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SEEKING NEW VICTORIA DEPARTMENT HEAD TO MANAGE PARKS & REC AND FIELD HOUSE Council voted unanimously to adver-tise for a Director of Parks and Recreation-Field House position and interview the candidates for an expected job start of January 2nd, 2008. Starting salary commensurate with experience is up to $65,856. According to the Position Profile, "The Director of Parks and Recreation-Field House is a department head level position responsible for leading, manag-ing, and evaluating a comprehensive parks and recreation system for an emerging community." The Profile acknowledges, "The city is currently in discussions with School District 112 to develop a partnership that envisions the District operating the ice arena and concession areas of the Field House. The city will be responsible for operating the rest of the Field House, which includes a gym and physical fitness facility." This lease with District 112 is expected to begin January 1st, 2009. "District 112 also expects to add a second ice sheet as an attachment to the structure. The Director will be a key player in the administration and detailed implementation of the lease and use agreement in the years ahead as the city liaison with District 112." At least 17 essential functions of the Director are listed in the Profile. They include such functions as: work closely with Community Education, recruit and evaluate staff for the department, establish clear policies, create and implement main-tenance schedules for facilities and equip-ment, monitor revenues and expenditures, prepare grant applications, plan for cur-rent and future needs of the community. Application deadline for the new Victoria position is November 9th.
NO SNOWMOILES IN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA IF NEW CITY ORDINANCE IS APPROVED Councilmembers voted 5-0 on Octo-ber 11th for staff to draft an ordinance that will outlaw snowmobiles in downtown Victoria. The ordinance will come before Council for a second reading and additional comment at the November 8th council meeting. Stated Administrator Steve Sarvi, "This will be an emotional issue, just as with restricted hunting in city limits. I think it's important that all sides are heard. I met with the Southwest Trail group and Three Rivers Park. I also talked to several businesses downtown. They didn't see this as a huge issue for their business." Administrator Sarvi identified three possible courses of action, two of which permitted snowmobiles in downtown Vic-toria. But he said, "I recommend prohib-iting snowmobiles in downtown Victoria and directing enforcement from our police officers." Steve said the issue got worse when the LRT went out of business for snowmobiles. "They tear up our side-walks and have an impact on our roads," he said. Stated Councilmember Jim Paulsen, "I don't see any other course of action." He said that County Road 10 to the south is "a big road that is more open and it'll take people all the way to Waconia." "I agree with Jim," said Councilmem-ber Kim Roden. "And Steve has done a good job of preparing this. With all the complaints we've received in the last couple of years, this is necessary." The proposed Victoria ordinance reads: No person shall operate a snow-mobile on any street, roadway, or alley within the city at a speed in excess of 15 mph, except that no snowmobile may be operated on Victoria Drive between Stieg-er Lake Lane and Arboretum Blvd, or on any street in the Central Business District. Added Councilmember Tim Amund-sen, "I've never seen a snowmobile in downtown Chanhassen."
WATCH YOUR SPEED IN KIRKE-LACHEN VICTORIA'S TOWN COP WILL BE ENFORCING John Kroening, a resident along 81st Street in Kirke Lachen, addressed on October 25th a speed issue in his neighbor-hood. Said John, "I'm not happy with the speed limit of 30 mph. There's lots of heavy traffic past my house. It is still not a safe street." He pointed out that some neighbor-hoods have speed limits of 25 mph and added, "It's people coming from Water-mark and Kelzer's Pond that are barreling down 81st Street. It's not the people who live on 81st Street." City Engineer Cara Geheren said that in the past, when speed issues have arisen, residents put the request in writing and then Council authorizes a speed study. "We don't have a lot of money!" stated Councilmember Tim Amundsen. "We should be able to use brain power instead of cash. Seems everything costs money. Why a study? Why not action instead? There's nothing like a $100 speeding ticket to slow people down." Stated City Administrator Steve Sar-vi, "It always comes down to enforcement even if the speed limit is 20 mph." Town Cop Erick Boder suggested that an unmarked patrol car might be part of the solution in that particular neighbor-hood. Steve Dahl, a resident in the audience that evening, agreed with Councilmember Amundsen. "I think it's a slap in the face to waste $500 on a speed study. Please do some thinking about this. Let Erick do his job. On Rhoy Street they found out it was the residents there who were speeding." Councilmember Richard Tieden com-mented on the fact that Kirke Lachen was once like a long cul de sac, that it never had a through-street until development continued to the west of it. "Kirke Lachen is a different neighborhood today," said Richard." It will probably never be the same again." Click here for more City Scoop.
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