Oct 28, 2024 City Council

[00:00:02]

ALL RIGHT. WELCOME TO THE MONDAY, OCTOBER 28TH, 2024 ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

[Roll Call]

WE ALWAYS START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SO I WELCOME YOU TO STAND AND JOIN THE FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND THE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH WILL APPROVE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

[Approval of Agenda]

AND JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO DISCUSS IT UP HERE AT THE COUNCIL.

WITH THAT SAID, WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO TAKE A STAB AT THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT?

[Consent Agenda]

I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 19, AS IS.

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS I'D LIKE TO REMOVE? NUMBER TWO, 12 AND 13, PLEASE.

I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE NUMBER FIVE, 13 AND FIVE.

OKAY. SO WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT IS ONE THE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, TWO WORK SESSION SCHEDULE, WHICH WILL DO RIGHT AFTER THE CONSENT BECAUSE WE TOOK THAT OFF.

NUMBER THREE CLAIMS AND BILLS.

NUMBER FOUR MEETING CALENDAR.

NUMBER FIVE. WE'VE TAKEN OFF THE RENTAL LICENSE.

WE'LL DO THAT RIGHT AFTER THE WORK SESSION.

SCHEDULE AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SIX IS THE NON-WAIVER OF TORT LIMITS RESOLUTION 7517.

NUMBER SEVEN IS MICROSOFT 365.

MIGRATION AND LICENSING.

NUMBER EIGHT IS CONTRACT FOR COORDINATED RECYCLING COLLECTION.

NINE IS THE AGREEMENT FOR RECORDING SERVICE.

TEN IS CONTRACT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

11 IS HIRE POLICE OFFICER.

12 AND 13 WILL BE TAKEN OFF.

12 IS HIRE FIREFIGHTER AND 13 IS REPLACED.

TURNOUT GEAR EXTRACTORS WILL DO THOSE ALSO RIGHT AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

NUMBER 14 IS RESIGNATION OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN UPDATE JOB TITLES DESCRIPTION.

RECRUITMENT. NUMBER 15 IS RETIREMENT OF UTILITY SUPERVISOR AND RECRUITMENT RESOLUTION 7523.

NUMBER 16 IS BENEFIT CORRECTION FLEET SUPERVISOR.

NUMBER 17 IS GRANT FOR PICKLEBALL RESOLUTION 7522.

NUMBER 18 IS LA 2442.

HONEY HILL AND LAKE CLAWSON.

FINAL PLAT RESOLUTION 7519 VACATION RESOLUTION 7520.

AND NUMBER 19 IS LA 24-43 1760 SHADYWOOD ROAD HARD COVER VARIANCE RESOLUTION 7521.

IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS BEFORE BESIDES TWO, FIVE, 12, AND 13 THAT ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TAKEN OFF TONIGHT? NUMBER 17 AS WELL.

NUMBER 17 AS WELL.

IS THERE ANY OTHERS? OKAY. SO SEEING NONE I HAVE A MOTION.

AND THEN I'VE GOT TWO, FIVE, 12, 13 AND 17.

OFF. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? NOTE THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.

OKAY. WE'LL JUST GO IN ORDER OF THE FIVE ITEMS THAT WERE TAKEN.

OFF. AND WE'LL START WITH NUMBER TWO THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE.

[2. Work Session Schedule]

I DID. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I SPOKE WITH ADAM ABOUT THIS EARLIER TODAY.

APPARENTLY, WE HAVE ONE APPLICANT WHO'S APPLIED FOR THE PARKS COMMISSION, ONE APPLICANT FOR PLANNING, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE ENOUGH PLANNING AND PARK COMMISSIONERS TO SERVE AS WELL AS SOME ALTERNATES.

SO MY SUGGESTION WAS GOING TO BE THAT THIS ITEM BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEW YEAR, AS IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE VERY PRESSING.

THERE'S ONLY ONE MORE PARKS COMMISSION THIS YEAR, AND THE SUGGESTION IS TO WAIT AND SEE IF WE MIGHT GET MORE APPLICANTS RATHER THAN HAVING ONE, SO THAT COUNCIL ISN'T TAKING OUR TIME TO INTERVIEW AND APPOINT PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHEN WE MAY HAVE MORE APPLICANTS AND BE ABLE TO ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR NAMES IN THE HAT IF THEY SUGGEST.

ALSO, I REMOVED THIS BECAUSE THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE ALSO INCLUDES AN ITEM IN DECEMBER FOR VISION AND GOAL SETTING.

IT SEEMS THAT THAT WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IN JANUARY OR SOMETIME IN THE NEW YEAR.

SO THOSE WERE MY THOUGHTS.

SO, I PROPOSE DELAYING INTERVIEWING UNTIL WE HAVE MORE APPLICANTS FOR PARKS AND PLANNING, GIVEN THAT WE ONLY HAVE ONE FOR EACH AND ENOUGH COMMISSIONERS TO CURRENTLY SERVE.

AND ALSO REMOVING PLANNING OR VISION AND GOAL SETTING FOR MAYBE JANUARY.

I THINK ADAM EVEN HAS YOU HAVE IT SLOTTED OR A SPOT IN FEBRUARY TO INTERVIEW.

IT'S A PART OF OUR NORMAL CYCLE WOULD BE TO DO COMMISSION INTERVIEWS IN FEBRUARY.

RIGHT. OKAY.

SO TERMS FOR FOLKS EXPIRE IN MARCH.

OKAY, SO UNLESS THERE ARE STRONG FEELINGS, THAT WAS WHAT I WAS WANTED TO PROPOSE, WHICH IS WHY I REMOVED IT.

[00:05:01]

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY THAT IT WOULD BE ON THAT PARTICULAR DATE.

TO REACH OUT AND TALK TO THEM AS WELL, AS LONG AS WE HAVEN'T COMMITTED TO THE OTHER APPLICANTS THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT DATE, I GUESS I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. SO, SO, SO IT'S MOVING THEM TO WHEN AGAIN, WHEN DID YOU WANT TO YOU WANTED THE TWO THINGS MOVE.

I THINK IF I UNDERSTAND THE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON WOULD LIKE TO DO IS JUST REMOVE THE PARKS AND PLANNING COMMISSIONER INTERVIEWS FROM THE NEXT WORK SESSION, AND THEN WE WILL LOOK AT REVISITING A DATE IF WE NEED TO, BEFORE FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR IF WE NEED TO, BUT OTHERWISE WE ALREADY HAVE IT FOR FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR.

OKAY. INTERVIEW. OKAY.

I SEE THAT IN FEBRUARY. OKAY.

PARKS AND PLANNING.

OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS JUST MOVE COUNCIL VISION AND GOAL SETTING TO.

TO WHAT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU SUGGEST, ADAM, FOR THAT, BUT SOMETIME IN JANUARY OR IN THE NEW YEAR.

CORRECT. THE DISCUSSION WE HAD WAS, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL VISION GOAL SETTING REALLY MAKES THE MOST SENSE AFTER THE NEW COUNCIL IS SET.

SO, JANUARY, MAYBE THE FIRST OR SECOND WORK SESSION IN JANUARY.

SO, JANUARY 13TH IS ONLY ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS.

SO THAT WON'T TAKE VERY LONG.

SO WE COULD JUST PUT IT RIGHT THERE.

IS THAT YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME.

SO. SURE.

AND WE'LL JUST KEEP THEN WE'LL JUST MOVE TO THE NOVEMBER 1ST TO WHERE HE IS IN FEBRUARY.

OKAY. OR IS THAT RIGHT? FEBRUARY 24TH.

SO TO CONFIRM, WE'LL STILL HAVE A MEETING ON THE 12TH THOUGH FOR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT UPDATES FOR THE REST.

