01-24-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 10, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 4 PRESENTATION 16. LMCD REPRESENTATIVE UPDATE – RICHIE ANDERSON Mr. Anderson, 3205 Crystal Bay Road, gave a presentation on behalf of the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District (LMCD). He noted they had a budget approved the previous year and there will not be an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) levy of $11,500 taxed to the City this year as it will come out of reserves, which are at approximately $550,000. Mr. Anderson noted the Finance Committee moved to sell the harvesters and accepted a bid so they are now gone. He shared about the Save the Lake Committee and noted the funding ($84,000) for two full-time deputies on the lake noting they will take $44,000 out of reserves to fund this. Mr. Anderson commended the businesses in Orono for donating $32,500 for 2022, and that they are at $78,000 of the $84,000 funding needed for 2022. Mr. Anderson also noted there is now an AIS Committee, which he is also a part of. The committee has come up with funding for new projects and will work on Harrison’s Bay, and he is working with some people on Brown’s Bay. Mr. Anderson closed by expressing his thankfulness to the City Council for sticking with him and supporting him. 17. RECOGNITION OF POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS Police Chief Correy Farniok is present tonight to recognize the outstanding job the police and fire departments did in severe conditions and also the over-and-above work of officers entering a burning home to make sure there were no individuals inside the house. He read a statement noting on December 27, 2021 at 11:42 p.m. officers responded to a call on Westwood Road in the City of Minnetonka Beach. Information was received that an individual had gas and candles and a fire inside the house. Officers arrived in three minutes and the second floor of the house was fully engulfed with two individuals outside the house – it was unclear whether anyone was still in the building. Officer Mike Fournier and Sgt. Tim Sonnek entered the residence to begin looking for possible victims with no one else located. Chief Farniok noted Long Lake Fire Department responded along with surrounding fire departments and worked through the night in bitter cold conditions. The house was severely damaged and he wants to thank the officers that entered the burning building to look for others and to the many surrounding fire departments that responded. Mayor Walsh thanked them and noted the City Council is behind them 100%. Fire Chief Van Eyll thanked the officers and the other fire departments that helped that evening. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT Finance Director Olson shared slides on screen noting they are at 114% of building permit revenues and 104% of adjusted 2021 revenues as of December 31, 2021.