MARK KALTSAS REMAINS IN VICTORIA
AS A CONSULTANT, NOT AN EMPLOYEE
Councilmembers approved a two-year professional services contract with outgoing city employee Mark Kaltsas and his newly formed company whereby Mark is hired for 20 hours per week of quality time for the City of Victoria.  His new company name is MK Land Corporation.
On December 23^rd, which marked the last Victoria City Council meeting in 2004, Mark thanked the city staff, city council, planning commission, business owners, residents, developers, and others.
"I arrived here on January 1^st, 2000," he said.  "I take a lot with me and I appre-ciate everything that has been taught and afforded to me."
Stated Mayor Jerry Bohn, "You've raised the level of planning in the City of Victoria from what we've had in the past.  We've still got you for 20 hours a week!"

OTHER NEWS FROM DECEMBER
"WE'LL MISS DAVE LINDGREN"
*Stated Councilmember Terry Bishop on December 23^rd, "I want to personally thank Dave Lindgren for the several years he's given to the City of Victoria.  He brought a conscience to the council.  I'll miss him.  Dave is a special person.  I for one would like to thank him."  Dave will be invited to an upcoming 2005 meeting to be recognized for his 12 years of ser-vice as a Victoria City Councilmember.
*Councilmembers have considered establishing a monthly date for a regularly scheduled workshop on the Monday night after the second city council meeting of the month.  (Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month.)  Additional meetings and work-shops can be scheduled each month at the will of the council, with three-days prior posting on the outdoor bulletin board at City Hall.
*Councilmembers are considering the addition of other committees within the city including:  Downtown Committee, Public Works Committee, Zoning Com-mittee, Police Committee, Senior Com-mission … perhaps even the city's own Cable Commission.  These are in addition to the Park & Rec Committee, Field House Committee, Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, Planning Commis-sion, and Economic Development Author-ity.
*Mayor Bohn and Councilmember Terry Bishop volunteered to participate in an appeals and equalization training course developed by the MN Commis-sioner of Revenue to assist local board members in conducting the annual Appeal and Equalization meeting in Victoria.
*Councilmembers were presented preliminary findings against a city em-ployee and met in closed session on December 9^th in that regard.
*Council adopted an ordinance that places berms and nurp ponds within the ownership of the city and not private properties.  Stated Mark, "It's a burden to maintain a wetland or nurp pond.  It's also a burden for the city but we're more equipped than the average homeowner.  The point is to sell land that people can use, and the city will take the rest as part of our water management."
*Mary Thun asked for a workshop to be scheduled in order to review and prioritize upcoming projects as outlined by the Victoria Park and Recreation Com-mittee.  Stated Mary, "I don't want to get into nice weather and still not have any-thing done." 
*Councilmembers approved the 2005 Prosecution Contract with the Carver Couny Attorney.  The Joint Powers Agreement Prosecution Contract is basically the same as in past years.  In return for prosecution services for infrac-tions in the city, the county collects a per-centage of all fines and penalties and also a surcharge.
*Councilmembers approved the exe-cution of a lease agreement with the DNR for a dry hydrant located at the boat launch on Lake Virginia.  The hydrant is used as a backup in that part of the city to fill tanker trucks with water from the lake.  Cost of the lease for an entire ten years is only $475.