Public Works Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Victoria Public Works Facility occurred as planned at 6:00 p.m. on Monday evening, June 2nd, 2014, at the treed location on Bavaria Road next to the Hartman Garden Center.  The sun was shining.

Featured in the very first photo of the evening were the four Victoria city councilmembers who worked toward this moment.  Left to right:  Tom Strigel, Jim Crowley, Mayor Tom O’Connor, and Lani Basa.

Said Mayor Tom O’Connor, “All four of us have supported and been in favor of this project from the beginning.”  He acknowledged the work and dedication that brought the City of Victoria to this point. 

He said the new larger building is needed badly by the Victoria Public Works Department, and it has been designed to double in size as the city grows.

At the May 27th council meeting, the mayor had said, “We currently have a grossly substandard City Hall and Public Works building.  Residents are counting on us for the best long term solution.”

Former Mayor Mary Thun and former Mayor Jerry Bohn were part of the groundbreaking ceremonies.  Mayor Thun spent much of her final term working toward new public facilities.

On December 10th, 2012, Mayor Thun had said, “I encourage the new council and public to support these projects in the future.  That’s my final plea on this.”

Three more scoops came from City Manager Don Uram, Public Works Director Ann Mahnke, and Public Works Superintendent Chuck Almhjeld.

In his opening remarks, Mayor O’Connor had acknowledged the years, debates, and discussions leading to this moment.  He said to Ann, “I bet you can hardly believe this day has arrived.”

Many of the trees on this property, which was formerly part of the Hartman Tree Farm, will be used in landscaping the new Public Works Building.

Also part of this groundbreaking event, Dale Sonnichsen, construction manager with Stahl Construction, and Dave Medin, architect for the Public Works building (D.J. Medin).

The new Victoria Public Works Facility is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

Several city staff people, and others, attended this groundbreaking.

Mayor O’Connor’s wife Cathi and two of their little grandchildren were part of the festivities.

Not the End

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Then it was time to head over to downtown Victoria for groundbreaking of the new Victoria City Hall.  Want to go along?  Click on City Hall-Library Groundbreaking.