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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, August 9, 2021 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 6 of 13 <br /> <br />14. LA21-000029 – ROBERT ERICKSON, 365 WESTLAKE ROAD., STREET VACATION – <br />RESOLUTION NO. 7211 – Continued <br /> <br />have a whole bunch of accesses and it doesn’t make sense and they can do public benefit by making <br />things better, that is what their role is. <br /> <br />Mr. Jabbour begged the Mayor to consider that they do not know what the future holds. They had <br />phenomenal brand recognition called Orono and had people donating. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh noted people are knocking the City’s doors down to get into Orono right now and that has <br />not changed. <br /> <br />Mr. Jabbour noted they have donated land to the City – the former Governor’s father donated 350 acres, <br />Lurton did that, it is a one-way vault to the City not out of the City. It also hurts to see, and critical of <br />Staff, he does not see any mention of the comment of the DNR in the Resolution. He noted there are three <br />ex-mayors here having a hard time with this and the person who spoke at the Planning Commission <br />meeting was the Chair of the Watershed District. He stated they need to believe that these people are <br />motivated by what is good for the greater community and it is not about trying to buy or sell land from <br />Mr. Erickson. He noted this was brought to his attention by Mr. White after the Planning Commission <br />meeting or Mr. Jabbour would probably have never thought of it. He really thinks that Mr. Erickson has <br />not been helpful to the cause of Orono but has held selfish interests that have hurt a lot of people. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh noted that is still hyperbole and does not have anything to do with the actual subject at <br />hand. <br /> <br />Mr. Jabbour apologized and stated perhaps he drifted a bit. However, projecting gain on Mr. Jabbour is <br />not helpful. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh likes to know the facts and the agendas going on behind-the-scenes. <br /> <br />Mr. Jabbour replied the agenda is preservation of public land and allowing the great-great-grandchildren <br />to see the lake and use the lake. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh thinks they all agree with that same sentiment but they are looking to clean things up when <br />it makes sense to do so. <br /> <br />Mr. Jabbour noted they built a great City and Mayor Walsh is riding on the wave that was made. He is <br />asking the City Council to rise to the occasion and really let it go and change the Comprehensive Plan <br />back to what it was because he said it will become a campaign issue. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh replied that is fine and telling people they cannot do anything is not appropriate. <br /> <br />Mr. Jabbour stated a ten-degree correction in mid-course is always important. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh stated it is a two-way street. <br /> <br />Linda Thrasher, 356 Westlake Street, commented that she has lived in the area for 9 years and has never <br />once seen anyone trying to enter the lake, noting the City Council saw the photo and suggested leaving it