RIGHT. OKAY.

SO, IS THAT A MOTION? SURE. MOTION TO APPROVE.

THEN THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE AS AMENDED.

OKAY. SECOND. SECOND.

COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY.

NOTE THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.

OKAY. THEN I WAS IN A WHAT? I'M A NAY ON THAT.

OH, NAY. OKAY. SORRY.

PASS 4 TO 1 WITH COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY AS THE LONE DISSENT.

OKAY. SO THAT ALSO THEN BRINGS US TO NUMBER FIVE RENTAL LICENSE.

[5. Rental License]

SO I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THAT ITEM UNTIL STAFF CAN LOOK INTO IT.

OKAY. SO IT'S A MOTION TO TABLE IT.

YES. MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, IS THE MOTION TO TABLE IT UNTIL YOUR NEXT MEETING ON NOVEMBER 12TH, JUST SO WE CAN PUT A DATE CERTAIN ON THAT.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? YES. OKAY.

MOTION TO NOVEMBER 12TH TO NOVEMBER 12TH.

OKAY. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? YOU KNOW THAT ONE DOES PASS 5 TO 0.

OKAY. THAT'LL BRING US TO NUMBER 12 WHICH IS HIGHER.

[12. Hire Firefighter]

NO QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO REMOVE IT FROM CONSENT.

SO IT'S A SEPARATE VOTE.

OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION? YEAH. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER TO CHRIS BROOKS AS A PART TIME FIREFIGHTER AT THE RATE OF $20 PER HOUR, WITH A START DATE OF OCTOBER 29TH, 2024. I'LL SECOND IT.

AND I'LL JUST SAY FOR THE RECORD, THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OUR CITY IS ABLE TO RECEIVE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE SERVICE AT MORE REASONABLE COST FROM A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES 4 TO 1.

BENSON IS THE LONE DISSENT.

OKAY. THAT WILL TAKE US TO NUMBER 13, WHICH IS REPLACE TURNOUT GEAR EXTRACTOR, I BELIEVE.

[13. Replace Turn Out Gear Extractor]

OKAY. SAME. NO QUESTION.

I JUST WANTED TO SEPARATE IT FROM CONSENT.

SEPARATE VOTE, PLEASE.

A MOTION TO APPROVE THE QUOTE FROM RJ.

COOL FOR THE UNIMAC EXTRACTOR FOR $13,545.

I'LL SECOND THAT SECOND.

AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT I DON'T SUPPORT THIS EXPENDITURE BECAUSE IT FURTHER MOVES US IN A DIRECTION OF INCREASED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INDEPENDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR OUR CITY, AND WE'RE NOT GROWING SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS EXPENDITURE.

OKAY. IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES 4 TO 1.

BENSON THE DESCENT.

OKAY, THAT'LL TAKE US TO NUMBER 17, WHICH IS THE GRANT PICKLEBALL RESOLUTION 7522.

[17. Grant - Pickleball - Resolution 7522]

YES. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS.

I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN OUR CITY.

[00:10:02]

IT'S A RESIDENTIALLY ZONED AREA.

AND BY APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT WE WILL NEVER ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF UTILIZING THIS PROPERTY FOR WHAT IT WAS INTENDED, GIVEN THE MOST RECENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WHICH IS RESIDENTIAL ZONING.

SO, TO ME, IT SEEMS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION OF REPURPOSING THIS LAND IN PERPETUITY FOR PARKS AND NOT ALLOWING A POTENTIAL REVENUE FOR THAT LAND IN THE FUTURE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD REALLY WEIGH IN ON, BECAUSE IT HAS SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FINANCIALLY FOR A CITY IN THE FUTURE.

SO APPLYING FOR THIS GRANT AND BEING AWARDED THIS GRANT IS GOING TO BOX US IN AND WOULD NO LONGER ALLOW FOR THE POTENTIAL OF THAT AREA TO BE ENTERTAINED FOR THE WATER SEWER HOOKUP, FOR POTENTIAL OTHER TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER IT WAS SENIOR HOUSING OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF PROJECT.

AND I DON'T FEEL THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT A DECISION THAT SHOULD BE MADE ABOUT A GRANT ABSENT PUBLIC INTEREST, BECAUSE THAT'S POTENTIAL LOSS OF REVENUE.

THE DONATION GARDEN IS NOT ACTUALLY PART OF A PUBLIC PARK.

IT'S A LEASING AGREEMENT THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC PARK AT PRESENT.

SO WE HAVE CITY LAND THAT WOULD BE DEDICATING FOR A PURPOSE.

THAT WOULD MEAN IT WAS NEVER ABLE TO BE USED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THESE COURTS OR PARK IN THE FUTURE.

SO THAT'S THE CONCERN.

THAT'S WHY I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS.

SO WOULD YOU BE AGAINST THE DONATION GARDEN ALSO OR NO, THE DONATION GARDEN IS CURRENTLY A LEASE AGREEMENT WHERE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE'S NO MONEY EXCHANGING HANDS.

BUT THIS IS CITY OWNED LAND.

THE DONATION GARDEN DOES NOT HAVE CLAIM TO IT AND IT DOESN'T PREVENT US IN THE FUTURE, IF WE CHOOSE FOR USING THAT LAND FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE OR DEVELOPING IT.

THE DONATION GARDEN HAPPENS TO BE SITTING ON THAT LAND AT PRESENT, BUT WE ARE NOT BOUND TO CONTINUE THAT LEASE IN THE FUTURE IF WE SO CHOOSE.

WE DON'T HAVE A LEASE FOR THAT, DO WE? OH, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CARBON ORGANIZATION FOR THEM TO USE TO USE.

IT'S NOT A LEASE, THOUGH. WE DON'T HAVE A LEASE.

YES, BUT IT'S TO COUNCILMEMBER BENSON'S POINT.

IT'S NOT. IT DOES NOT TIE THAT TIE THAT LAND TO A PARK PURPOSE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS GETTING AT.

SO IT DOESN'T TIE IT TO A PARK.

THE GARDEN DOES NOT.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WHAT ABOUT THE THIS GRANT, IF WE HAVE A LOT OF THE GRANTS THAT YOU WOULD ACCEPT FOR IMPROVING PARKS, DO CARRY WITH THEM A REQUIREMENT TO PUT SOME KIND OF EITHER EASEMENT OR A DEED RESTRICTION ON THE LAND THAT USUALLY SAYS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF THAT THIS THIS LAND WILL BE USED FOR A PUBLIC PARK PURPOSE, BASICALLY IN THE PENSION TO ANY I CAN SAY THAT WORD PROPERLY PERPETUITY, PERPETUITY.

THAT'S IT. AND SO THAT'S SIMILAR TO LIKE WHEN WE TOOK THE DNR GRANT ON BIG ISLAND TO A GRANT RESTRICTION.

AND THAT'S IF YOU ACCEPT THE GRANT.

CORRECT. APPLYING FOR THE GRANT DOESN'T COMMIT YOU TO ANYTHING AT THIS POINT.

THE APPLICATION DOES NOT USUALLY WHAT FOLLOWS.

IF YOU ARE AWARDED THE GRANT AND IT WILL BE A GRANT AGREEMENT.

ONE OF THE CONDITIONS, USUALLY IN THE STATE LEVEL GRANTS IS SOME KIND OF RESTRICTION ON THE LAND.

OKAY, BUT THAT'S FUTURE.

IT IS JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE APPLICATION ITSELF BINDS YOU TO NOTHING, TO THE POINT THERE WILL BE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED, THEIR GIVING YOU MONEY.

SO THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S USED FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE.

