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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,January 11,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS—Continued <br /> Printup echoed congratulations to Walsh, Seals,and Crosby. <br /> Seals welcomed everyone back, noting restaurants are back open and she is excited for that. She shared <br /> that her team is based around the country and she has one employee who has been traveling all over the <br /> south for four months without getting COVID-19; in the end,he contracted COVID-19 by hanging out with <br /> his family. She stated some of the things they are doing just does not make sense, for example closing <br /> schools. She shakes her head because it is not bounded in logic. She hopes schools open soon and stay <br /> open. <br /> Johnson added that people are using the trails and it is nice to see that. The Luce Line is not plowed and <br /> the difference of activity level is enormous,but it gets cross-country skiers. He noted over by Stubbs Bay <br /> they paved it and the amount of snowmobile trailers has increased and people are actually using it. <br /> Seals said at Bederwood,and she is not complaining,kids had taken their parents Gaters and had tow-ropes <br /> with skis and snowboards. It was very entertaining to see it being used. <br /> Johnson said the other activity Orono is providing is the golf course. He said the place was packed and <br /> thought about talking to Public Works about plowing the entrance to the golf course because the golf course <br /> parking lot does not get plowed. He said everyone was parked along the road which is not good as it is not <br /> a wide road;he saw a citizen with their own plow open it up for everyone. <br /> Walsh noted there were cars a couple of weeks ago that were stuck in the parking lot and helping each other <br /> out. <br /> Crosby suggested getting that on the list. <br /> Walsh said he was at the last Parks Commission work session and one item that came up was the golf course <br /> and perhaps getting some lighting at night because it is so packed and gets dark at 4:00 p.m. in December. <br /> Seals noted Medina actually has a snowmaker, so if they need snow on the hill that is dirt now,they could <br /> talk to them. <br /> The Council discussed the various areas around the City where the public has been having outdoor fun and <br /> recreation. <br /> Seals said she heard again over the weekend,it keeps coming up,why the City's rates went up. After she <br /> explained,they said"it sucks,but I get it." She thinks they still need to push more communication out on <br /> that; she said what was missing in the letter that just went out was that it did not mention anything about <br /> the Metropolitan Council.Instead Orono took the hit on everything as it looks like the City raised the rates. <br /> Printup said the newspaper press release did,but the letter that went to homes did not. <br /> Johnson noted it was not on letterhead,either. <br /> Olson asked to clarify that it was not on letterhead and apologized. <br /> Walsh said they better back down to Step 6 and the Councilmembers laughed. <br /> Page 7 of 12 <br />