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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,May 23,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Mayor Walsh thinks they have met very decently,they have met many times to talk about it,and he does <br /> not think Long Lake wants to give up a fire department that they cannot afford to have. He noted they get <br /> along with the City of Long Lake but they do not agree on the situation. <br /> Crosby noted Mr. Jabbour was involved with setting up the two stations, one of which is in the City of <br /> Orono. The fact is Orono is paying more than 85% of the bill and this is a financial consideration. They <br /> are not looking for this to be something hostile; rather it is a matter of dollars and cents.Nobody in the <br /> world would expect to pay 85-90% of a bill and have no say. Crosby stated that is the position Orono is in <br /> right now,the contract is ending, and it is not going to be that way anymore. <br /> Mr.Nygard tried looking for the letter online today and the letter from Long Lake was up but the City's <br /> responses were not up. He agrees sometimes erasing history is more expensive than what they are talking <br /> about and thinks it is kind of silly that this Council which is spending a lot more fees than ever before, is <br /> all of a sudden worried about money when it comes to history in this community. <br /> Mayor Walsh asked what fees they are raising. <br /> Mr.Nygard replied two things, first they have changed the payment schedule from quarterly payments for <br /> fees to monthly payments to disguise how much they are going up. In his opinion they did it to hide the <br /> ever-escalating fees in the City.Now he has to write 12 checks a year instead of 4 checks a year and they <br /> are making it more difficult on the constituents. He knows fees have been going up because he has been <br /> paying them. <br /> Crosby took offense at saying they are erasing history because he was part of that history and they put <br /> their lives on the line for that community. There is no history that is going to be erased here. <br /> Mr.Nygard replied the City tried giving away Summit Beach. <br /> Mayor Walsh stated that is completely untrue. <br /> Mr.Nygard's position is that it is bigger than the fire department.A fire lane was given to a Planning <br /> Commission Chair for a nominal donation,they are allowing people to bike in Bederwood Park without <br /> going through the proper process, and the City tried to give Summit Beach to the rowing club and put a <br /> monstrous building there.Those are all facts. <br /> Mayor Walsh asked if Mr.Nygard has anything to say about the fire department right now. <br /> Mr.Nygard stated the City shouldn't be doing this, it is bad for the community, and Mr.Jabbour is <br /> absolutely right it is about sitting down and communicating. Something he does not think Mr.Mayor <br /> understands at all as an outsider coming in who does not understand what it is like to live in Long Lake <br /> and Orono: it is like a big brother/little brother thing. Unfortunately they are doing the strong arm thing <br /> and are not looking out for little brother. <br /> Seals thinks the response to the letter was good, she appreciates them taking the high road on the intro, <br /> and when she met Mr.Jabbour a few years ago he told her the fire contract would end and that the fire <br /> department belongs in Orono. In talking to the firefighters,many of them are excited to have the chance <br /> to have greater support from City Staff such as a finance person and a mechanic.Long Lake is smaller <br /> and they just do not have as many people,which is okay. Seals is excited for the firefighters and their <br /> Page 7 of 8 <br />