[00:00:02]
[Roll Call]
JUNE 24TH, 2024 ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING.NOTE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PRESIDENT EXCEPT COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON THIS EVENING.
WE'LL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SO I'D INVITE EVERYBODY TO STAND.
IF THE FIREFIGHTERS CAN START THE PLEDGE FOR ME.
[1. Orono Firefighter Swearing in Ceremony]
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US INTO OUR CEREMONY FOR THE ORONO FIREFIGHTERS SWEARING IN CEREMONY.WE GOT ADAM'S GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT TALKING.
JAMES IS GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF TALKING, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN AND DO A LOT OF SWEARING IN AND THEN A LOT OF PICTURES AFTER THAT.
THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CAKE AND ALL THAT STUFF SO GET READY.
>> DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE CITY OF ORONO FIREFIGHTER SWEARING IN CEREMONY.
TODAY, WE WILL MINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE AND PRESENT BADGES TO OUR NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS.
TODAY'S HONOREES ARE FIREFIGHTERS JAMES VAN EYLL, SHEA CHWIALKOWSKI, TOM [INAUDIBLE] JB WELLS, JEFF KROLL, RYAN [INAUDIBLE], MIKE JOHNS ROOT, JUSTIN HINKER, BEN CARLSON, KAYLA KENNEDY, PAT COTTON, JAKE MARTIN, TAYLOR ANDREAS, JOHN JACKSON, CHRIS ADAMS, TOM BROWN, AND MATT HOOVER.
OVERSEEING TODAY'S CEREMONY IS CHIEF JAMES VAN EYLL, ORONO'S MAYOR, DENNIS WALSH, WILL ADMINISTER THE OATHS OF OFFICE.
NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT WE'LL RECEIVE THEIR BADGE SHORTLY ARE BEN VEACH, OLIVER KENNEDY, AND NATE WEBBER.
TODAY, WE CELEBRATE THE START OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE 2017 FIREFIGHTERS ARE PRESENT, AND THE THREE WHO ARE NOT WHO REPRESENT THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE FIRE SERVICE IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN TO PROVIDE DEDICATED, HONORABLE, AND BRAVE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
FIREFIGHTING HAS A RICH HISTORY, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE FIREFIGHTER BADGE.
BADGE PINNING IS A PROUD TRADITION WITHIN FIRE DEPARTMENTS, SIGNIFYING THE TO INTRODUCTION OF DEPARTMENT MEMBERS TO THEIR NEW DUTIES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH A SPECIAL THANK YOU.
WELCOME AND THANK YOU TO ALL FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT.
YOU'RE ALL PART OF THE ORONO FIRE SERVICE TEAM.
OPEN TO YOU NOW IS A SUPPORT NETWORK OF FIRE SERVICE FAMILY MEMBERS, NOT JUST HERE IN ORONO, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AS A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION, EACH FAMILY WILL BE PRESENTED A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS COURTESY OF THE ORONO GARDEN CLUB.
TONIGHT, WE WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE.
THE OATH IS AN IMPORTANT CEREMONIAL GESTURE, SIGNIFYING THE OFFICIAL START TO A TERM OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
THE OATH IS A PUBLIC PLEDGE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL UNDERSTANDS THE DUTIES OF THE POSITION AND WILL WORK TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY TO FULFILL THOSE DUTIES.
IT IS A COMMITMENT TO SERVE WITH EXCELLENCE AND TO STRIVE TO BE A GREAT FIREFIGHTER.
A GREAT FIREFIGHTER IS ONE WHO WORKS TOWARDS EXCELLENCE AND FLAWLESS EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTIES, COMMITS TO A LIFE OF LEARNING, IS AN OUTSTANDING STEWARD OF THE PUBLIC TRUST, IS PROUD OF THE ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE COMMUNITY, AND PLAYS THAT ROLE WITH A GREAT DEAL OF HUMILITY, DOES THEIR JOB AT ALL TIMES IN A MANNER THAT ENSURES THAT THEY AND THE FIREFIGHTERS THEY SERVE ARE SAFE AND THAT EVERYONE GETS HOME AT THE END OF THE SHIFT OR CALL.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CHIEF JAMES VAN EYLL WILL NOW SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS.
>> THANK YOU, ADAM, MAYOR WALSH AND COUNSEL.
I'M VERY PROUD TO BE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE THE CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I FEEL VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO BE FIRE CHIEF WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE READY TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF ORONO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE FIELDED A FABULOUS TEAM OF FIREFIGHTERS, AND I CANNOT WAIT TO START RESPONDING FOR CALLS FOR SERVICE ON JULY 1ST OF THIS MONDAY.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAYOR DENNIS WALSH WILL NOW SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> WELL, FIRST, I'M GOING TO INVITE ALL OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO ADMINISTER THE OATH.
ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS DOWN HERE, AND I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO SEE [INAUDIBLE] BUT THIS IS A PRETTY UNIQUE SITUATION.
WE NOT OFTEN YOU GET TO SEE A FIRE DEPARTMENT START FROM SCRATCH.
THESE ARE THE INAUGURAL MEMBERS WHO COME FORWARD TO SAY THAT WE WILL TAKE CARE OF ORONO.
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WE WILL BE YOUR PROTECTORS.AS THE COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FUNDED CORRECTLY, AND THEY HAVE ALL THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED, AND THEY ARE COMPLETELY SUPPORTED.
WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HERE TODAY FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE, AND ALL THE SERVICE THAT YOU WILL GIVE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ORONO, AND WE ARE BEHIND YOU 100%.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ADMINISTERING YOUR OATH AS THE MAYOR.
I AM VERY PROUD TO DO THAT AND HONORED TO DO THAT.
WITH THAT CHIEF, YOU WANT EVERYBODY UP HERE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. IF WE CAN GET ALL THE OFFICERS AND ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS TO COME UP.
STARTING HERE, CAN MOVE IN THIS WAY SO MYSELF, SHEA DOWN THE LINE.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO SWEAR IN EACH OFFICER, THEN WE'LL SWEAR IN THE FIREFIGHTERS, AND THEN WE'LL DO INDIVIDUAL FETING.
IT'S A LOT OF THEM. [BACKGROUND]
>> TONIGHT, WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT OATHS TO ADMINISTER.
FIRST, WE'LL SWEAR IN THE CHIEF, THEN THE OFFICERS, AND THEN THE FIREFIGHTERS.
ONCE THE OATHS ARE COMPLETE, WE WILL INVITE FAMILY MEMBERS FORWARD ONE AT A TIME TO PIN THEIR FIREFIGHTERS BADGE.
THEY'RE ALREADY HERE THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE COME TO THE PODIUM AREA.
THE MAYOR WILL NOW ADMINISTER THE OATHS.
>> THE FIRST OATH WILL BE TAKEN BY FIRE CHIEF JAMES VAN EYLL.
>> MR. [INAUDIBLE] EYLL IS YOUR NAME.
THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT?
>> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
>> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
>> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> AND THAT I WILL FULLY FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.
>> AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF FIRE CHIEF.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF FIRE CHIEF.
>> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES.
>> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES.
>> NEXT WILL BE DEPUTY CHIEF SHEA CHWIALKOWSKI.
>> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> THAT I'LL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
>> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
>> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY ORONO.
>> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY ORONO.
>> AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.
>> AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY CHIEF.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY CHIEF.
>> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES.
>> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES.
>> NEXT, WE'LL HAVE CAPTAIN TOM [INAUDIBLE]
>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I, STATE YOUR NAME.
>> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
>> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
>> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF ORONO.
>> AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.
>> AND I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.
>> AND I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CAPTAIN.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF CAPTAIN.
>> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES.
>> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES.
>> SO HELP ME GOD. [APPLAUSE].
>> NEXT WILL BE LIEUTENANT JASON HUBBER.
>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I, STATE YOUR NAME.
>> DO SOLEMN SWEAR. I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH HONOR AND INTEGRITY.
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I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS? OBSERVE THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ORONO AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES.>> WE WILL NOW ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE COLLECTIVELY TO THE CITY'S NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS.
FIREFIGHTERS PLEASE STEP FORWARD.
>> RAISE YOUR HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
>> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> THAT I WILL SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ORONO.
>> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> AND FIREFIGHTERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
>> THAT I WILL IN ALL RESPECTS.
>> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCE CITY OF ORONO.
>> OBSERVE THE ORDINANCE CITY OF ORONO.
>> AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.
>> AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE.
>> THE DUTIES OF A FIREFIGHTER.
>> THE DUTIES OF A FIREFIGHTER.
>> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES.
>> TO THE BEST OF MY JUDGMENT AND ABILITIES.
>> NOW WE WILL PRESENT THE INAUGURAL FIREFIGHTERS [INAUDIBLE] NEXT, WE WILL ASK EACH FIREFIGHTER IN TURN TO TAKE A STEP FORWARD AND FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO JOIN THEM TO PIN THEIR BADGE.
FLOWERS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE FAMILY BY THE ORONO GARDEN CLUB.
THE BADGE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST SYMBOLS IN THE FIRE SERVICE.
IT GOES BACK CENTURIES TO THE TIME OF THE CRUSADES, THE KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN WHO TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO HELP OTHERS WITH THEIR INJURIES AND EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES DURING BATTLES.
AFTER THE CRUSADES, THE KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHNS ESTABLISHED A BASE ON THE ISLAND OF MALTA, HENCE THE ORIGINS OF THE MALTESE CROSS THAT IS ON OUR PATCH.
THE MALTESE CROSS IS A SYMBOL OF PROTECTION AND A BADGE OF HONOR.
IT MEANS THAT THE FIREFIGHTER IS WILLING TO GO INTO HARM'S WAY TO ASSIST OTHERS.
FIRST TO RECEIVE THEIR BADGE WILL BE FIRE CHIEF JAMES VAN EYLL.
JAMES IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS WIFE, KIM.
JAMES JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 2022.
JAMES COMES FROM A FIREFIGHTER FAMILY AND SPENT MANY HOURS AS A YOUTH IN THE FIREHOUSE.
JAMES HAS COMPLETED FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2 AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.
HE WAS PREVIOUSLY A FIREFIGHTER AT CHASKA FIRE, FIRE CHIEF AT LONG LAKE FIRE, AND A BATTALION CHIEF AT CHANHASSEN, AND BRINGS 28 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[BACKGROUND] NEXT UP, WILL BE DEPUTY CHIEF SHEA CHWIALKOWSKI.
SHEA IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS WIFE, HARRIET.
SHEA JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.
SHEA IS A GRADUATE OF THE NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY'S MANAGING OFFICER PROGRAM, FDIC INSTRUCTOR FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY PANEL MEMBER FOR THE UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY OF FIRE SAFETY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND A LEAD INSTRUCTOR AT THE SOUTHWEST FIRE METRO FIRE ACADEMY.
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HE HAS COMPLETED AS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND AS A QUALIFIED EMT.HE'S PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON A [INAUDIBLE] FIRE, EDEN PRAIRIE FIRE AND RICHFIELD FIRE AND BRINGS 17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE CAPTAIN TOM [INAUDIBLE].
