SHERIFF'S CONTRACT IS COSTLY
CALLS IN VICTORIA ARE UP 46%

Councilmembers agreed on Septem-ber 28th that the 2007 Carver County Sheriff's contract with the City of Victoria should not include an additional $45,253 for an additional half time person working Victoria.  It will, however, include $10,556 for a Community Service Officer working Victoria seven hours a week.
The contract amount for 2007 will total $252,310.  The increase over the 2006 contract amount of $232,445  amounts to 8.55%.  If the additional half time person would have been included in the city's 2007 budget as recommended by the Sheriff's Department, the line item would have amounted to a 28% increase.
Jylan Johnson, Victoria Fiance Direc-tor stated, "There were lots of other com-mitments when the Finance Committee talked about this.  There were other com-mitments out there."  The Finance Com-mittee recommended budgeting for only the 2% increase in the sheriff's contract cost plus adding a Community Service Officer, which is how the total increase came to 8.55%.
Jeff Enevold, Commander of Opera-tions in the Carver County Sheriff's De-partment, attended the 5 p.m. council workshop in Victoria on September 28th.  "I've been in the Sheriff's Office since 1993," he said. 
"We put together a Contracts Com-mittee when [Sheriff] Bud Olson came here.  Before that, from 1990 to 2004, we had hourly contracts.  Victoria was contracting for six hours of daily patrol.  Now we have town deputies and local control.  The new plan came in 2005.  We understand our role as being a partner."
"We built this plan with the end in mind," he continued.  "Victoria is predict-ed to be one of the biggest cities in the county.  Victoria will need eleven depu-ties by the year 2020."
Erick Boder, Victoria's Town Depu-ty, stated, "We are getting busier.  I've been here about a full year now.  I'm building a relationship with people.  I am getting more calls."
Councilmember Mary Thun said, "We all don't understand all what Erick does all day.  Frankly, I'm seeing police cars all over the place.  It seems they're always coming down the road.  I'd like to see a Community Service Officer with more hours and fewer hours for our deputy.  We've only got so many dollars."
Councilmember Richard Tieden asked Deputy Boder, "What do you think about the crime around here?"
Erick replied, "If you look at the stats you see there's a 46% increase over last year in total calls for service."
Countered Councilmember Tieden, "Your presence alone increases the num-ber of calls."
"Also the revenue," added Jeff Ene-vold.
It was pointed out that calls are in-deed generated by deputies as they make traffic stops in the area, as well as by citizens directly.
"Speeding is a problem in this com-munity," acknowledged Deputy Boder, who mentioned the specific problem areas of Church Lake Boulevard, Rolling Acres road, Victoria Drive at Wisteria, Park Drive, and Highway 5.
"We put out a speed trailer on County Road 43," he said, "I sat there and gave warnings and then wrote citations.  Speed-ers were averaging 65 mph and up to 73 mph in a 45 mph zone.  I issued nine cita-tions in two hours."
"We've been more pro-active this summer," he said.  "I try to drive every street in Victoria every day.  We're get-ting some positive feedback from the community ... On County Road 43 I had people stop and say thank you, I'm glad you're here."
Deputy Boder mentioned other types of calls that included items stolen from construction sites, a break-in at Hi-5 Liquors, vandalism and a stolen car from CW Auto, bar-type litter on the streets, damaged boulevard trees, abandoned vehicles, people running stop signs in Kirke Lachen, a semi truck that ran off the road, and another semi truck that crashed on Highway 5.
"I took a commercial vehicle class," he stated.  "These guys are running through our town and beating up your roads.  I stopped one that was 3,000 pounds overweight.  The State has asked for zero tolerance.  I'm focusing on com-mercial vehicles right now."


DOUBLING SIZE OF DOWNTOWN VICTORIA
NOW SEEKING DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

Five consulting firms showed up on September 19th to ask questions about what the city may have in mind for the 13 acres being added to Victoria's downtown business district.  That acreage, which doubles the size of the current downtown, adjacent and to the west of the current business district, is part of a land swap with the Three Rivers Park District.
The downtown development propo-sals are due on October 5th with consultant interviews planned for October 9th.  A Selection Committee has been created to select the best proposal.  The Committee includes Councilmembers Richard Tied-en and Kim Roden, Planning Commis-sioners Gordy Simanton and James Donadio, and at least one full time member of Victoria City Staff.
According to City Attorney Mike Norton, the land swap is still not totally concluded.  "We're contemplating a clos-ing in November," he said.  "The exact date is still fluid."
On September 28th councilmembers approved a resolution authorizing a quit claim deed conveying land to Three Rivers.  The deed will not be executed until closing.  The City of Victoria is trad-ing its land located on Lake Auburn.

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