06-12-1995 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON JUNE 12, 1995 (#4 - Adult Shelter - Continued) Rood spoke with an employee of the shelter, who he said was young and pregnant. Rood said he was invited in and saw residents cleaning up from dinner noting they were 100% black. The employee had Rood follow her to the office on the second floor. The employee told Rood that the residents did the cooking and light cleaning, with professional cleaners working twice monthly. Rood asked about the education requirements of the directors. The employee told Rood that only a philosophical educational was required. This meant in his opinion that they had previously been abused. Rood said he was told that the residents did not stay longer than a month and many were from out of state. Rood said the staff was not paid very much and that there was no neighborhood involvement whatsoever. Rood said the employee stated she would not recommend the Navarre location for a shelter. The employee had asked Rood how he had found the shelter. Rood said a neighbor had put a sign up in his yard showing the direction to the shelter as he had people knocking on his door asking where the shelter was located. Rood then visited with Mr. & Mrs. Carl Lynn, 11812 Karen Way, who had been a board member of the shelter for three years. She was no longer on the board as it was felt to be non- productive and time consuming. Rood asked the Lynn's if they had ever seen anyone who looked "beat up ". They replied, they had not. He asked the couple where the shelter residents were from. He was told that a friend of theirs, who works at Katherine • Curren School in Hopkins, said that half were from out of state, citing Indiana, Chicago, as well as North Minneapolis, and said 90 -100% were black in color. is Callahan asked Rood what he had gained in knowledge from the interviews. Rood said that the shelter was not used by residents of Minnetonka, but by people on welfare, and as a quicker step to getting on the welfare rolls. Rood said we have been misled if we think the shelter would be used by the Lake Minnetonka area residents. Lynn Rood added that the statistics of Sojourner Shelter show that the shelter was not used by people in the area. Shirley Brehm, 3908 Mapleton, Spring Park, said she was a victim of domestic abuse. Brehm was married for 30 years, 28 years of which were abusive. She has been divorced for 11 years and knows her ex- husband has not changed. Brehm said she took the effort to go into counseling and is a recovering alcoholic. She said she is a respected woman, and she knows alot of women who need a shelter here. She said it has been her desire to buy the church herself for this same use if she had the funds. Brehm is concerned for children who are trying to find their own identities. Brehm said an ordinance is needed for a shelter as there is no where to go for help. She said families members have problems to deal with too and unable to help the victim. Brehm strongly urged the Council to find a location in our area for a shelter. 9