TOM IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS WIFE, KATIE.
TOM JOINED THE ONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY OF 2024.
TOM IS A THIRD GENERATION FIREFIGHTER, SO HE HAS GROWN UP IN THE FIREHOUSE.
HE HAS HELD SEVERAL DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN HIS 33 YEARS OF SERVICE.
HE'S CURRENTLY ASSIGNED IN MINNEAPOLIS ON LADDER NUMBER 7, WHICH IS HOUSED AT STATION 15 IN NORTHWEST MINNEAPOLIS.
TOM ALSO SERVED FOR EIGHT YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AS A MILITARY POLICEMAN.
HE HAS COMPLETED AS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2 AND AS A QUALIFIED EMT.
HE HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THE LEXINGTON FIRE, ANDOVER FIRE, AND COLUMBIA FIRE.
HE ALSO SERVED AS CAPTAIN ON MINNEAPOLIS FIRE, AND AGAIN, BRINGS 33 YEARS OF COMBINED SERVICE AND EXPERIENCE. [APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT, WE HAVE LIEUTENANT JASON HUBBER.
JASON IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY JORDAN.
JASON JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY OF 2024, AND JASON IS A SECOND GENERATION FIREFIGHTER.
HE LOOKS FORWARD TO BEING INVOLVED WITH A HIGH PERFORMING TEAM THAT SERVES THE RESIDENTS OF ORONO.
WHILE RAISING HIS SON IN THE FIRE SERVICE, JASON ALSO SERVES AS A DNR FIREFIGHTER WITH WEST METRO FIRE AND BRINGS EIGHT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT IS FIREFIGHTER CHRIS ADAMS. CHRIS IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS SIGNIFICANT OTHER MOLLY RICE.
CHRIS JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY OF 2024.
CHRIS HAS OBTAINED CERTIFICATIONS AS A FIRE INSTRUCTOR, FIRE INVESTIGATOR, AND FIRE OFFICER TOO.
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HE HAS COMPLETED HIS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2 TRAINING AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.HE ALSO SERVES ON THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND BRINGS 17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER AND FIRE INSPECTOR TAYLOR ANDRES.
TAYLOR IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY BRADY, HER LONG TERM BOYFRIEND.
TAYLOR JOINED THE ONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY OF 2024, TAYLOR HAS COMPLETED FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND IS QUALIFIED EMT, AND SHE IS VERY EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SHE HAS SERVED ON THE HANOVER FIRE AND ALSO SERVED ON LINO LAKES FIRE AND BRINGS FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER TOM BROWN.
TOM IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY CO WORKER JOHN KNIGHT.
TOM JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN APRIL OF 2024, HE IS A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL HONOR GUARD.
HE HAS COMPLETED HIS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2 AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.
TOM WAS PREVIOUSLY ON LONG LAKE FIRE AND ALSO SERVES ON EXCELSIOR FIRE AND BRINGS EIGHT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER BEN CARLSON.
BEN IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HALEY, HIS WIFE.
BEN JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2023.
IT SAYS HERE, BEN LOVES HIS FAMILY.
HE'S COMPLETED FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND IS A QUALIFIED EMR. HE ALSO SERVES THE LONG LAKE FIRE AND BRINGS THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
>> ELLY WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT BECAUSE SHE HAD TO GO TO BASEBALL TONIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] RUNNING AROUND AS A FAMILY [INAUDIBLE].
>> NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER PAT COTTON.
PAT IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY NANCY SCHULTZ, HIS BETTER HALF.
PAT JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.
PAT IS FROM COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA.
HE IS A FATHER OF SEVEN GRANDFATHER TO SEVEN, AND GREAT GRANDFATHER TO TWO.
HE'S A LIFELONG HANDYMAN AND WAS AT FOREST FIREFIGHTER IN 1973 WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE DNR.
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HE'S COMPLETED FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2 AND IS QUALIFIED EMT.PAT ALSO SERVES ON LONG LAKE FIRE AND BRINGS 17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER STEPHANIE IRVIN.
STEPHANIE JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN JUNE OF 2024.
STEPHANIE HAS COMPLETED HER FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.
STEPHANIE ALSO SERVES WEST METRO FIRE AND BRINGS FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER JUSTIN HINKER.
SORRY. JUSTIN IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS WIFE, LAURIE.
JUSTIN JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2023.
JUSTIN HAS COMPLETED HIS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2 AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT, AND WILL BE RE HUNTING OUT OF STATION 2.
JUSTIN WAS PREVIOUSLY ON LONG LAKE FIRE AND ALSO SERVED WITH EXCELS FIRE AND BRINGS FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, FIREFIGHTER MATTHEW HOOVER.
MATTHEW IS JOINED THAT FRONT BY HIS MOTHER, DONNA.
MATTHEW JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN APRIL OF 2024.
MATTHEW HAS COMPLETED HIS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.
MATTHEW IS VERY EXCITED TO BE STARTING HIS FIREFIGHTING CAREER WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, FIREFIGHTER JOHN JACKSON, JOHN IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS WIFE, NIKKI.
JOHN JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY OF 2024.
HE HAS COMPLETED FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.
HE'S EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
JOHN HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED WITH MARION COUNTY FIRE IN FLORIDA AND LOCKE FIRE IN NEW YORK, AND ALSO SERVES ON LEXINGTON FIRE.
JOHN BRINGS SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER MIKE JOHNS ROOT.
MIKE IS JOINED TO THE FRONT BY HIS WIFE, SUZANNE.
MIKE JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2024.
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MIKE HAS BEEN MARRIED TO SUZANNE FOR 32 YEARS, AND THEY HAVE TWO ADULT CHILDREN.MIKE HAS BEEN AROUND THE FIRE SERVICE MOST OF HIS LIFE AND AFTER 32 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, SUZANNE SUPPORTS HIM HAVING THIS FIREFIGHTING HOBBY AWAY FROM HOME.
[LAUGHTER] MIKE'S COMPLETED HIS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND IS A QUALIFIED EMR. MIKE ALSO SERVES ON THE LONG LAKE FIRE AND BRINGS FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT FIREFIGHTER RYAN KANAVY.
RYAN IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS WIFE, BECKY.
RYAN JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2024.
RYAN HAS BEEN MARRIED TO HIS WIFE, BECKY FOR 20 YEARS.
THEY HAVE THREE CHILDREN AT ORONO, KATE, JT, AND VERA.
HE IS A PILOT FOR DELTA AIRLINES.
HE COMPLETED FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.
HE ALSO SERVES ON LONG LAKE FIRE AND BRINGS 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER KAYLA KENNEDY.
KAYLA IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HER FIANCE DESERET.
KAYLA JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2024.
KAYLA HAS COMPLETED HER FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2 AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.
SHE'S VERY EXCITED TO BE STARTING HER FIREFIGHTING CAREER WITH ORONO FIRE.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER JEFF KROLL.
JEFF IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS DAUGHTER, SAMMY AND SON JEREMIAH.
JEFF JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2023.
JEFF IS VERY EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE NEW CHAPTER IN THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
JEFF COMPLETED AS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.
JEFF ALSO SERVES THE CITY OF THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND BRINGS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
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NEXT, WE HAVE FIREFIGHTER JAKE MARTIN.JAKE IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS WIFE, CAMERON.
JAKE JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.
JAKE HAS COMPLETED AS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2, AND IS WORKING TOWARDS THE EMT.
JAKE IS EXCITED TO START HIS FIREFIGHTING CAREER WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT [APPLAUSE].
SORRY, JAKE JUST PASSED HIS EMT.
WE HAVE AN UPDATE TO THE SCRIPT [APPLAUSE].
FINALLY, FIREFIGHTER JB SEALS.
JB IS JOINED AT THE FRONT BY HIS DAUGHTERS, LILY AND SOPHIA.
JB JOINED THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER OF 2020.
JB IS THE PROUD FATHER OF THREE.
HE COMPLETED AS FIREFIGHTER 1 AND 2 AND IS A QUALIFIED EMT.
JB WAS PREVIOUSLY ON THE LONG LAKE FIRE AND BRINGS SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
[APPLAUSE] AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO A QUICK GROUP PHOTO AND THEN.
>> [INAUDIBLE] ALL OF THE FIREFIGHTERS WILL GO BACK HERE BEHIND [INAUDIBLE] SO WE CAN GET THE WHOLE, [INAUDIBLE] BEHIND US.
THEN AFTER [INAUDIBLE] THAT ALL THE PICTURES [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE].
WE GOT PLENTY OF TIME. WE'LL GET PEOPLE ENOUGH TIME TO TAKE PICTURES [INAUDIBLE] PUBLIC BUILDING [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S READY TO GO AND LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
FEEL FREE TO COME OUT NOW [INAUDIBLE] START OUR COUNCIL MEETING.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. WE'RE GOING TO BRING OUR MEETING BACK TO MOVING ALONG HERE.
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THE NEXT THING WE HAVE IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA,[Approval of Agenda]
WHERE WE'LL APPROVE EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND APPROVE THE AGENDA AT THE SAME TIME.IF SOMEBODY LIKE TO TAKE A STAB AT THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.
>> I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT THIS EVENING.
I'D LIKE TO ACCEPT ITEMS 1 THROUGH 6.
ITEM NUMBER 7 SEVEN, WE ARE REMOVING FOR THIS EVENING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD NUMBER 9 TO CONSENT AND MOVE NUMBER 10 INTO THE SEVEN SPOT.
WHAT WE'VE GOT RIGHT NOW ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IS NUMBER 2,
[Consent Agenda]
THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES.NUMBER 3, THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE, 4, CLAIMS AND BILLS, AND 5, THE EQUIPMENT LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LONG LAKES AND THE CITY OF ORONO, 6, HIRE IT TECHNICIAN, 9, PROPERTY ASSESSMENT SERVICE CONTRACT WITH TENEIN COUNTY, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE NUMBER 10, WHICH IS CORRESPONDENCE WITH CITY OF LONG LAKE FIRE SERVICE FROM ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WE WILL PUT THAT IN NUMBER 7 PRESENTATIONS RIGHT AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO TAKE ANYTHING OFF THE AGENDA TONIGHT THAT WE HAVE ON THERE? YOU SEE NO OBJECTIONS. I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BEACH. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSE. NO, THAT PASSES 4,0.
THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 10,
[10. Correspondence with City of Long Lake Fire Service from Orono Fire Department.]
WHICH IS NUMBER 7 NOW UNDER THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT.THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH CITY OF LONG LAKE FIRE SERVICE FROM ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, THE TWO CITIES HAVE EXCHANGED CORRESPONDENCE WITH ONE ANOTHER, CONSTITUENTS AND WITH THE MEDIA, AS WELL AS A THIRD ROUND OF MEDIATION ALL TO NO AVAIL.
IN ORDER TO GET THINGS PROGRESSING AND TRY TO SOLVE SOME OF THE DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE LEGAL COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED ORONO MAKE A OVERTURE OF GOODWILL VIA AN OFFER OF LONG TERM SUPPORT TO THE FIRE SERVICES TO THE CITY OF LONG LAKE.
