05-10-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 26, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 10 PUBLIC COMMENTS – Continued hopes they have read. The septic system was installed in December 2020 and the City has approved it, but the City Attorney Steve Tallen continues to prosecute. Mr. Hillegass is here to ask the City to drop the prosecution or to ask Mr. Tallen to drop the prosecution. He said it is senseless at this point – there was no problem to begin with, there is no problem now. The work was done slowly and Mr. Hillegass counted 18 people involved in this, not counting Councilmembers, Mayor, or City Staff other than the primary ones. In the middle of the project, Mr. Hillegass’ wife died and it slowed him down. He is just asking that the Council consider dropping his now as he is sure they have far more important things to do. PRESENTATION 11. ANN BREMER AWARD - WESTONKA SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT KEVIN BORG Superintendent Kevin Borg said he is here to bring an award and appreciation from the Westonka School District. When they started the school year it was the greatest effort to operate safely but also have kids in school; they moved forward with a lot of hard work and expense to be sure they had the right things in place. Mr. Borg said they moved forward before they knew how they would pay for all those things, with the understanding that it was really important to the community that kids were in school and to be safe. They were so pleasantly pleased to see how the City of Orono was directing their CARES Act federal dollars to the community, which was the intention, and that they partnered with the Orono and Westonka school districts with those funds. Mr. Borg shared how much they appreciate the benevolence of thought as to how those funds could be directed to families and students. He also wants to share what the funding did. They were able to operate school, keep kids in school, make the online systems more robust, and keep students and staff safe. He noted the Council directed $105,000 out of the CARES Act to the Westonka School District and he presented the Council with the Ann Bremer White Hawk Award. The award is the largest award he could give and it is about community partnership and investing in the Westonka District. Mr. Borg stated annually they give this award to people that meet the criteria and a committee of the Board selects the recipients. The award is named after Ann Bremer, who was a Board member from 2004 – 2017 until her passing. He gives this award with appreciation and thanked the Mayor and Councilmembers and said the District really appreciates their leadership. Mayor Walsh shared the pillars of society are the children, schools, families and it was very important that the Council direct those funds. They did it evenly before the school districts because they are both very important. Mr. Borg shared with what happened in Plymouth, MN, every single school resource officer they have had serves with great, great relationships and expertise. When people feel vulnerable that is what they want to give them guidance and he noted there is a culture in the Police Department and they are all excellent. He thanked the Council for that, as well. Crosby appreciates those comments and they appreciate what the school districts are doing for the children. It has been a tough year for everyone, especially kids and the elderly, so getting kids back in school is so incredibly important. He thanked Mr. Borg for that hard work.