03-13-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 27, 2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 17. BIG ISLAND DOCK PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT (continued) On page 37 it says the City should establish a budget for ongoing maintenance and improvement of the Big Island Natural Nature Park. Brown stated it is his understanding that the City of Orono has done that up until now when they voted to take away the docks. Brown noted Mr. Crosby did not raise his hand when they asked if anyone was a veteran but that it is his understanding he served in the fire department. Brown thanked him for his service. Brown stated he has his whole honor guard here and that there are weekly funerals where they are burying his fellow veterans. Brown stated whenever they present a flag, it means another veteran is gone. In past years they had the ability to take veterans out to the island and that once a year they clean the whole island. Brown stated the Council needs to decide if they want the veterans to continue to visit the island. Brown stated the $8,000 is minimal when they are serving people who served them. Brown stated he would ask someone on the Council to make a motion to reconsider their previous action. Pam Sawchuk, 4105 Watertown Road, stated she read in the Pioneer what was going on and she could not believe it. Sawchuk stated there are a lot of gray areas in life, but when it comes to our veterans that put their lives on the line, they should not worry about $8,000. Sawchuk stated people owe them some beauty for the hell they likely witnessed. Sawchuk questioned how this could be one of the richest communities in not only Minnesota but in the country and they cannot come up with $8,000 for the veterans. Len Freeman, 190 Cygnet Place, stated he has lived here for 19 years and that he heard and read about this. Freeman stated as a resident of Orono, it makes sense to come up with the money to support the veterans unless there are some other serious issues going on. Todd Kemery, Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, stated he is the vice president of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Minnesota Chapter, as well as the advocacy director and ADA coordinator. Kemery stated after reading the City's management plan, he applauds the City's design to include those people with mobility issues and the disabled. Kemery stated there are probably other people who will be more articulate in expressing the needs and desires of the veterans, but that the history of the Paralyzed Veterans includes not only advocating for disabled veterans and all veterans but that they are in a unique position in being part of the disability community in Orono. Kemery stated he has been asked to lend a presence and a voice to some of the most vulnerable of our population. It is the City Council's responsibility and challenge to be inclusive of those that need that extra bit of help. The disabled cannot do anything unless there is an agreement that there are things that would make it easier for the disabled segment of the population. Kemery stated he would challenge the Council to include accessibility at the front end with the management of Big Island. Dennis Libby, 1000 Heritage Lane, stated he has spent about 20 years living on Lake Minnetonka and am an avid boater and a hobby historian. Libby indicated he has spent countless hours studying the history of Big Island amusement park and the veterans park. Libby stated periodically he has been here at odds with the City Council and that once again he finds himself at odds with a very sensitive subject matter. Libby stated in his officership for the Foxhill Ownerships Association has been partially responsible for the fourth or fifth largest commercial dock on Page 7 of 23