·City councilmembers authorized the expenditure of $12,128 from the city's Economic Development Authority Fund for payment to Dr. Bruce Baker per the 1998 EDA Assistant Agreement.  Proper-ty tax assistance was offered based on the value of the building.  For 2001 the prop-erty value of the Baker Family Dentistry Building is $290,900 with total property taxes of $12,128 due.  The agreement ob-ligates the EDA to provide this financial assistance in property tax years 2000 through 2002.  The EDA in Victoria is the Victoria City Council.  City assistance promotes economic development and is deemed in the best interests of the city.
·James Heitmann was appointed to the Victoria Planning Commission on December 13^th.  Said he, "This is my sincere interest.  I've lived here two years.  I've got a wife and three kids.  I see a lot of challenges and great opportunity in Victoria.  I'm in the banking world.  I have a strong interest in urban planning.  I'm interested in why cities decline."  He replaces Jerry Keehr who completed his second term and is now retiring.
·Richard Tieden said he attended a meeting in Chaska where 400 to 500 people were present to hear and ask ques-tions about the Mary Jo Copeland propo-sal.  Said Richard, "I'm very proud we afforded the Copelands the opportunity of looking at Victoria as a place for them to come forward and be heard."  Said Mayor Mary, "You never want government to de-cide if someone can come and go through a process, to purchase land and go before a government body."
·Jim Paulsen attended a civil defense meeting at the Victoria Fire Station and said, regarding possibilities for terrorism, that the current situation is not acceptable, that the county takes its lead from the state, that only a small outbreak could be handled.
·Doc Schmieg received an increase in hourly pay at Victoria City Offices.  She has been praised by Administrator Steve Sarvi and her co-workers for her upbeat attitude, outstanding customer service, and ability to get things done.
·Maggie Gaitley was hired to be s receptionist and office assistant at Victoria City Offices.
·City Planner Mark Kaltsas met with the Marsh Lake Hunt Club regarding their position in Laketown Township, the an-nexation agreement, and Victoria's South Side Study.  In early 2002, Mark will pre-sent city councilmembers with possible zoning classifications and land uses for that property.
·Automatic Systems, the contractor on the city's Well Pumphouse #3 elec-trical equipment and controls, received approval on a pay request in the amount of $50,991.25, which represents 65.4% of the current total contract amount of $78,000.
·Terranova, LLC, another contractor for Well Pumphouse #3, received a payment of $73,752.30 from the General Obligation Water Revenue Bond Capital Projects Fund.  With this payment, the project will be at 67.1% of the current total contract amount of $369,890.
·Councilmembers approved a resolu-tion approving the MN Department of Health Utility Test Fee increase from $5 to $5.21.  MDH assesses an annual fee of $5.21 for every service connection to a public water supply.  This fee was enacted in 1992 but the city was only collecting $5, which resulted in a shortfall of $.21 per connection.
·The final draft of Victoria's 2002 General Fund Operating Budget totals 2,385,188.  This figure is identical to the proposed budget reported and reviewed in the November edition of the Gazette.  It represents a 13.3% increase over the bud-get of 2001.  It does not include interfund transfers and corresponding capital ex-penditures.
·The final draft of Victoria's 2002 Tax Levy also remains unchanged from the preliminary 2002 tax levy approved by the council in September and reported and reviewed in the November Gazette.  The total levy of $1,882,093 represents a 17% increase over that of 2001.  In referring to the fact that school district dollars will no longer consume a large portion of property tax bills - because the State will be funding public education - Mayor Mary said, "We didn't use it as a grab fund.  We didn't grab from the school portion.  When they take the school district money out of the property tax bills, the percentages are obviously going to change."
·Stated Jerry Bohn, "I encourage staff to watch these budgets.  We pretty much approved the budget as presented by staff.  Expenditures have to still be approved by council each time."
·Councilmembers placed $129,000 in a downtown redevelopment fund.
·City staff received requests for win-ter maintenance of the trailway system, and requested the purchase of a bobcat and blower attachment for trail snow re-moval.  Said Jerry Bohn, "Plowing trails is important, but secondary to doing roads.  I'm not in favor of getting another bobcat at $44,000 to do trails."  Mayor Mary said both roads and trails can be cleared without the purchase.
·Parks & Rec Director Mary Saarion presented a written and photographic report on park and rec activities this past year.  She said 576 people registered for various activities and that an additional 235 youth participate at both Lions Park and Diethelm Park.  She said 265 house-holds participated in organized recreation-al activities.  Mayor Mary thanked her for her good work and effort.
·Council passed a resolution regard-ing the upcoming reconstruction project for Hwy 7.  A joint agreement was re-quired between the city and state to clarify which responsibilities lie with each of them.  The project includes a reconstruct-ed intersection at Smithtown Road and the widening of Highway 7.