THEY'LL WANT TO SECURE IT FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME IN MY OPINION, DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT, THE IN PERPETUITY, OR THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT'S ACTUALLY LOCKED UP. IT'S NOT ALWAYS AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS A GIVEN.

IT'S IN PERPETUITY.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, IN MY EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT AND MAKE IT FOR LESS TIME, BUT WITHOUT SEEING THE SPECIFIC TERMS AND WITHOUT SEEING THE AWARD LETTER.

IT IS A BIT OF A SPECULATION RIGHT NOW, BUT CERTAINLY THE APPLICATION DOESN'T BIND YOU TO.

OKAY. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? NO. I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING.

I SUPPORT THE PICKLEBALL.

I SUPPORT THE PARK.

SO IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.

YEAH. MAKE A MOTION.

MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 7522 TO APPLY FOR THE AGE FRIENDLY MINNESOTA COMMUNITY GRANT CROSBY.

SECOND. SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER VEACH.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? NO. THAT PASSES 4 TO 1 WITH BENSON AND THE DISSENT.

[00:15:03]

[20. Alcohol License]

OKAY, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS TO APPROVE AN ALCOHOL SALES APPLICATION.

THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL PROVIDE THE APPLICANT AND INTERESTED OR IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A COMMENT, PRESENT INFORMATION, VOICED CONCERNS, AND TESTIFY ON THE RECORD BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON VOTES.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY INPUT AS PART OF THE BUSINESS LICENSING PROCESS DEFINED BY OUR CITY CODE FOR NEW ALCOHOL ESTABLISHMENTS.

THE LICENSED APPLICANT IS THE TALAVERA MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 2160 WAYZATA BOULEVARD WEST.

THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW ALCOHOL SALES.

LICENSE ON SALE.

INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

CITY APPROVAL AND ESTABLISHMENT INSURANCE INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED WITH THE STATE FOR CERTIFICATION APPROVAL, AND THE LICENSE WILL AUTHORIZE SALES THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. IS THE APPLICANT HERE? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION AT ALL? COULD YOU COME UP TO THE MIC, PLEASE? IF THEY HAVE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.

FIRST? YOU'RE HERE FOR THE APPLICANT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, YOUR APPLICATION OR YOUR RESTAURANT BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

NO. NOT REALLY. WE'VE JUST BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER FOR.

BUT WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED.

WHERE'S THE RESTAURANT GOING TO BE LOCATED? IN THE ORONO SHOPPING CENTER.

OKAY. IT'S KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, RIGHT? YEAH. RIGHT. I REMEMBER APPROVING THAT THEY COULD DO A RESTAURANT BACK THERE.

YEP. YEAH. YEAH.

BACK IN MARCH OF 2023, WE STARTED THE PROCESS.

AWESOME. OKAY.

WE'LL SEE IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

WE'LL CALL YOU BACK UP. OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANKS. YEAH. GOOD LUCK.

I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ALCOHOL LICENSE.

IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE WHO'D LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK ON THE TOPIC, PLEASE COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

OKAY. SEEING NOBODY, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ANY THOUGHTS? OR I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

I LOVE TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR AREA.

SO I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LICENSE THAT THEY'RE APPLYING FOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES FIVE ZERO.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. GOOD LUCK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS THE CERTIFICATION OF DELINQUENT UTILITIES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.

[21. Certification of Delinquent Utilities and Accounts Receivable - Resolution 7518]

SO TONIGHT WE HAVE THE ASSESSMENT ROLL.

IN FRONT OF YOU FOR APPROVAL TO CERTIFY TO HENNEPIN COUNTY.

SO WE HAD STAFF HAD SENT OUT TWO NOTICES TO RESIDENTS WITH UNPAID UTILITY BILLS AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE INVOICES.

AND THEN WE HAD SENT OUT TWO NOTICES TO THE PAPER AS WELL.

THIS YEAR. SO BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW IS $113,000 TO BE CERTIFIED TO THE COUNTY BETWEEN 100 AND 40 PROPERTIES. BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER 15TH, PEOPLE, RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS CAN PAY THE BILL SO THAT LISTING WILL REDUCE AS WE GET CLOSER TO CERTIFYING THE ACTUAL ROLL TO THE COUNTY.

SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT AND THEN APPROVING THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TODAY.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE DELINQUENT UTILITIES.

IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME INTO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

YOU SEE NOBODY HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.

AND IF ANYBODY'S GOT A MOTION, I'LL BE GLAD TO HEAR IT.

I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 7518, CERTIFICATE OF DELINQUENT UTILITY BILLS AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE INVOICES TO HENNEPIN COUNTY FOR COLLECTION WITH THE 2025 PROPERTY TAXES.

COUNCILMEMBER JOHNSON.

I'LL SECOND IT. COUNCILMEMBER CROSBY.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? NOTE THAT THIS IS A 5 TO 0.

ALL RIGHT. OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PEOPLE ARE NOT HERE, SO I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE A REPORT FROM THEM.

FINANCE REPORT.

[22. Third Quarter Financial Update]

SO TONIGHT I HAVE THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2024 FINANCIAL UPDATE.

SO I WILL JUST DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON WHERE WE STAND.

[00:20:02]

I WILL START OFF WITH THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

SO LOOKING AT GENERAL FUND REVENUE, OUR TAXES ARE OUR BIGGEST REVENUE SOURCE.

WE ARE AT 50% OF THE BUDGET.

WE WILL SEE THE REMAINING 50% COME IN IN DECEMBER AND THEN A LITTLE CHUNK IN JANUARY OF 2025.

SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT WE HIT BUDGET FOR THAT LINE ITEM.

NEXT UP WE HAVE LICENSES AND PERMITS.

THAT'S AT 86.8%.

BUILDING PERMIT REVENUES ARE HIGHER THAN WE HAVE BUDGETED.

SO THAT'S A GOOD, GOOD NEWS.

AND I DO HAVE SLIDES AFTERWARDS TO SHOW WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY AT.

THAT WAS ALSO PRESENTED AT LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

OTHER GOVERNMENTAL REVENUE.

WE ARE AT 54.7%.

POLICE STATE EIGHT JUST CAME IN IN OCTOBER.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT IN THIS LINE ITEM CURRENTLY.

BUT YEAR TO DATE NOW AS OF OCTOBER, WE ARE ACTUALLY AT 140%.

BECAUSE POLICE DAY EIGHT CAME IN AT 75,000 OVER BUDGETED.

AND THEN CHARGES FOR SERVICE.

THAT'S AT 90.85%.

POLICE SERVICE CONTRACT.

WE HAVE BUILT THE SECOND HALF OF 2024 BACK IN JUNE.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT THAT'S WHY THAT LINE ITEM IS AT 90.85%.

WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT WILL MEET THE BUDGET AT 100% ONCE WE BILL OUT FOR THE REMAINING THREE MONTHS FOR THE REMAINING CITIES. AND THEN FINDS ADMIN CITATIONS ARE JUST LESS THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED FOR BUDGET.

SO THAT'S WE BUDGET FOR AN ESTIMATE.

SO THAT'S COMING IN LOWER THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED.

AND THEN INTEREST REVENUE.

WE ARE WITH THE AUDIT PROCESS AT YEAR END, AT THE BEGINNING OF 2025, WE ALLOCATE REVENUE.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT LINE ITEM IS ESSENTIALLY AT 0%.

AND THEN OTHER SOURCES AND TRANSFERS THOSE ARE JUST MISCELLANEOUS REFUNDS AND REIMBURSEMENTS.

SO WE ARE OVER BUDGET ON THAT LINE ITEM.

