To the Editor:
I would like to thank Sue Orsen and the Victoria Gazette for printing the recent feature article, "At Our Front Steps."  Sue asked a series of questions which all can-didates answered.  The responses gave me some insight on their thought processes.  However, there was no indication of their party alliance.
I understand in small city government there may not be official party alliance; yet when I travel through Victoria I see their signs on lawns that share space with a sign for a presidential candidate.  One could only draw the conclusion that a city candidate's values match the presidential candidate and the citizen that lives at that residence. 
I did not want to make that assump-tion so I sent each of the city council can-didates a simple email which requested their party affiliation.  Two people have responded, although each were taken aback by the request.
When someone is making a bid for public office, they should expect challeng-es throughout their campaign.  The email came from my business address so they could clearly see that I work for a large corporation here in Minnesota, so there should not have been any question as to whether or not the question was legiti-mate.
I live in Victoria and have for the past five years.  I live a very private life focus-ing on raising my four children and being a productive citizen for Victoria and Minnesota.
Michael J. Bove
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
Thank you for being so bold in your Christian witness.  The editorial you wrote in the September Gazette was brilliant, dazzling, and brought so much light into the darkness regarding chaos in our culture.  You have the gift of putting in black and white the heart of the many emotions we feel as we watch our world spin out of control.
But you also so obviously have your eyes fixed on our Constant Source of Hope, our Jesus, who has prepared for us "an ordered universe and a place of perfect harmony and happiness."
I love you, Sue, and I love the Gazette.  It's a gift to our community and beyond.  Thank you for enLightening us with your newspaper and sharing your talents with our community.  God's bless-ings to you and your growing family.  Congratulations on grandchild #2 on the way!
With love,
Karen Eischens
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
I found your fishhook on page 38.  I loved that article from the Senior Citizens reporter.  How true, how true, but weren't we happy!  Also, enjoyed the article by Mike Wartman when I was his age.  That just reminds me of how I was raised and our going to church every Sunday.
Lucy Geiger
Waconia, Minnesota

To the Editor:
I remember everything listed in Ethel Ausink's column on page 38 -- the days of full service gas stations where your win-dows were washed with a squeegie, they checked the oil and pumped your gas and put free air in your tires.  My brother used to own a gas station about 30 years ago.  I can still remember my youngest brother at the older brother's gas station. 
Grandma Meuwissen's house was across from the Mobil Station, and when-ever Mom was at Grandma's, my young-est brother would take off and run across to the station.  Mom knew where he was.  She didn't worry.  Grandma's house is gone.  Auburn Manor is built over the land.  The Mobil Station is gone, but I can still look out Talheim Apartments hall-ways windows and have vivid memories of how it was.
Kay Meuwissen
Chaska, Minnesota

To the Editor:
After reading about the $1 million overage in cost estimation on Victoria's water treatment facility, I could not help but write this letter.
I was at the Victoria City Council meeting when it was suggested that the council have a workshop to review the possibilities of hiring a construction man-ager.  Has this been considered?
After that city council meeting, I went home and did a little research on what a "construction manager" does.  It certainly is not what TKDA seems to be doing.  I cannot believe that the city would even deal with a company that has that attitude -- "I wouldn't lose any sleep over it" -- regarding a $1 million overage on estimation of cost of a construction project. 
A construction manager would save the city money by being an advocate for the city.  How much is all of this nonsense going to cost the city residents when all is said and done?  If the city redesigns the project and puts it out for bid again, will TKDA do the job?  If so, how much more will it cost us in time and materials?
As far as raising the water rates, escalating the water core charge, and budgeting for 200 homes per year, I agree with Councilmember Bishop that we [the city] need to "live within their means" and as Councilmember Thun stated, be fiscal-ly conservative.
Building 200 homes per year instead of 125 doesn't sound all that wonderful of an idea.  It seems to me that building more homes is going to create a higher demand for water.  Will the facility be able to accommodate the increased demand?
As the city administrator said, "Coun-cil needs to roll up their sleeves and put on their thinking caps and come up with a solution."  I agree with that, but how ...

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