10-10-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 26, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 12 of 13 purchased so everyone knows years out how they are planning to make sure the police are fully outfitted to take care of citizens. A member of the public asked about Medina and Minnetonka Beach. Crosby clarified they would still be a contract city. Johnson noted the first thing was to work out an arrangement with Long Lake. A member of the public spoke about a fire she witnessed and worries about the setbacks. Mayor Walsh noted Crosby was a firefighter for 10 years and the City wants as much access as possible. He clarified setbacks and turning around is a whole different conversation. Johnson clarified regarding the vesting, the firefighters would be 50% vested at 10 years and 100% at 20 years noting it would stay the same as right now. Johnson shared the City of Long Lake has the first right of refusal for all equipment even if Orono has paid 100%, Long Lake can purchase it for what Orono paid and they only need to notify 90 days prior to the expiration of the contract. Lead time for equipment is upwards of 2 years or more which has put Orono at a disadvantage in preparing because Long Lake holds all the equipment. Currently the equipment is in need of replacement and Johnson has learned that during Covid firefighters were able to serve but other cities have started to see that those people are not available to be volunteers in the fire department anymore so they need duty crews. In going from volunteer to full- time facilities, costs go up, therefore cities start to partner in a broader area to defer the costs of those increases over a wider spectrum. At this point they have a fully staffed and fully functioning fire department and they hope to keep that as long as they can. The Commissioners discussed the pension and vesting, and the role of the legislature in that. Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to approve the offer to be sent to the City of Long Lake for their consideration. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS Brad Erickson, 2485 Independence Road, had a lovely meeting with Ms. Seals in the laundromat the previous day and they spoke about Mr. Crosby and Mr. Walsh. One thing he found interesting is that Ms. Seals wondered when Mr. Erickson would get around to the allegations flying around about Mr. Crosby out on the Capitol steps in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021. This causes Mr. Erickson to wonder about that day and those events and how Mr. Crosby and Mr. Walsh are connected to all of this. He asked what is going on up there? He smells a rat and pointed, stating “I smell you and I’m wondering about you, why you haven’t told me, because we talked about this a month ago, why you haven’t come forward and been honest with the public about who you were with and what you were doing out there in the Capitol.” Those are the allegations flying around. Mr. Erickson understands what Mr. Walsh is doing trying to assail his character, noting he can’t face the music either and asked “Are you going to? Are you going to answer some questions? Mr. Rice tells me you’re not going to.” Mr. Erickson stated, “Good move, you should have shut up a long time ago.” He said this man (pointing) was smart enough to come down and