A GREAT SUCCESS STORY
SAVING A NEIGHBOR'S LIFE IN VICTORIA

Several people were on hand at the July 13^th Victoria City Council meeting to tell their stories and receive recognition for bravery and good citizenship. 
Plaques were awarded by Victoria Fire Chief Tim Walsh to Victoria Fire-fighters Rick Leuthner, Doug Schmieg, Aaron Jurek, and Andrew Heger, Minne-trista Officer Ryan Wagener, and Victoria resident Randy Herges.   
In summary, Donald Anfinsen, a resi-dent north of Hwy 7 at Iris Street, suffered a heart attack, fell on the pavement in front of his house, and became unconscious.  His next door neighbor Randy Herges say him lying there, bleed-ing, drowning in his own blood, and initiated CPR and continued it until Minnetrista Police Officer Ryan Wagener arrived and continued the CPR. 
Victoria Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and completed the medical rescue and Don was transported to Ridgeview Medical Center.  Don's wife reported that he had broken his jaw in three places with the fall and also suffered a second heart attack.
"I had no symptoms," he said, and he also has no memory of the episode.  "It's good to be here.  Randy saved my life.  I'm thankful to him and everybody."  Ap-proximately 25 neighbors and friends were in attendance for the presentations and recognitions at the Victoria city coun-cil meeting.  "It's a great success story," stated Mayor Jerry Bohn.  The story was first reported in the June issue of the Gazette in the monthly column by Carver County Commissioner Gary Delaney, a resident of the above neighborhood.

A VICTORIA TOWN CENTER
SHOULD IT BE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE?

As suggested by City Councilmember Terry Bishop at a workshop on July 13^th, a housing development consultant will be hired to answer questions about the pros and cons of acquiring either a public or a private entity to develop, construct, and manage a town centre project in Victoria.
A public option is the Carver County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), an authority that was responsible for the Waconia Town Center, as reported in the July issue of the Gazette. 
The County HRA owns and operates 66 units of rental housing in that complex, and owns and leases office space to the City of Waconia with leases or subleases to a branch of the Carver County Library, a Carver County Sheriff's Office, the Waconia Chamber of Commerce, and the Waconia Heritage Association.
A private option is Presbyterian Homes, for example, which has experi-ence in senior housing but perhaps not in a combined facility that would also in-clude city offices and library as Victoria city councilmembers are currently en-visioning for downtown Victoria.
Victoria City Finance Director Jylan Johnson stated, "The HRA uses one de-veloper so there could be some cost savings there."
Jylan also said that the HRA pays 5% tax on the net rent of the senior housing portion of the center, an amount that is split among the city, county, and school governments. 
Said Mayor Jerry Bohn, "I like that the HRA does all the planning and negoti-ating."  It was also pointed out that the HRA's entire town center project in Waconia requires only 2.5 acres and includes a parking ramp, some surface parking, lots of storage space, and room for expansion.
Stated Councilmember Mary Thun, "I don't think we'll ever get a new city hall without a mixed use project.  That's the bottom line.  Unless we do it with some-thing else that is palatable!  Most people would not vote for a new city hall.  We would [otherwise] need a referendum to build a new city hall.
"With a mixed use project, it would be tied to other community needs.  It would be a win-win.  Senior housing is needed and many residents want a library.  People in this city have expressed a desire for a library, a place to bring children. "Our city staff is completely out of room now.  We have a responsibility to the people who elected us, and we also have a responsibility to the people who work for us."
Councilmember Richard Tieden said he'd like the public more involved and didn't want anyone thinking the city was trying to get around public input about building a new city hall.  "I'm not against a referendum," he said, "and I'm not so sold on the library."

Click here to continue Victoria Town Center.