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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, June 22, 2020 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 5 of 13 <br /> <br />generated. He said 100% of the agencies who participated in the process washed their hands in writing <br />from the results. It’s really a big mountain to climb and he is glad Mr. Evenson is doing it. <br /> <br />Johnson thanked Mr. Anderson and Mr. Jabbour for their work, noting that since Mr. Anderson has been <br />the LMCD rep, there has been a level of visibility the City has not previously had. He said he has been at <br />LMCD meetings and watched while the Board does not really answer Mr. Anderson’s concerns and then <br />go to a vote. He stated Mr. Anderson is gaining traction and at some point, the facts come to a head. He <br />offered the City of Orono’s help in whatever way possible. He commented that the LMCD’s reserves are <br />at a ridiculous amount. They force through very small increases year after year and it is not worth <br />people’s time to push back, but over the last many years it is a lot of extra taxpayer money going to them. <br /> <br />Seals suggested she and Johnson go to an LMCD meeting. <br /> <br />Walsh said it will put more pressure on the LMCD with more LIDs being done and he is counting on <br />them to get the Crystal Bay LID done. <br /> <br />Crosby indicated if the LMCD is unwilling to take proper action to clean up the lake and using new, <br />proven ways such as chemical treatment, Orono needs to look at what steps need to be taken to defund <br />them and move the money so it would be used properly and effectively. Currently the LMCD is wasting <br />money on studies, self-promotion, and salaries for non-action. <br /> <br />Mr. Anderson said the LMA has the chemical part figured out, and the banner has been taken away from <br />the LMCD because their banner was harvesting. Now all the bull is going for AIS, but there is no money <br />going into the lake. The public-private partnership has stuck in his craw ever since that campaign started. <br />This is his ‘hood, he has made a lot of money in his ‘hood, and he is putting it back in the ‘hood. He noted <br />the LMA is the new gorilla on the lake as far as DNR permitting, getting grants, etc. He stated that Mr. <br />Evenson got around $30,000 in grants and the LMCD did not get anything. <br /> <br />Seals stated the City Council appreciates Mr. Anderson and Mr. Jabbour fighting the good fight. <br />City Council Members thanked Mr. Anderson for his work. <br /> <br />Mr. Anderson noted he will be upset with a bunch of Orono residents because of the wakeboard boats, but <br />that is another discussion. He said at Pelican Rapids the flowering rush has taken over the lake, you can’t <br />even move, and it is much worse than milfoil. He noted Mr. Evenson is a true environmentalist. <br /> <br />PRESENTATION <br /> <br />14. ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR MS4 STORMWATER PERMIT <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh opened the public hearing at 6:29 p.m. <br /> <br />Edwards noted as part of the MS4 permit, there needs to be an annual public meeting to discuss the <br />stormwater system. The goals of the meeting are education, to receive comments, and to meet the <br />requirements of the permit. He stated stormwater management rules and plans are complicated and a <br />myriad of overlapping regulations, guidance, and jurisdictions between federal, state, watershed, and city <br />governments. Up for discussion is the Municipal Separate Stormwater System permit which the City gets <br />from the (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) MPCA which comes to them from the Environmental <br />Protection Agency (EPA). The purpose of the permit revolves around water quality, whether it be surface