11-14-2022 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING October 24, 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 6 CITY ATTORNEY REPORT Attorney Mattick had nothing to report. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT Edwards updated the City Council noting they are finishing up the water main replacement project south of County Road 15 and will be starting the North Shore Ravine Stabilization project. PUBLIC COMMENTS Brad Erickson, 2485 Independence Road, is an Orono father, grandfather, son, brother, Republican, local businessman, and a Christian man. After struggling for months with the nasty and sinister recruitment video sent to him by Mayor Walsh, it all came full circle recently with a newly discovered video titled “U.S. Patriots versus BLM Antifa in Minnesota.” The video was produced on December 5, 2020 and features “our own Mr. Crosby.” Mr. Erickson stated they now know Mr. Crosby participated in a violent and hate-filled protest outside the governor’s mansion in St. Paul and in so doing he put his own community in peril. Not only is he front and center in the melee, Mr. Erickson said he is fully engaging in election conspiracy theory and extremist ideology through his own words and actions. Then on December 14, 2020 Mr. Crosby was crowdfunding for the Proud Boys of Minnesota and posting links on Parler.com. Mr. Erickson stated this is in a YouTube video titled “Is Orono Trafficking in Right-Wing Extremism.” According to other sources this culminated with Mr. Crosby and a friend traveling to Washington D.C. to take part in the movement hell-bent on overturning the 2020 election on January 6, 2021. Once back, Mr. Crosby was sworn into office on January 11 for a second term and was then said to have been bragging about his activities at the Capitol. Mr. Erickson said this kind of behavior from elected officials based on conspiracy theory and conjecture must stop. While a believer in free speech, words and actions have consequences, especially when inciting violence. Mr. Erickson stated there are certain members of this Council who despise the left, still deny the 2020 election, and are using a Nazi narrative for personal and political gain. It is these goons and thugs that remind Mr. Erickson of the Nazis and for very real and very personal reasons. Furthermore the anti-government propaganda video sent to Mr. Erickson was designed to stoke the flames of the left per Mr. Printup. This also undermines our democratic system and puts our society at risk. He stated they all swore an oath to uphold the Constitution but some of them continue to follow a dark and deranged agenda. Once again, Mr. Erickson is demanding answers. If not, the FBI or Attorney General’s office must do a full and comprehensive investigation. Extremism and hate on either side should have no place in public office. Hate speech is dangerous and especially evil when based on color, creed, religion, or politics. Mr. Erickson stated they bring shame on themselves and the very community they swore to protect. This is not a matter of right and left but a matter of right and wrong. He strongly encourages the federal and state authorities to take this seriously before it is too late. Mr. Erickson is also asking everyone to vote their conscience this November to stop this madness. Brad Holt, 2565 Woodhaven Drive, is trying to maintain objectivity and stated no one can dispute, even the government themselves, that they are in a recession. If they are in a recession, it is like someone who wants to buy a big boat but their company is going down. He noted they are a perfect candidate for layoff in the future and people with a modicum of common sense abstain. His question regarding the Fire Department and the new $16,000,000 building is what the downside would be in holding off one or two years. He asked if anyone has used deductive reasoning like an economist does and said before spending all this money, what about examining the real costs, and costs saved not expended.