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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, January 24, 2022 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 2 of 5 <br /> <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS <br />There were no public comments. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh took a moment to speak about the most recent Planning Commission meeting, noting many <br />people came and spoke, some very graciously and others throwing out some aspersions and things that <br />were not true. He clarified the City posts all notices 10 days ahead of time in the paper, people can sign <br />up on ListServe for notifications, and the final agenda comes out 3-4 days in advance. Mayor Walsh <br />appreciates the enthusiasm of the people but stated when a person says no one else gets to talk because <br />they are not in communist Russia it diminishes things that person would say after that. When one aligns <br />themselves with people who cast aspersions and make things up, such as a person who spoke about Big <br />Woods and Bederwood…he said they all know that Bederwood was not big woods 50 years ago but was <br />a field, although it is not as good of a story without piping it up and creating a Go Fund Me page. Mayor <br />Walsh quoted a saying, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” He would say that idle lands are the same <br />problem, noting Lurton Park was idle land several years ago and the City went to the family who <br />graciously donated the land and asked if they could create a dog park. The family wanted to see the land <br />used and gave permission, the City built fences, structures, worked with the neighbors and now it is <br />probably one of the best dog parks in the suburbs. Mayor Walsh stated that if any Council in the future <br />wanted to sell land and raise money and revenue, they can sell any of the land the City owns and there is <br />nothing the current Council can put in place that couldn’t be changed with a vote. He thinks the best park <br />land that the City has will not be the idle park land. Philosophically, this Council has been very consistent <br />over the last 7-8 years and they have reconstituted the Park Commission who have done a fabulous job <br />and have gone through many of the City’s parks to add to them and make them better. Mayor Walsh <br />explained they just went through a $500,000 renovation at Bederwood Park, redoing fields, adding <br />lacrosse fields, and noted by definition of those who were here before [at the Planning Commission <br />meeting] it benefits only a small number of people and the City should not do that. He stated again that <br />idle lands do not do anyone good and they have always wanted all parks to have as much going on as <br />possible, with all of the sports, and they would love to have those sports happen within the City rather <br />than driving to practice in other cities. Mayor Walsh shared that when he and Mr. Printup were on a <br />previous Council, the late Mr. Dayton had land he was selling to a developer which had a beautiful, open <br />field area. Mr. Dayton put in his will that he wanted to preserve all the grasslands and Mayor McMillan <br />wanted to preserve the big woods but not the fields so she allowed a house to be built into the fields. <br />Mayor Walsh noted the only people who were fighting for the Dayton family at that point were Mayor <br />Walsh and Mr. Printup and that was because it was in Mr. Dayton’s will. Mayor Walsh asked where was <br />everyone then? They were nowhere to be found. He noted this was eventually passed and they haven’t <br />heard a word since. Mayor Walsh clarified the City Council is about taking care of the parks and making <br />them as useful to as many people as possible. He reiterated that no one is giving away a park and that <br />everyone deserves to be heard without being disparaged because no one deserves to be told that they do <br />not have a say. He stated the City Council will always hear everyone and will continue to do so, which is <br />why all of the people were allowed to be heard at the Planning Commission meeting. He noted they also <br />received many letters in support of the project and the City Council’s job is to sort it out and do what they <br />believe is the best thing for the City, especially upon lands that have no restrictions. <br /> <br />Seals noted it was very apparent the previous week that the conversation was being held on social media <br />and said that is frustrating because many residents were upset by misinformation. She would like to form