NEW WELL AND TREATMENT CENTER
CONSIDERING SITES FOR THEIR LOCATION
City Engineer Jack Griffin presented Victoria councilmembers with four alter-native sites for locating a fourth city well and a first water treatment plant.  They're appropriately called "Well No. 4" and "Water Treatment Plant No. 1."

After the sites were identified and described with pros and cons by the engi-neer, Mayor Jerry Bohn expressed his opinion that the best site for a new well was not one of the four alternatives, but a fifth alternative.
The best site, he said, was the city-owned outlot by Savanna Valley.  Other councilmembers agreed, and the engineer agreed that the well, and its line to the water tower, could almost get totally con-structed without any property acquisition.
Mayor Bohn's opinion is the best site for the water treatment facility is next to the existing Victoria Fire Station.  A foot-print of approximately 16,000 square feet, which includes the tank and buildings, is needed.
Other possible locations include the city-owned parcel along Hwy 5, west of Park Drive and the Hedtke property; the city-owned property at the fire station; along Kochia Lane south of Hwy 5; city-owned site by the large water tower.
Final decisions have not been made.  The engineer will be moving forward with test well requirements.

REHABILITATING SMITHTOWN STREETS
CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN NEXT SPRING
On August 14th councilmembers adopted a resolution that ordered the im-provement and preparation of plans and specifications for street and drainage im-provements in the Smithtown area of Vic-toria north of Highway 7.
Total cost of the combined project is estimated at $870,500.  Assessments to properties at South Lake Virginia Shores are estimated at $6,200.  Assessments at Smithtown are estimated at $8,100.
With the city's new assessment policy, the City of Victoria is paying the other 50% of the costs.  The above num-bers are after the city pays its percentage
According to City Engineer Jack Griffin, state aid will help pay for im-provements to Smithtown Road when Victoria gets into that program; therefore, that part of the project is being deferred at this time.  State aid money will come directly to the City of Victoria when the city's population is officially verified to be above 5,000 people.
Property owners can pay their assess-ments up front or finance it over 15 years.  Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2004.
Several dozens residents from the assessment area attended the public hear-ing on August 14th.  Close to 20 of them spoke their concerns from the podium.  There seemed to be no one totally against the project at Smithtown.  Concerns cen-tered instead on road design and its inter-ference with trees or rock gardens.
There was also comment against "No Parking" signs cluttering up the landscape along one side of the street.
Despite the concerns, one resident stated, "I hope the project goes ahead.  We really need it."  Another said, "We're delighted the project is going forward."
There were negative comments from some residents at South Lake Virginia Shores about the poor quality of the orig-inal construction of the road, and that rebuilding it adds no value to the homes.
Stated Mayor Jerry Bohn, "If we don't rebuild it, it'll retract the value.  I think the engineer will disagree with you.  We're not looking to place blame here, but to fix the road.  We have to rely on our engineer."
Stated City Engineer Jack Griffin, "That road was constructed in 1980.  It's had its life."
When Councilmember Mary Thun said she sympathized with the residents at South Lake Virginia Shores, the engineer said the road "indisputably experiences a subgrade failure," and that throwing money into an overlay would be a waste.
Added the mayor, "I don't think it makes sense to delay this.  It'll cost more in five years ... and we'll be doing a project right across the road.  What's the advantage to delay it two years?  We're already wasting money fixing it this year.  We have to rehabilitate the roads in this town."
Residents will be advised of the next steps. 

STREETS DIE FOR LACK OF A SECOND
AT A PUBLIC HEARING FOR HARTWOOD
After 90 minutes and two failed mo-tions on the subject of blacktopping the gravel streets in the Hartwood develop-ment and trying to correct drainage problems in that neighborhood, the issue faded away again.
Close to 30 Hartwood residents at-tended the August 28th public hearing;  Many spoke at the podium against the proposed project.  Only one resident spoke in favor of it. 
But when Councilmember Dave Lindgren made a motion to not proceed with the project, the motion died for lack of a second.  And when Mayor Jerry Bohn then made an affirmative motion directing staff to proceed with a final design for the project, that motion also died for lack of a second. 
Mayor Bohn looked out at the audi-ence and stated, "This council has no in-terest in proceeding with this project."  Hartwood residents did not hang around for the rest of the very long council meet-ing.
In summarizing how the project came before the council in the first place, City Engineer Jack Griffin referred to the peti-tion signed by 35% of the Hartwood homeowners asking for a study on the feasibility of improvements.
He also pointed out that council has since adopted a new policy whereby the city picks up 50% of street reconstruction cost.  Still, that left an approximate $8,000 assessment per home to fix the streets at Hartwood.
Prior to opening up the hearing for public input, Mayor Bohn stated, "This will be the council's decision.  It's not by popular vote.  We look at city-wide benefit.  If the decision is made to go ahead, the engineer will work with you on design.  It is our interest to minimize the impact to the area."

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