FEASIBILITY STUDY ORDERED ON FIELD HOUSE
THIS TIME SPECIFIC TO THE VICTORIA PROJECT
Steps continue toward implementing the December 20th, 2001, decision to build the Victoria Field House at Diet-helm Park.
On February 14th, 2002, council voted 4-0 to hire the Springsted firm to conduct another feasibility study.  This time the study will be particular to the Victoria project.
Last year Springsted conducted a $7,000 study for the Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association and, later, a $2,000 update of that study which has used by Victoria to help determine costs.  This new study, specific to Victoria and to be paid for by Victoria, comes with the stipulation that it will not exceed $7,000.  Springsted is an independent financial group that studies rinks and budgets put together by groups such as developers and hockey associations.
Said Mayor Mayor Meuwissen, "We have a good handle on what an average facility costs.  Now we want the actual cost of the building.  It can swing by $500,000.  It will go out to bid so we have a firm number on cost.  Then the advertis-ing dollars will be incorporated into the feasibility study and we'll know if we need to adjust the building.  The facility won't be built if it's not financially fea-sible."
The City of Victoria has also spent approximately $100,000 on architectural services, in order to get to this point.
Said Councilmember Richard Tieden, "It's not like we haven't moved forward without consulting professional people."
Said Mike Ayres, volunteer developer on the Victoria project, "A hockey arena is not rocket science.  It is feasible.  There has only been one failure in the state and it was gobbled up by a private party that turned it into a profitable venture.  There are viable hockey associations that have been around for twenty years.  The expen-ses are going to come in where we said they would.  I've been at this for a few years.  I don't think we are putting very much money at risk."
Dave Hanson, construction manager on the project, said that soil borings were done and the results came in as expected.  "There is nothing serious there," he said of the site at Diethelm Park.  "RSP is going full boar ahead with design.  All bids will be publicly bid.
RSP is the architectural firm hired to complete final plans of the Victoria Field House.  Krause Anderson was hired to provide the construction manager and do the soil borings.  Everything else goes out to bid.
Repeated Mike Ayres, "We believe Springsted will validate the numbers.  We're moving ahead with great confi-dence."
Stated Mayor Mary, "Springsted will do a final blessing after all the numbers come in.  Before the project moves for-ward, we'll know the numbers, and then there'll be a vote as to the financing of the project."

MORE FIELD HOUSE SPECIFICS
TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYBODY
According to Chuck Fryeberg, archi-tect with RSP, the Victoria Field House will have a 6-foot wide running track around the ice arena.  In responding to a wish list from the Victoria Parks and Rec Committee, the field house will contain inserts for five volleyball courts, four tennis courts, and four basketball courts, which can be installed at any time during the projected six-month dry floor season.
Parks and Rec also asked that the field house include the maintenance build-ing for two of the parks trucks and lawn equipment.
Service organizations, such as the Lions, were also contacted.  In their re-gard, the kitchen will be set up so serving can be out the backside of the building as well as to the inside.
There will be a skate rental room and skate sharpening tool.  The City of Vic-toria will be able to rent skates.
There will be a large lobby, and lock-er rooms for whoever is using the facility.  There will be men's and women's show-ers and toilets, and an elevator to the up-stairs. 
There will be a total view of Diet-helm Park and the ice floor from the upper level, which initially will consist of a 6,200 square foot room, which some day can be turned into smaller rooms.  There will also be office space and toilets up-stairs.  There will be three large overhead doors to the backside of the field house.
Stated the architect, "We've been able to incorporate almost everything that Parks and Rec asked for."
Stated Mayor Mary, "We're looking for the Acorn House to become a drop in daycare for parents who'd be using the field house."
Victoria will have 150 prime hours of ice time, purchased by the City of Vic-toria, in addition to the weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during winter.  Sum-mer's dry land time will belong to Victoria daily from 6 a.m. to 11 pm.
Prime time hours [for the ice arena part of the facility] are from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at night.  These are the prized hours con-tracted at $175/hour.  It's what pays for most of the $5 million facility.

In order to accommodate the Victoria Athletic Association, the original align-ment of the Field House was adjusted to retain the Sports Court building at Diethelm Park.

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