A PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR VICTORIA?  County Road #43 is in the Running.  Victoria's hopes were momentarily quelled as the City of Chaska, through developer and development, had the opportunity to donate land on which to build the school district's newest elementary school.  How could the district pass up the opportunity to save itself possibly $500,000 in land costs?  It couldn't -- until the City of Victoria, along with developer Terry Hartman, proposed a similar gift of land.  The commitment by Victoria has been made.  The ball is bouncing in the school district's court at this time.

PUBLIC STRATEGIES REGARDING SCHOOLS. Begining the process to achieve goals.  Said Mayor Mary Meuwissen, "We seem to have our arms around everything except our responsibility with school facilities."  She mentioned, in particular, sewer lines and development fees as items that are under control."  Council authorized an expenditure of $7,500 to Peter Hutchinson of Public Strategies Group.

CITY CONTINUES TO BUY PROPERTY.  Preparing for downtown redevelopment.  Councilmembers approved purchase agreements for two more properties in Victoria.  It now owns three homes on 79th Street and Stieger Lake, and a home on Quamoclit Street adjacent to the Victoria house.

SEE THE CONSTRUCTION TRAIILER?   Construction of County Road #11 is Underway.  But the county's trailer is not pretty to look at and some residents don't like it.  The city will help look at options.  Construction will be over a year's time.

RESPONSE FROM BILL MOELLER At the Metropolitan Council.  Bill wrote a letter to the editor after his name appeared in the Gazette headlines last month.  Victoria and some of its residents struggle with sewer odor at certain times of the year.

ADMINISTRATOR JOANNE KOPET RESIGNS.  Bonus dollars for those picking up the slack.  Joanne accepted a position with the City of Chanhassen.  Four employees at Victoria will each receive $500 compensation for extra duties in her absence.  Advertising is out for a city administrator/clerk position.

CO-LOCATION STILL A GOAL.  Communication towers need water tower.  The City of Victoria is not averse to co-location, but its new water tower is still under construction on the site of the Holy Family Catholic High School. 

AGREEMENT WITH WILLIAMS PIPELINE.   It crosses the city's new park property.  The agreement is related to the amount of dirt that can be put over the pipeline.  There is concern about the three ballfields proposed in the northeast corner of the city's Eklo property.

OTHER NEWS FROM DECEMBER '99. 
Frank Scott, newly hired as sports administrator, is a welcome addition to the Victoria Athletic Association.
Victoria voted to be part of the Metropolitan Livable Communities act and work for affordable housing.
Victoria agrees with MN Landscape Arboretum that County Road #18 need not be a thoroughfare.