SOLICITING ST. BONI MACKENTHUN'S
A "BOUTIQUE GROCERY STORE" FOR VICTORIA?
Victoria City Councilmembers, sit-ting in session as Victoria's Economic Development Authority for a time on August 10^th, received a request from the developer and owner of the Notermann Building for Tax Increment Financing for the purpose of attracting a "boutique gro-cery store."
The Notermann Building is located on the main street of downtown Victoria.  The subject grocery store is Mackenthun's Meat and Deli, which hopes to operate in two locations - its existing site near Highway 7 at St. Bonifacius and also at Victoria.
Matt Crowe, president of CEI Ven-tures and owner of the renovated Noter-mann Building, gave a little background. 
"It was important for me to have real quality retail," he said.  "Every person I talked to said they wanted groceries or some specialty food store, like Macken-thun's at St. Boni, so I went to talk to Cathy, the owner."
"This would be phenomenal for her business and for the residents of Victoria," he said, "but the costs are also phenomenal.  Her space is a $200,000 build-out plus $100,000 to get it ready.  If the city could provide some TIF money to me so I can offset costs to my tenant, that would be great."
"Other tenants don't need the assis-tance," he said.  "This one does."  In addi-tion Matt Crowe mentioned he is in touch with a specialty wine import shop as another possible tenant.
Cathy Mackenthun also spoke to Vic-toria councilmembers on August 10^th.  "Matt came to me about a month and a half ago," she said.  "I'm recently di-vorced.  I'm handling everything alone.  I had to buy out my husband.  I'm sending a kid to college this year.  I've got to get my current store up to speed in order to support this store.  It's $100,000 for a new cooler and equipment."
Along with other costs, the total came to $275,000 to make it work.  "I really can't afford it," she said.  "I can't handle the build-out cost in Victoria.  I think my store would be a great anchor for down-town Victoria, but it would be too big a burden without help."
In responding to questions about her store, Cathy said, "We do a multitude of things.  We've got a hot lunch deli.  We've got dry goods, potatoes, vege-tables, everything to make dinner."  There is also a full meat market with a variety of cuts available with the capacity to handle small and large orders.
She stated, "In Victoria I would have basically the same format as at St. Boni.  I think people would love it, and I'd love to be here." 
Mayor Jerry Bohn said, "We have given Tax Increment Financing in the past for three years, so I don't know if we'd deviate from that to five years.  We've got to do our due diligence.  I propose we direct staff to review this so we comply with what's out there.  We look forward to working with you."
Said Councilmember Terry Bishop, "I'm in favor of doing something but we just don't know what.  We want the deal to work and we need the information."
According to information from City Administrator Dave Urbia, "The pay as you go TIF [for three years] is a particular type of financing that allows the city to reimburse a property owner for the exact amount of increment generated by their property on an annual basis.  This form of increment has very little risk for the city.
According to Victoria Finance Director Jylan Johnson, "The original market value of the subject property was $244,900.  The completed value would be approximately $1.5 million as determined by the county assessor.  The net TIF revenue generated by this redevelopment would be approximately $200,000 over 20 years.  This equates to approximately $18,000 per year.  This increment could be offered to the owner of the subject property for the sole purpose of attracting Mackenthun's."

TWO VOTING PRECINCTS IN VICTORIA
THREE CITY COUNCIL SEATS AVAILABLE
Mayor Jerry Bohn reminded residents that the City of Victoria has two voting precincts with Highway 5 being the divid-ing line.  Residents living on the north side of Hwy 5 vote at City Hall on Rose Street.  Residents living on the south side of Hwy 5 vote at the Field House on Kochia Lane.
The Primary Election is Tuesday, September 12^th.  The General Election is Tuesday, November 7^th.
Three council seats are up for elec-tion.  They are currently held by Mayor Jerry Bohn, Terry Bishop, and Mary Thun.  Neither Mayor Bohn nor Terry Bishop are seeking re-election.  Residents 21 years of age can file for any of the three seats from August 29^th through September 12^th.

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