SUMMER TRAFFIC WILL BE TERRIBLE
CONSTRUCTION DETOURS GO THROUGH VICTORIA
Carver County Commissioner Randy Maluchnik spoke at the April 26^th Victoria City Council meeting about the upcoming long hot summer, and introduced Carver County Assistant Engineer Bill Weckman who added details to the message.
"There are two seasons in Minneso-ta," said the Commissioner, "winter and road construction.  We're going to build some roads this summer and we're going to inconvenience you.  I've got Bill Weckman here so you'll know what we're going to do to you."
The engineer referred to several county projects that will affect transpor-tation around and through Victoria.  As he stated, "There are no projects right in Vic-toria, but there are some that will impact Victoria."
He referred to specific road construc-tion projects at County Road 10 up to Waconia and Hwy 284 to the west of Victoria as well as a more southerly project at Hwy 212 that will detour people to State Hwy 5 and County Road 11 through Victoria.
"June will be a tough month," he said.  Mr. Weckman also referred to an upgrade project for the traffic signal at Hwy 5 and 41 in September.
"We are concerned about traffic movement," said the engineer, "and we are concerned about safety.  We'll see what we can do to minimize impact.  Motorists will need upfront planning.  There will be congestion out here."
Stated the County Commissioner, "It's going to be terrible.  And it could be worse next summer."
More information and details on road construction projects are available on the county's website, www.co.carver.mn.us.

IT'S ABOUT PUBLIC MONEY
VICTORIA ICE CONTRACTS AND ICE STUDIES
In discussion during the final hours of the April 26^th city council meeting, Vic-toria councilmembers hit on two issues that are related yet separate.  They are related because they both pertain to the Victoria Field House.  They are separate because one is related to ice contracts and the other is related to the various studies that led to the construction of the Victoria Field House in the first place.  (Ground-breaking occurred in the spring of 2002.)
Stated Councilmember Jim Paulsen about ice contracts not being paid up, "We've been tiptoeing around this.  I think it's time to dial it up."
Said City Attorney Mike Norton about confronting those group(s) who did not pay their ice contracts, "They could say that the mayor said they didn't have to pay them." 
At the February 22^nd, 2007, Victoria City Council meeting, current city coun-cilmembers voted unanimously to deny "the management over-ride decision [related to ice contracts] of the past mayor concerning the half payment of the Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association contribution and directed city staff to collect for all payments past and/or present."  The question is, did he have the authority to not enforce the contract.
Stated Councilmember Tim Amund-sen about contracts for Victoria ice at the Field House, "I appreciate that we do NOT have to talk to Holy Family Catholic High School about their ice contracts.  They have paid their bills to the city, sometimes even in advance."
About the Field House project as a whole and its initiation onto the Victoria scene, Councilmember Jim Paulsen stated about advice given at that time, "The Springsted Report seems to rely on people with conflict of interest."
Stated Councilmember Tim Amund-sen, "There has to be some liability if that information is flawed.  We've got to stop investing in studies and a little more in common sense ... The city is not that different than a company.  There are people who can pay ... If the Field House assessments [numbers] were incorrect, it's incumbent upon us to assess that situation."
"There's a lot of emotion and discus-sion involving the Field House," he said.  "There was a lot of preparation for it, and the people who went into this didn't do it haphazardly.  I'd like to have someone look into this and see if it was fair and reasonable."
Said Councilmember Paulsen, "We are at the point where we need to help ourselves and we have not done this.  As we look for legal remedies, I'm also interested in financial remedies.  I think we need to get the money."
"We really didn't understand the hockey culture," added Jim.  "What we had was a youth hockey association that had facilities and we had a facility.  It's a fascinating business.  I do think we need to dial it up, attorney to attorney."
"I'm intrigued by this idea," said Mayor Mary Thun.  "I agree with Tim and Jim that the two attorneys should dial each other up.  I'm only talking ice con-tracts now.  We need to discuss the Springsted Study separately."
"It appears there were some political decisions," said City Attorney Mike Nor-ton."
Councilmember Amundsen said he'd like to know if decisions were made "as a body or unilaterally ... This is about money, public money.  I am not a fan of lawsuits but they have an appropriate place.  I'd like Mr. Norton to look at that and he can advise us if he thinks it's prudent."

Click here for quotes from the Springsted Study.