02-11-2019 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,February 11,2019 7:00 o'clock p.m. HRA ANNUAL MEETING Seals moved,Crosby seconded,to recess the Orono City Council meeting at 8:02 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Walsh moved,Seals seconded,to convene the HRA meeting at 8:02 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Printup moved,Seals seconded,to reconvene the Orono City Council meeting at 8:04 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Johnson stated the City is continuing to look at some public/private partnerships on different things and that the Big Island Committee will be looking at adding some bike trails. In addition,someone with the Orono Hockey Board has approached him about possibly creating a partnership with the City about having an ice rink with additional facilities. That person has been referred to the City Administrator. Walsh commented it could be a biking or walking trail and could possibly dovetail into the Long Lake Trail that is being developed. Crosby commented he hopes people are taking advantage of the sledding opportunities at the golf course. Given all the snow and ice,he would encourage everyone to drive safely and be careful if using space heaters. Crosby recommended having fire extinguishers nearby and making sure all vents are clear of snow and ice to help prevent a house fire. Printup asked what the status is on the ice rinks. Printup commented the new ice rink seems to be more of a challenge than what it was intended to be. Rief stated it has become a definite challenge trying to upkeep them and the City was not fully prepared to handle it. At first the weather was not cold enough to create ice and now there is too much snow. The parks person is busy plowing roads and all the trails in addition to the other things that were not envisioned. Walsh commented it has been a learning experience. Printup stated the City has existing rinks so it is not a new concept and that it is becoming an embarrassment. Printup noted the City has more staff now than they did before but they are not able to maintain the ice rinks for some reason,which is what he is having a hard time accepting. Crosby stated given the consistency of the snowfalls,that is something that needs to be considered,but the ice rinks aze something the City has to put on its priority list. Printup stated he hears a lot of comments about improving Big Island,which most people cannot access, but yet the City cannot take care of the City's inland parks. Rief stated he will visit the ice rinks later this week. Seals encouraged people to visit the new Orono activity center. Page 10 of 11