08-26-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO C1T\ OUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, august 12,2002 Gabriei Jabbour—Fire Station Update—Continued dqiartments: Long Lake, Mound, Wayzata, and Maple Plain. Wayzata and Mound are now building new fire stations. While Wayzata has not asked Orono to contribute toward the cost of its fire station. Mound has asked for Orono to contribute 22% of the building costs. Jabbour stated that he and Mayor Peterson have negotiated with Mound, suggesting that they reduce the size of iheir fire station and Orono will not participate at all. Instead, Orono would develop its own neighborhood fire station in Navarre. Mound could still bid on providing them service, and the new service provider could help plan the neighborhood station. Murphy stated that they received a letter from Mound that had a resolution already attached asking Orono for $720,000 with no ownership in the new station. He stated they would rather build their own station in Navarre. They ’ve always been happy with Mound ’s service and would like them to continue to serve the Navarre area but Mound said they would not be willing to do that. He spoke to Minnetrista, who suggested everyone help Mound with their new station, and in exchange, everyone would support the other cities with new fire station projects as they came up. Mound rejected the idea. They asked Mound if they would continue to provide service to Orono, if Orono does not contribute to their new fire station project. The Mound Mayor and City Administrator said they would not. Murphy stated the committee had discussed the possibility of a fire district, where several communities would share fire service costs and could therefore hire a full time administrator. The arrangement with Long Lake could serve as a good model for a fire district. Sansevere stated that the Mayor and City Administrator of Mound refused them fire service without their City Council even knowing about it. Jabbour stated that Mound told him if Orono was no longer served by Mound, they could remove one bay from the station, at a cost of $70,000. He questioned if Orono ’s cost to Mound is $70,000, then why would Orono be expected to contribute $720,000. White stated he believed the Navarre community could provide fire fighters to staff a neighborhood station. Acting Mayor Sansevere stated that they believe Mound provides excellent service and Orono will most likely pursue its own station for Navarre because Mound has left them no choice. White stated that the Orono City Council would not accept a huge cost that lacks benefit to its citizens. ■Vi» #1 Jfr 1 1 rfnmrtiiitin ■A