At this early point in the workshop, Victoria councilmembers began to review and pick at a giant wish list of capital expenditures from the various city depart-ments.  It took almost four hours to get to the end of it.  Much of their activity and work is reported, as usual, on the City Scoop centerfold of this Gazette.  Eventu-ally the hot issue rose to the surface ...
"Is the field house a priority?" asked Mayor Mary.  "We have to resolve this today.  There's not another meeting this year."
Stated Jerry Bohn, "My issue is how much is it going to cost?  If we don't know how much it's going to cost, how are we going to fund it?" 
Mayor Mary explained that the bid-ding process will reveal the costs and if those costs are not acceptable, the whole project can be scratched.
Councilmember Bohn also implied that people don't get information from the Gazette, that they don't know about the possibility of an ice arena for Victoria.  "I get all my information at the bank," he said.
Inquired Sue Orsen, "At the drive thru?"
Stated Jim Paulsen, "We have 120 kids who play hockey in this town.  The question is how much we should spend, not if.  I'm not enamored with putting the arena at Diethelm Park.  I think we should spend $3 to $4 million, not $6 to $7 million.  We should put it in Laketown Township on the land we have there.  We could try to get Waconia to partner with us."
It was back in June of 2000 that the City of Victoria, at the behest of Council-member Paulsen, took the risk of purchas-ing 93.2 acres at the intersection of County Roads #10 and #43 in Laketown Township for $425,000.  The property is expected to one day be annexed to Victoria. 
Said Mayor Mary about Council-member Paulsen's proposal to stick the Victoria facility in the Township, "I'm adamantly opposed to that.  There's no sewer out there and no water, and our people are located right here in Victoria.  I think it's crazy.  People here in Victoria can walk to Diethelm Park.  We talk about the synergy of nearby ballparks and other uses ... You're saying we should put our bathroom facilities and locker rooms and  Bavaria Days out there?  I couldn't even consider it.  I can't even believe we're even discussing it."
"I resent your comments," said Coun-cilmember Paulsen.   Later he added, "We have never taken operational risk like this before."
Said Councilmember Tieden, "This proposal provides for revenue for seven years, guaranteed in a contract.  I don't think we should make light of that."
Looking at precedent and the quality of recent construction in Victoria -- such as the Cabin Fever complex, Dr. Bruce Baker's building, and the upgrading of Floyd's -- Richard Tieden said, "We're building something that will be there for decades.  We're looking at a field house.  We're talking about the entire community being able to use this.  There are 562 children making use of the parks, all focused right around Diethelm Park.  It's not just hockey going on there.  Hockey alone would not be enough for me to in-vest in this.  As Sue Orsen said, if people in this community don't want something, they say it.  People let you know.  My feedback has been very supportive of this.  The mass of the community wants some-thing like this.  It's nothing but a plus."
"The fact of the matter is, things cost money," continued Richard.  "We can be so fiscally conservative that we spend nothing for our people, while people all around us do.  This is something we can do for our citizens, for our community.  We can do this ... We're not venturing out on something personal.  We couldn't be in a place that assures us as much assurance as this.  What's there to lose with this investment in our youth and adults? ... We've got the vice president of Wells Fargo behind us, for goodness sake!"
Councilmember Dave Lindgren, the fellow with the big heart, spoke at this time.  "I've had several calls from Victoria residents urging me to vote in favor of this.  People especially want a walking track." 
"My taxes are lower now than when I moved here," said Dave.  "When people say their taxes are high, I say it's the cost of living in heaven ... I do want to build this facility.  I no longer think we need a referendum.  People do know.  What Sue says is true.  That was a wake-up call to me."
"The cost does frighten me," he admitted, "but I've been frightened before by the cost of things, like the remodeling of city offices.  Steve Sarvi has done an excellent job as city administrator.  The town can't stay the way it is.  It's not feasible.  I hope that a lot of people will seek volunteer opportunity to help defray part of the cost of this facility."
Richard Tieden made a motion to enter into a financial agreement to build a field house for the City of Victoria and to follow through with due process of competitive bidding.  The motion was seconded by Dave Lindgren. 
Mayor Mary also voted in favor of this fantastic opportunity for the commu-nity she serves so unselfishly, giving hundreds, even thousands, of hours of work and dedication for over seven years.  It is another major accomplishment for the City of Victoria under her leadership.
It didn't happen overnight.  It didn't happen with ease.  And it didn't happen with consensus.  But it happened just the same, and just in time for the New Year.  Barring unforeseen circumstances or sabotage, the field house should be fielded in Victoria in this New Year.  -- Sue

CAPTIONS FROM PHOTOS IN THE FEATURE:
In 1999 the City of Victoria purchased 80 acres on the "west side" known today as Diethelm Park, home to the Acorn House, Parks & Rec Dept., ballfields, skate park, Lions headquarters.  In 2002 it should also be home to a Field House that holds an ice arena, walking track, lockers, 600 seating, public bathrooms, community rooms, etc.
Serving under the able leadership of Mayor Mary Meuwissen are (l-r) Councilmembers (l-r) Richard Tieden, Dave Lindgren, Jim Paulsen (standing), and Jerry Bohn.
Mike Ayres, a hockey dad and resident of Chanhassen, volunteered countless hours to assist the City of Victoria and met numerous times with councilmembers over the past 12 months in public workshops and meetings in an effort to benefit the skating and non-skating community.
With the new construction anticipated in 2002 for Diethelm Park, the "future park site" is becoming "today's park site," along with Lions Park, tennis parks, and kids parks throughout Victoria.  An interconnecting trail system is also becoming a reality in this growing community.