10-23-1995 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 23, 1995 • (Dr. Mich - School Referendum - Continued) Goetten said during the year and a half of discussion on the new school building, the school district has not discussed with the City until recently the sewer situation. Mich said the architect and City made contact early on and was assured that the sewer connection sites were available for connection. He was asked if this occurred prior to the purchase of the land, and Mich said no. Mich said he believed sewer was always available. Goetten said the bond was in place but the costs incurred would be collected from the user. Jabbour said this would involve at least $500,000. Mich said he understood 60 units were available and the bond money provided for the connection and the charges to the schools would be the ordinary charges. Callahan said the sewer connection charges were a complicated matter. He noted that no connections were available and there was actually a shortage of 24. If sewer units were available, it would cost up to $1,000,000. Mich said this was new information to him and would need to discuss it with the architect. Jabbour said the school district should take recourse against their architect. Moorse said he called Neil Lawson prior to the School District's presentation. The current capacity shows 60 units available. However, Moorse said they are spoken for, but not yet used. The bond issue for the 1989 water and sewer project included funding for the expansion of sewer capacity to serve the Highway 12 area. But those connecting to the sewer and water system need to pay their share of the water and sewer project • costs. Mich said this was different than he understood it to be. Mich was asked what was wrong with the school building in Maple Plain. Mich said it was small and required running a shuttle. He said the building would continue to be used and maintained for early childhood development which involves 600 children and 700 adults. • Jabbour commented that he did not feel the City and other local government units were working as a community. He was concerned that Westonka School District was considering a 4 -day week. Mich commented on the Westonka District and the possibility of a consolidation. He said Orono was not interested in this option. Kelley said he was involved with the hockey program and agreed that outside agencies should pay for their interests. He noted the support given by Mich for the ice rink. Mich said it is not his desire to go before the public for a bond referendum. He said it comes to a point where the referendum is in the best interest of the schools. Mich said he then tries to communicate the information within the six cities involved. 11