10-08-2001 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO cm' COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, September 24,2001 (Coffee Channel, Continued) Sansevere inquired how many of his members are under 12. Sihon stated it is a famil) club and lliere arc a number of kids under 12. Sillon slated he does not have the exact breakdown at this lime. Fay Dawson, 1940 Shadvxvood Road, stated she has lived here for 16 >ears and in her opinion people look to their homes for security and safety. Daw son stated Orono does have a large number of public accesses available to the lake, and in her opinion the residents of Orono should not have to have the financial responsibility placed on them to provide accesses to every possible location snowmobilers may want to go to. Dawson expressed a concern regarding the petition that was circulated in her area, noting that it is her understanding people were told if they did not sign the petition, they w ould have snowmobilers driving through their yard. Bill Omlie. I860 Shadywood Road, staled he would like a permanent solution to this problem, noting that he does have snowmobilers driving througli his yard when the channel is open. Omlie stated the channel is not effectively blocked when it is unsafe which allows the sni'wmobilcrs to go througit the channel. Omlie slated due to the safety concerns, in his opinion the alleyway cannot be discarded until a better solution is found. Omlie reiterated a pennanent solution needs to be found, especially since there are a large number of snowmobilers who reside in Orono. Bob Albertson, 2100 Shadyxvood Road, staled he lives approximately one block south of CotTec Channel and he and his family have lived in this area for 38 years and are snowmobilers. Albertson stated he and his children have used this fire lane in the past, noting the alleyway was donated to the City as public land approximately 80 years ago. llie primary use at that time was for fire truck access to the lake and obtaining ice. w ith a very' limited number of boats in the area. Albertson stated times have changed and there arc a significant number of people who own boats and snowmobiles nowaday s. Albertson stated this alleyway has not been publicized in the past, with a large number of the snowmobilers not being aware that this access point exists, and as a result they use Coffee Channel even though it is unsafe. Albertson stated the residents in this aa*a pay taxes to use the lake and the lake access points, w ith the number of snowmobilers being on the rise. Albertson stated the City needs to look to the future and prov ide safe access to the lake. Albertson stated widening the bridge or road is not economically feasible at this time. .Albertson stated the only proper way to use the channel is to have the Water Patrol properly test the ice and close the channel when it is found to be unsafe. Albertson stated snowmobiles generally are 48 inches wide, with a typical road Iwing 12 feet wide in Orono. Albertson stated in his view there is ample sp;ice for travel through the channel, and suggested that a five-mile an hour speed limit be posted »hrough this area. Albertson stated Seton Channel is not a viable alteniative since it is also unsafe at times. Albertson st.'iled the state ordinance nrads that it is unlaw ful for a person to operate a snowmobile on the roadway, shoulder, inside the bank or slope, or any street or highway. Albertson stated the fire lane needs to be open when the channel is unsafe and should be deemed unsafe by the proper authority based upon appropriate testing. Until a better solution is found, the alleyway is the only viable solution at this time. PAGE 4