said growth is expected to be sluggish through 2014 and there is difficulty in getting projects financed. She said home values decreased from 2006 to 2010, but Victoria has a lot of high amenity land which people view as attractive and desirable.

There were other findings from the housing study, some of them questioned by Mayor Mary Thun. She questioned data about the most rapid growth in Victoria being in the age range of 65 to 74, and is also not convinced that people are living where they work.

Click here for more City Scoop.