DROUGHT DIDN'T HELP NEW SOD
STAFF WILL REVIEW PROBLEM IN SPRING
Dave Lindgren, a resident in Kirke Lachen, addressed the recent street project in his neighborhood.  He said the grassy sod restoration has not performed well in many parts of Kirke Lachen. 
Replied Administrator Steve Sarvi, "We are committed to fixing the problem.  It will be taken care of by next spring."
Steve Dahl, a resident at Wintergreen, addressed the recent tile project in his neighborhood.  "Sod was put in and the stuff died," he said.  "Council should look at some of these properties.  It was in good condition before the project.  It'd be nice if someone came through and com-pleted the job."
Replied City Engineer Cara Geheren, "Sod was laid last fall and we've been through a drought.  We'll look at it again in the spring.  The problem extends also to the Bayview area."

VICTORIA STREET PROJECTS CONTINUE
AS DO ASSESSMENTS TO THE HOMEOWNERS
On October 25^th Council adopted the final assessment roll for 2006 street and utility projects in several Victoria neigh-borhoods.  City Engineer Cara Geheren reported the unit assessments:
*Lilac Circle:  $6,000  *77^th Street:  $4,000  *Bayview:  $12,400
*Hyacinth:  $9,400 + $6,600 watermain  *Kirke Lachen:  $7,800
As the city engineer said, some of the neighborhoods needed different work performed and some of the neighborhoods had a larger number of homes among which to spread the project cost.
Also on October 25^th Council received feasibility studies that revealed per unit assessment costs for upcoming 2008 street and utility improvements:
*Victoria Circle: $10,444  *81^st Street:  $7,420  *82^nd Street:  $3,360
Again, project scope varies from one neighborhood to the next.  For example, Victoria Circle is basically a gravel road with no existing stormsewer, while 82^nd Street has curb, gutter, and pavement in poor condition.
The engineer reported that 80^th Street needs only an overlay, which is paid en-tirely by the city because it is considered maintenance cost and not reconstruction.  With the reconstruction of streets, the city picks up half the tab for the homeowner.  If homeowners paid the entire project cost, the per unit assessments would double.
Public meetings and hearings will be scheduled and announced for the 2008 projects. 

MET COUNCIL ENGINEERS REQUESTED
TO WORK WITH REIDENTS AT LAKE VIRGINIA
It was reported on October 11^th that the Metropolitan Council is asking the City of Victoria for a conditional use permit to allow for the construction of a publicly owned building at South Lake Virginia Shores Park for odor control problems in that area.  The Victoria Plan-ning Commission is collecting informa-tion and reviewing the request.
On October 25^th Holly Kreft, Director of Planning for the City of Victoria, said that the building will be similar to the booster facility/picnic shelter at the Rhap-sody development on County Road 43. 
Councilmember Jim Paulsen noted that it was a project of the Metropolitan Council, that the Metropolitan Council designs and builds the structure, but if there are problems, people come to the city.
Residents have some concerns about the possible emission of poisonous or noxious gases.  The Met Council engin-eers were asked to work closely with affected Victoria residents to answer questions and relieve concerns.
Approval of the conditional use per-mit for the Met Council was tabled to the November 8^th city council meeting.

MOST SIGNIFICANT IN VICTORIA HISTORY
THE SEWER PROJECT AT SMITHTOWN ROAD
"I think this is going to be one of the most significant projects in the history of Victoria," stated City Engineer Cara Geheren on October 25^th.  "It's going to be messy, noisy, and disruptive."
Speaking of Smithtown Road, which has been the scene of regional sewer installation, she said, "The road will now be literally closed.  People will no longer be able to squeeze by any more.  It will not be physically possible."
She said there will be a 300-foot ex-cavation into the ground.  Residents will be receiving their water from the City of Shorewood for a while, rather than the City of Victoria.
"It will be a rough winter for the resi-dents," continued the engineer.  "It is a Metropolitan Council project, but I will give residents my phone number so I can advocate for them and for the city.  Resi-dents will be invited to a neighborhood meeting within the next ten days or so."
She said that the culvert between Lake Virginia and Lake Minnetonka will be completed by March 31^st but other construction will continue through the spring and summer of 2008.  It is a long- term project.  "We aren't the ones closing the street," she said.  "We aren't the ones creating the chaos."
City Administrator Steve Sarvi said that providing residents with a city-based phone number will give them a direct line of communication.
Stated Town Cop Erick Boder, "I'd like the Met Council to come up with a plan for the traffic issues."

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