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IT'S BEEN NAMED DIETHELM PARK
AND IT'S LOCATED AT VICTORIA COMMONS
Residents of Victoria were invited some time ago to submit names for the new community park located at Kochia Lane and 86th Street, purchased in 1998.
Mary Saarion, Director of Parks and Rec, informed the council, "The park building with the sport court is currently being used to the maximum. The farm house building is expected to be scheduled to the maximum also, with all sorts of great recreational programs and opportunities for community groups to use it for meeting and gathering space. The facility needs a name, and there is a great need for signs to locate the park and its facilities. A name for the park would be very advan-tageous."
There were actually two winning entries. Following the recommendation of Councilmember Jim Paulsen, the entire area will be known as the Victoria Commons. The various entities within the Commons will, as with Diethelm Park, continue to assume names from Victoria's heritage.
Each of the winning applicants are residents of Victoria. Jerry Schmieg submitted the name Diethelm Park. Pam Rustad submitted the name Victoria Commons. For their winning efforts they will receive gift certificates.
THE FARM HOUSE AT DIETHELM PARK
FIXING IT FOR RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS
Following the recommendation of Mary Saarion, Victoria Parks and Rec Director, councilmembers approved an expenditure of $31,202 to make improvements at Diethelm Park and facilitate recreational programming for all ages, from preschoolers to senior citizens.
Said Mary Saarion, "We have great visions and plans. This is an opportunity to open up a preschool in the farm house. We are a new developing program, and we have no place for our programs. I think you'll get your bang for the buck.
It is necessary to improve the building for public access and code com-pliance. At least one of the bathrooms must be improved for accessibility. Stairs and railing need to be improved. Carpentry work is estimated to cost $5,852. Entry doors for accessibility are $4,090. The largest expenditure, at $21,260, is for the installation of an automatic sprinkling system throughout the building.
ONLY 327 VACANT LOTS IN VICTORIA
SUPPLY SHOULD LAST THREE YEARS
Victoria Planning Commissioners submitted their annual report to the Victoria Council, fulfilling an ordinance requirement as well as summarizing related city activity. The Commissioners include Jerry Keehr, Chair; Bud Hiivala, Vice-Chair; Marian Carpenter; Gary Delaney; and Gordy Simanton.
They held 12 regular meetings in 2000 plus four long-range meetings.
Residential construction remained strong. Permits were issued for a total of 147 new residential units, which amounts to 272% more than 1999 when 54 new dwellings were constructed. Building per-mit valuation for 2000 was $25,334,768, another record high.
At the end of 2000, the population of Victoria was estimated at 4,500. It is projected that the city will reach a population of 5,000 in about 18 months, at which time Victoria will qualify for direct participation in the state's gas line tax.
Number of vacant lots remaining in the City of Victoria as of December 31st, 2000, is 327. The supply should be absorbed in about three years. The current moratorium on building permits for single family residential construction is allowing the city time to plan and prepare for utilities and services and determine associated costs that will be passed on to the developers.
FIGHTING MILFOIL ON LAKE VIRGINIA
PROGRAM MAKES THE LAKE USABLE
tive on the board of the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District as well as a Victoria resident on Lake Virginia, asked council-members to approve, once again, a contribution to efforts to control Eurasian water milfoil on Lake Virgina. Council approved a city expenditure of $1,500 toward that effort. The motion included making money available for similar efforts on other Victoria lakes.
OTHER NEWS FROM APRIL
HANGING ONTO THE WINDMILL
·The city was asked if it wanted to acquire ownership of the windmill on the Notermann farm. Said Mayor Mary, "The windmill is part of our heritage. It could be part of our park."
·Council authorized the purchase of a new 2001 pickup truck with a snowplow from Thurk Bros Chevrolet for price of $24,635 plus tax and license.
·Council authorized the purchase of a 2001 bobcat from Lano Equipment for a price of $3,013.61 including tax.
·Council authorized the purchase of an angle broom attachment for the bobcat and snowblower from Lano Equipment for a price of $5,321.81 including tax.
·Council authorized the purchase of a new 22-foot bobcat trailer from Waconia Farm Supply for a price of $6,313.47.
·Council authorized the payment of $73,279.94 to Traut Wells toward the cost of new Well #3. This payment plus the previous payment of $14,392.50 totals $87,672.44 which represents 49% of the work completed to date.
·Council authorized the purchase of a precinct count machine at a cost of $3,735 plus a carrying case for $72 plus phone modems. Due to city growth, it has been determined that another precinct will have to be set up before the next primary election in 2002.
·The League of Minnesota Cities is holding its annual conference in Duluth from June 19th to 22nd. It is an opportunity to meet other leaders and learn more about various government issues.
·Council approved Floyd's Bar re-quest for an extension to the city's ordinance on noise, from 10 p.m. until 12 midnight on the Friday and Saturday nights of the Victoria Lions Softball Tournament in July, in order that Floyd's can provide bluegrass entertainment.
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