NEW PLAYGROUND BY SUMMER
AT LIONS PARK AND DIETHELM PARK
A three-dimensional model of play-ground equipment planned for installation at Diethelm Park and Lions Park is on display for viewing at the Victoria Field House.  Planning Consultant Mark Kaltsas reported that bids will be awarded and in-stallation will occur in May, 2005 - before school is out!
Quoted cost of the Diethelm equip-ment is $50,000.  Quoted cost of the Lions equipment is $43,235.  On April 28^th Vic-toria councilmembers approved the pur-chases and necessary site work.
"Parents like what we're trying to do," he said.  "It's broad based and doesn't serve just one neighborhood or group.  If people want to donate, they can go to the Parks and Rec Office at the Field House."
Mark reported that, in accord with recommendations of the Parks & Rec board, the playground at Diethelm Park will not be sited next to the baseball field as previously planned.  A safer and more accommodating location is at the corner of Kochia and 86^th Street.  The play-ground will include special equipment for kids ages 2 to 5, and another set of equipment for kids ages 6 to 12.
At Lions Park the playground will be located at the former sand volleyball court and the volleyball court will be moved to another area.  The former playground at Lions Park will be pulled out and the area graded and reseeded.  New equipment for Lions Park will consist of one primary piece that works for several ages.

NEW VICTORIA GROUPS FORMED
ON TASK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES
Seven applicants for the Victoria Senior Commission were appointed to that Commission on April 14^th.  All Vic-toria residents, they include Ronald Allen, David Boorsma, Marilynn Boorsma, Peter Crawford, Marlene Kaufhold, David Lindgren, and Dawn Peterson.
The appointment is valid through December 31^st, 2005.  Carver County held a training event for county-wide Senior Commissions on April 29^th.  Mayor Jerry Bohn is the council liaison to the Victoria Senior Commission.
Five applicants for the Victoria Business Development Committee were also appointed on April 14^th.  They include Victoria residents Jennifer Chap-man, Terry Hartman, Michelle Aspelin, Al Liestman, and Brian Sund.
The appointment is also valid through December 31^st, 2005.  Councilmember liaisons to the Business Development Committee are Richard Tieden and Kim Roden.

VICTORIA'S COUNTRY BUMPKIN ROADS
SOME MORE COSTLY TO FIX THAN OTHERS
Streets are deteriorating in areas north of Highway 7, especially the Bayview, Baycliffe, Thornberry, and Smithtown Road area of Victoria.  Also, 77^th Street, south of Highway 5 at Windtree, is also in poor condition.  City staff has received complaints about the roads.
On April 14^th City Administrator Steve Sarvi said the northern street project will be difficult from an engineering perspective because municipal water and stormsewer will be needed along with street reconstruction.  The project will be expensive.
"It's a very complex project," said Steve, as he recommended that council authorize TKDA, the city's engineer, to do a feasibility study.
"It generally takes about a year to do feasibility and design," he added.  "We would probably not begin reconstruction this year."
Mayor Jerry Bohn emphasized the expense of doing a feasibility study should not be lost, and that affected residents should be told in advance that the project will be expensive.  "If we or-der a feasibility," he said, "we want to go through with this!"
Councilmember Mary Thun agreed, "These residents need to know upfront that this is going to be very costly."  She suggested getting a letter to the residents about that cost prior to ordering the feasi-bility study.
City Engineer Jack Griffin was asked to determine an approximate cost of doing a feasibility study, and bring that informa-tion to the next council meeting.
Marilyn Wick, a resident at Bayview since 1981, stated, "We had very nice roads in 1981, but they've steadily deteri-orated.  It's embarrassing.  They look like country bumpkin roads.  I appreciate you addressing this issue."
Stated Councilmember Kim Roden, "I hope you'll come back to us when the process unfolds and the talk turns to cost-sharing."
On April 28^th councilmembers ap-proved a Level One engineering report on the streets in the northern area of Victoria.  A Level One study is less involved and therefore less costly than a Level Two report. 
Since Council received a petition from more than 35% of the property own-ers at Windtree, however, they ordered a Level Two report on 77^th Street as well as ordering plans and specifications.  The Windtree area already has water and stormsewer utilities.

LIGHTS FOR BASEBALL, SOCCER FIELDS
DIETHELM PARK GETS WHOLE BALL OF WAX
On April 28^th Victoria councilmem-bers approved close to $450,000 worth of lighting for the baseball field and two soccer fields at Diethelm Park.  Craig Gallop of Musco Lighting got the job.   The Victoria Parks and Recreation Committee recommended the lighting project, which has the least amount of impact from spill and glare light to adjacent properties yet provides a highly advanced lighting system and controls.
Regarding a phased project, Council-member Terry Bishop stated, "I think we should put all the lights up.  I've lived here three years and the signs have said that lights are coming.  It's time!"
Referring to Park Improvement Fees and Park Dedication Fees paid to the city by developers, Mayor Jerry Bohn, "We've got a sufficient stream of income to take care of this."  The lighting quote from Musco was unanimously accepted.

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