According to Planner Mark Kaltsas, this circular area in downtown Victoria near Stieger Lake has no permanent plans.  "Initially we will plant flowers in the middle.  In the future it could be used for some sort of a monument or kiosk marking the downtown business district  There will be benches installed here next spring."

UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
FINISHHING THE STREETS
According to City Engineer Jack Griffin, who reported on September 11th, and City Planner Mark Kaltsas, who reported on September 25th, downtown Victoria should be completed, cleaned up, and navigable before winter sets in.
Electric poles in the downtown alley have been holding up some of the work in downtown Victoria.  Xcel still has not removed the old electric poles in the alley nor buried the lines.  On September 9th Jack said that once the old poles are down, the paving wear course can be put on all downtown streets. 
On September 9th Mark reported the final wear course will be put down the week of October 1st on all streets except the alley, because the utility poles are still standing.  The new street, on which there is much construction traffic related to the Clocktower Building, will also not re-ceive the final wear course at this time.
The city is moving along at a "pretty good pace," said Jack.  "Cleaning up Sidco has taken some time.  We're trying to work it all together."  He said that October 29th is the contractual completion date.  It might look like we're going backwards sometimes, but we're not."
Mark reported that the new street lighting poles are now being delivered, that street landscaping is partially completed, the pavers should be finished up by "next week," seeding and regrading is getting completed, and they've got until the end of October."

ON THE SIDCO PROPERTY
TALKING ABOUT KIDTALK
On September 25th city councilmembers unanimously authorized the execution of a purchase agreement and earnest money contract for the redevelopment of the property in downtown Victoria's formerly known as "Braunworth's" and "Sidco's."
This agreement allows Tom and Candy Almquist of Victoria to continue with the redevelopment process.  The Almquists have spoken about a combination retail-office building, with Kidtalk as the anchor, and wanted to secure the property during their design development and approval stages.  This agreement allows for a six-month option requiring earnest money and agreement to purchase price of $150,000 for the city-owned quarter-acre parcel.
The redevelopment proposal includes an opportunity for expansion for Kidtalk, currently located in smaller quarters on the Main Street of Victoria next to the Victoria Post Office.  It is a speech language and therapeutic service to children that is experiencing growth under the ownership of Candy Almquist. 
Construction is proposed to begin next spring.  Tom Almquist said he's been waiting to get a cleanup report on the site to make sure there aren't any problems.  Planner Kaltsas stated on September 11th that the city had been working with the Pollution Control Agency on contamination at the Sidco site.  "It's now become a closed site," he said, "meaning no more concerns with contaminants.  Mainly it was gasoline."

MAYBE THIS IS THE LAST WINTER
FOR SNOWMOBILES ON LRT TRAIL
On September 11th, councilmembers approved a permit allowing various winter uses of the LRT Trail corridor through the City of Victoria between November 15th, 2003, and March 31st, 2004.  These uses include hiking, jogging, cross country skiing, showshoeing, and snowmobiling.
The LRT (Light Rail Transit) corridor through Victoria is the former railroad bed that intersects Park Drive and goes through Downtown Victoria to Kirke-Lachen.  It is a gravel trail, not a paved trail.
The City of Victoria provides insur-ance coverage, trail maintenance, safety issues, and signage issues through the agreement.  The city also enforces rules and repairs trail damage that occurs from winter trail activities.
Stated Mayor Jerry Bohn, "We are the only community on the LRT that allows snowmobiles."  Stated Councilmember Dave Lind-gren, "I don't have a snowmobile.  I don't want one.  But I'd rather have them on the  trail than in the ditches."  Stated Councilmember Richard Tied-en, "We're getting to be a larger city.  A few people have problems with it.  I've heard concerns."  Stated Councilmember Mary Thun, "Right now the development along this trail is limited, but I can see that this might be the last year because of future development."
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