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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING November 28 2022 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 8 proficiently. The object of a fire district is to take the fire service off the plate of the individual cities and combine it so the citizens and elected officials have oversight to speak on their behalf. Mr. Newcomer noted it reduces the number of chiefs, officers, apparatus replacement committees, it reduces everything and it runs more efficiently. When Mr. Newcomer moved to the area recently he looked into the fire service and stated the men and women who serve are great people, dedicated, and professional. However, they are about 30 years behind as the rest of the country is consolidating and getting down to business. What is happening right now with Long Lake and Orono separating, it makes no sense and they are going backwards. Instead of being 30 years behind they will be 35-40 years behind and in speaking with the Mayor and Council, they agree that a fire district is important. He suggested they do it, they take this time of contention, and move forward to look at a fire district. They do not need to hire a Fire Chief, buy a fire truck and continue to pay those as it is doubling. He noted buying a fire truck when they already have the resources in the area is wasting taxpayer money, time, and energy. He asked them to stop, for everyone to have clear heads, and form what is the best for the community and people. He said “save money, save time, save lives.” Ann Turbeville, 997 Wildhurst Trail, continued what Mr. Turbeville was talking about earlier. She said the Applicant stated for public benefit he was not asking for vacation of the strip of land attached to or running along Wildhurst Trail although other properties along the street requested and were granted vacation. This is misinterpreted and is not comparable to the vacation request. Prior to 1978 Wildhurst Trail was reconstructed and widened and did not affect the properties at 1001 and 1000 Wildhurst Trail. Conversely the City purchased land from 999, 997, and 995 Wildhurst Trail to widen the street, thus leading to no easement at the street for these properties. One resident speaking in opposition suggested a section with overhead power lines may be extended in the future to provide better coverage to this area. First and most importantly, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association did not receive a letter from the City of Orono regarding this vacation request. The power lines on 1003 Wildhurst are provided by Wright-Hennepin not Xcel Energy. Committee members and the City Planner dismissed this idea. Conversation on this topic by the landowner and committee members made it sound like 1003 Wildhurst Trail is the only property fed by these utilities and it would benefit to have the overhead lines buried. Six homes on the north side of Wildhurst Trail receive power from those power lines, a resident pointed out that Xcel Energy power fed from North Shore Drive is terrible power with consistent outages after storms. It would be in the public interest to keep this option open to expand new utility services through this right-of-way. The Applicant and a partner have a purchase agreement on the abutting 10 acres which was dismissed as not relevant or a separate deal. Ms. Turbeville contends that this is extremely relevant. The current power lines divide the plots, and if the right-of-way is vacated and the entire property is joined it will set the table for a potential larger development in the future. The park and dense wooded area are unlike any other in the City of Orono, it covers roughly 100 acres of continuous natural hardwood habitat. While Ms. Turbeville is not looking to restrict a private landowner, she is asking the Council to not use this vacation request as a step to develop the property in the next year or the next 50 years. The Applicant’s entire property is 15 acres, enough to divide and build multiple houses. Not vacating poses to no harm on the Applicant to do what he stated, such as have his parents live in the existing cottage and build a house for himself, and possibly one for his son. Ms. Turbeville thanked the Council for their time and consideration. Barb Schmidt, 50 Landmark Drive, has questions about funds attached to the parks. She noted there is a dedication fund and asked if there is a balance in that fund. Mr. Edwards noted Ms. Schmidt can reach out to him with her questions, however he does not have that information in front of him right now.