DRAFT MEMO IS ATTACHED IN YOUR PACKET.
>> WHY DON'T WE SEE IF I CAN PULL THAT UP HERE AND I CAN READ IT REAL QUICK.
THE DRAFT LETTER, I TURN THIS UP SO I CAN SEE IT.
THE BASIC OUTLINE OF THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE THAT THE CITY OF ORONO WOULD PROVIDE FIRE SERVICE TO THE CITY OF LONG LAKE AT NO COST FOR A PERIOD OF 20 YEARS.
IT'S ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $150,000 A YEAR VALUE TO LONG LAKE.
THERE WOULD BE FURTHER OPTIONS FOR EXTENSION PERIODS FOR A FEE BASED ON A ONE THIRD PROPERTY VALUE, ONE THIRD POPULATION, AND ONE THIRD SERVICE CALL CALCULATION.
TWO, THE CITY OF LONG LAKE WOULD AGREE TO SELL OR LEASE ITS 50% INTEREST IN THE WILLOW DRIVE FIRE STATION TO THE CITY OF ORONO, AND IF IT'S SELLING, THE OFFER WOULD BE 50% OF THE APPRAISED VALUE, AND B, IF IT'S LEASING, ORONO WOULD PAY LONG LAKE $20,000 A YEAR FOR 20 YEARS WITH OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL 20 YEARS AT $70,000 A YEAR.
ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD PROVIDE SERVICE TO LONG LAKE AT THE END OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT, JANUARY 1, 2026, AFTER A PERIOD OF ORDERLY TRANSITION THROUGH 2025.
DURING THIS TRANSITION PERIOD, THE TWO DEPARTMENTS WOULD WORK AND TRAIN TOGETHER.
THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT DUTY CREWS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO RESPOND THROUGHOUT THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT SERVICE AREA.
THE CITY OF ORONO WOULD WELCOME ANY LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIREFIGHTER WHO WISHES TO CONTINUE SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES TO APPLY FOR A POSITION WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IF THIS OUTLINE IS ACCEPTABLE FOR THE LONG LAKE CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE LET US KNOW BY JULY 31, 2024.
THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TO DIRECT OUR RESPECTIVE STAFFS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF WORKING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THE AGREEMENT.
REGARDLESS OF YOUR RESPONSE, WE DO REMAIN ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE AND ADDRESS SHARED CHALLENGES IN WAYS THAT SERVE THE MUTUAL INTEREST OF BOTH COMMUNITIES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE, RESPECTFULLY, ON BEHALF OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL, DENNIS WALSH MAYOR.
I WILL BRING THAT TO THE COUNCIL FOR ANY THOUGHTS. INITIAL THOUGHTS.
>> I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC. I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY GENEROUS. IT'S A GREAT OFFER.
>> I REALLY LIKE. I THINK IT'S AN UNDISPUTED STRONG OFFER FROM A MONETARY STANDPOINT, AT LEAST, BUT ONE THING I THINK THAT IS POSSIBLY MISSING TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE PAST DECADES OF SERVICE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR DESIRE FOR A FIRE DISTRICT, WHICH I THINK IS OUR DESIRE AS WELL, IN THE ASPECT OF SHARING EQUIPMENT, SHARING BUILDING, SHARING ASSETS.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ADD IN TO OUTLINE OUR WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT? I HATE TO PUT IN WORDS LIKE FIRE DISTRICT OR PARTNERSHIP, BECAUSE WHAT WE HAD FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS,
[00:45:02]
WE ALWAYS CALLED THE PARTNERSHIP.NOW IF WE SAY WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS USING THE PARTNERSHIP IS OFFENSIVE IN THE SAME WAY.
I WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS OF USING THE WORD FIRE DISTRICT, BECAUSE IN NO WAY DO I MEAN A TAXABLE FIRE DISTRICT.
I DO THINK SHARING EQUIPMENT, SHARING ASSETS, AND SHARING OTHER THINGS WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO BOTH CITIES, THOUGH.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING TO BE ABLE TO SAY AND PUT FORWARD WITH, I THINK OUR PROPOSAL.
I THINK THE BASIC OUTLINE IS WHAT WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THE BIG ITEMS. IF WE DO, WE CAN ALWAYS ADD ANCILLARY ITEMS, BUT WE GOT TO GET THROUGH THE BIG TICKET.
THIS IS THE BIG TICKET OF MOVING FORWARD. MAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, HERE'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE OFFER.
ONE OF THE STUMBLING BLOCKS THAT WE'VE ALL HAD UP TO THIS POINT IS 50 50 OWNERSHIP OF FIRE STATION NUMBER 1, AND SO I THINK THIS SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WE'RE WILLING TO JUST, THEY CAN MAINTAIN THEIR OWNERSHIP OF THAT BUILDING, WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO BE IMPORTANT TO THEM.
BUT IF THEY CHOOSE THAT THEY WOULD JUST RATHER SELL IT, THEN IT ESTABLISHES A WAY TO DETERMINE THE VALUE, WHICH IS THE APPRAISAL THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE, AND IT GIVES THEM THAT OPTION.
THE CONCEPT THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE FREE SERVICE TO THEIR ENTIRE CITY FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
I'VE GIVEN THIS SOME THOUGHT SINCE I FIRST HEARD IT AND I THINK IT'S A VERY PRUDENT STEP AND GENEROUS STEP AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE WHAT THIS DOES IN THE END, IS IT ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT TO COME TOGETHER AND MAINTAIN THE FIREFIGHTERS, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GOAL FROM THE BEGINNING AND IT ACHIEVES THAT AT THE SAME TIME.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF SUBMITTING THIS OFFER TO THEM.
>> OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD A PRETTY INCREDIBLE NIGHT.
YOU'VE SEEN US PUT TOGETHER OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR FOUR YEARS.
WITH THE LAST YEAR, THE FABULOUS FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE WORKING FOR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT NOW.
THE LENGTH AND LONGEVITY AND THE EXPERTISE THAT THEY BRING IN THE DEDICATION IS AMAZING.
I KNOW BECAUSE WE HAD ALL THESE FIRE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE HERE, WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE OF INTEREST HERE THAT ENJOY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I GUESS I WILL OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC TO COME UP AND SPEAK TONIGHT FOR A COUPLE MINUTES.
YOU CAN KEEP IT TO A COUPLE OF MINUTES, NOT TOO MUCH LONGER, JUST TO GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS PROPOSAL TOO BEFORE WE CLOSE DISCUSSION AND BRING IT UP HERE.
IF YOU CAN COME UP ONE AT A TIME AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, IF YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> I WAS GOING TO WAIT TIL PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT MY COMMENTS ARE ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SO I THINK IT'S RELEVANT.
I'M AT 3135 JAMESTOWN ROAD IN ORONO.
I'M UP HERE TONIGHT AS A RESIDENT OF ORONO, BUT I HAVE A LONG LAKE MAILING ADDRESS.
I DID NOT GROW UP HERE, SO TO ME, ORONO AND LONG LAKE ARE THE SAME.
I NOW RECOGNIZE OTHERS SEE THESE AS TWO VERY DIFFERENT TOWNS.
I'M HERE TO GIVE MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE LONG LAKE AND ORONO FIRE.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE RIGHTS AND WRONGS DONE BY BOTH ORONO AND LONG LAKE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, BUT I DO NOT HAVE ALL THE FACTS, SO MY OPINION IS IRRELEVANT.
MY PERSPECTIVE, HOWEVER, IS NOT.
BEING A FIREFIGHTER IS A CALL, SIMILAR TO A CALL OF MINISTRY.
YESTERDAY I WAS TALKING TO A YOUNG FRIEND ANDREW WHO TURNS 12 TODAY.
ANDREW HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE LOCAL NEWS REGARDING THE LONG LAKE AND ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
HE WANTS TO BE A FIREMAN WHEN HE GROWS UP.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING CUTE THAT HE SAID WHEN HE WAS FOUR.
HE FEELS CALLED TO SERVE AS A FIREMAN.
JUST LIKE MANY OF THE FIREMEN AND WOMEN WORKING IN OUR DEPARTMENTS TODAY.
BEING A FIREFIGHTER IS NOT A JOB FOR PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO SERVE.
I'M PRETTY ACTIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
MANY OF THE RESIDENTS I'VE TALKED TO ARE VERY DISENGAGED WITH THE LOCAL POLITICS BECAUSE THEY'RE EXHAUSTED BY THE LAST TWO YEARS.
HONESTLY, PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION UNTIL THEY HAVE TO.
WITH REGARDS TO THIS TOPIC, THE WAY THEY'LL PAY ATTENTION IS WHEN THEY HAVE TO CALL 911 FOR A FIRE AND WHAT WILL THAT RESPONSE BE? ON AUGUST 7, 2022, I HAD TO CALL 911, AND WE HAD A LOT OF EMERGENCY PERSONNEL RESPOND BECAUSE A GUEST AT MY HOUSE FELL, AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THE BLEEDING UNDER CONTROL.
THERE WAS A LOT OF EMOTION AND STRESS FROM FAMILY MEMBERS AT OUR HOUSE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS GOING TO END WELL.
HE'S TURNING 102 THIS AUGUST, SO THIS STORY ENDED WELL.
[00:50:02]
I SHARE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SMALL EXAMPLE OF THE EMOTIONAL CALLS OUR 911 RESPONSE TEAMS RECEIVE.AS I UNDERSTAND, RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORKING FOR BOTH ORONO AND LONG LAKE.
HAVING POLITICS AFFECT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AS A TRAGEDY.
A FIRE CALL REQUIRES THAT A RESPONSE IS UNITED.
THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE INVOLVED.
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE RESIGNED, BEEN UPSET AT MEETINGS, AND IT'S TAKING AN EMOTIONAL TOLL ON ALL OF THEM, RETIRED AND ONE STILL SERVING.
THESE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN STRESSFUL ON ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE IN THE WEEDS ON THIS ISSUE.
STAFF, COUNCIL, MAYORS, BUT ESPECIALLY ON OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
I CANNOT SPEAK TO ALL THE NEGOTIATIONS AND BEHIND THE SCENES, CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED, BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT A LOT HAS BEEN DONE BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, NOT ALL THAT'S BEEN SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THE ONLY WAY I CAN SEE THAT THIS WORKS OUT POSITIVELY FOR RESIDENTS IS FOR THE TWO TOWNS THAT RESIDENT SEE AS ONE ARE UNITED.
I WROTE THIS BEFORE I SAW TODAY'S PRESENTATION.
I UNDERSTAND ORONO HAS AN OFFER ON THE TABLE.
I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS. I KNOW MORE NOW.
BUT I'M ASKING THE LEADERSHIP OF ORONO AND LONG LAKE, TO PLEASE LOOK AT THIS OFFER, NEGOTIATE A WAY TO WORK THROUGH THIS TOGETHER FOR BOTH COMMUNITIES AND END THIS DISRUPTION THAT'S TAKEN OVER FOR ALL OF US.
