01-23-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 9, 2023 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 10 and would like to add her voice to theirs. She noted the City of Orono does not have approval from Long Lake that they will go with Orono’s proposal and yet here we are with a fire truck. She said feel like “we have gotten out in front of our skis”. She would like to know more about this whole fire situation and doesn’t feel like residents have gotten enough information. Seals said both she and Council Member Johnson are on the negotiation committee and you are right that there is no agreement in place between the two cities (Orono and Long Lake) but between the cities served by Long Lake Fire there is no back-up engine. This truck would serve as back-up for an engine and as a ladder for the taller buildings in the City. One of the city’s greatest responsibilities we have is to provide fire service to our residents. A lot of equipment servicing this area is really old. Orono still has the opportunity to work with Long Lake and the City would be willing to put this truck on loan to them. While this might seem like putting the cart before the horse, this is making sure your fire fighters have the tools they need to get to your house when there is a fire. There are still ongoing talks. Matt and I met with the committee last month. They are supposed to be giving us a response after their next council meeting but that is in their control. Johnson said what’s in front of us right here is the conversation about rehabbing of that equipment. He and Seals attend Future fire services meeting that neighboring communities attend. There was a proposal coming from City of Wayzata. When we have a big fire then our neighboring communities assist with that fire and we do the same thing on the police side too. When the City of Orono has a fire that requires a ladder truck mutual aid comes. The Cities don’t pay one another for mutual aid. The other departments wanted Long Lake Fire to pay $700,000 for 10 years to contribute to their new ladder truck. That spurred a conversation and a great piece of government work. The City found a used ladder truck for $350,000 and it is being refurbished for under $200,000 and Orono will own it. We’ll get 10-plus years of service. He said it would allow the City to provide a better level of service to the community since it will be inside the City, instead of coming from abutting cities, adding it is the fiscally responsible thing to do. He said Orono has been paying for 85 percent of the equipment purchases through Long Lake Fire so would be paying 85 percent of this regardless. He said it’s a piece of equipment we understood that we need and we did a terrific job as a community creating a solution that saves the taxpayers money. Ms. Brantingham again asked the council to pay attention to the request that was made at the Long Lake meeting for a meeting for our city to continue to provide residents with information on this Long Lake/ Orono whole Fire Department situation. We just need information. Johnson said that time will be most appropriate when we know what Long Lake is going to do. We are waiting for their response. Right now we’re in limbo. In the meantime, we have to make sure you have fire service. Mrs. Brantingham thanked the council for the clarity but said I’m just asking again that the council commit to holding an informational-type meeting like what was done in Long Lake for citizens of Orono, so we understand what is at stake here and what it will cost Orono residents. Benson asked where the truck is currently and was told it is at the public works building. She asked if this dollar amount for rehabbing is for all of the items needed. Johnson explained the $70,000 cost was for refurbing by the manufacturer, multiple vendors are providing equipment for $115,000, and graphics for another $6,600 are included in the refurbishment and equipping costs. He said once it is ready it can be offered for training. Fire fighters would like to have