REVENUES LOOKING GOOD OVERALL.

RIGHT NOW IT'S 64.79%.

HOWEVER, WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT WE MEET OR EXCEED BUDGET FOR REVENUE SOURCE.

AND THEN JUST A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE QUARTERS AND THE YEARS.

QUARTER THREE CURRENTLY IS A LITTLE LOWER, BUT WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT WE WILL HIT 100% OF GENERAL FUND REVENUE, BUDGET AND THEN BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE.

JUST A QUICK COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO YEARS AND THEN THE MONTH.

SO THIS WAS SHOWN LAST COUNCIL MEETING AND THEN THIS WAS ALSO SHOWN LAST COUNCIL MEETING WITH LAURA'S UPDATE.

WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO MEET BUDGET AT 100% OR EVEN EXCEED BUDGET.

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE.

MAJORITY OF THE DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDER BUDGET.

UNDER THAT 75% EARMARK FOR THE YEAR.

THERE'S FOUR DEPARTMENTS THAT WE THAT ARE CURRENTLY OVER AT 75% MARK.

FIRST ONE A CENTRAL SERVICE WITH THE WITH THE REORGANIZATION OF THAT PARKS AND GOLF SUPERINTENDENT TO A PARKS AND FACILITIES SUPERINTENDENT. REALLOCATION OF WAGE IS CAUSING THAT LINE ITEM TO GO OVER.

AND THAT'S WHY THE PARKS LINE ITEM IS LOWER THAN LOWER THAN WHAT'S BUDGETED.

AND THEN SOME BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLIES IS CAUSING THAT LINE ITEM TO BE SLIGHTLY OVER AS WELL.

AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS IS OVER BUDGET AT 81.28% DUE TO TREE MAINTENANCE AND THEN AND CONTRACTED STREET MAINTENANCE.

THAT'S TRENDING SLIGHTLY OVER AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS SPRING PARK IS SLIGHTLY OVER.

THAT'S A REVENUE SOURCE AS WELL.

SO IT'S OFFSET BY THE REVENUE THAT WE GET FROM SPRING PARK.

AND THE REASONING WHY THAT'S OVER IS DUE TO WAGES AND AS SPECIAL SERVICE IS ANOTHER LINE ITEM, THAT REVENUE OFFSETS THIS LINE ITEM AS WELL FROM THE CONTRACT THAT POLICE SERVICE.

SPECIAL SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE, AS WELL AS SOME CONSULTING AND ENGINEERING PASS THROUGH BILLS THAT WE SEE OFFSETTING WHAT THE REVENUE STREAM.

AND THEN SOME NEW INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED THIS LAST QUARTER.

I'M ANTICIPATING THAT RATES ARE GOING TO DROP AGAIN.

FEDS ARE GOING TO CUT RATES AGAIN TWO MORE TIMES THIS YEAR IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

SO TRY AND LOCK IN SOME OF THOSE INTEREST RATES.

DIVERSIFY OUR MATURE MATURITIES TO TO HAVE SOME INVESTMENT OUTWARDS TO 2028 AND 2029.

[00:25:07]

AND THEN TO WRAP UP 2024 INTEREST THAT WE'VE EARNED YEAR TO DATE, WE ARE AT 443,000.

SO I WILL BE ALLOCATING THIS INTEREST BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT FUNDS WITH THE AUDIT PROCESS.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MAGGIE.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MAGGIE? NO. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER FINAL REPORT FROM YOU, MAGGIE? NOPE. JUST WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENT STUFF.

WORKING THROUGH BUDGET PROCESS.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS.

THANK YOU. ANY NO PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT? CITY ATTORNEY REPORT.

ARE WE NOT HAVING A PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT?

[Public Safety Report]

SO HE'S NOT HERE TO REPORT.

I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, ADAM.

I THINK YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT.

CAN YOU? WITH THE ADDITION OF THE NUMBER 12 ITEM TONIGHT OF HIRING AN ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTER.

CAN YOU GIVE US A CURRENT COUNT, PLEASE, IF YOU KNOW IT, OF BOTH THE PART TIME EMPLOYEES OF ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS PAID ON CALL, DO YOU HAVE THOSE NUMBERS OR NO? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DO NOT.

OKAY. COME UP HERE.

THAT'D BE GREAT. YES.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

CITY ATTORNEY REPORT.

MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I DON'T HAVE ANY UPDATES FOR TONIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT'LL BRING US BACK TO ADAM FOR OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR.

[City Administrator/Engineer Report]

JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK UPDATES.

RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY BOTH IN THE NATION AND IN OUR CITY HALL, WE ARE RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF ELECTIONS.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT AS OF JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING, WE HAD COLLECTED JUST OVER 9900 BALLOTS IN THE CITY. WE HAVE 6 6625 REGISTERED VOTERS.

AND SO WE'RE COMING RIGHT UP ON 30% OF OUR REGISTERED VOTERS HAVING TAKEN THE OPTION TO CAST A BALLOT EARLY.

SO, WE'VE HAD WE'VE SEEN A VERY STEADY STREAM COMING INTO CITY HALL TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS TO VOTE.

SO THAT IS A VERY GOOD THING.

THE OTHER THING IS JUST A QUICK UPDATE.

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH A FIBER COMMUNICATIONS CABLE COMPANY TO TO ENTER INTO A NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AND FOR THEM TO EXTEND SERVICES INTO THE CITY.

AND JUST AS AN UPDATE, THERE'S A THERE'S A STATUTORY PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH FOR THAT.

AND SO WE HAVE BEGUN THAT PROCESS WITH THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 25TH OF NOVEMBER AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING.

TO ENTERTAIN ANY APPLICATIONS WITH THAT ONE.

BUT AND THEN AND THEN THERE'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY SHOULD THAT ALL GO WELL TO THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AT THE DECEMBER MEETING? AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

THIS IS THE MIDCO ORGANIZATION THAT'S LOOKING TO COME IN AND PUT FIBER IN EVERYBODY'S HOUSE IN ORONO.

AND IT WOULD START OUT ON THE WEST, THE WEST END OF ORONO ACRES THERE IN MINNETRISTA WORKING RIGHT NOW.

AND THEY WOULD MOVE EAST, BUT THEY'VE COMMITTED TO BRING FIBER TO EVERYBODY.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

AND SO THEY HAVE AGREED.

THEY HAVE AGREED TO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AND EVERYTHING MOVING FORWARD.

BUT THERE IS A PROCESS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND STUFF BEFORE THEY CAN ACTUALLY OFFICIALLY SIGN AN AGREEMENT.

LITTLE, LITTLE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY TO A MONTH OR TWO TO KIND OF GET THROUGH THAT, ESSENTIALLY.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S COMING.

AND THEY SAID IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 12 TO 24 MONTHS BEFORE THEY CAN GET ALL OF ORONO DONE MORE BECAUSE OF THE SPREAD OUT NATURE AND OF ALL THE LAYING OF ALL THE FIBER THAT THEY HAVE TO DO IN ORONO.

NORMALLY IT'S ABOUT A 12 MONTH, BUT THEY'RE SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE 12 TO 24 MONTHS JUST BECAUSE OF ALL THAT.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS? FIBER IS COMING TO YOUR HOUSE.

AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

IT'S AN AWESOME TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING.

AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE CURRENT TALLY, IS SEVEN PAID ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS AND 12 PART TIME.

AND THEN OF COURSE, ONE FULL TIME.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

THAT'S IT FOR CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENGINEER REPORT.

ALL RIGHT THEN WE HAVE TWO COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[Council Committee Reports]

I THINK THAT'S MARIE AND RICHARD.

SURE. I'LL TAKE IT.

