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INTERESTED IN A VICTORIA LIBRARY?
RESIDENT SUPPORT AND DOLLARS NEEDED
Council held a workshop on May 12th to discuss the possibility of a Carver County library being placed in Victoria. The county currently has libraries in Chaska, Chanhassen, Waconia, Water-town, and Norwood Young America.
Stated Victoria City Administrator Steve Sarvi, "As the county starts doing its studies and long range programming, they've looked at Victoria. We've talked about various scenarios. They could move fairly quickly as to what they pro-vide."
Steve said that when it comes to libraries, the county provides items such as books and employees, while the city provides exterior things such as the build-ing, the cleaning, utilities.
As for a building space, he mentioned such options as the Acorn House, which is located next to the Victoria Field House, or perhaps leasing space elsewhere in Vic-toria.
Mayor Jerry Bohn provided addition-al background information. "In 2006 the county has it in their budget to fund an-other library. Victoria is the next logical location. Are we ready or interested? We have to figure out what our response will be. Does the council think that's a worthy goal, to have a library in town?"
He continued, "I think we need some grassroots interest and effort. Maybe we need a referendum to build a building. I don't feel we [the council] should drive it. We're spending enough money. Let's let the residents tell us to spend money."
Added the mayor, "We need to hear from advisory groups. The library people in Chanhassen did that." He referred in particular to a group called Friends of the Library.
Administrator Sarvi pointed out that the City of Victoria needs more space for City Hall and maybe a library could coincide with that need. But the city is not ready to get underway with expan-sion or new construction of City Hall, so leasing space for a library might be the better move at this time, as a "stop gap" measure. Minimum square footage re-quired for a library is 6,000 square feet.
Steve mentioned that the county library at Watertown, where he serves as mayor, is a costly affair for a city. "We struggle with hidden costs," he said. "We budget so much and there never seems to be enough. Friends of the Library are very tough, strong advocates for the library. Now they want new carpeting."
In response to a question from Coun-cil, Steve said the next step is to invite Carol Vadnais, Victoria's representative on the library board, to a council meeting and then "get some information from libraries, visit the libraries, and if still interested, ask people to form a Friends of the Library and charge them with getting a referendum going."
A referendum would be needed to acquire the funds from taxpayers to build a library.
WATERBROOKE TO BUILD NEW CHURCH
HOPING TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN JULY
Pastor Bill Bonner of Waterbrooke Fellowship attended the May 12th city council meeting as part of a request for the church property to be rezoned from agricultural to residential, in order for a church building to be constructed. The property is located on the northwest side of Lake Wasserman. Access is off Coun-ty Road #43.
"We hope to start construction in July on our first building," said Pastor Bonner. "It will be a campus like approach here. We're adding a 48 by 48-foot worship center onto the existing farmhouse. We are building a parking lot at this time for only 45 cars."
He stated that Carver County is ask-ing Waterbrooke Fellowship to spend a great deal of money on road construction. "They're asking us to build a substantial left turn lane and also an acceleration lane," he said. "We're only 30 families and 30 cars, for crying out loud. We want to be good citizens, but this is nuts." Pastor Bonner pointed out that the church is donating a site for a lift station.
City Engineer Jack Griffin replied, "The real starting point is how the county is establishing their criteria."
As for the church's rezoning request, the city attorney stated that Council is re-quired to consider and act on the request within a 60-day time limit. However, the property lies within Laketown Township; annexation has not officially occurred and the city cannot rezone property that lies outside city limits. Stated City Planner Eric Zweber, "We also cannot approve a building permit in Laketown Township."
Annexation will not happen until the city has reviewed and clarified the differ-ence between urban and rural tax rates.
Pastor Bonner gave the city a waiver beyond the 60-day time limit but stated, "I get a little concerned that the tax thing will continue to drag on, affecting the re-zoning and our ability to build. Can we bring the material forward as though the annexation were going to happen?"
Replied Councilmember Terry Bish-op, "I'm confident Steve will make this as expeditious as possible."
Replied Administrator Sarvi, "I'm confident your July timetable can be met."
Action on the zoning request is expected at the first city council meeting in June.
THE VICTORIA FIELD HOUSE
LOOKS AT PARTNERING WITH THE YMCA
Victoria city councilmembers met on Monday night, May 23rd, to hear two rep-resentatives of the YMCA speak about their organization and what it could or could not do to accelerate memberships, activities, and programs at the three-year old Victoria Field House, thereby helping to offset the annual cost of the facility.
The invitation to the "Y" came from the City of Victoria, possibly seeking a partnership with them.
Jude Boulianne, Building Manager of the Victoria Field House, said there were now approximately 1,000 members taking advantage of the amenities at the Field House, which is "very fitness oriented" at this time. He said a resident senior pays only $106.50 for an entire year of membership, while a resident family only pays $319.50 for an annual membership.
The Field House has an impressive array of exercise equipment, an indoor walking track, ice skating, concessions, gymnasium, meeting rooms, and sched-uled activities.
Field House continued.
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