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Ordway PHIL & CASSY ORDWAY <br /> • <br /> NOV 2 5 2019 <br /> November 20,2019 <br /> CITY OF ORONO <br /> Orono Park Commission <br /> 2750 Kelley Parkway <br /> Orono, MN 55356 <br /> Re: Long Lake Rowing Club Boat House <br /> Dear Chairman Meyers and Park Commissioners: <br /> We appreciated the opportunity to attend the Park Commission meeting last week in the hope of learning more about the <br /> potential new boat house and park project at Summit Beach Park. We strongly support the Long Lake Rowing Club(LLRC) <br /> and hope they will continue to be able to row on the lake and ultimately have a safe,functional and permanent location on Long <br /> Lake. <br /> While the images displayed at the meeting--those being used in the concept phase of design -- are certainly appealing, we <br /> understand that everything is very preliminary at this point. And, as enticing as those images are, we do have reservations <br /> about siting such a large,single-purpose structure to be used by a single entity on what is quite a small park currently entirely <br /> open to the public. The scale of this concept plan just seems out of proportion for that site and the exclusive nature of the <br /> partnership risks establishing a negative precedent for the City. <br /> While this first meeting was helpful, what we didn't learn are a number of details related to what the basic structure of an <br /> agreement between the City and LLRC might include. These are vital details to be considered early in the process and would <br /> include: <br /> • Who will pay for the construction of the building? <br /> • Who will pay for the on-going maintenance of the building? <br /> • Who will own the building? <br /> • Will there be a land lease or sale of land? <br /> • Who bares the liability risks of the building,LLRC's operation on City property,etc.? <br /> • What are other potential risks to the City(financial and other)? <br /> It appeared that the majority of the citizens in attendance at the Park Board meeting were mostly neighbors of the park,but the <br /> agreement that the City ultimately makes with LLRC will commit all of the citizens of Orono to the potential risk of increased <br /> expenses or many other unforeseen risks,including the risk of LLRC's demise. These are critical issues to be contemplated at <br /> the early stages of this discussion and deserve an opportunity for input from the entire community. <br /> It would also be interesting to know if LLRC has discussed an agreement with the City of Long Lake for a similar plan in the <br /> Nelson Lakeside Park area. [To us,this seems like a more logical site,but there are most likely previous discussions of which <br /> we are not aware,but which should certainly be explained nevertheless]. <br /> We again reiterate that we are avid supporters of LLRC and consequently do not want our questions and concerns to appear <br /> that we are opposed to LLRC having a facility on Long Lake,we just want it to be in the best location, in a scale that suits the <br /> shores of the lake,and is not detrimental to the site that is ultimately selected.Hopefully at the next meeting that addresses this <br /> project we will learn more. This can be a win-win project. <br /> cerelyk �♦ 624:21 <br /> Phil&Cassy Ordway <br /> • cc: President Rob Berrell,Long Lake Rowing Club <br /> Mayor Denny Walsh,City of Orono <br /> 1145 COUNTY ROAD SIX <br /> ORONO, MINNESOTA 55356 <br />