Victoria Fire Chief Gary Sohns said there are pressing needs at the Fire Sta-tion.  "We'd like to remodel our commu-nication room.  There weren't computers when it was built.  And we need a new linoleum floor and ceiling tiles.  It's disheartening for me to see what the building is like now compared to when I entered the fire department in 1983.  It was a fresh new building in '83.  It's starting to be dark and dingy inside from diesel fumes."
Victoria Public Works Director Bruce Osborn said that major street sealcoating is planned for 2005.  "We haven't done that for three years," he said.
Planner Kaltsas said the city has outgrown its office space on Rose Street.  "We have problems with space issues at City Hall, regardless of additional city staff," he said.
  "The extra police will also need space," he said.  "Once people realize we have Victoria-based deputies, people will want to use them and it makes sense that they'd find him at City Hall."
He spoke of the large carpeted and remodeled space where council meetings are held and where kitchen facilities are available to the community.  "We could utilize this room," he said, "but the Lions use it.  We'd have to cut it up into separ-ate spaces.  Right now it's a community room.  There's a space issue right now and it's only going to get worse.  Right now we don't even have a storage closet."
Mark said the Acorn House at Diet-helm Park is an option."  We've pulled out of there and into the Field House, but we could use it again.  We need to know now because of the upcoming school term programming.  An option is to build onto the Acorn House."
Regarding city office space at two locations, both Rose Street and Diethelm Park, Mark said, "Ideally we'd like one building.  Springsted said it's be two to three millions dollars just for a new City Hall, not including a library or other function."
A second budget workshop will be held September 9th.  A preliminary city budget for 2005 must be certified to the county by September 15th with final approval in December.  The city can decrease the bottom line after September but it cannot increase that number.
Council agreed it is important to maintain a fund balance of at least 25% in order to retain the city's good A3 bond rating.  The budget is still in only draft form.

GETTING BIDS ON WATERMAIN/WELL #4
CONSTRUCTION SHOULD START THIS FALL
Council approved plans and specifi-cations completed by TKDA for raw watermain and trunk watermain and ordered advertisement for bids. 
This is in accordance with prelimin-ary design for the Water Treatment Plant and feasibility report.  Date of award is anticipated to be September 23rd with an October construction start, and substan-tial completion by July of 2005.
The project includes:
*12" watermain along Kochia from the site of new Well #4 (by the big water tower) to the site of Well #3 (by the fire station).
*16" and 18" pipe from the site of Well #3 to Savanna Valley and 80th St.
*18" pipe along 80th Street to the new Water Treatment Plant (by the fire station).
*16" line along Hwy 5 from the water treatment plant north to 78th Street.
Council also approved plans and spe-cifications and ordered the advertisement for bids for City Well #4.  City Engineer Jack Griffin said the well will be 450 feet deep with an anticipated capacity of 1,500 gallons per minute.  Awarding of bid is also expected on September 23rd.
Plans and specs for the water treat-plant will also be awarded in September to the lowest bidder.

HEARING ON DOWNTOWN ASSESSMENTS
SET FOR THE PUBLIC ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD
The downtown street and utility im-provements have been completed and the total project costs are now known.  Mayor Jerry Bohn pointed out on August 26th that actual assessments are coming in low-er than estimated.
Date of the assessment hearing is Thursday, September 23rd, at 6:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Some of the improved, reconstructed, or realigned downtown streets include sections of Rose Street, Stieger Lake Lane, Victoria Drive, and Tower Boule-vard.
According to the resolution, "Assess-ments shall be payable in equal annual installments extending over a period of 15 years, the first of the installments to be payable on or before the first Monday in January, 2005, and shall bear interest at the rate of 6.15% per annum from the date of the adoption of the assessment resolu-tion."

FOUR AREAS FROM PARKS AND RECREATION
WHERE PARK FUNDS COULD BE SPENT
Pursuant to a task set forth by the city, two members of the Victoria Parks and Recreation Committee spoke to Vic-toria councilmembers on August 26th about four areas where park funds might be used in the City of Victoria.  After their presentation, councilmembers voted to refer their recommendations to appropri-ate city staff for development of a finan-cing plan and schedule for deployment. 
The two committee presenters were Victoria residents Steve Kartsonis and Jonathan Cobb.  The four areas of recom-mended parks improvements were ball-field lighting, off leash dog park, play-ground equipment, and tennis courts.
Lighting.  Steve said the committee recommends lighting the two softball fields at Diethelm Park in 2004, the base-ball field at Diethelm Park in 2005, and possibly three soccer fields at Diethelm Park in 2009.
Playground.  The committee recom-mends new playground equipment for both Lions Park and Diethelm Park, with the possibility of equipment for Savanna Valley and Swiss Mountain. 
Dog Park.  Jonathan Cobb said an off leash dog area is proposed near Minne-washta at Highway 5 and 41.  The City of Chanhassen might contribute $20,000; the City of Victoria is being asked to contri-bute $5,000.  The dollars coincide with the population of each city.  The 10 to 15-acre site lies entirely within Chanhassen.  It would be a county park, however, with the county drafting suitable agreements.

Click here to continue with the Tennis Courts.