HOPING TO FIX THE NOISE PROBLEM
AT WATER TREATMENT PLANT IN VICTORIA
 Council authorized city staff to pro-ceed with the installation of both a sound absorption wall and silencer at the Water Treatment Plant for an approximate cost of $11,500.
City Engineer Cara Geheren present-ed the overview on April 12th.  "I've inundated you with material," she said.  "Complaints [about the noise] have been received since last August.  We immedi-ately began researching the issue.  We've determined it's the aerator in that pent-house that sticks up on the roof ...
"In October we constructed a tempo-rary wall and there was more study over the winter and additional testing.  On March 15th there was a neighborhood meeting.  We've settled on two solutions and we're recommending that Council authorize both of them ...
"The sound wall at a cost of $5,000 would direct the noise to Hwy 5.  The acoustic silencer at a cost of $6,500 would reduce the noise from 43 to 24 decibels.  We'd begin work immediately and it would be five to six weeks before the in-stallation could take place."
Speaking on behalf of TKDA, the city's engineering firm that designed the water treatment facility, Cara said, "The city could also seek someone else to cor-rect the problem."  She estimated a cost of $10,000 for someone to first do a study.
"Now we have to determine who has the liability," continued the engineer.  "I'd be willing to sit down and work with [City Administrator] Dave Urbia."
Asked Councilmember Kim Roden, "Was this problem foreseeable and, if not, why not?  I'm really frustrated that we in-herited this problem."
Cara replied, "Your ordinance says it has to be 50 decibels at night.  This will bring it down to 24.  I feel it's very much of a nuisance issue for Mr. [Rick] Leuth-ner.  I wouldn't be making this recom-mendation if I didn't think it wasn't the best solution."
Resident Peter Bren said, "This firm shouldn't have recommended something that was against your ordinance.  It was foreseeable.  It's not this city's fault or its residents.  You guys do a wonderful job trying to decipher everything that's been going on.  I think it's very clear who's responsible for this.  I can't believe you haven't held their feet to the fire."
Resident David Dexter said, "Meas-uring decibels is one thing and measuring frequency is another.  Are you venting hydrogen sulfide into the air and across the field?  It's a toxic volatile gas.  It is corrosive and could damage the muffler systems."
Council authorized the installation of both corrective measures to the noise emanating from the water treatment plant.
"Will this do it?" asked Councilmem-ber Jim Paulsen.
Replied the city engineer, "It depends on the definition of 'do it.'  There is a re-quest for zero noise.  It's your responsibil-ity to meet requirements of your ordi-nance."


RIDGEIVEW HOSPICE AT CHEVALLE?
IF IT HELPS VICTORIA MORE THAN HURTS
 Ridgeview Medical Center has asked that the City of Victoria extend its sewer and water utilities to the Chevalle proper-ty located in the City of Chaska near the Victoria city border at 86st Street and also near Victoria's large residential develop-ment known as Laketown.
Ridgeview's intention is to locate a new residential hospice home on the site.  The medical center has offered to pay for the cost of extending Victoria municipal utilities to this location within the Chaska city limits.
The Lennar Corporation, which is developing the nearby residential Lake-town subdivision, believes the city's first priority should be to service property that lies within the Victoria city limits or in areas about to be annexed to the City of Victoria, as previously planned. 
Wrote Matt Goldstein, project man-ager for Lennar, "It is unwise to prioritize the needs of landowners that are in anoth-er city that do not contribute to the Vic-toria tax base over landowners and devel-opers that the City of Victoria has worked with in the past to pursue orderly develop-ment."
Said Councilmember Tim Amundsen on April 12th, "I've worked with hospice for 20 years and they're a jewel to have in a community."  As far as "giving in" to such a request and the possibility of future similar requests, Tim added, "Who says there's an entitlement of precedence?  We want to be consistent but it by no means entitles anybody else."
Stated Councilmember Jim Paulsen, "I think it's part of being an inclusive community."
Stated Mayor Mary Thun, "I want staff to think about this.  Is it appropriate for Ridgeview to pay Victoria for some of this work?"
Mr. Goldstein said, "I agree it [the hospice] would be a great neighbor.  It sounds like this use could be accommo-dated in a manner that wouldn't hurt Laketown.  Our only concern is that this could hurt Laketown."
City Administrator Dave Urbia was directed to research the issue and come back to council with possibilities.

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