HOPEFULLY THAT GIVES MY OPINION ON WHAT YOU PRESENTED TODAY, BUT I JUST HOPE THAT A RESOLUTION CAN HAPPEN FOR ALL OF YOU.
I'VE SAT THROUGH SOME OF THESE MEETINGS, NOT ALL OF THESE MEETINGS.
WHEN I SEE STAFF CALLED OUT, I TALKED TO ADAM ABOUT THIS.
WHEN I SEE FIREFIGHTERS QUITTING, THAT REALLY GOT TO ME, AND I TALKED TO ANDREW, AND HE STILL WANTS TO BE A FIREFIGHTER AFTER FOLLOWING ALL THIS.
SEEING THE CEREMONY TONIGHT WAS AN AMAZING THING TO SEE AND THE FACT THESE FAMILIES ARE HERE TO SUPPORT PUTTING THEIR FAMILIES IN THIS IS FANTASTIC. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GREG STEINHAFEL, AND ALONG WITH MY WIFE, DENISE, WE RESIDE AT 2265 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, AND WE'VE BEEN ORONO RESIDENTS FOR OVER 32 YEARS.
ORONO IS A SPECIAL COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE PROUD TO CALL IT HOME.
I'VE JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
FIRST, THANK YOU MAYOR WALSH, CURRENT AND RECENT COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THOUGHTFUL DECISION MAKING.
WE BELIEVE THAT ORONO HAS NEVER BEEN IN BETTER HANDS.
SECOND, WE APPRECIATE HOW CHALLENGING AND DIFFICULT IT IS TO MAINTAIN GREAT FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE, WHICH YOU HAVE DONE SUPERBLY ALL WHILE.
NUMBER 1, PRESERVING THE WONDERFUL ATTRIBUTES THAT MAKE OR0NO SUCH A DESIRABLE COMMUNITY.
NUMBER 2, PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE BY CREATING THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY AND RESERVES TO MAKE WISE LONG TERM INVESTMENTS SUCH AS THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW MAINTENANCE FACILITY.
THREE, NOT OVERTAXING YOUR RESIDENTS, BOTH TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
DENISE AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE DONE AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB IN BALANCING THESE COMPLEX AND COMPETING OBJECTIVES, SO THANK YOU, MAYOR WALSH, PRESENT AND FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LASTLY, WE APPLAUD THIS PROPOSAL TO NOT ONLY BRING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN HOUSE, WHICH IS WHERE IT BELONGS, BUT ALSO DOING SO IN A WAY THAT HOPEFULLY BRINGS OUR LONG LAKE AND ORONO'S COMMUNITIES BACK TOGETHER.
WE BELIEVE THIS PROPOSAL IS A WIN WIN FOR LONG LAKE, A WIN WIN FOR ORONO, A WIN FOR THE HIGHLY VALUED FIREFIGHTERS IN BOTH COMMUNITIES, AND A WIN FOR OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS BOLD, INNOVATIVE, AND THOUGHTFUL PROPOSAL.
WE HOPE YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT. THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS RICHIE ANDERSON, BUT I WAS ASKED TO READ A LETTER FROM JOHN BENT, WHO'S A ORONO RESIDENT OVER ON STEPS BAY.
I'VE BEEN OPPOSED TO JOHN BENT FOR A COUPLE OF ITEMS, HOWEVER, I AGREE WITH THIS 100%.
JOHN BENT, HE COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT HE LIVES AT 1120 TONKAWA ROAD.
THIS IS HIS VERBIAGE FOR YOUR SERVICE TO PROTECT OUR WONDERFUL CITY.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MOVING FORWARD, NOW IS THE TIME TO RESTORE COOPERATION BETWEEN LONG LAKE AND ORONO.
A GOOD FIRST STEP WOULD BE FOR LONG LAKE TO WITHDRAW ITS LAWSUIT.
[00:55:04]
I ASK, GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION, HOW DOES CREATING BARRIERS TO HINDER AND INCREASE THE COST FOR ORONO TO OPERATE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMPROVE THE ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BOTH CITIES? LET'S FIRE THE LAWYERS AND MEDIATORS. I AGREE.IT'S BETTER TO FIND A WAY TO QUICKLY WORK TOGETHER, FOR EXAMPLE, BOTH CITIES COULD CONTINUE THE FEE FOR SERVICE MODEL WITH LONG LAKE AND ORONO SWITCHING ROLES.
OUR PROPOSAL, ORONO'S PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE LONG LAKE FIRE AND MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICES AT NO CHARGE FOR 20 YEARS, PLUS PURCHASE OF LEASE LONG LAKE SHARE OF STATION ONE WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT LONG LAKE TAXPAYERS AND KEEP THE CURRENT LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTERS TOGETHER.
SORRY. SHOULD LONG LIKE PREFER TO OPERATE THEIR OWN FIRE, THE CITIES COULD AGREE TO SHARE EQUIPMENT TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY SERVICE AT LESS COST FOR BOTH CITIES, FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
EITHER OF THE ABOVE ACTIONS COULD BE TAKEN QUICKLY TO RESTORE COOPERATION, MEN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES AND SET THE STAGE TO FULLY EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING FIRE DISTRICT WITH WAYZATA.
SUCH A DISTRICT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DELIVER SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS, BUT REQUIRES OPEN MINDS TO DESIGN IN A MANNER THAT IS FAIR TO ALL PARTICIPANTS.
THIS WILL TAKE TIME IN A COOPERATIVE SPIRIT.
LET'S STOP THE LAWSUITS, STOP THE MEDITATION, STOP UNCIVIL DISCOURSE, AND START ANEW TO WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE A SOLUTION FOR COMMON GOOD.
MY NAME IS RICHIE ANDERSON, I LIVE AT 3205 CRYSTAL BAY ROAD.
MY BUDDY GABE OVERSAW THE DEVELOPMENT, BOUGHT THE LAND FOR STATION NUMBER 2, PUT ORONO STATION NUMBER 1 ON ORONO PROPERTY.
STATION NUMBER TWO IS ON ORONO PROPERTY.
THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS, GABE IS A VISIONARY, I KNOW HIM VERY WELL, AND YOU'RE A DOER.
IN MY OPINION, GABE'S VISION IN THE EARLY 2000S, 25 YEARS AGO, HENCE THE CONTRACT, THE VISION WAS THERE.
HOWEVER, WE HAD A COUPLE OF MAYORS IN BETWEEN.
ONE OF THEM GAVE AWAY OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE CITY OF WAYZATA THROUGH LONG LAKE, EXCUSE ME.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, DO NOTHING.
THE FORTITUDE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH, YOUR NAMES ARE IN THE MUD.
THEY BASHED YOU, THEY BASHED YOU, THEY BASHED CROSBY, THEY BASHED THE MAYOR.
YOU WERE ACTUALLY FINALLY DELIVERING, I CALL IT THE ISRAELITES INTO THE PROMISED LAND.
I CALL HIM NOTHING MAYORS UNTIL GABRIEL WAS A REAL MAYOR.
YOU GUYS ARE A REAL MAYOR AND COUNSEL TO DELIVER THE INSIGHT I BELIEVE GABE HAD BACK IN THE EARLY 2000S. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
BILL WINTER, 1030 NORTH SHORE DRIVE WEST, AND PRETTY MUCH WHAT GREG SAID, JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAD WRITTEN DOWN, BUT I'M GOING TO JUST EXPOUND A LITTLE BIT ON THAT, AND JUST SAY, THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS, THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR THE STRONG ADVOCACY, FORWARD THINKING LEADERSHIP, AND EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO ON BEHALF OF ORONO CITIZENS.
IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED, AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED IS FISCALLY SMART. IT'S INTELLIGENT.
IT'S LOOKING AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE SAFETY AND THE BEAUTY OF ORONO IN TERMS OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO AND DOING.
YOU'RE HELPING TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND ON WHAT MAKES ORONO SPECIAL, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I THINK THE OFFER IS VERY GENEROUS.
IF I WERE LONG LAKE, I WOULD BE VERY STRONGLY LOOKING AT ACCEPTING THIS OR HAVING A NEGOTIATION TO IRON OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS AS COUNCIL PERSON VIC WAS TALKING ABOUT.
YOU'RE DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY ON BEHALF OF ORONO CITIZENS WHILE BEING COGNIZANT AND MINDFUL OF THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT DOOR WITH LONG LAKE.
THERE IS A SYNERGY THERE, SYNERGY, THERE'S A HISTORY THERE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF FRIENDS THERE.
I THINK WHAT THIS DOES IS IT TRIES TO BURY SOME OF
[01:00:02]
THE BAD BLOOD AND MOVE EVERYONE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION, AND I JUST THINK IT'S GREAT, SO THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. TO ANYBODY ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT.
SEEING NOBODY ELSE, I WILL CLOSE DISCUSSION AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS ANY THOUGHT OR WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION.
>> I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD WAY.
I KNOW A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK IS ADDRESSING THE NATIONWIDE TRENDS.
YOU HEAR THAT BROUGHT UP OVER AND OVER.
I THINK WE ARE WITH ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT ADDRESSING NATIONWIDE TRENDS BY ESTABLISHING THAT HYBRID MODEL OF FULL TIMERS AND PART TIMERS, VOLUNTEERS.
I THINK THIS OFFER TO THEM IS IN ALL THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE TAX BASE TO IMPLEMENT FULL TIME OR PAID POSITIONS.
I KNOW THIS IS WHAT LONG LAKE WANTS IN THEIR FUTURE, THEY'VE TALKED OF THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'D DO IT ON A SMALL TAX BASIS, SO I HOPE THEY SEE THAT AND ARE ABLE TO GET OVER THE PAST AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
I THINK HINDSIGHTS 2020, I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF MISSTEPS ALONG THE WAY, WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER.
MAYBE YOU COULD HAVE AVOIDED SOME OF THESE, BUT I THINK THIS IS REALLY FAIR.
I APPRECIATE YOU, MAYOR, FOR OPENING UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I THINK, AGAIN, IT WAS REALLY NICE, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO RESPECTFUL DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
I THINK THAT ENCOURAGES THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN, SO FOR EVERYBODY THAT SPOKE TONIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> AS A PREVIOUS RETIRED LONG LAKE FIREFIGHTER, I THINK THIS OFFER IS EXTREMELY GENEROUS.
I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY SAYING THAT WE ARE ONE BIG COMMUNITY, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE TO THE ORONO TAXPAYERS, AND THIS WAS MORE OF A FINANCIAL DECISION BECAUSE IT WAS OUR TAX DOLLARS ON THE TABLE.
I THINK THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY GENEROUS OFFER.
THE ORONO TEAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO TALK.
WE'VE NEVER SHUT DOWN NEGOTIATIONS.
WE DIDN'T PURSUE ANY LAWSUITS AND WE WANTED OUR PERSONNEL TO WORK TOGETHER.
OUR SIDE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO WORK WITH LONG LAKE AND THEY DENIED IT.
I THINK THESE THINGS CAN COME TOGETHER.
WHEN WE HAD THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY TONIGHT, IT WAS FANTASTIC, AND IT WAS TOUCHING TO MY HEART.
