Replied Mayor Mary, "We voted yes a year ago, then Minnetonka decided to go with it.  There's been full disclosure in the papers.  It's not like this is coming before us for the first time ... but I'm not opposed to going through all the committees and commissions again if that's what you want.  We've taken all of the information through the process, ... but I'm open."
Stated Councilmember Tieden, "Dave wants to know what the people want.  The community is well aware.  We've had public meetings.  We were so encouraged by this.  We all got a little nervous because the press was so positive.  We were all amazed because there was virtually no one who thought this was not a good idea.  I don't think it's changed now to a situation we can't handle.  We've got so many children coming to our community.  I think it's our responsibility to provide this for the community.  I think everything we've heard from the community and the Park and Rec Board says this is a fine thing for the community."
Said Sue Orsen, 30-year resident of Victoria, "I want to speak to Dave Lindgren who has that big heart that matches the rest of himself, and that's why he's concerned about the wishes of others.  I want to tell Dave that most of the people of Victoria are in favor of this facility.  When the people are against something, councilmembers know about it.  When people were against a wide County Road #11, they showed up to tell you about it.  When people were against County Road #18, they showed up to tell you about it.  When people were against the Mary Jo Copeland project, they showed up to tell you about it.  I can give you other examples.  But nobody is showing up here to tell you that they do not want this facility.  I'm willing to say that people won't even complain if their taxes have to go up a little to help pay for it.  I spend time at the Victoria House and at church and Floyd's and all around town.  I talk to a lot of people.  People do know about it ... from the Gazette, from other papers, from cable TV.  People are in favor of it.  This isn't just for the kids of Victoria -- by the way, none of you people up there have kids in the community except the mayor -- it's also for people like you and me.  I've got a daughter getting married and we've got to go out of town to accommodate the wedding.  This facility would also be for community groups like the Victoria Chamber of Commerce who spends a fortune each year to pay for huge tents to accommodate hundreds of people who attend their Touch of Bavaria.  If they had access to this field house, they could use the tent money for scholarships.  The Moravians could use this facility for their antique show.  I think it does take some backbone to vote for this thing for Victoria.  We want it and we need it.  I can't believe you wouldn't be in favor of it."
Stated Councilmember Bohn, "Can I advertise that Sue Orsen said she's in favor of raising taxes in order to pay for this building?"
"I'll tell the people myself," she said.  "There have already been residents who appeared before you telling you the same thing.  I think we'd like to see more for our money than the snowplowing of city streets."
It is a fact that almost every issue of The Victoria Gazette in the year 2001 gave headlines and details on several workshops and council meetings related to an ice arena/community center/field house as proposed by Mike Ayres of Oppidan.  It is a fact that no resident has come be-fore Victoria councilmembers at an open meeting to speak against any of the pro-posals or figures.  It is a fact that people have openly supported such a facility.
Before he left this December 13^th city council meeting Mike Ayres stated, "It's been a privilege and a pleasure to work with you.  The reasonableness and openness of this council is beyond what we've experienced anywhere else."
Stated Mayor Mary, "I want to personally thank all the representatives here tonight.  There's a big collaboration of people working together on this.  We've got a lot of wonderful partners."
Said Councilmember Richard Tieden, "This facility is a wonderful opportunity.  We've heard the comment that Victoria just can't get it done.  Well, you need to get some public things done first, and we're getting close to getting something downtown.  This field house is a good vision.  It's an opportunity for the community to rally around something.  We have to look at the bigger picture.  Life is a risk.  This is not just for today.  It's for the future of Victoria, too.  This will serve a large scope of needs."
Councilmembers did not take up a vote December 13^th, but did schedule a workshop meeting for the following Thursday, December 20^th, at 8 o'clock in the morning.  Stated goal of the workshop was to prioritize capital expenditures for the future with an eye toward voting for or against the field house for Diethelm Park.  In deference to those waiting to contract for ice time for the new season, the New Year could not begin without a vote on the Victoria Field House.
On a closing note Councilmember Paulsen had a suggestion.  He has been against installing lights at the ballfields at Diethelm Park, though the expenditure has been planned, publicly advertised, and budgeted from the beginning, as part of the improvements at Diethelm Park.
"I'd be willing to forget about the park lights issue and raise park fees from $2,250 to $3,000," said Councilmember  Paulsen.  "If I could get some help on this tonight ..."  The quid pro quo fell on deaf ears.  There was no comment from anyone at all about playing that game.

December 20^th, 2001
Mike Ayres made a few comments at 8 o'clock this workday morning, then de-parted.  "I want to share some information on the Buffalo rink, since it's been said that it is a great facility for less money.  They spent $3.6 million, which is in addition to their existing facility.  It's very adequate, but it'd be a stretch to call it a community center.  They did it with lots of donated material.  They probably spent about $4 million.  Their weight room is 1/3 the size of Minnetonka's, for the sake of comparison."
Councilmember Jerry Bohn passed around photos of the Buffalo facility and stated, "I wouldn't say it's a bare bones facility."  The photos showed that part of the building was metal.

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