06-22-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 22, 2015 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 17 of 19 Walsh stated they maybe should bring out the four-page letter that the Mayor wrote to the landowner as well and read it out loud. Walsh stated the Mayor met with them and interfered with the process on behalf of the Council. McMillan stated she wrote a personal letter to the property owner, which had nothing to do with the application. McMillan stated it was her personal handwritten note to the property owner. McMillan indicated she was asked to come and meet with her and that she generally meets with constituents. McMillan noted she did not meet with the developer but that Council Member Walsh indicated he did meet with the developer. McMillan repeated that she was personally asked to come to the property owner’s house and that she did not reach out to her. McMillan stated in her view nothing will be accomplished tonight by discussing this. Walsh stated the Mayor should recuse herself from the application. McMillan noted the application is not before the City Council tonight and that nothing will be resolved tonight by discussing this. McMillan indicated she does not know anything about a purchase agreement. Walsh stated in his view the Mayor has brought a black cloud over the City of Orono in terms of integrity. McMillan requested Council Member Walsh show respect for the Council. McMillan requested Council Member Walsh to move on. Walsh stated he is sad he has to bring this issue to the table but that it is happening behind the door and it is not transparent. McMillan asked Council Member Walsh if he is finished. Walsh stated he is. Levang reported there was a Park Commission work session recently and that they talked about the adopt-a-park program, which will be tweaked at the July meeting. The Park Commission also discussed having a dog park. Levang stated the City will not have to pay for the burnt port-a-potty and that will be replaced. Levang stated it was the feeling of the Park Commission that if it happens again, they probably will not replace it. Levang stated part of the tree work that is happening at the parks is to make the aesthetics a little better and that this port-a-potty will be more visible in the future. The Park Commission decided not to put an enclosure around the port-a-potty so it will be more visible. Levang noted the Park Commission will be meeting the first Monday of July and that she will be in attendance. Printup stated over the last year or so the Highway 12 Safety Coalition has been meeting, and that the Minnesota Metro Toward Zero Deaths Initiative recently recognized the Highway 12 Safety Coalition. Printup stated as the Highway 12 Safety Coalition continues, it is important that Orono support their fellow cities to the west.