SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT ROAD COST
VICTORIA'S ASSESSMENT POLICY CONTINUES
Council voted 4-0 (Kim Roden absent) to order the improvement and preparation of plans and specs for Victoria's 2007 street and drainage pro-jects.  These projects include portions of Woodstone Court, Woodstone Glen, Woodstone Lane, Woodstone Drive, and Smithtown Court.
Individual property assessments are estimated from $3,800 to $4,800 for the Woodstone areas at Deer Run and $4,200 for the Smithtown Court area.  Total project cost, including engineering and bonding fees, is $715,500.
Several residents from Deer Run attended the public hearing on January 11^th.  Scott Rollin said, "My sentiments are not to protest the project," but he add-ed that there are cities who assess home-owners less than 50% of the project cost.  In Victoria the cost is evenly split be-tween the city and the homeowners.
Vern Strong said he has a problem with the magnitude of the street repair.  "A first class job is not necessary," he said.
Jerry Amrhein asked, "Is it possible to change that 50-50 formula?  Can it be adjusted for a road that everybody uses? ... It's not about money.  It's about fair-ness.  Is there a way to get state aid dollars for this project?" 
Two Smithtown residents spoke.  John VanGiesen said, "I don't think paving will improve my property value.  By assessing us, you're in effect taxing us.  It's a selective tax.  I think you should instead raise taxes across the board to pay for the road."
Bradley Hauser said road degrada-tion is due to an electronic failure down the road and he doesn't see how the road project improves the value of his property.
City Engineer Cara Geheren said that the City of Victoria began evaluating all city streets in 2003, and that it was "a pretty significant process."  In May of 2003 the city adopted an assessment policy and created a five-year improve-ment plan.
About the Deer Run street, Cara said it was constructed in the late 1980s and is, therefore, approaching the end of its use-ful life.  "Patching isn't going to solve the problems," she said.  "New city streets since 1998 have been constructed with a two-foot sand base."
She said that the streets in this 2007 project are being reclaimed rather than re-constructed.  If reconstructed, like in many other Victoria neighborhoods since 2004 the assessment would be nearly double, as it has already been in those neighborhoods.
Responding to questions and com-ments from residents, the city engineer said, "State statute limits assessments to only those who directly benefit."  She said the city picks up 50% of the project cost in part to pay for others who use the roads.
"You have extremely poor roads-building soil here in Victoria," she said, which explains higher costs than some other cities.  "The levy of final assess-ment doesn't occur until 2009."
Stated Mayor Mary Thun, "When all the city roads are done under this Capital Improvement Plan, we can review the assessment policy."
"The battle is really about the sub-grade correction," said City Councilmem-ber Jim Paulsen.  "About taxing, there's not a perfect system.  I think this is a reasonably good system."
Councilmember Tim Amundsen spoke to residents.  "I don't know where the touch-point would be," he said.  "Do you want to bring the assessment down to $3,000 from $3,800?"
Explained Councilmember Richard Tieden, "We spent an enormous amount of time in workshops and studies, coming up with the 50-50 policy.  We have pro-fessionals trying to save you as much money as they can.  No matter how you look at it, you pay for the road."

CITY OF VICTORIA GETS ORGANIZED FOR 2007
In one fell swoop and with apparent prior discussion, Victoria City Council-members approved a list of assignments, consulting staff, and other city appoint-ments at their first meeting of 2007.

Acting Mayor:  Kim Roden; Business Development Com:  Tim Amundsen
Economic Development Authority:  City Council
Finance Committee:  Mayor Thun, Jim  Paulsen, and City Adm. Dave Urbia
Fire Relief:  Mary Thun, Chief Tim Walsh, City  Adm. Dave Urbia
Cable Commission:  Mary Thun; Parks & Rec Committee:  Rick Tieden
Personnel Committee:  Mary Thun, Kim Roden, City Adm. Dave Urbia
Planning Commission:  Jim Paulsen; Senior Commission:  Kim Roden
Chamber Liaison:  Tim Amundsen; Auditor:  Steve McDonald/Abdo Abdo, Eick
Attorney:  Mike Norton/Kennedy & Graven; Engineer:  Cara Geheren/TKDA
Finance:  Paul Donna/Northland Securities
TIF Consultant:  David Drown and Associates
Business Development Com:   Jennifer Chap- man, Al Liestman, Terry Hartman, Bruce  Baker, Jeff Byrne, Brian Sunday
Finance Committee:  Scott Manion; LMCC (Cable):  Henry Pryor
Parks & Rec:  Jerald Moja, Ann Hoelscher,  Jeff Hohertz, John Saindon, Peter Relick
Planning Com:  Tom Vogt, James Donadio,  Wm Mead, Bud Hiivala, Gordy Simanton
Senior Com:  Ron Allen, David Boorsma,   Marilynn Boorsma, Dave Lindgren, Dawn  Peterson, Linda McNulty, Dan McInerny,  James Pehringer
LMCD:  Pete Nelson
Fire Chief:  Tim Walsh; Asst Chief:  Gary Sohns; Fire Marshall:  Troy Walsh

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