IT WAS A QUICK AND CORDIAL MEETING.

REVIEWED THE BUDGET THAT WE HAD ALL SEEN OR TALKED ABOUT THE LAST TIME AND RELOOKED OVER THE PROPOSED CIP THAT WE DISCUSSED IN OUR WORK SESSION.

[00:30:04]

ALL RIGHT. THEN WE ALSO HAD THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE MET ON THE NEXT DAY, ON OCTOBER 24TH.

THAT WAS ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT.

THERE'S NOT MUCH TO REPORT ON.

WE ESSENTIALLY DISCUSSED AHEAD OF TIME THE ITEMS THAT WE ALREADY VOTED ON TONIGHT.

14, 15 AND 16.

REGARDING THE EARLY RETIREMENT OF A PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE, AS WELL AS A RESIGNATION OF A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN.

SO WE WERE UPDATED BY STAFF ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT'LL BRING US TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, WHICH IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES A PERSON.

[Public Comments]

THE COUNCIL WILL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION OR TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS PRESENTED AT THIS TIME.

HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAY REFER ISSUES TO STAFF FOR FOLLOW UP OR CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE MEETING.

SPEAKERS SHOULD STATE THEIR NAME AND HOME ADDRESS AT THE PODIUM BEFORE SPEAKING.

THE COUNCIL WILL FIRST OPEN THE PODIUM TO THE CITY OF ORONO RESIDENTS, BEFORE OPENING THE PODIUM TO ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

ADAM IS OUR TIMEKEEPER.

IT SHOULD BE RIGHT ON THE VIDEO SCREEN UP HERE AS YOU'RE TALKING.

SO, IF THERE'S ANY ORONO RESIDENTS, I'D LIKE TO COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

HI, MY NAME IS EVIE KNAPP.

I LIVE AT 85 CRISTOFORI CIRCLE.

I JUST WANT TO THANK ALISA BENSON FOR BEING THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAS SUPPORTED THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS HERE IN ORONO SINCE SHE WAS ELECTED.

SHE IS THE ONLY MEMBER WHO HAS VOTED IN FAVOR OF WHAT WE WANT BECAUSE SHE HAS SPENT TIME LISTENING TO US.

SHE HAS SAT UP HERE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS TOWN, ONLY TO GET RIDICULED AND BULLIED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL.

FOR EXAMPLE, SHE HAD MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE EYE ROLLS AND RUDE COMMENTS THAT SHE RECEIVED WAS PRETTY DISGUSTING TO WATCH.

I'M SO HAPPY THAT SHE DECIDED TO STAY ON BOARD, AND I'M PRETTY SURE SHE WILL HAVE A NEW MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE MORE INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND NOT TRYING TO PLEASE THE MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM ONE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? YES. KELLY PERKEL 4705 WATERTOWN ROAD.

TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO READ THE MAYOR'S OWN WORDS WHEN SPEAKING AT A CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, 2014.

I QUOTE, I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT ON THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND I ACTUALLY DO SAY, AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.

AND THAT IS TYPICALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS WHEN WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING LIKE THIS.

AND WHAT I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS IS THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME TROUBLE HAVING PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET UP TO SPEAK DURING AGENDA ITEMS, BEFORE VOTES AND BEFORE MOTIONS ARE TAKEN.

I KNOW I'VE HAD PROBLEMS. I KNOW THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, THE PEOPLE RAISING THEIR HANDS WERE NOT ABLE TO GET UP HERE.

AND THE REASON WE HAVE THIS IS TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT AREN'T ON THE AGENDA SPECIFICALLY IS BECAUSE ON THE AGENDA, WE SHOULD BE ASKING FOR PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE ANY MOTION OR ANY VOTE IS HAPPENING.

AND I KNOW I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT THIS AFTER THE MEETING AND SUBSEQUENTLY NOW, AND THAT SHE DISAGREED WITH ME, THAT SHE DOES NOT NEED TO ASK FOR PUBLIC INPUT. AND IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I HAVEN'T HAD AN EXPLANATION AS TO THE REASONING WHY YOU CANNOT ASK FOR PUBLIC INPUT DURING AN OPEN MEETING ON AGENDA ITEMS. SO BARRING THE FACT THAT THERE REALLY IS NO EXCUSE, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD RATIONALLY COME UP WITH AN EXCUSE THAT YOU SHOULD LIMIT THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO TALK ON AGENDA ITEMS, SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY TIME YOU'LL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO ACTUALLY HAVE ANY PUBLIC INPUT ON AN AGENDA ITEM AT A PUBLIC MEETING. SO THAT'S THE COMPLAINT.

WHAT'S THE SOLUTION? MY SOLUTION IS THAT THE COUNCIL ADOPT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING, WHICH IT IS, AND THAT YOU WILL ASK FOR PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE ANY MOTION OR VOTE ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS, WHICH I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO COME UP HERE AND SAY, THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK.

I KNOW IF I'M ON THE COUNCIL, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I WOULD EXPECT, AND I THINK THE RULES AND PROCEDURES ARE MEANT TO BE THERE.

SO WE HAVE INPUT.

END QUOTE.

MY, HOW FAR WE'VE COME, MR. MAYOR. AND HONESTLY, IT'S JUST SO DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR HOW IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, CITIZEN INPUT IS.

AND THEN DOING A FULL 180 BLOCKING COMMENTS ON REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS, REDUCING COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES, MOVING THEM TO THE END OF THE MEETING AFTER ALL THE VOTING HAS BEEN COMPLETED, AND REMOVING THE DETAILS OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE MINUTES.

I BELIEVE YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY STIFLING RESIDENT INPUT TO PURSUE YOUR OWN INTERESTS AND THOSE OF YOUR FRIENDS.

[00:35:09]

OUR COMMENTS AND INPUT MATTER.

VOTE TUNHEIM, PERSIAN AND RICKS ON TUESDAY.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE FROM HONOR THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? SEEING NOBODY ELSE FROM ORONO IS THERE.

IT'S OPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE TO COME UP AT THIS POINT.

KELLY GRADY, LONG LAKE I'LL BE READING AN EMAIL I RECEIVED.

I'M WATCHING WHAT IS HAPPENING AND I NEEDED A THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY.

MY POEM IS FOR YOU TO SHARE, BUT PLEASE KEEP MY EMAIL ADDRESS PRIVATE.

I WORK IN THE AREA AND KNOW WALSH IS SOMEONE THAT WOULD EMPLOY RETALIATION, SO PREFER TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE.

THE FLAME OF TRUTH LONG LAKE STANDS TALL IN THE HEART OF LONG LAKE, WHERE WATERS GLEAM BRIGHT.

STOOD A CITY UNWAVERING AND READY TO FIGHT.

FIRE BURNED NOT IN HOMES OR IN SKIES, BUT IN THE HEART OF ITS PEOPLE.

AGAINST ORONO LIES FROM ORONO THE WORDS OF VEACH, CROSBY AND MORE WITH JOHNSON AND WALSH WITH THEIR CLAIMS TO THE FORE, THEY SPREAD TWISTED TALES WITH DARKNESS AND TOW, HOPING LONG LAKE'S PRIDE WOULD FOLLOW.

THEY JUSTIFIED THEIR CHOICE WITH RESEARCH SO FLAWED THEIR OWN NUMBERS TWISTED THEIR CONCLUSIONS.

ROD ORONO BOASTED A NEW FIRE PLAN, BUT THE DATA THEY USED WAS BUILT ON QUICKSAND.

BUT LONG LAKE STOOD FIRM WITH COURAGE AND GRACE.