I REMEMBER BACK 2006 WHEN I HAD MY FIRST CALL OUT OF LONG LAKE STATION 2.
NOW, WHEN I APPLIED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS LONG LAKE FIRE.
I JUST ASSUMED I LIVED IN ORONO, IT'S ONO FIRE, BUT I APPLIED BECAUSE IT WAS THE STATION CLOSE TO MY HOME.
WENT THROUGH ALL THE TRAINING, GOT FIRE 1, FIRE 2, AND MT ALL DONE IN A YEAR, WHICH WAS A LOT OF TRAINING IN A YEAR.
LONG LAKE HAD HIRED EXCELSIOR TO DO OUR TRAINING.
THE CITY OF ORONO PAID EXCELSIOR TO DO OUR TRAINING, BECAUSE AT THE TIME LONG LAKE WAS INCAPABLE TO DO IT.
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE RESPONSE OF ORONO FIRE, MY FIRST FIRE CALL, IT WAS MYSELF, ANOTHER PROBE FIREFIGHTER ON THE TRUCK, AND LEE BERGLIN FROM EXCELSIOR, WHO WAS OUR CAPTAIN, ENGINEERING THE TRUCK AND PUMPING THE WATER.
WE WERE THE FIRST THROUGH THROUGH THE DOOR ON A HOUSE THAT WAS ON FIRE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW SQUAD. WE DIDN'T.
BUT WE LOOKED AROUND, WE FIGURED IT OUT, IT WAS AN ATTIC FIRE.
BUT THE COMMUNITY REACHED OUT.
EXCELSIOR WAS ON ITS WAY BECAUSE IT WAS A LIVE HOUSE FIRE.
EXCELSIOR GOT THERE. WHAT'S GOING ON? WE HAD A COUPLE OF EXPERIENCE.
GUY SAID, RICH, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON? I SAID IT'S UP IN THE ATTIC.
HE GOES, WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? I SAID, LET'S GO UP THERE AND GET IT, AND WE DID.
WE KNOCKED THE FIRE DOWN, WE SAVED THE HOUSE.
STATION 1 GOT THERE, AND THEY WALKED OUT FOR THE CAMERA MOMENT, SAVING THE GENTLEMAN'S CATS.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IT WAS IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE THE GENTLEMAN'S HOUSE WHO WAS ON FIRE, THESE WERE HIS WIFE'S CATS WHO HAD DIED WITHIN A YEAR.
THEY MEANT EVERYTHING TO THIS GUY.
MY POINT IS THIS, THOUGH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERSONNEL THAT ORONO FIRE HAS PUT TOGETHER,
[01:05:03]
WE'RE NOT TALKING A GROUP OF PROBES, WE'RE TALKING A AVERAGE EXPERIENCE 10 PLUS YEARS.THEIR EXPERIENCE IS FANTASTIC.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE IS WAY MORE THAN WE'VE EVER HAD AT LONG LAKE STATION 2.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, AM I FOR BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOGETHER? YES. BUT I HAD A RESIDENT CALL ME, AND WE HAD A NICE DISCUSSION.
HE SAYS, ORONO WAS OFFERED ALL THESE THINGS, AND IT'S BEEN GREAT.
HE SAID, I HAVE ONE WORD FOR LONG LAKE, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? BECAUSE WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME HERE, DISRUPT THE MEETING, YELL AT US, BE UPSET, AND SO FORTH, AND NOBODY'S ASKED LONG LAKE, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? ORONO GOES FROM 85 TO 87% TO 100%.
YOU COULD FINANCIALLY DO THAT.
WHEN YOU GO FROM FIVE, ALL THE WAY TO 100, THAT'S A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.
THE RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR IS THEY DON'T HAVE A PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAID TO THE RESIDENT.
>> THE LONG LAKE MAYOR. FOR CLARIFICATION.
>> THE LONG LAKE MAYOR. NOW, THIS OFFER THAT IS WRITTEN UP IS EXTREMELY GENEROUS.
EVERY RESIDENT THAT LIVES IN ORONO AND WE HAVE THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY OF LONG LAKE, WE ARE LIKE ONE BIG COMMUNITY.
RESIDENTS GO TO THE SAME SCHOOLS, WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER.
AT ONE TIME, AS SOMEBODY HAD MENTIONED, THEY USED ORONO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS A BETTER POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEM.
I BELIEVE THEM WAYZATA, BETTER RESPONSE TIME.
THESE ARE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.
BUT, I WOULD PUT IT BACK TO THE CITY OF LONG LAKE AND THE MAYOR AND THEIR COUNCIL AND SAY, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? THAT'S WHAT THE CITIZEN WAS ASKING ME, AND YOU NEED TO GIVE YOUR CITIZENS AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
THIS IS A GENEROUS OFFER, THIS KEEPS THE FIREFIGHTERS TOGETHER.
LET'S REMOVE POLITICS FROM THIS AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
PUT OUR CITIZENS FIRST, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO HERE IN ORONO, IS WE PUT OUR CITIZENS FIRST.
>> JUST TO JUMP ON, I GUESS, I THINK SOMETHING THAT MARIA SAID, I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THAT I MEAN, LOTS OF THINGS YOU SAY.
BUT ONE THING THAT, SHE SAID WAS, THIS IS A DIFFERENT SERVICE MODEL.
THIS IS THE WAY FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND OUR SIZE COMMUNITIES ARE STRUCTURING IN THE FUTURE AND I COULDN'T HELP ALSO TO BE STRUCK BY, THE LEVEL OF CAPABILITY THAT WE JUST SWORE IN.
THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE SERVICING TERRITORY NUMBER 2, STARTING JULY 1ST IS JUST A STRONGER COMMITMENT THAN IT'S EVER BEEN FOR THAT REGION AND YOU CAN SEE IT BY THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE THERE.
I THINK, ONE OF THE THINGS ORONO DOES PRETTY WELL AS A CITY IS THAT WE PUT STRUCTURES IN PLACE TO BE NIMBLE.
WE'RE SMALL ENOUGH WE SHOULD BE.
WE SHOULDN'T GET STUCK IN THE BIG CITY SLOW DOWN AND MAKE LONG TERM CHANGES WHEN WE CAN STRUCTURE A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS THE CAPABILITIES TO BE FLEXIBLE AS THE NEEDS AND THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR RESIDENTS GROW.
THAT'S THE THING THAT'S ALSO CHANGING IS WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTING FROM US.
BUT JUST TO GET BACK TO THE OFFER ITSELF, I HOPE LONG LAKE SEES THIS AS A FAIR WAY TO RESOLVE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK WE'RE PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD HERE.
THAT BEING SAID, IF THEY CHOOSE THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE THEIR OWN, I WILL SUPPORT THEM IN HAVING THEIR OWN, AND WE CAN DO THAT.
WE CAN STILL HAVE OUR OWN DEPARTMENTS AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
[01:10:01]
THEY CAN HELP US TRANSITION.WE CAN HELP THEM TRANSITION, AND THE STANDOFF TO NOT REALLY DEAL WITH THE FUTURE REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT IS, IS THE PROBLEM.
THEY WANT TO HAVE THEIR OWN, I SUPPORT IT.
WE'LL DO OUR PART TO HELP THEM JUST LIKE WE DO IN OUR OTHER DEPARTMENTS ALREADY AS A CITY.
BUT IF THEY WANT TO BE OUR PARTNER AND ACCEPT THIS AND WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS, I DO THINK IT'S BEST.
THAT BEING SAID, ORONO DOES HAVE A PLAN AND SO I'M ENCOURAGED BY IT.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THE CEREMONY TONIGHT, AND YOU COULD SEE THE MOTION OUT OF OUR CHIEF ABOUT HOW BIG OF A DEAL THIS REALLY IS AND HOW SERIOUS THAT THE CITY OF ORONO IS TAKING THIS.
I'VE HEARD ALSO AT TIMES WHERE PEOPLE MAKE IT SOUND LIKE WE'RE DOING IT FOR POLITICAL REASONS.
IF THIS WAS JUST FOR OUR CONVENIENCE, WE WOULD HAVE JUST RENEWED A CONTRACT THAT WE DIDN'T AGREE WITH.
THAT'S WHAT MR. ANDERSON WAS TOUCHING ON THERE.
THE EASY THING IS TO DO NOTHING.
THE HARDER THING WAS TO MAKE THE MORE NIMBLE SYSTEM THAT BETTER SERVES OUR RESIDENTS IN THE LONG RUN, NOT JUST TODAY.
COVERED A LOT OF GROUND THERE, BUT, I THINK I'M IN FAVOR OF SENDING THIS OFFER OVER, AND I THINK IT'S ALSO A GOOD IDEA THAT WE HAVE A DEADLINE IN THERE, THAT WE DO NEED A RESPONSE.
I MEAN, THE JULY 31, LONG LAKE DOESN'T HAVE A MEETING UNTIL JULY 14.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE CONSIDERED ENOUGH TIME THERE TO MAKE SURE THEIR COUNSEL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND DISCUSS THIS AND GET US A RETURN.
I'M GLAD THAT'S IN THERE AS WELL.
>> I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAD.
THE FORMAL RESPONSE BEING NECESSARY, NO, IT'S NOT.
IT'S ALL POSSIBLE OPTIONS ARE DISCUSSED.
BUT TO HAVE THAT FORMAL RESPONSE BACK AND FORTH, I KNOW THEY TALK TO US FOR A WHILE ABOUT NOT HAVING IT, AND IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THEY GET MAYBE ONE OR TWO OPINIONS.
TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THEIR WHOLE COUNSEL TALK, AND MAYBE THROUGH HEARING EVERYBODY SHARE IDEAS, SOMETHING STICKS, AND I LIKE THAT.
I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE I REACHED OUT TO MY FIRE FAMILY FRIENDS, PEOPLE THAT I HADN'T HEARD FROM, REMINDING THEM.
YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL ME ANYTHING.
YOU COULD IGNORE THIS MESSAGE.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO WHATEVER IT IS GOOD OR BAD PLEASE CALL ME.
PLEASE REACH OUT AND THE MAIN TAKEAWAY I WAS GETTING IS PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED.
THEY SIGNED UP TO DO A VOLUNTEER GIG BECAUSE THEY SAW THEIR DAD DO IT.
THEY WERE 12, LIKE STACY SAID, AND HAD BEEN DREAMING ABOUT IT.
THEY DIDN'T DO IT TO WATCH THEIR DEPARTMENT HAVE SQUABBLES, IF YOU CALL IT.
THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING THEY LOVE, AND THEY I'M SAD THAT THEY'VE BEEN BROUGHT INTO IT, AND I THINK WE OWE IT TO THEM TO KEEP THE CONVERSATIONS GOING.
IF IT'S THE END OF IT, LIKE YOU SAY, THEN LET'S SUPPORT EACH OTHER MOVING ON.
BUT LET'S NOT KEEP DRAGGING EACH OTHER THROUGH THE ONE.
>> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH LONG LAKE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY, DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> OPPOSE, NO. THAT PASSES 4-0. THANK YOU.
>> THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR NUMBER 8 ITEM PRESENTATION,
[8. 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Presentation]
OUR 2023 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT PRESENTATION BY MAGGIE.>> DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL, MAGGIE.
I SAID, DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL THAT WE'RE LOSING.
>> YOU CAN GIVE THEM A MINUTE, SO THAT'S FINE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
LETS WAIT FOR EVERYONE A LITTLE BIT.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE TYLER C. WITH ABTO, TO PRESENT THE 2023 AUDIT RESULTS.
>> THANKS, MAGGIE. GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
SO LIKE MAGGIE SAID, I'M JUST GOING TO GO OVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT PRESENTATION.
THE PRESENTATION IS MEANT TO BE MORE OF A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE AUDIT AND GIVE YOU THE MAIN INFORMATION, THE MAIN HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AUDIT WITHOUT GETTING TOO LOST IN THE DETAILS.
IF YOU YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT I'LL BE GOING OVER IS FIRST OF ALL, THE AUDIT RESULTS.
I'LL THEN GET INTO THE FINANCIAL RESULTS.
[01:15:02]
I'LL START WITH THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS AND FINISH IT WITH THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS AND THEN LASTLY, I'LL END IT WITH KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.I'M MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS AUDITORS IS TO ISSUE AN OPINION ON THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WE ARE ISSUING WHAT'S CALLED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION, WHICH IS A CLEAN OPINION.
THE OPINION YOU WOULD BE STRIVING FOR IN A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT.
WE ALSO DO TESTING AROUND MINNESOTA LEGAL COMPLIANCE OR STATE STATUTE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE AUDIT AND WE HAVE NO INSTANCES OF NON COMPLIANCE NOTED IN THIS YEAR'S AUDIT.
THEN BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING RECEIVED BY THE CITY, WE ALSO HAD TO PERFORM A SINGLE AUDIT FOR THE 2023 AUDIT, ADDITIONAL CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE TESTING AROUND THE CITY'S ARPA FUNDING.
THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT WAS ALSO CLEAN, SO NO INSTANCES OF NON COMPLIANCE NOTED THERE.
MOVING ON THOUGH, WE DID HAVE ONE INTERNAL CONTROL FINDING, AND THIS FINDING IS A MATERIAL AUDIT ADJUSTMENT, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THAT THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE AUDIT, WE DID HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTING JOURNAL ENTRIES THAT WE DEEMED TO BE MATERIAL IN NATURE.
WHEN THIS OCCURS, WE JUST HAVE TO ISSUE THIS AS INTERNAL CONTROL FINDING.
THEN MOVING ON INTO THE FINANCIAL RESULTS.
THIS FIRST SLIDE HERE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE CITY'S FUND BALANCE AND COMPARED TO THE CITY'S FUND BALANCE POLICY IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE CITY'S FUND BALANCE POLICY IS MAINTAIN A UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF 45% OF YOUR FOLLOWING YEAR'S BUDGETED EXPENDITURES.
WHAT THIS GRAPH SHOWS IS AT THE END OF 2023, YOUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS AT 36.4% OF YOUR FUND BALANCE POLICY.
I DID DIP BELOW THE FUND BALANCE POLICY FOR THIS YEAR, SO PROBABLY SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON MOVING FORWARD THERE.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS YOUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO ACTUAL RESULTS.
ON THE LEFT COLUMN, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE FINAL BUDGETED AMOUNTS.
IN THE MIDDLE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE ACTUAL AMOUNTS AND THE RIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE VARIANCE WITH THAT FINAL BUDGET.
LOOKING AT TOP LINE REVENUES, YOUR REVENUE DID COME IN ABOUT 325,000 ABOVE THAT FINAL BUDGET.
THAT WAS MOSTLY DUE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY AID.
THEY CAME IN, RIGHT AT YEAR END IN 2023, SO THAT, OF COURSE, WAS UNBUDGETED.
THEN YOUR EXPENSES CAME IN ABOUT 230,000 OVER BUDGET.
IN THE GENERAL FUND, THE MAIN FACTOR THERE WAS ACTUALLY THE PUBLIC WORKS, SO MORE STREET MAINTENANCE COST THAN IN YOUR FINAL BUDGET FOR 2023.
ANOTHER BIG LINE ITEM THERE IS THAT TRANSFER OUT LINE ITEM.
THE GENERAL FUND DID TRANSFER OUT ABOUT 1.5 MILLION DOLLAR TO OTHER FUNDS, MOSTLY THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION FUND, AS WELL AS THE PARK FUND THIS YEAR.
THAT'S THE MAIN REASON THAT THE FUND BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND DID DECREASE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS, AND THAT $4.2 MILLION AMOUNT AT THE BOTTOM IS YOUR YEAR END GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE.
THEN MOVING ON TO THIS NEXT SLIDE HERE.
HERE, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT YOUR HISTORICAL OF YOUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES BY TYPE 2021-2023, SO BROKEN OUT BETWEEN YOUR MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE AND YOUR GENERAL FUND THAT PROPERTY TAX LEVY, AND THEN ALSO LICENSE AND PERMITS, AND THEN OTHER REVENUE SOURCES, THAT MOSTLY BEING YOUR POLICE CONTRACT REVENUE, AS WELL AS INTERGOVERNMENTAL GRANT REVENUE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THAT'S JUST A LOOK THERE. MAIN REVENUE SOURCE, OF COURSE, IS YOUR PROPERTY TAX LEVY, WHICH HAS INCREASED WITH YOUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, AS WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THIS NEXT SLIDE HERE.
AGAIN, SAME FORMAT HERE, BUT NOW WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE EXPENSE SIDE, SO 2021-2023, BROKEN OUT BETWEEN GENERAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEN OTHER EXPENSE.
IN THIS CASE, YOUR OTHER EXPENSES, MOSTLY ACTUALLY, THOSE TRANSFER OUT TO OTHER FUNDS, MOSTLY YOUR CAPITAL FUNDS AND PARK FUND IN THIS YEAR.
THEN MOVING ON TO THE OTHER FUND TYPES.
HERE, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT YOUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
ON THE TOP HALF OF THIS SLIDE, YOU JUST SEE ALL YOUR DIFFERENT CURRENT SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OPEN, THE 2023 AND 2022 FUND BALANCES AND THE CHANGE BETWEEN EACH YEAR.
MAIN REASON FOR THAT $790,000 OVERALL INCREASE IN ALL SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS IS THE PARK FUND, AND THAT FUND MOSTLY INCREASED SO MUCH BECAUSE OF $0.5 MILLION TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND THAT TOOK PLACE IN 2023.
THEN LOOKING AT THIS NEXT SLIDE HERE.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT YOUR DEBT SERVICE FUNDS THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS OPEN.
HERE ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN JUST SEE YOUR CASH BALANCE IN EACH FUND, AS WELL AS TOTAL ASSETS IN EACH FUND, AND THEN THE TOTAL BONDS OUTSTANDING AS OF THE YEAR END OF 2023.
OF COURSE, FOR DEBT SERVICE, YOUR MAIN BOND OUTSTANDING IS YOUR 2021, A BOND THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY.
[01:20:04]
THEN NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT YOUR CAPITAL PROJECT FUND BALANCES.AGAIN, SAME FORMAT HERE, JUST ALL THE CURRENT OPEN CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS, THE FUND BALANCES BETWEEN 2023 AND 2022, AND THEN THAT INCREASE OR DECREASE.
THIS YEAR, THE FUND BALANCE OF THE CAPITAL FUNDS DID DECREASE SUBSTANTIALLY, AND THAT'S JUST DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY IN 2023.
NOW LOOKING AT THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, ALL OF OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS WILL HAVE A SLIDE WITH THE SAME FORMAT WITH THE OPERATING ACTIVITY UP TOP, AND THEN THE CASH BALANCE FROM 2020 ALL THE WAY TO 2023.
LOOKING AT THE WATER FUND IS OPERATING POSITIVELY OR I'M GENERATING INCOME EVERY YEAR, BUT THIS YEAR, THAT TOTAL OVERALL CASH BALANCE DID DECREASE DUE TO SOME CAPITAL EXPENSES WITHIN THE WATER FUND, AS WELL AS THE WATER FUND ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR THAT PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY AS WELL.
THEN SEWER FUND REALLY BASICALLY THE SAME STORY HERE AS THE WATER FUND.
ON THE TOP YOU DO YOU SEE POSITIVE, OPERATING ACTIVITY EACH YEAR, AND THEN THE CASH BALANCE 2020-2023.
AGAIN, THE SEWER FUND HAD SOME CAPITAL COSTS AND TRANSFERRED INTO THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION FUND, SO THAT'S OVERALL WHY THE CASH BALANCE ACTUALLY DECREASED IN THE SEWER FUND THIS YEAR.
THEN ONE MORE TIME HERE, REALLY SAME THING FOR THE STORMWATER FUND, POSITIVE OPERATING ACTIVITY, BUT OVERALL CASH BALANCE DID DECREASE BECAUSE IT ALSO CONTRIBUTED INTO THAT PROJECT CONSTRUCTION FUND.
THEN JUST A COUPLE MORE ENTERPRISE FUNDS HERE.
THE RECYCLING FUND, WHICH IT'S PRETTY TYPICAL FOR A LOT OF RECYCLING FUNDS TO BASICALLY BREAK EVEN YEAR OVER YEAR.
OVERALL THAT CASH BALANCE ACTUALLY HAS RISEN A LITTLE BIT OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, BUT, OVERALL THE OPERATING ACTIVITY IS BREAKING EVEN.
THIS YEAR, THE TELEVISION FUND ACTUALLY DID END IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DEFICIT BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME CAPITAL PURCHASES.
ALSO MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON IN THIS FUND, MAKING SURE THAT CASH BALANCE COMES OUT OF DEFICIT THERE.
THIS YEAR, THE GOLF COURSE FUND WAS SPLIT OUT INTO ITS OWN ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
I HAD BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT NOW IT'S SPLIT BACK OUT INTO AN ENTERPRISE FUND, AND AFTER ITS FIRST YEAR, IT'S GOT ABOUT $50,000 IN CASH AT YEAR END FOR 2023.
NOW HERE, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT YOUR TOTAL CASH AND INVESTMENTS ON HAND 2021-2023 YEAR END, BROKEN OUT JUST BY YOUR FUND TYPE, SO, GENERAL FUND CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS, ALL YOUR FUND TYPES.
THIS YEAR, YOU ENDED WITH A CASH BALANCE OF ABOUT 21.3 MILLION, AND, OF COURSE, THAT DECREASES AGAIN, DUE TO JUST THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY.
THEN THIS JUST SPLITS OUT HOW THE CASH INVESTMENTS ARE ALLOCATED.
BETWEEN BASICALLY YOUR ASSIGNED FOR CAPITAL, SO YOUR CAPITAL PROJECT, FUND CASH BALANCE, UNRESTRICTED IS BASICALLY THE MONEY IN YOUR GENERAL FUND, THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS, THEN YOUR RESTRICTED MONEY, WHICH IS MOSTLY IN YOUR DEBT SERVICE FUNDS.
