Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, April 27, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 16 of 21 <br /> <br />8. LURTON PARK UPDATE <br /> <br />Edwards stated the purpose of this action item is to gain Council approval to move forward with the <br />contract with Prairie Restorations to restore the right-of-way section of the park. The City contracted <br />with Prairie Restorations approximately five years ago to restore the main section of the park. The donor <br />family asked the City last year to do the right-of-way. <br /> <br />Edwards stated the City has already secured a right-of-way permit from Hennepin County and have <br />received a quote from Prairie Restorations. <br /> <br />Edwards stated as it relates to the remaining action items, there was a memorandum generated last year <br />with a list of items that need to be done at the park. Edwards indicated some of the items have been <br />completed last fall and that the Public Works Department is planning on doing the rest this spring. <br /> <br />Walsh commented it is a great looking park and that he is interested in hearing about the donor family and <br />the history of the park. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated the Lurton family has lived in Orono for a number of years and up until recently the <br />Lurton’s lived on the northeast side of Lake Clausen. That property looked across at this piece of land. <br />The Lurton family was living at this site when the property was going to be partially taken by MN/DOT <br />for a highway right-of-way. The City ended up with an agreement that Mr. Lurton would donate it as a <br />park to the City with the agreement that he could live there until the house was removed by MN/DOT. <br />The property eventually was donated as a park and the proceeds from the portion that was sold or taken <br />by MN/Dot was received by the City. The intent was that the money be used to maintain the park in <br />perpetuity. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated at a later date the City had a conversation about Big Island Park and Mr. Lurton agreed that <br />a portion of that maintenance fund could be used partially towards the purchase of Big Island Park. The <br />remaining funds have been used to upgrade Lurton Park. Currently the park has a parking area and two <br />picnic tables. In addition, buckthorn has been removed from the wooded areas and a lot of restoration <br />work on the prairie areas has been completed. Gaffron indicated the City has a letter going back to 2014 <br />regarding things the family would still like to see as amenities at the park. Gaffron stated the original <br />donation was to keep the park as natural as possible with a few picnic tables and benches and a limited <br />parking area, which is how it has been maintained. <br /> <br />McMillan asked if some plants have been placed around the sign. <br /> <br />Edwards indicated that is not in the Prairie Restoration contract and that the Public Works Department <br />will be doing that in house. <br /> <br />Walsh moved, Printup seconded, to approve the proposal with Prairie Restoration to restore and <br />then maintain the Lurton Park right-of-way area to prairie. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 05/11/2015 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 04/27/15 [Page 16 of 21]