LOOKING AT PARKK AND REC COMMITTEE
IF NEEDED, WHAT ARE ITS GOALS?
Council voted unanimously on January 23rd to review goals and objec-tives, perhaps in a workshop setting, in the event a Park and Rec Committee were to be reestablished in the City of Victoria.  This past December, 2002, the long historied and sometimes contentious com-mittee was disbanded with a 4-1 vote; Councilmember Dave Lindgren had cast the nay vote.
The discussion at this second council meeting in January began with Council-member Mary Thun making a motion to advertise for applicants for a new Park and Rec membership.  She said she met with Park and Rec Director Tammy Abrahamson and "we put together recom-mended membership of the committee.  The purpose tonight would be to go out and advertise for members to make appli-cations until February 14th."
"We are advocating creating a new committee," she said.  "We've got a new field house, new opportunities, new acti-vities coming up.  The committee would have an advisory role, to help get citizen input.  It's a key way to get citizen input.  It's important to keep that in mind.  People would have to apply.  Up to 30 students could be appointed ex-officio.  It would be a visionary body, to look at other facilities in other cities.  Similar to the Planning Commission, it would give recommendations."
When asked for her opinion, Tammy Abrahamson replied, "I'd like to have resident input.  There are critical folks we need to hear from.  We have lowered the membership from seven to five people."
Mayor Jerry Bohn was asked why he made the motion to disband the Park & Rec Committee in the first place.  Said he, "Seven people weren't coming to a con-sensus.  We wanted to have the Park and Rec Person more clearly define the role.  Do we even need the committee?  We wanted to let a new staff fashion it in a way it could be more productive."
Councilmember Richard Tieden also mentioned that the committee had become an adversarial group.  "I'd like to see more clearly defined goals," he stated.
When Mayor Bohn suggested a work-shop to help define goals and objectives, Richard said, "It's a good idea, to have the workshop first rather than bring people on board without direction."
Councilmember Terry Bishop asked, "Who would be doing the interviewing if we were to place an ad at this time?"
Mary Thun replied, "Initially, Tammy and myself would do the screen-ing.  And we have already put together ten goals and objectives."
"I think we should know as a body what those goals and objectives are," said Richard Tieden.
Suggested Terry Bishop, "Maybe the applicants could tell us what their goals are for the community."
Still supporting the idea of a Park and Rec Committee, Dave Lindgren said, "I think what was said about the Park & Committee not being efficient was a kick in the teeth.  There were some very good people on that committee."
"I think we should take a little more time with this," continued Richard.  "Not every city has a Park & Rec Committee.  Some cities appoint committees for specific functions."
Mary Thun acquiesced, "I respect Rick's thoughts here.  I also respect what Terry Bishop said.  I truly believe it's im-portant the citizens have input.  I with-draw my motion.  I'm more interested that we're all together before recruiting citi-zens."
The new motion to have goals and objectives reviewed by the whole council, and possibly identified through a work-shop, passed 5-0.

LICENSING GARBAGE HAULERS
LOOKING FOR CHECKS AND BALANCES
Council approved the garbage/refuse hauler license applications for six com-panies for service within the City of Vic-toria in 2003.  Before the vote to approve, however, Councilmember Mary Thun said, "I serve on Solid Waste Manage-ment.  Are we doing any kind of checks and balances to make sure they're recy-cling?"
"No," replied City Administrator Steve Sarvi.
"Have we thought about decreasing the number of haulers in the city for the sake of our roads?"
"Yes," said Steve.
"I would like environmental statistics from each of the haulers," said Mary.  "I think that information should be part of their certification."
"It would be good for us to do it right now," said Mayor Jerry Bohn.  "We do bear some liability ... You are raising some interesting questions ... As for limiting haulers, limiting them is big government, but neighborhoods can get together and get better rates and fewer haulers.  They can submit bids for neigh-borhoods."
Those haulers licensed for Victoria are:  Aatlas Waste Services, BFI Waste Systems of North America, Dick's Sani-tation, Francks Sanitation, Tidy Disposal, and Waste Management of Minnesota.

NIKE MISSILE SITE AT ST. BONI
USED FOR TRAINING BY FIRE DEPARTMENTS
In 1974, several area cities entered in-to a Joint Powers Agreement to buy the Nike Missile Site at St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, from the U.S. Government.  City Administrator Steve Sarvi reported on January 23rd that cities will appoint an executive committee of five directors to help deal with the complex issues.

"Basically, it's a bunch of old build-ings and grassy area and has ground water contaminated with cleaning solvent and rocket propellant.  I think it makes a lot of sense for us to do this.  It should have been resolved years ago," he said.
There are 11 member cities in the Western Area Fire Training Association (WAFTA).  The agreement is for the purpose of providing a fire training facili-ty for full time and volunteer firefighters in Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Ex-celsior, Long Lake, Mound, Mayer, St. Boni, Victoria, Maple Plain, Watertown.

The cities have each been putting $1,200 annually toward the purchase, for many years.

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