THEN HERE, WE'RE ENDING UP WITH SOME KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.
WHAT WE DO HERE IS WE COMPARE THE CITY OF ORONO WITH OTHER CITIES IN HENNEPIN COUNTY AS WELL AS CLASS FOUR CITIES.
CLASS 4 CITIES ARE CITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WITH A POPULATION OF 10,000 OR LESS.
THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE THAT PEER GROUP DATA, THAT CLASS 4 CITY, AND OTHER CITIES AND COUNTY DATA AVAILABLE FOR 2022 YET.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE LOOKING BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, ORONO'S COMPARISON.
THIS ONE, FIRST OF ALL, JUST SHOWS TAX RATE, WHICH IS YOU ENDED 2023 AT 16%, SO THAT'S BELOW THE AVERAGE FOR BOTH OF YOUR PEER GROUPS, AND THEN YOUR TAXES PER CAPITAL, WHICH DID INCREASE INTO 2023, LOOKING LIKE PROBABLY ABOVE THE AVERAGE FOR BOTH OF YOUR PEER GROUPS.
THEN YOUR DEBT PER CAPITA, AGAIN, JUST CITY OF ORONO, COMPARED TO CITIES IN HABEN COUNTY AND CLASS FOUR CITIES.
HERE, OF COURSE, IN 2021, THAT DEBT PER CAPITA AMOUNT DID INCREASE WHEN YOU ISSUED THAT 2021 A BOND, THEN IT HAS BEEN DECREASED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS YOU'RE PAYING IT OFF.
NOW, LAST ONE HERE, JUST CURRENT EXPENSES PER CAPITAL, CURRENT EXPENSES PER CAPITAL, BASICALLY BEING ALL YOUR OPERATING COSTS, AND THEN YOUR CAPITAL EXPENSES PER CAPITAL.
THAT'S JUST ALL YOUR IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, CAPITAL EQUIPMENT, THAT THING.
HERE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS YOUR CURRENT EXPENSES PER CAPITAL HAVE BEEN ABOVE THE AVERAGE FOR BOTH OF THOSE PEER GROUPS AND IN THAT CAPITAL EXPENSES PER CAPITA,
[01:25:01]
WE DO TYPICALLY SEE SOME VOLATILITY THERE BECAUSE IT DOES DEPEND ON, WHEN YOUR BIG PURCHASES TAKE PLACE, WHEN YOUR BIG PROJECT TAKES PLACE.OF COURSE, THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY CONSTRUCTION WAS, YOUR BIGGEST PROJECT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
I BELIEVE THAT'S MY LAST SLIDE, SO I'LL OPEN UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS RELATED TO THE AUDIT.
>> WELL, THANKS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR AUDIT GUYS.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY WELL PUT TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INFORMATION.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME HAVE A GOOD MEETING.
>> WELL, THAT'LL TAKE US TO OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
MAGGIE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT?
>> NO, JUST WORKING THROUGH THE BUDGET. ALL RIGHT.
>> WELL, THEN THAT MOVE US ON TO NUMBER 11,
[11. Council Committee Reports]
OUR COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS.I THINK WE HAD COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE MET. I THINK THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE DID TONIGHT WAS WORK, THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT DOING AT OUR COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT WORKING ON A PAMPHLET STILL FOR ANYBODY AS A BARRIER TO ENTRY FOR ANYBODY THAT'S NEVER BEEN TO A CITY GOVERNMENT MEETING.
WE WANT A PAMPHLET THAT YOU COULD PICK UP, MAYBE TO ADD SOME COMFORT, SO STILL LOOKING AT THAT AS AN OPTION TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.
>> THEN I THINK IS THE ONLY THING I OWE YOU, IT'S A CITY STAFF.
YOU WERE JUST THERE. THAT'S ALL WE HAD FOR THAT.
NOW IT'LL TAKE US TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS,
[Public Comments]
WHICH IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION OR TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS PRESENTED AT THIS TIME.
HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY REFER ISSUES TO STAFF OR FOLLOW UP PERK CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING.
SPEAKER SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND HOME ADDRESS AT THE PODIUM BEFORE SPEAKING.
WE WILL FIRST OPEN IT UP TO ORONO RESIDENTS BEFORE OPENING IT UP TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL, AND ADAM IS OUR TIMEKEEPER, SO ONCE YOU START SPEAKING, HE WILL HIT THE TIME.
I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ORONO RESIDENTS.
IF THERE'S ANY ORDER RESIDENTS LIKE THAT COME UP HERE AND SPEAK, PLEASE STEP UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> RICHIE ANDERSON, NORTH, NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
[LAUGHTER] THE FIREFIGHTERS HERE TONIGHT THE ORIGINAL SIX, I CALL THEM, THAT STARTED THE BALL ROLLING.
I HAVE SUCH A LOVE FOR THOSE FOLKS, BECAUSE THEY HAD TO STEP WAY OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE TO MAKE WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT HAPPEN.
THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE STANDING HERE TONIGHT IS JUST SO IMPRESSIVE.
YOU GUYS GOT TO BE PROUD OF YOURSELVES BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE CAVED, BUT YOU DIDN'T CAVE.
YOU'VE TAKEN A LOT OF BS, AND YOU'VE PUT UP WITH IT.
IT'S AMAZING. I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT OF ALL YOU GUYS? THE ORIGINAL SIX I CALL THEM.
I THINK THEY'RE ROCK STARS BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THEY WEREN'T IN THEIR COMFORT PLACE AFTER THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE COMING WITH US, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED.
THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, OFD WITH ALL THESE GUYS AND GALS.
[LAUGHTER] THANKS FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU. THANK, [INAUDIBLE]. IS ANYBODY ELSE ORONO TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS TO COME UP AT ALL? SEEN, THEN, WE'LL CLOSE
[Mayor/Council Report]
THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND BRING IT TO THE MAYOR COUNCIL REPORT. WHO WANT TO GO FIRST?>> [LAUGHTER] THAT'S MEMBER VEACH.
>> I HAVE A FEELING IT'S GOING TO BE A POPULAR ONE, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS FIRST.
[LAUGHTER] FIRST, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO LIONEL LAKES.
I KNOW THAT WAS IN OUR CONSENT AGENDA, BUT I THINK THAT WAS REALLY COOL THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO HELP A NEIGHBOR AND APPRECIATE THAT.
THEN I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, OBVIOUSLY TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR OFD THAT WE'RE HERE TONIGHT AND THE FEW THAT MISSED.
WE KNOW THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE COMPLETELY SUPPORT YOU.
THEN FINALLY, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK CHIEF EMILE SPECIFICALLY FOR WHAT HE'S DONE.
I FORGOT THEY'RE EATING CAKE RIGHT NOW, SO I GUESS THIS DOESN'T HIT AS HARD, BUT I WILL TELL HIM IN PERSON.
HE PUT HIS JOB ON THE LINE BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN SOMETHING.
WHAT HE BELIEVED IN JUST CAME TONIGHT AND TO SEE HIS PARENTS IN ATTENDANCE AND HIS WIFE HERE TONIGHT AND TO SEE THE EMOTIONAL REACTION THAT WAS TOUCHING, AND I WANT TO THANK HIM. I'LL MAKE SURE TO DO THAT.
>> IT'S BEEN BUSY A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE HAD, THE RIBBON CUTTING OVER AT ORONO PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH IS A FANTASTIC FACILITY.
[01:30:01]
IT BLEW MY MIND.WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STORE ALL OUR EQUIPMENT THERE.
WE HAD OUTGROWN THE SPACE OVER HERE.
IT'S A FABULOUS FACILITY THAT, WILL TAKE THE CITY AHEAD IN 100 YEARS.
THEN WE HAD 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AT THE GOLF COURSE.
THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AT THE GOLF COURSE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED ORONO ORCHARD PUBLIC COURSE YET, PLEASE PLAY IT BECAUSE IT'S A DIFFERENT COURSE THAN IT WAS SIX YEARS AGO.
THE PARKING LOT IS WONDERFUL, THE CLUBHOUSE IS WONDERFUL.
WE HAVE THIS GORGEOUS PAVILION NOW.
WITH THE RAIN THAT WE HAVE LATELY.
LET ME TELL YOU. KEEPS EVERYBODY DRY.
>> WHAT WAS IRONIC WHEN WE WERE THERE? IT RAINED.
EVERYBODY GOT TO GET UNDER IT.
YES. THEY'RE PLAYING MUSIC WHILE WE'RE THERE.
THE GENTLEMAN'S FATHER WHO OWNED THE HOUSE, WHAT'S HIS NAME?
>> FAZER. VERY TOUCHING STORY.
HIS FATHER WAS THE FIRST RESIDENT THERE.
HE ACTUALLY BUILT THAT HOUSE FOR HIS SOON TO BE BRIDE. IT WAS TOUCHING.
IT WAS TOUCHING, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1925-26, WHEN HE TOLD THE STORY ABOUT HIS DAD, AND THE INTERESTING THING IS HIS BRIDE HADN'T EVEN SAID YES YET.
[LAUGHTER] THIS GUY WAS, GOING OUT ON A LIMB.
[LAUGHTER] I WORKED OUT THERE HAD A NICE FAMILY, BUT HIM TELLING HIS STORY ABOUT THAT AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE.
IT WAS JUST, THE WEATHER WAS TERRIBLE, BUT IT WAS A FANTASTIC TIME. IT REALLY WAS.
[NOISE] I GUESS, RAIN CAME BECAUSE IT TOLD EVERYBODY.
THE LIONS CLUB, WITH THEIR GENEROSITY AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE AMAZING PEOPLE. IT'S BEEN EXCITING.
THEN THEY CAP IT OFF WITH THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SWEARING IN TO THE FIREFIGHTERS.
ME WATCHING MY CHIEF GET EMOTIONAL.
BECAUSE HE WAS MY CHIEF. IT HIT ME.
I WOULD SAY TO EVERY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, ORONO FIRE, THE CITY OF ORONO SALUTES YOU.
THIS CITY COUNCIL SALUTES YOU.
>> SAD. COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.
>> YOU'RE MAD YOU DIDN'T GO FIRST?
>> ARE YOU MAD YOU DIDN'T GO FIRST NOW? [LAUGHTER].
>> I THINK, TODAY WAS, FIRE, BUT WE'VE DONE IT FOR POLICE TOO.
YOU SIT IN THIS POSITION, AND THEY ALL HAVE FAMILIES, AND THIS IS REAL, VERY REAL TO THEM, AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO IS, A SACRIFICE TO THOSE FAMILIES.
SOME OF THOSE SUPPORTERS THAT CAME UP WERE PROFESSIONAL PINNERS THERE.
[LAUGHTER] THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE WAS REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
IT WAS NICE, IT WAS A NICE FORMAT, IN THE SENSE THAT YOU GOT TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE OUR CITY IS ADDING.
THINK ABOUT THAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.
MANY OF THEM ARE NEW TO ORONO FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND SO THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR HIM.
