03-14-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 9, 2022 Hand-delivered Mayor Walsh, and members of the Orono City Council, It is our understanding that the applicant, Joe Thull (480 BI) has requested he be permitted to lease a dock that the City of Orono supplies. He then leases the dock at the requested location you are considering tonight. After much back and forth information, we understand this dock is to be 20’ long and 3’ wide. We also know 480 BI is an unimproved, inland lot with no access to water, sewer or a structure. We, the Reimanns (440 BI) and the Hornigs (450 BI) have been misled and misdirected now multiple times. In the fall, we were assured all 7 ROW (Right of Way) locations were being surveyed. (This did not happen.) We called and heard from an Orono City Hall employee that the access being considered was not the one you are now considering tonight. Jeff & Olivia Hornig attended the city council meeting in 2021 opposing access for the dock and at that meeting they were told by the Mayor he was not sure why they attended the meeting because their side of the island is not being considered for dock access - it was on the other side of the island due to proximity. Hornigs also were confused why the America’s Boating Club— Minnetonka Squadron (formerly the Power Squadron) was not brought up for Thull’s as an option for campsite, ﬁres, bathrooms and is a viable solution for landlocked owners as there is a clear path for them to walk to their property. Thulls…join the Boating Club! It costs the city zero time and maintenance and takes out any safety issues for the pathway to their property. What about getting an easement from Three Rivers Park District? Have all options been considered? We are also aware that there were numerous meetings in 2021 and that after several neighbors voiced their opposition to this request, the Council *(2)’directed the interested parties to develop an agreeable solution.’ AT NO TIME WERE WE INVOLVED in this process. In response, *(3)The Council developed a licensing program for the island property owners to use space on city dock for access to their lot. It is also our understanding that the LMCD may have approved the permit on February 23, but that several issues were brought up at their previous meeting Wednesday, February 9, that we audited and participated in. At that meeting, there were speciﬁc questions members of the LMCD came up with for the City of Orono. One related to lack of sanitary services. Your answer now, is, The Veterans Park location has two public rest rooms. That location is just not feasible or reasonable for the applicant or their guests’ personal use. Those restrooms would be a good 20 minute walk through rough terrain. No way can those be considered usable by that property owner. LMCD rules say that a city dock MUST have toilet facilities! Second, ﬁre safety was brought up at the LMCD related to this unimproved property with no water. Should this property owner have a bonﬁre on this property that gets out of control, there is no stopping a forest ﬁre from taking the entire island down. Consider last summer with extreme heat and dryness. We also question the motives of this property owner. Is he looking to make a quick sale? He bought this property for $9,000 and pays just over $100 in taxes annually. As of February 18, 2022, City of Orono community Development director, Jeremy Barnhart had not received or seen any building permit request from the owner of 480 Big Island. *(1) Details on page 2. *(2) and *(3) Excerpts from email in response to Alice Reimann’s inquiries, dated 2/18/22 from Jeremy Barnhart. Council Exhibit F BI-6