CITY OF VICTORIA HELPS FLOYD'S
"IT'S IMPORTANT TO US"
Council approved city assistance to Floyd's Bar in the amount of $5,500 toward their renovation project in down-town Victoria.  In the written request, Lois Melcher and Rick Plocher stated, "Inas-much as our renovation project is improv-ing the appearance of the main intersec-tion of our town and since the new stone is far more appropriate for the traditional style of our building, we are requesting your assistance."
Stated Councilmember Jim Paulsen, "I think there's a public purpose here, but I'm not sure what the dollars or material should be."
Mayor Mary Meuwissen compared the assistance to Tax Increment Finan-cing dollars and said of the project, "It's important to us.  It'll be the level at which we begin the downtown development process."

LOOKING TO LANDSCAPE COUNTY ROAD #18
COUNTY HAS COMMITTED 25% IN ASSISTANCE

City Planner Mark Kaltsas was asked to look at landscaping along the new County Road #18, between Victoria Drive and Rhoy Street. 
"I have prepared a plan that I think addresses the desires of the residents,"  he said.  "It's a good representation of what the residents were looking at for buffer-ing.  We could put in the large shade trees this fall."
Mark said he is anticipating an expen-diture of between $10,000 and $12,000 with the city installing the trees.  He will also be talking to County Commissioner John Siegfried about county participation.  Commissioner Siegfried has said the county would participate in 25% of the landscaping costs. 
Said Administrator Steve Sarvi, "I think that commitment stands."
Said Mayor Mary Meuwissen, "We are relying on the 25% commitment."
Said Councilmember Jim Paulsen, "The city saved them [the county] $60,000 in sodding.  I'm actually looking at more than 25% commitment."
Councilmember Richard Tieden thanked Mark, other staff, councilmem-bers, and other members of the communi-ty for their work toward a good resolution of the County Road #18 project. 

VICTORIA OUTSOURCES PAYROLL FUNCTION
TO REDUCE INTERNAL COST AND TIME

On September 13^th Council adopted a resolution giving approval to outsource the City of Victoria's payroll function and granting authority to the mayor and city administrator to execute a contract with the service provider, ADP Easy Pay. 
The outsourcing was requested and recommended by Jylan Johnson, the city's finance director.  "We would be able to reduce the payroll function by almost 30%," she said.  "We would give them a limited power of attorney to do this for us." 
She reported that performing the city's payroll internally has an annual cost of approximately $6,000 per year, and that, basically, it's a wash outsourcing the task.
She explained the checks would be "direct deposit" after the council reviewed them, but would not be signed by the city.  "We submit the payroll," she said.  "They issue the checks or paychecks for direct deposit, then submit them to us for ap-proval, then into the various accounts.  They take responsibility for taking out taxes.  I would like to have this go into effect for the last payroll of the quarter."
Although Mayor Mary Meuwissen preferred that the checks be signed in city offices, to ensure control of the money, Councilmember Jerry Bohn pointed out that these are not "fly by night compan-ies."  He said they know what they're doing and people want direct deposit.
Paychex was the other vendor consid-ered for this service.

FENCING FOR TWO BALL FIELDS
GETTING DIETHELM PARK READY FOR SPRING

On September 13^th, Council awarded a fencing project at Diethelm Park to McBroom Construction.  The city re-ceived four quotes for fencing the two softball fields at that park, and the quotes were so far apart that staff was asked to be sure that the recommended company, which was also the low bid, was one that could deliver an excellent product on time.
Said Mary Saarion, the city's Parks and Rec Director,  "McBroom is currently working at Holy Family High School and at Deer Run.  They have a lot of equip-ment out here.  I talked to them.  They're comfortable with their low bid."
McBroom's low bid was $47,224.  High bid was $121,500. 

POOR STREETS AT ZUMBRA RIDGE
RECONSTRUCTION IS NECESSARY
Administrator Steve Sarvi reported on September 27^th that he attended a meeting of the Zumbra Ridge Homeowners Asso-ciation and that there was "a lot of con-cern" about the maintenance of streets in that neighborhood.  Said Steve, "We still need to work out the issue of public streets versus pri-vate streets.  There are several documents related to the annexation that are conflict-ing and unsigned.  The streets are in very bad condition.  They need to be recon-structed."  Councilmembers affirmed that the streets at Zumbra Ridge are private streets but that the City of Victoria will continue to fill potholes and do the seasonal snow-plowing.

MESS AT FOOD 'N FUEL AND HI-5 LIQUOR
Councilmember Richard Tieden said there's a mess in Victoria that needs to be cleaned up.  "I'm saddened to have to talk about this," he said, "but the parking lot at Food 'n Fuel and Hi-5 Liquor is in bad repair.  It's littered with hundreds and hundreds of cigarette butts, garbage that didn't make it to the dumpster, and oil cans.  It doesn't look good for Victoria.  It's an entrance to Victoria.  It looks bad."
Richard also said there are sometimes ten cars "for sale" parked at the location.  And there's no tool at the pumps for washing windshields.  He said he has talked to the manager, but the condition has worsened.
Mayor Mary Meuwissen asked city staff to contact the owner.  There are ordi-nances to help correct such problems.
Administrator Steve Sarvi said a strong Chamber of Commerce could take care of the problem.  It was pointed out that neither of the above mentioned businesses is a member of the Chamber.

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