|
MEET THE VICTORIA TOWN COP
HIS NAME IS MIKE KERBER (ON THE LEFT)
Sheriff Bud Olson attended a Victoria Council Workshop on December 9th and brought with him for introduction, Mike Kerber, Victoria's first Town Cop under the new police contract with Carver Coun-ty.
"This is the third community that's adopted the Town Cop System," said Bud, who said the other communities include Norwood Young America and Water-town. Waconia and Carver are also moving to this model.
In explaining how the town cop sys-em arrived in Carver County, the Sheriff said, "The one thing I've heard in the last five years is that communities would like their own deputy."
Introducing the deputy assigned to Victoria, he said, "Mike grew up here and knows your people. He wants to be here and we're glad he wants to be here."
Asked Mayor Jerry Bohn, "What do you like about the Town Cop System?" Replied Mike, "In the past system we were always running from one place to another." Sheriff Olson pointed out that response times will indeed decrease. Asked Councilmember Mary Thun, "What is your philosophy in working with young people?" Replied Mike, "Being accessible. Getting out of the car. When I got married, my wife did daycare. I learned to deal with toddlers on up. I've got a daughter who is 22 … Frankly, I haven't seen any groups of kids around Victoria."
As a follow-up Mary asked, "What do you see as your biggest challenge?" Replied Mike, "Communication. As long as you can communicate with people, you're fine."
In conclusion, Sheriff Olson stated, "Everything will be very fluid in this first year. I've got a big task ahead of me. It's quite a process.'
***
Mike Kerber grew up in Chanhassen with a brother named Joe who now lives in Carver. Their father was Leander Ker-ber and their uncles were Art and Paul. How is Mike related to the Victoria Ker-bers? "I went to grade school at St. Hubert's with Pete Kerber," he replied. "We're cousins, but not first cousins."
Mike has been driving his white cop car with the traditional county markings, and the name VICTORIA prominently painted on its side, around town since Thursday, December 30th, 2004. He moved into his office at City Hall in Victoria on Monday, January 3rd, 2005. Welcome to Victoria, Officer Kerber. Keep the peace.
VICTORIA WATER RATES FOR 2005
RISING TO MEET TREATMENT COSTS
Finance Director Jylan Johnson stated December 9th that she would like to have the new water rates in 2005. She said residents would be notified in January, "effective to be paid in April." On December 23rd councilmembers approved the increase. People will see the increase on the April water bill.
The rate of increase is roughly 20%. An average quarterly water usage in Vic-toria is 33,750 gallons, according to Jylan, and an average quarterly charge of $65.18 will increase to $78.17.
"This provides sufficient revenue to operate the new water treatment plant," she said. "It charges a premium to resi-dents and businesses that place stress on the system. There will be a letter sent to residents and water users so people will know why we're increasing the rates."
Of the new two-tier rate, she said, "It will encourage conservation. We should not need another increase until 2009, but it would be prudent to look at these pro-jections on an annual basis."
As requested by council, the new rates were based on an assumption of 150 new homes coming onto the system each year.
City Engineer Jack Griffin pointed out that those residents with higher usage will have higher rates. According to the finance director there are approximately 300 homes in Victoria that have chosen to not be connected to municipal water, although they have access to it. These residents will pay the minimum usage fee of $30 per quarter in order to help recoup infrastructure costs.
Engineer Griffin said groundbreaking for the water treatment plant will occur this spring with final completion slated for July 1st, 2006. Council approved a change order in the Water Treatment Plant/Fire Station Project that provides for the replacement of the electrical subcontract-tor. Change Order No. 1 decreases the contract amount by $45,000 to a total contract amount of $8,382,000.
Also, council approved Payment Re-quest No. 1 for Water Supply Well No. 4 in the amount of $90,748. Current total contract amount is $265,180
Click here for more City Scoop.
|
|
