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APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS
AND ARE WELCOME TO VICTORIA
It was determined on May 11th that the Victoria Finance Committee would be consulted about the purchase and planting of flowers at the Welcome to Victoria Monument and in hanging baskets on the decorative downtown street lights.
Reported Jennifer Chapman, Director of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce, "I've been getting calls. Last year a business took care of this. They will not be doing that this year. I'm just bringing this to your attention. Maybe you can get the community to help pull weeds and do the planting. I am willing to step up and manage the project."
Councilmember Mary Thun suggested that Community Devel-opment Funds be used for the plants, that banners also be put on the light poles, and that the project funding be referred to the Finance Committee.
Said Councilmember Richard Tieden, "I think the city should provide this every year. It looks terrible today." Flowers have since been purchased and planted under the leadership of Public Works Superintendent Bruce Osborn.
BECOMING BEAUTIFUL
THANK YOU, PEOPLE OF VICTORIA
Under the leadership of Bruce Osborn, Victoria Public Works Superintendent and a member of Victoria's Fire Department, a number of firefighters donated their time the evening of may 24th to get the "Welcome to Victoria" monument ready for summer. Members involved included (kneeling to the right, l-r) Rick Leuthner, Aaron Jurek, Andrew Heger, Tim Stedman, Gary Sohns. Back: Fire Chief Tim Walsh, Tim's daughter Kristine Walsh, Bruce Osborn, and Kari Nordeen.
One of the many neighborhoods working on Victoria beautification efforts included Swiss Mountain. Members of the Swiss Mountain Homeowners Association Landscaping Committee include (above, l-r) Jim Donadio, Russ Ruschmeyer, Allison Donadio, Carrie Jorgensen, and Lori Ruschmeyer. Jim is also a member of the Victoria Planning Commission.
DRAIN TILE FOR WINTERGREEN
CITY OF VICTORIA MAINTAINS 50% POLICY
Councilmembers unanimously voted on May 25th to hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 22nd, in regard to drain tile improvements in the Wintergreen neighborhood. Estimated assessment is $2,300 per home. That's with the city picking up 50% of total project cost.,
"It was lower," said City Engineer Cara Geheren, "but that's the number we have today." Because of the high bid that the city recently received on the 2006 street, drainage, and utility improvements, adjustments were made.
In regard to the Wintergreen project, Cara said, "Wintergreen was constructed in 1996 and 1997, before higher street standards were in place. There is a sig-nificant amount of sump pump lines to the street. This is very problematic to the streets. Some run continually."
She reported that because the streets are still in good condition, drain tiles will be constructed behind the curb on both sides of the street, and drain tile will be provided for homeowner connection.
"It's pretty difficult to estimate costs on this," she said. "We don't have a simi-lar type project anywhere. We estimate the cost at $224,000, but it's difficult to have a huge amount of confidence in that number."
"We set up the report that you'd assess the project," continued the city engineer. "We identify it as a stormsewer project, as a project that benefits the prop-erties, about $2,300 per unit. That's with the city picking up 50% of the project. It was lower, but that's the number we have today."
Council voted 5-0 to set the hearing date for June 22nd using the 50/50 assess-ment policy, with work occurring this fall and finishing up in November.
Stated Bruce Osborn, Victoria Public Works Supervisor, "There is a benefit to the city with this project. It keeps ice berms off. It reduces water runoff into the sewer service. If we don't accept projects like this, we can be penalized in the future for not trying to improve things."
OTHER VICTORIA NEWS FROM MAY
MORE DONATIONS TO CONCERT IN PARK SERIES
*Councilmembers accepted the following donations for Victoria's 2006 Concert in the Park Series: $500 from the City Attorneys Kennedy & Graven Chartered; $175 from Victoria Lions Club, Mark and Susan Solem/ ReMAX, Hartman Communities, Hi-5 Liquor, the Victoria House, Nan Emmer and Coldwell Banker Burnet, Cabin Fever Sporting Goods, Auto Source Inc.; $100 from KleinBank, the Barsness Family, Terry Bishop of Larkin Hoffman Attorneys, and Kerber Homes Inc.; $25 from L. Cham-berlin.
*"It is producing treated water," said P.W. Supervisor Bruce Osborn of the new Victoria Water Treatment Plant on May 25th. "Each day we accomplish another little task. It should be online and fully operational for treated water by next week Tuesday or Wednesday. We're working on a date for an Open House." Added Dave Urbia, "Maybe we'll be tying it into Fire Prevention Week in October. Every-thing will be scrubbed up and buffed up by then."
*Councilmembers approved the city's purchase of an $800 plaque dedicated to the City of Victoria, to be part of a granite monument at the new Water Treatment Plant/Victoria Fire Station.
*Councilmembers accepted the Study for Standby Generator Requirements for Water and Sanitary Sewer Systems in Victoria. Vern Jacobsen of TKDA rec-ommended replacement of an existing generator, the purchase of new generators as new city wells come on board, and the ability to control peak water use. Victoria will probably have to spend $75,000 on power generators in 2007.
*City Attorney Mike Norton reported individual liability for city councilmem-bers is approaching $500,000, and collec-tively it's approaching $1.2 million. This is in regard to action taken on behalf of the city.
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