·Richard Tieden was given permis-sion to attend a Leadership Conference, a two-day workshop in Park Rapids for city officials sponsored in January by the League of Minnesota Cities, with normal reimbursable expenses.
·City staff, after consultation with the council, negotiated the 2002 labor con-tract with applicable city employees and council approved the contract with the labor union AFSCME on January 17^th.  The contract provides for such things as overtime pay, seniority, vacation and sick leave, holidays, and health insurance.
·Administrator Steve Sarvi conducted performance reviews of several city em-ployees and submitted them for council review.
·Council will hold three Thursday meetings next month, on February 7^th, 14^th, and 28^th.
·The City of Victoria received a divi-dend check in the amount of $8,260 from the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, representing the city's 2001 divi-dend.  The compares to the dividend re-ceived for 2000 of $4,885.  The dividend is based on the city's earned premiums and losses.
·Council authorized the mayor and city administrator to execute the lease agreement allowing Verizon Wireless to install cellular antennas on Victoria's large water tower on Kochia Lane.  The city receives $18,000 from Verizon the first year, an amount that goes up 5% per year over five years.
·Council approved new wall signage on the north wall of the Jatco Electric-Victoria Plumbing building at 1855 West 80^th Street.
·Council approved a new entrance monument for Allegheny Grove 4^th Addi-tion located north of County Road #18 between Kochia and Narcissus Lane.
·Council agreed to continue the city's participation in the Association of Metro-politan Municipalities and the Southwest Corridor Transportation, with membership dues of $1,394 and $3,000, respectively.
·Council approved the contract with Toltz, King, Duvall, Anderson, and Asso-ciates, Inc., for continued services as Victoria's city engineer in 2002.
·Council accepted the terms of the engagement of Abdo, Eick, & Meyers, LLP, to perform the city's annual audit for fiscal year 2001.  The fee for the 2001 audit is not to exceed $9,300.  Steve McDonald, CPA, will be performing the audit, which commences on February 11^th.
·Council accepted the donation of a $3,000 pool table from resident Joan Kranz to the City of Victoria.  It will become available for use at the Acorn House or Sport Court or the new Field House.
·Springsted will receive $5,266.68 for the fiscal review it performed on the Carver County property tax structure at the request of the City of Victoria.

Click here for the "Council's Column,"
this month by Victoria City Councilmember Richard Tieden.