THEIR FIREMEN HAD ALWAYS PROTECTED THE PLACE THEY FOUGHT.

THE FLAMES SAVED LIVES FROM DESPAIR.

YET ORONO DISPARAGED AND ACTING UNFAIR.

ORONO FIREMEN WITH HEARTS IN THE RIGHT WERE GOOD AND BRAVE AND READY FOR THE FIGHT, BUT THEIR LEADERS FAILED THEM, WITH VAN DALE'S POOR PLAN BETRAYING THEIR TRUST AS ONLY WEAK LEADERS CAN.

THE COUNCIL OF ORONO AND [INAUDIBLE] AND COLD, WITH VEACH, CROSBY JOHNSON AND WALSH GROWING BOLD USE FAULTY LOGIC TO JUSTIFY THEIR FALL.

THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT DOOMED AND MISGUIDED BY ALL.

ONLY BENSON STOOD TALL, HONEST AND TRUE.

AMID A COUNCIL OF SHADOWS, A VOICE THAT BROKE THROUGH WHILE THE OTHERS CONSPIRED WITH DECEIT IN THEIR HAND.

BENSON DEFENDED WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR THE LAND.

BUT THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE STARTING TO RISE.

A NEW HOPE FOR ORONO AND CLEARER SKIES.

WE LOOK TO A FUTURE WITH LEADERS SO WISE.

WITH MAYOR TUNHEIM AND TRUTH IN THEIR EYES.

WITH PERSIAN AND REX BY HIS SIDE.

THEY'LL BRING BACK CIVILITY WITH GRACE AS THEIR NEW GUIDE.

NO MORE THE DIVISION.

NO MORE LIES, BUT UNITY AND HONOR WHERE JUSTICE APPLIES.

THE TRUTH CAME TO LIGHT.

THE NUMBERS WERE CLEAR.

LONG LAKE'S FIREMEN HAD NOTHING TO FEAR.

WHILE ORONO BRIGADE, UNDER POOR COMMAND FALTERED NOT BY THEIR OWN, BUT BY A WEAK HAND.

STILL VEACH JOHN CROSBY JOHNSON, CROSBY AND WALSH KEPT PUSHING THEIR FALSEHOODS BITTER AND HARSH.

BUT LONG LAKE ROSE HIGHER, THEIR SPIRIT ABLAZE, DEFENDING THE NAME, THEIR NAME THROUGH THE DARKEST OF DAYS AGAINST ORONO FALSEHOODS.

THEY LIFTED THEIR MIGHT, PROVING THEIR SERVICE IN BROAD DAYLIGHT.

LONG LAKE FIRE, WITH HEART STRONG AND WIDE, STOOD FOR THE TRUTH.

WITH THEIR HONOR AS THEIR GUIDE.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ELECTIONS AHEAD.

WE HOPE FOR NEW LEADERS WITH WISDOM.

INSTEAD, MAYOR TUNHEIM WITH PERSIAN AND RICKS WILL RESTORE ORONO WITH DIGNITY.

FIXED SO LONG LAKE STANDS PROUD, ITS FLAME BURNING TRUE A BEACON OF JUSTICE IN SKIES CLEAR AND BLUE.

NO LIE CAN EXTINGUISH THEIR VALOR.

SO BRIGHT. FOR LONG LAKE'S FIRE BURNS IN ETERNAL LIGHT.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TONIGHT? SEEING NOBODY ELSE, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND BRING IT UP TO THE MAYOR.

COUNCIL REPORT. COUNCIL MEMBER BENSON.

[Mayor/Council Report]

AND THIS CAME ABOUT AS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT IN CONGRESS TO RECOGNIZE POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, EMTS, AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE FIRST ON THE SCENE DURING STRESSFUL AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

OUR CITY HAS BEEN PUBLICLY GRAPPLING WITH HOW WE PROVIDE FIRE SERVICE FOR YEARS, AND THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN FRONT AND CENTER DURING THE ENTIRETY OF MY TIME ON THIS COUNCIL. SO I THOUGHT TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY TO ADDRESS THE CONTINUED CRITICISM FROM SOME MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ABOUT MY DECISION NOT TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF SPENDING ON AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THIS POLICY DECISION HAS RESULTED IN SOME ASSERTING THAT I DON'T SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS, THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY, OR THAT I'M PERSONALLY PUTTING OUR CITIZENS AT RISK BY VOTING AGAINST HIRING STAFF AND SPENDING ON LARGE CAPITAL PURCHASES FOR AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRST, I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR ALL THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO SERVE, WHETHER IN A FULL TIME, PART TIME OR PAID ON CALL CAPACITY.

MY GOAL IS TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT PROVIDE QUALITY, COST EFFECTIVE FIRE AND EMS SERVICE TO OUR

[00:40:10]

FUNDING AN INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT IS NOT NECESSARY.

WE'VE BENEFITED FROM QUALITY, COST EFFECTIVE FIRE SERVICE FROM THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR DECADES.

AND WHILE BETTER ARRANGEMENTS OR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS CAN SOMETIMES BE NECESSARY, WE DO NOT NEED AN INDEPENDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SERVICE OUR CITY. OUR CITY IS NOT GROWING SIGNIFICANTLY, AND IT AVERAGES LESS THAN ONE CALL PER DAY.

SO MY VOTE IS IN OPPOSITION OF THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE MADE KNOWING FROM HISTORY THAT A VIABLE SOLUTION FOR FIRE SERVICE.

EXISTS AND CAN BE IMPROVED UPON WITHOUT HAVING TO GO IT ALONE, IN FACT.

THAT PHRASE IS SOMETHING THAT'S AT ODDS WITH THE PREMISE OF FIRE.

SERVICE IN GENERAL, AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE NO OTHER EFFECTIVE OPTION EXISTS.

AND THAT'S NOT. WHERE WE STAND TODAY.

I'VE RECENTLY SEEN THE DRONE FOOTAGE FROM THE RECENT FIRE AT THE OLD LOG THEATER, AND THE COORDINATED RESPONSE TO THAT INCIDENT IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW NO DEPARTMENT ULTIMATELY GOES IT ALONE.

FIRE SERVICE IS ABOUT TRUST, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND COORDINATED EFFORTS.

AND THOSE ARE THREE AREAS THAT I'VE NOT SEEN IMPROVED SINCE THE CREATION OF AN ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE LAKES COMMUNITY.

IT'S QUITE EASY TO ARGUE THE EXACT OPPOSITE, WE'RE AT ODDS WITH OUR CITIZENS, OUR NEIGHBORS, AND ARE INVOLVED IN A WIDELY PUBLICIZED LAWSUIT THAT'S RESULTED IN US ALSO BEING AT ODDS WITH THE COURT.

NOT ONLY IS GOING IT ALONE A RISKY AND EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR, IT'S ONE THAT OUR CITY LEADERSHIP TOOK WITHOUT COLLABORATION WITH OUR RESIDENTS, THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY THE DECISION.

THE REASON THAT I VOTE NO ON THESE EXPENDITURES AND HIRES IS BECAUSE THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT IS AT ODDS WITH OUR DUTY TO INCLUDE OUR RESIDENTS IN MAJOR CITY DECISIONS.

WITH THE CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE MAKING PROJECTIONS AS A CITY ABOUT POSSIBLE LARGE FUTURE EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING THE FIRE STATION ON WILLOW STATION ONE.

THE STATION. THIS STATION HAS OWNERSHIP ISSUE INVOLVES A HOST OF UNKNOWN VARIABLES.