THE GOLF COURSE TOO AND AND ADAM AND HIS STAFF, THE QUALITY OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY, WHETHER THAT'S PUBLIC WORKS OR THE GOLF COURSE, AND THE COMMITMENT TO MAKING, ORONO AS BEST THAT IT CAN, AND IT COMES AT A FINANCIAL COST TOO.
YOU DON'T JUST GET ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS WITHOUT INVESTING, AND IT STARTS WITH INVESTING IN THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
WHETHER THAT'S, JAMES OR COREY OR ADAM, OR, ALL OF OUR TEAM, WE HAVE MAGGIE OVER HERE, WHO, WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE TWO, SHE'S TAKING ON THE WORST SIDE, THE ACCOUNTING SIDE.
>> ATTORNEY IS WAITING FOR HIS NAME TO BE.
>> ATTORNEYS COME AND GO. [LAUGHTER] BUT, IT'S A NIGHT TO BE GRATEFUL ABOUT ALL THE THINGS YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE OUTLINED THAT WE'VE ACHIEVED, BUT IT'S ALSO A TIME TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE QUALITY OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HERE REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS OF ORONO EVERY DAY. THANKS FOR THAT, TOO.
>> I DID FORGET ABOUT THE ATTORNEY REPORT, BUT I FIGURED YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING,
[01:35:02]
SO WE'LL BE DOING OURS LATER.WELL, I CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING EVERYBODY SAID ABOUT THAT STUFF.
I'M VERY HONORED TO BE THE ONE WHO GOT TO SWEAR EVERYBODY IN.
I'M HONORED THAT THIS COUNCIL IS THE COUNSEL THAT GOT TO BE HERE WHILE WE SWEAR THEM IN.
I KNOW VICTORIA IS HOVERING UP HERE SOMEWHERE AS ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT WAS INTRICATELY INVOLVED IN DOING THIS AND ORONO PRINT UP AS WELL.
OVER THE YEARS, THEY ARE FABULOUS INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE THIS WHOLE WAY AS WELL. THANK YOU TO THEM.
THIS IS YEAR 1 DAY 1 FOR THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS FOR ORONO.
WE GOT TO BE PART OF THAT. THAT'S PRETTY SPECIAL.
YOU WON'T SEE SWEARING IN LIKE THAT.
ANYTIME SOON AGAIN. IT'S PRETTY COOL.
GOING BACK TO THE HUNDRED YEAR ORONO ORCHARD GOLF COURSE CELEBRATION.
THAT WAS STARTED ON FRIDAY WITH THE BO RIDLEY BAND, AND THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. MUSIC WAS GREAT.
IT WAS RAINING A LITTLE BIT, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE PLAYING GOLF BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T TAKE THE CARTS OUT.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WON'T PLAY ON THAT HILLY COURSE UNLESS THEY'VE GOT A CART.
I KNOW I PROBABLY WOULDN'T, EITHER.
WE DID HAVE A DANA KAY, WHO ACTUALLY STARTED IT OFF BY SINGING THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER.
SHE SINGS AT THE WILD GAMES A WHOLE LOT, AND SO SHE WAS JUST FABULOUS, AND THE UNDERHADS CAME. THEY WERE A DUO.
THE RAIN STAYED AWAY MOSTLY FOR ALL OF THAT UNTIL IT GOT TO ABOUT THE CEREMONY TIME.
THAT FORCED ALL THE FAZER FAMILY TO COME IN AND WE ALL KNOW WE ALL GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER A LOT BETTER INSIDE THERE.
BUT IT WAS IRONIC THAT WE GOT TO BE IN 1,000 SQUARE FOOT PAVILION, NOT GETTING WET AT ALL, WHILE IT'S POURING RAIN AND THEY'RE PLAYING MUSIC, AND WE'RE DOING GROUNDBREAKINGS AND CELEBRATIONS AND ALL THAT STUFF.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE STORY OF THE FAZER FAMILY, I GOT TO LEARN IT PRETTY WELL, BECAUSE DAVE FAZER, IS LEO'S SON, WHO LIVED IN THAT HOUSE UNTIL HE WAS 18-YEARS-OLD.
THEN HE WENT TO COLLEGE, AND HE NEVER CAME BACK.
HE STARTED CRYING WHEN HE CAME UP AND HAD TO DO SOME SPEAKING OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT RELATIVES HE HADN'T SEEN IN 50 YEARS, BECAUSE HE MUST HAVE HAD 10 OR 12 RELATIVES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT CAME IN FOR THIS.
IT WAS IT WASN'T A SMALL THING, BUT LEO, AS COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY HAD SAID, HAD PURCHASED THAT FOR HIS SOON RIDE TO BE.
LEO ALSO WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE AT HILL WHAT'S THAT PLACE CALLED GULF FEST HILL.
[BACKGROUND] WOOD HILL? HE WAS ONE OF THE GUYS WHO HELPED BUILD THAT, AND THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE WHO BUILT THAT, AND THEN HE DECIDED TO MOVE OVER AND TRY AND DO IT AT THE ORONO APPLE ORCHARD.
IT WAS A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORIGINALLY THAT FAILED.
HE ONE BY ONE, PURCHASED ALL THE LOTS OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WHEN HE FINALLY BOUGHT ALL THE LOTS, HE MADE IT INTO A GOLF COURSE AND SOLD IT TO ORONO.
THEN HE BECAME THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIM AND HIS FAMILY IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
WHAT THE ONE GUY TOLD ME, HE GOES, THE SAME BENT GRASS THAT THEY PUT IN WOOD HILL 100 YEARS AGO ON ALL THE GREENS IS THE SAME BENT GRASS.
THAT'S AT ORONO ORCHARDS GOLF COURSE.
IT'S THE SAME GRASS THAT WAS PUT IN 100 YEARS AGO.
IF YOU WANT TO PLAY 100-YEAR-OLD BENT GRASS, THE ORIGINAL THAT'S EVEN AT WOOD HILL, THAT'S THE GRASS THAT'S THERE.
IT'S PRETTY COOL TO HEAR ALL THAT STUFF.
IT'S NICE TO HEAR, HISTORY OF, WHERE YOU LIVE.
STUFF THAT YOU WOULDN'T EVEN REALIZE IS GOING ON.
WE ALSO HAD THE ORONO GARDEN CLUB THAT HAD DONATED THREE APPLE TREES.
I THINK THEY HAD TWO APPLE CRISPS AND ONE ZESTA.
NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE APPLE TREES AT THE ORONO ORCHARD GOLF COURSE.
THEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY AN APPLE ORCHARD AND NOW WE'RE BRINGING, AND THEY'VE TOLD ME THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE APPLE TREES THAT THEY WANT TO BRING THERE.
WE DID HAVE THE ORONO PARKS LEGACY COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR RAISING MONEY FOR THE PARKS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
WE ALSO DID HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM THE PARKS COMMISSION, BECAUSE, WHO IS THE PARKS CHAIR? BRIAN ROTH WAS THERE? WE HAD THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE HAD THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH OUR HEAD IS CHRIS BOLLES.
RICHARD WAS THERE, SO WE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD PICTURES.
WE HAVE PICTURES OF ALL THE FAZER FAMILY, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HUDDLED TOGETHER.
WE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF PRETTY GOOD PICTURES OF EVERYBODY TOGETHER. IT WAS FUN.
IT WAS FUN SAYING GOODBYE TO EVERYBODY, AND THEY JUST REALLY ENJOYED THEIR TIME.
I THINK THEY WERE VERY TOUCHED ON HOW WELL THE COURSE LOOKS, HOW WELL WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF IT.
THIS IS FROM SOMEBODY THAT HASN'T EVEN BEEN AROUND HERE IN A LONG TIME.
THEY WERE JUST AMAZED AT HOW NICE THAT COURSE IS AND WHAT WE'VE DONE TO IT AND TAKE CARE OF IT.
ALL PAT OURSELVES IN THE BACK FROM HAVING A GREAT GREAT CITY, ALL THE PARKS THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN ORONO.
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE BEEN REALLY BUSY AS WELL.
I'VE BEEN TO LOTS OF THEM, SOME OF THEM THAT HAVE BEEN RAINED ON, SOME OF THEM THAT WERE SUNNY.
THAT MORE COMING UP ON THURSDAY.
[01:40:02]
I THINK MY DAUGHTERS IS ON SUNDAY.[NOISE] [LAUGHTER]. I'M HOPING.
THE OTHER DAY, MY DAUGHTER, BEING ON THE GYMNASTICS TEAM, BROUGHT ALL OF HER FRESHMEN, GO FOR GYMNASTICS TEAM TO OUR HOUSE AND TOOK THEM ON A LAKE DAY AND TOOK THEM OVER TO FLETCHER'S, AND THEY GOT TO GO TO FLETCHER'S AND DOC AND GO UP AND THE THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL.
THEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT MAYBE WE'LL GO TO THE MINNETONKA DRIVE IN AND GET RIP BEER FLOATS, AND THE COUPLE GIRLS FROM TEXAS SAID, WHAT'S A RIP BEER FLOAT? I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF WHAT THAT IS BEFORE.
THAT WAS KIND OF FILIOUS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THEN WE WENT OUT SWIMMING AND TOLD THE TWO TEXAS GIRLS WATCH OUT FOR THE LAKE MINNETONKA GATORS.
THEN THEY JUMPED OUT OF THE WATER REALLY FAST.
[LAUGHTER] I SAID, I'M JUST KIDDING.
I'M JUST KIDDING. ANYWAY, IT'S BEEN A FUN TIME. IT'S BEEN A GREAT WEEK.
THERE'S MORE STUFF COMING UP WITH ALL THE GRAD PARTIES AND ALL THAT STUFF GOING ON.
I THINK THE WATER LEVEL AT THE LAKE IS GETTING CLOSE TO WHERE A COUPLE OF MORE INCHES OF WATER.
WE'LL HAVE NO WAKE ZONE ON THE ENTIRE LAKE MINNETONKA.
HOPEFULLY THAT'S GOING TO STAY DOWN.
THE DAM IS OPEN, AND PEOPLE'S DOCKS WON'T BE FLOATING AWAY.
WITH THAT, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH A COAT FOR THE DAY.
[NOISE] IT RELATES TO, I GUESS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT SAYS, TRUE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT MEASURED BY THE LENGTH OF TIME BUT BY THE DEPTH OF TRUST AND SUPPORT.
IF WE JUST TRUST EACH OTHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER, WE CAN MAKE A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WORK.
WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
[Closed Session]
I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.>> NOTE THAT PASSES FOUR, ZERO, AND THE CITY COUNCIL MAY CLOSE THE MEETING AS PERMITTED BY MINNESOTA STATUTE 13 DO5, SUBSECTION 3C3 TO HOLD A CONFIDENTIAL ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, DISCUSSION OF LEGAL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES, POTENTIAL LEGAL ACTION AND STRATEGY REGARDING THE LONG LAKE VERSUS OWNER LITIGATION.
WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
EVERYTHING CLEAR THE ROOM AND WE CAN RELAX.
>> HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.
>> WE VOTED FOUR, ZERO.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.