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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> September 26,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> number as last year they would receive 35%more money. Obviously the City does not need to change <br /> that number and he is asking them to consider the amount of money they are spending as it is <br /> input/output.He asked them to try to keep the City's portion of taxes down and to work collectively very <br /> hard to see what they can do about the other part of the pie to keep it low,as well. <br /> Mayor Walsh noted if someone's house was$500,000 6 years ago and did not go up in value and it is still <br /> $500,000 next year,they are not paying anything more.The only difference is the incremental value that <br /> it has gone up.He noted people in the City have to be paid,utilities go up,but otherwise the tax rate has <br /> not changed. Mayor Walsh stated this City Council committed 6 years ago to keep that tax rate no higher <br /> than it was and that is what they have done,all while funding parks,roads,water/sewer,and everything <br /> within that. <br /> Johnson moved,Crosby seconded,to adopt Resolution#7291,2023 Preliminary Tax Levy.VOTE: <br /> Ayes 4,Nays 0. <br /> 10. NOTICE OF INTENT TO ESTABLISH A FIRE DEPARTMENT—RESOLUTION NO. <br /> 7293 <br /> Kim Carswell,261 Cygnet Place,asked to understand the problem this is trying to solve. She hears <br /> neighbors talking about the duplication and asked what is the problem and what is the impact if they have <br /> two fire departments fairly close to each other? <br /> Mayor Walsh noted the"why"is a long discussion which the City has been having for three years. <br /> Regarding the notice of intent,the City has committed that they want to have control of their fire <br /> department and regardless of whether they are partnered with Long Lake or not,Orono needs to establish <br /> their own fire department with the State and must file paperwork to do that. <br /> Johnson clarified right now they are just dealing with some of the things they will need to do if they do <br /> not have an agreement with Long Lake.He noted they can stop this later on and dissolve it if they come <br /> to a resolution with Long Lake. <br /> Johnson moved,Crosby seconded,to adopt Resolution#7293,and authorize the Mayor to sign a <br /> letter(Exhibit B).VOTE:Ayes 4,Nays 0. <br /> 13. PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY(21-039)—AWARD <br /> Edwards shared the City has been working on designing a new Public Works Facility and bonded for that <br /> facility the previous December. Bids for construction came in above what the City thought prudent to <br /> move forward with so they took it back to the design team and asked to divide the scope of the project <br /> into different phases.Edwards clarified the project was then rebid and the City received a number of bids, <br /> the lowest being Ebert Construction for$16,067,000. <br /> Mayor Walsh gave history noting the current 28,000 square foot public works building is surrounded by <br /> swamp and as Orono has grown they now need 60,000 feet.The department services other communities <br /> and eight years ago the City Council began paying down debt from roads.Then in December they bonded <br /> for the Public Works Facility and Fire Department all at the same time for$16,000,000 at 1.9%which <br /> would be triple that percentage today. <br /> Gabriel Jabbour,985 Tonkawa Road, noted if they do an EIS(Environmental Impact Statement)or EAW <br /> (Environmental Assessment Worksheet)one option they must do is to study doing nothing.He does not <br /> totally disagree that Orono has grown and noted they were at 7,800 people when he was around and now <br /> Page 8 of 13 <br />