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES ABOUT WHAT LONG LAKE WILL OR WILL NOT DO IN REGARD TO THEIR 50% OWNERSHIP OF THIS BUILDING, THE PROSPECT OF OPERATING TWO DIFFERENT FIRE DEPARTMENTS OUT OF ONE BUILDING WAS ADDRESSED IN THE LEGAL DEPOSITIONS TAKEN RECENTLY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ORONO AND LONG LAKE HAVE VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE FEASIBILITY OF SHARING THAT SPACE.

AND THE IRONY IS THAT THROUGH OUR ACTIONS, THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT MAY HAVE TO SHARE A PHYSICAL BUILDING, A PRIMARY FIRE STATION WITH THE LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT PRECISELY BECAUSE WE CANNOT SHARE IN DECISION MAKING OR CAPITAL PURCHASING WITH THE SAME CITY.

THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT CURRENTLY HAVE ENOUGH TRUST OR POSITIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LONG LAKE COUNCIL TO FIND A REASONABLE SOLUTION FOR FUNDING AND DELIVERY OF FIRE SERVICE, AND THIS COULD RESULT IN OUR FIREFIGHTERS HAVING TO SHARE SPACE WITHIN THE SAME BUILDING AND TRYING TO SORT OUT ALL SORTS OF COMPLEXITIES WHILE AT THE SAME TIME NAVIGATING WHAT IS A VERY STRESSFUL WORK AT BASELINE.

IT'S TO BEGIN WITH.

SO ALL THIS BECAUSE CITY LEADERSHIP FAILED TO REACH A COMPROMISE AT THE TOP.

WE'VE NOT BROUGHT IN AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT TO GUIDE US.

WE HAVE NOT HELD OPEN FORUMS WITH OUR RESIDENTS.

WE'VE PLOWED AHEAD AND BUILT BUILDING AND FUNDING THIS ENDEAVOR.

SO IT'S PRECISELY BECAUSE I SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND A SAFE, WELL-FUNDED ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL FIRST RESPONDERS THAT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF AN ORONO, INDEPENDENT, ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND AS A CITY OFFICIAL, I WILL ALWAYS LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE WHAT WE DO.

BUT IN THIS CASE, NOTHING LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT HIRING PERSONNEL AND BUYING EQUIPMENT FOR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS OR WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE FIRE SERVICE THAT WE HAVE HAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE FROM LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

JUST LIKE MYSELF, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE EACH ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN VOTES AROUND THIS ISSUE.

WE CAN DISAGREE ON POLICY WHILE NOT CALLING INTO QUESTION ANOTHER'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY OR TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO DO THIS INVALUABLE WORK. SO THANKS TO ALL OF THEM.

AGAIN, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

COUNCILMAN VEACH, SIR.

[00:45:05]

RIGHT. I ATTENDED THE ORONO WESTONKA SOCCER CLUB'S GRAND OPENING.

THAT WAS OVER THE WEEKEND.

SO IT'S A REALLY GREAT COMMUNITY PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS BOTH MOUND AND ORONO STUDENTS TO HAVE A SOCCER FACILITY IN TOWN.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY AWESOME.

AND THEN I GUESS THE OTHER THINGS TO HIT ON ARE HALLOWEEN'S COMING UP.

BE MINDFUL OF KIDS IN THE STREETS, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE GREAT HALLOWEEN CANDY TO PASS OUT, IF YOU SO CHOOSE.

AND THAT VOTING INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE IF YOU WANT TO COME IN BEFORE TUESDAY.

THAT'S IT FOR ME.

COUNCIL MEMBER CROSBY.

TIM. I'D LIKE TO START OUT BY SAYING TODAY'S DATE HAS GREAT SIGNIFICANCE FOR MY FAMILY.

THIS IS THE DATE THAT I LOST TWO OF MY MOTHERS.

MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY BACK IN 2021, ON THE 28TH.

AND MY MOTHER IN LAW, WHO WAS A WONDERFUL LADY, PASSED AWAY ON THE SAME DAY BACK IN 2012.

SO I KNOW THEY ARE BOTH UP IN HEAVEN.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT ME RIGHT NOW.

I'M SURE MY MOTHER IS WONDERING, WHAT IS HE GOING TO SAY? I'M THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER UP HERE THAT'S BEEN A FIREFIGHTER.

I'M THE PERSON WHO SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER TEN YEARS.

I'VE GOTTEN SNICKERS AND SNICKERS FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE I WAS THE GUY WHO WAS GETTING OUT OF BED AT 12:00 IN THE MORNING TO GO HELP SOMEBODY.

I WAS THE GUY WHO GOT IN THE FIRE AND FOUGHT THE FIRE TO SAVE YOUR PROPERTY.

I WAS THE GUY WHO MISSED WORK TO GO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I DID IT FOR TEN STRAIGHT YEARS.

SO AS A FIREFIGHTER, IF WE SIT HERE AND WE MAKE VOTES AND WE DO NOT SUPPORT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE PERSON.

IT SAYS YOU'RE NOT SUPPORTING THE FIREFIGHTERS, YOU'RE NOT SUPPORTING THE DEPARTMENT, AND YOU'RE NOT SUPPORTING YOUR COMMUNITY.

THE THING IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED FOR YEARS.

THE FACTS OF THE MATTER ARE LONG LAKES.

EDGE OF THE BILL WAS ABOUT 7 TO 8%.

ORONO PAID THE BARREL OF THE BUDGET.

WE WERE IN NEGOTIATIONS.

WE ASKED THEM TO LET US TAKE OVER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT.

THEY REFUSED.

SO IN SIMPLISTIC MANNER, THIS DISCUSSION IS ABOUT THE CITY OF ORONO DOES NOT WANT TO PAY LONG LAKE'S BILLS ANYMORE.

WE'VE DONE IT FOR TOO LONG AND TO SIT BACK AND VOTE AGAINST PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT AND HIRING PEOPLE WHEN OUR MAIN JOB AS A CITY IS TO KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE.

IT DOESN'T HOLD WATER TO SAY THAT YOU CARE.

IT DOESN'T. IT'S POLITICAL.

IT'S POLITICAL.

NO, NO, THIS IS OUR MEETING.

THIS IS OUR MEETING. YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER.

YOU CAN SIT DOWN. HE'S NOT ABLE TO ATTACK YOU YET.

YOU DON'T NEED.

HOLD ON. I DID NOT.

I DID NOT INTERRUPT ANYBODY.

I'D RATHER HAVE YOU NOT INTERRUPT ME.

NO, YOU SIT DOWN.

YOU DON'T GET TO CALL THE ORDER.

YOU DON'T GET TO CALL THE ORDER.

SIT DOWN. IS THAT LEGAL? SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN.

BEHAVE YOURSELF. THIS IS FREE SPEECH.

THIS IS DISCUSSION HERE.

ASK. BEHAVE YOURSELF.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BENSON.

ASK HIM TO SIT DOWN.

COUNCIL MEMBER. BENSON.

I'M NOT GOING TO KEEP MY OPINION TO MYSELF.

OKAY. EVERYBODY IS ENTITLED TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS.

I LISTENED RESPECTFULLY AS PEOPLE GOT UP TO THE MIC AND THEY DID THE SAME THING TIME AFTER TIME.

I DIDN'T SAY A WORD.

I DIDN'T INTERRUPT ANYBODY.

PLEASE GIVE ME THE SAME RESPECT.

WE CAN DISAGREE ON OPINIONS, BUT I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING THAT'S NOT FACTUAL.

IT'S NOT.

I WAS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

MATT JOHNSON WAS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

SO WAS MARIA.

AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IT IS OUR CITY.

IT IS OUR DOLLARS ON THE TABLE.

OKAY. NOW, IF THE CONSTITUENTS OF ORONO DECIDE TO GO A DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE.

I'M NOT RUNNING.

