Commented Councilmember Richard Tieden about the dissatisfaction of the Fire Department, "That's the most difficult thing that I've heard."
Dean  Johnson, architect with TKDA, the city's engineering firm, said that the combined project, including the extra bay and second story meeting space, "provides for growth and other uses.  It provides an upgrade to the Fire Department.  It gives you almost a new Fire Station at half the cost.  It brings everything up to code, including the sprinkler system.  It's not an ideal area for their office space, but it was a way to get a lot more space economically."
Planner Kaltsas added, "In the future you'd be building an entire structure for the Fire Department with tax dollars rather than water funds ... The roof was part of what could be paid for by the bonds, and the multi-purpose rooms."
Stated City Administrator Steve Sarvi, "It sure didn't occur to me that the Fire Department wasn't happy with the plan."  According to Steve, the Fire De-partment was involved in the design last year already.  "I've seen meeting notes."
Mayor Jerry Bohn said, "I think the right approach is to decouple the building.  Maybe in ten years we can build exactly what the Fire Department needs out in Laketown Township."
HOWEVER, much opinion changed prior to the next council meeting.  On October 28th Steve Sarvi said there was a meeting with Chief Sohns and included Fire Marshal Tim Walsh.
Said Steve, "We discussed how we could possibly make this new space work.  The upper level of that mezzanine space is almost double the space they have now.  There are opportunities to jointly use the training and conference rooms with the water treatment facility.  The Fire Depart-ment has already programmed a second fire station for 2010 to 2015.  We need a new City Hall too, about that same time.  It might make sense to push that second fire station off a little."
Steve said they came to realize that the upper level of the proposed mezzanine could become the new office space for the Fire Department and the ground level could be used for large storage items "and things that make more sense down there."  This was the reverse of the original plan and design for the fire station addition.
It was also pointed out by Engineer Jack Griffin that the cost of a hoist -- to move heavier items between floors -- is only $2,500.  It could be used for heavy office equipment.
Added Steve, "The Fire Department needs are to have that office space.  Walls can be added on later.  But I also want to make sure there are no sticker shocks.  It has to be done right and be functional.  And we probably won't even need an equipment certificate for the new fire truck."
He said there are enough funds to build the Fire Station addition, and that the $75,000 the city gives to the Fire Department each year can be directed to the tanker they need.  The Fire Depart-ment will support using their current funds for the building as long as you know they need a tanker."
Chief Gary Sohns acknowledged, "There was some lack of communication and a lack of our ability to be at some of the past meetings."
Mayor Bohn said on October 28th that, although it appears the Fire Department can be satisfied with the project, Councilmember Bishop was still against it when told of it.

Growth
Without growth for the City of Vic-toria, there won't be the building and permit fees to pay for the facility.  Core fees are coming in sufficiently to take care of the water treatment plant for a couple of years and that's it.
On October 14th, City Planner Mark Kaltsas reported there were 2 ½ years of growth left in the city under the permits that have already been issued.  Then he added, "It's not likely, but it is possible the Met Council could shut us down.  They do have a limited [sewer] pumping capacity ... We have only three years to grow without a problem."
He said there is currently approved development underway for 373 new homes in Victoria, "which is probably two years of development for us."
Mark also pointed out, however, that if the Met Council would not give or get more sewer capacity to Victoria, "it would force development to Mayer, Watertown, and Cologne because those cities have no sewer restrictions." 
According to Steve Sarvi, the cities of Mayer, Watertown, and Cologne have their own wastewater treatment plant, while Victoria and Waconia are connected to the regional system managed by the Metropolitan Council.  Said Steve, who is also the mayor of Watertown, "The wastewater treatment plants are expensive for cities, probably $3 million, but we control our own destiny."
Also on October 14th, Mayor Jerry Bohn said he talked to Julius Smith, local representative on the Met Council, who said they're not going to shut off Victoria's ability to grow.  "The Met Council does not want leapfrog devel-opment," said the mayor.
Administrator Sari explained that it would take about a half million dollars for the Met Council to increase the size of a lift station to accomodate growth and increased sewage flow from Victoria.  He said that the Met Council has also talked about getting rid of lift stations altogether and using all gravity lines because lift sta-tions are expensive to operate.
Commented Mayor Bohn, "They've been caught flat-footed, but I'm confident Julius and the Met Council will take care of it."
Responded Councilmember Bishop on October 14th, "If growth doesn't continue, we'll be caught flat-footed!  Jules is only one member of that group.  I'm not comfortable going forward now with a $9.5 million project."
Steve emphasized, "We need a water treatment plant now.  We're losing reven-ue because the poor quality of water slows down the meters.  It gums them up."
City Superintendent Bruce Osborn pointed out that the water meters installed in Victoria homes last from 3 to 5 years and they should last 20 years.  They are city-owned meters and the city pays for them.
Mark Kaltsas emphasized, "We need the well now.  We need the storage capa-city now ... If the city says we're going to stop growing because of what the Met Council says, there'll be a lot more impli-cations than water treatment!"

Click here to continue this item.