VICTORIA, CITY OF LAKES AND PARKS
BUT WHERE ARE THEY ALL LOCATED?
There are many parks scattered throughout the City of Victoria, and most of them are not identified as public prop-erty.  Tammy Abrahamson, Director of Parks and Recreation, has been working on a guide to the parks as more develop-ments come into the city.
Tammy said that signs such as the Wintergreen Park sign cost around $300.  Signs like the Lions Park sign cost around $600.  She stated, "We've got funds to do three signs this year."  Tammy suggested signs for the new community tennis courts at Holy Family and the skate park. 
"There should also be a sign at the new public elementary school so people know they are free to use these public spaces," said Councilmember Mary Thun.
"Mr. Goodman gave us eight acres and we need to get a sign there too," said Mayor Jerry Bohn.
"Let's negotiate with the sign com-pany to get a deal if we order a lot of signs, for all the city parks," said Council-member Richard Tieden.
Asked Councilmember Thun, "Why wouldn't we ask developers to put up park signs with their parkland dedication?"
City Planner Mark Kaltsas pointed out that the city didn't have standardized signs until last year.  Parks and signs re-main on the agenda, with the suggestion that "embarrassing" parks in disrepair be repaired.

UNUSUAL BUT ATTRACTIVE COMBINATION
VICTORIA FIRE STATION AND WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
Architects in charge of building Vic-toria's first water treatment facility pre-sented three-dimension visuals of the facility to councilmembers at a workshop on June 24th. 
Said Dean Johnson of TKDA, "This is the first joint-use facility that we've done with a fire station and water treat-ment facility.  It's unusual to have that combination.  It will look like one nice new facility."
He said the only thing left on the out-side of the fire station, that will be a rem-nant of itself, is the brick exterior.  The concrete apron and asphalt driveway will also be surrounded by new landscaping and design.
Located on a visible Highway 5 site, the new facility is also on the edge of a residential neighborhood.  Extra plantings will shield it from the Rick Leuthner home which is about 100 feet away.
The facility is designed with new Homeland Security issues in mind.  Ac-cess to the water supply will be more than just padlocked, for example.

VICTORIA RETAINS HIGH A3 RATING
AND EXCELLENT BIDS ON BOND ISSUES
Paul Donna, the city's financial ad-visor with Northland Securities, informed councilmembers on June 24th that the three city issues at hand were sold that very morning at interest rates even lower than estimated.
The issue of $9,500,000 in General Obligation Water Revenue Bonds for the upcoming water treatment facility was sold at 4.44%.
The issue of $1,740,000 in General Obligation Improvement Bonds for street improvements was sold at 4.25%.
The issue of $330,000 in General Obligation Equipment Certificates of Indebtedness for Public Works Equip-ment was sold at 3.2%.
"The bond sales occurred this morn-ing at 11 o'clock," said Mr. Donna.  "You were confirmed at your excellent rating of A3.  Growth is continuing.  It's very strong and that's behind your high credit rating.  It's very commendable ... These bids are in line with the market.  There's nothing out of the ordinary.  Bids came in excellent."
About the city's A3 rating, Mayor Jerry Bohn pointed out, "It would have cost us $30,000 to have even fallen one notch in that rating."

Click here for more.