[00:50:01]

YOU'RE VOTING AGAINST KIDS PLAYING OUTSIDE IN PARKS.

YOU'RE VOTING AGAINST PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

100%. YOU'RE VOTING AGAINST THE COUNCIL THAT STOOD UP FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND STOOD UP FOR THE FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN OUR AREA TO HAVE FREE SPEECH.

WE DID NOT CLOSE DOWN PUBLIC COMMENTS.

WE MOVED THEM TO THE BACK OF THE MEETING.

THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE SCHOOL BOARD, THEY SHUT DOWN PARENTAL DISCUSSION.

THAT'S A FACT.

THEY SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T DO IT NOW.

PEOPLE WERE UPSET BECAUSE WE MOVED THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE BACK OF THE MEETING.

IT'S BECAUSE THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY HAD THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR WORK TAKEN CARE OF AND APPLIED TO AND DONE.

THAT'S WHY WE DID IT.

BUT WE NEVER SHUT DOWN PUBLIC COMMENTS.

EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN ATTACKED, WE'VE BEEN YELLED AT, WE'VE BEEN CURSED AT, WE'VE BEEN THREATENED AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

BUT WE NEVER SHUT IT DOWN.

THE MAYOR HAS STOOD UP AND STOOD WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS AND FREE SPEECH 100%.

SO THESE ARE FACTS.

YOU COULD SHAKE YOUR HEAD ALL YOU WANT, BUT THE REALITY IS WE JUST GOT THE DIATRIBES AT THE END OF THE MEETING AND IT'S THE SAME REHEARSED STUFF AGAIN. I'M NOT RUNNING AGAIN.

PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE A BIG DECISION.

NOW YOU LOOK AT THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS CITY.

IT'S BEEN OUTSTANDING.

WE HAVE THE LOWEST TAX INCREASE OUT OF ANY NEIGHBORING CITY WHATSOEVER.

WE HAVE THE LOWEST REFERENDUMS. WE BUILT A BRAND NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY.

WE PAID OFF BONDS.

WE BORROWED THE MONEY AT AN INCREDIBLE RATE.

WE HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS FOR THIS CITY AND WE IMPROVE THE ROADS WHEN WE NEVER HAD A ROADS BUDGET IN THE PAST.

THIS IS A CITY OUR CITIZENS CAN BE PROUD OF.

IF YOU WANT THE CITY TO LOOK LIKE ST.

LOUIS PARK OR MINNEAPOLIS.

VOTE FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATES.

IF YOU DON'T, YOUR CHOICE IS CLEAR.

YOU CAN LAUGH ALL YOU WANT, BUT THAT'S THE CASE.

THAT'S THE CASE.

SO, LET'S TALK [INAUDIBLE].

ALL RIGHT. I THINK I'VE SAID ALL I NEEDED TO SAY.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, I WISH ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING HERE, AND I'VE GOT AN ELECTION.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.

AND BE SAFE OUT THERE ON HALLOWEEN.

I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THIS LAST WEEK ON, YOU KNOW, AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO A GARAGE FIRE THAT WAS DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY WITHIN MINUTES.

PREVENTING IT FROM BEING A LARGER FIRE.

AND SO I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD OF THAT DEPARTMENT OF WHAT THEY'VE ACHIEVED AND JUST WANTED TO HONOR FIRST RESPONDERS DAY.

AND THEN WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO OUR, YOU KNOW, POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THIS AND OF COURSE, OUR PUBLIC WORK STAFF THE SAME THE LAST THING WAS JUST TO IN THE WORK SESSION YOU KNOW, THE CITY CONTINUES TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE, YOU KNOW, GROWING DEER POPULATION THAT'S COME UP ABOUT EFFECTIVE WAYS TO DO THAT.

SO WE ARE SPENT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AT THE AT THE WORK SESSION, TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE GETTING SOME MORE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND HELPING US CONTROL OUR POPULATION.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAD.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, I ECHO WHAT MARIA TALKED ABOUT.

HALLOWEEN. MAKE SURE HALLOWEEN, THERE'S GONNA BE LOTS OF KIDS OUT.

I KNOW WE WENT.

ME AND MY WIFE WENT DOWN TO WAYZATA THIS LAST SATURDAY AND HAD LUNCH AT MCGARRY'S AND WATCHED ALL THE LITTLE KIDS AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE COSTUMES AND THE PARENTS AND INCREDIBLE COSTUMES DURING THE DAYTIME, WALKING AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THAT WAS THAT WAS FUN TO WATCH.

WE USED TO HAVE OUR KIDS THERE, SO NOW MY KIDS ARE TEENAGERS, SO I DON'T HAVE MY KIDS THERE.

AND WE DON'T GET ANY KIDS IN HALLOWEEN EITHER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S THE ONLY TIME WE GET TO GO SEE THEM.

ALSO GOT TO VISIT A WEEK AGO TUESDAY.

THE ORONO FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD THEIR FIRST TIME WHERE THEY WERE AT THE NAVARRE LUNDS, AND THEY HAD A BIG HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT INSIDE LUNDS.

AND THE WHOLE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE AND THEY WERE ALL THERE.

IT WAS FUN TO GO OVER AND SEE EVERYBODY AND SHAKE THEIR HANDS AND TELL THEM HOW MUCH I APPRECIATED THEIR SERVICE, BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING AN ABSOLUTE BLAST WITH THE KIDS AND LOOKING AT THE TRUCK, AND THEY HAD THE BIG LADDER, BUT AS FAR AS HIGH AS IT COULD GO, IT WAS IT WAS PRETTY FUN TO SEE.

WE HAD JUST THIS LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WE HAD ME HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

SO AS USUAL, WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN OUR KIDS DURING ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THROUGH THE YEAR TO DIFFERENT PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE WENT TO THE WASHINGTON, DC AND WENT TO ALL THE MONUMENTS AND SAW LOTS OF THINGS.

I THINK PROBABLY THE THING THAT WAS MOST STRIKING WAS GOING TO THE ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AND WATCHING THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER.

[00:55:02]

EVERY MINUTE THEY'RE WALKING BACK AND FORTH FOR AN HOUR BEFORE THEY CHANGE THAT OUT.

AND WE ALSO GOT TO WATCH LANE TWO WREATHS.

AND BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL IN MINNEAPOLIS, ONE OF THE REASONS WAS FROM THE CHANHASSEN OR THE CHASKA EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS KIND OF COOL.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM MINNESOTA THERE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY.

IT'S PRETTY. THE TREES WERE BUDDING AND LOTS OF PEOPLE OUT RUNNING.

WEATHER WAS GREAT.

SO I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH A COUPLE QUOTES.

KIND OF ALONG THOSE LINES.

ONE IS FROM AUTHOR MARK TWAIN.

HE SAYS WE ARE CALLED THE NATION OF INVENTORS, AND WE ARE.

WE COULD STILL CLAIM THAT TITLE AND WHERE ITS LOFTIEST HONORS, IF WE HAD STOPPED WITH THE FIRST THING WE EVER INVENTED, WHICH WAS HUMAN LIBERTY.

THE LAST ONE I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH IS BY PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN.

HE SAYS FREEDOM IS NEVER MORE THAN ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM EXTINCTION.

WE DIDN'T PASS IT TO OUR CHILDREN IN THE BLOODSTREAM.

IT MUST BE FOUGHT FOR, PROTECTED AND HANDED ON FOR THEM TO DO THE SAME.

OR ONE DAY WE WILL SPEND OUR SUNSET YEARS TELLING OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN WHAT IT WAS ONCE LIKE IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE MEN WERE FREE.

MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. WE ARE ADJOURNED.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.