TOWN HALL FOCUS ON THE VICTORIA FIELD HOUSE
"IT'S A JEWEL … OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS!"
It was 73 degrees outside and rain was threatening, but the sun kept shining until after the Town Hall Meeting.  It was also temperate inside the gymnasium at the Victoria Field House on Tuesday evening, May 8^th, as Mayor Mary Thun called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 
If 250 residents were in attendance, 10% of them stood up to be heard.  If the population of Victoria is 6,000, .4% of that population stood up to be heard.
"The purpose of this gathering is to get input from residents of Victoria," said Mayor Thun.  "There are no preconceived decisions on the Field House.  Council-members will not be answering questions tonight."
To those in the audience who would choose not to speak at the podium, the mayor suggested, "Use your comment cards for questions.  They will be noted on the city's website within ten working days."
Mayor Thun thanked residents for coming.  She thanked city staff for their preparation work.  She thanked Holy Family Catholic High School for provid-ing the stage and the folding chairs.  She thanked the Lake Minnetonka Communi-cations Commission for televising the meeting. 
Then she introduced Jylan Johnson, Finance Director for the City of Victoria, who presented a financial background of the 73,000 square foot Field House, which includes the ice arena, fitness center, gym-nasium, and other significant space.  The facility is situated on approximately 40 acres of prime city-owned property within the beautiful city limits of Victoria. 
She said the facility was built for approximately $8 million.  Primary reven-ue source is from the sale of ice contracts.  The city has used $800,000 of park improvement fees over the last four years; these fees come from builders or contractors when they pull new building permits.  Annual transfers needed from the city's General Fund, in order to meet the Field House budget, has ranged to date from $300,000 to nearly $400,000.
Mayor Thun then asked interested or concerned residents to speak one at time, each with a five-minute limit if possible.  The 24 Victoria residents who spoke came to the podium in the following order and delivered, in general, the following messages.
Dawn Peterson, Kirke-Lachen:  I've received many calls.  I believe in three steps -- following the rules, correcting the problems, and being kind.
I've heard about mismanagement at the Field House.  I don't want to hear about could have's and should have's.  I do think we need to partner with some-body.  It can still be a Victoria Communi-ty Center.  The Acorn House is a vital part of this complex.  Please listen to the resi-dents' needs and wants.  I'm not sure how many people would want to change places with you right now.
Heather Cole, Deer Run:  I don't think there's a tax neutral option here.  We need to cover the mortgage.  We all have mortgages to cover.  If the Field House is sold to School District 112, Victoria residents will pay for the facility twice.  If it's sold to Southwest Christian High School, we'd have to put money into it also. 
It will only be a matter of a few years before we really need a community center.  We should change the name to Victoria Community Center to reflect what it really is.  We need a person to manage this place.  The opportunities are completely endless.  I say take over our crown jewel and shine it up for everyone.
Linda Mathias, Narcissus:   I conduct fitness classes here.  This Field House is wonderful.  We have a diamond here, a diamond in the rough.  The resour-ces have not been tapped.  I've seen that we've only spent $343 on advertising this place in 2005. 
Remember the Field of Dreams?  That was a fantasy.  This is reality.  What is a Field House?  Maybe we need a name change.

Click here for more Field House Testimony.