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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> JANUARY 23, 2023 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 7 of 12 <br /> <br />CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT <br /> <br />Edwards said he had just a couple updates. Since our last meeting, we've held two open houses, one on <br />golf course improvements through the Parks Commission, and the other on the Fox street resurfacing <br />project. Those were on the 10th and 11th, respectively. And then just as an announcement, there'll be a <br />repeat, it's just the same open house again, for those who weren't able to make the first one. There'll be a <br />golf course, improvements open house tomorrow here in the council chambers from 6 to 8 pm. <br /> <br />Seals said it was her understanding the council will get an update on the golf course improvements after <br />Parks looks at it. When will we get an update from the Fox Street Open House? How did the open house <br />go? <br /> <br />Edwards said the open house was fine. We had a handful of residents show up to express opinions about <br />the project. Pretty much everybody was in support of what we were proposing to do so there was really <br />nothing controversial. We didn't really learn any new. Sometimes on the road open houses we'll learn <br />about a drainage issue that’s particular to a certain part of the corridor or something like that. We didn't <br />really get any of that kind of feedback. So right now, we're looking at just continuing to move the project <br />forward. <br /> <br />RECESS AND RECONVENE <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh recessed the meeting at 6:28 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 6:34 p.m. <br /> <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS <br />James Elder, 195 South Brown Road, Orono. I want to add my voice to the requests for an open and <br />public discussion of the costs and benefits of establishing a go-it-alone Orono fire department. I'm a <br />retired firefighter like Councilman Crosby. But I'm agnostic regarding the name that goes on the truck. I <br />don't care what it is. But what I do care about is the cost and quality of fire service. Based on costs <br />already incurred to date, but absent any information from Orono, I've estimated that the incremental costs <br />from both operating costs and capital outlays could reach or exceed $4 million. As citizens and taxpayers <br />of Orono we have a right and you the obligation to present to us a good faith estimate of the costs and to <br />justify how this major expenditure improves our current and future fire protection. I think we need a <br />public examination of this endeavor as Long Lake did two months ago. It may well be that after full <br />disclosure of the costs of a go-it-alone Orono fire department, the best solution would be to return to the <br />bargaining table with Long Lake and come to a mutually beneficial agreement. That is my hope. <br /> <br />Brad Erickson, 2485 Independence Road. It's very unfortunate that Mr. Crosby for the third time in a row <br />found it necessary to run out of the meeting before I had a chance to speak to him. <br /> <br />Walsh asked, and you live in Independence? Where do you live? <br /> <br />Mr. Erickson said I live in Independence. My business is in Orono and has been. So don't act like this. <br />You know where this is going. Let me share something with you, smart ass. This is the protest that your <br />boy was attending down there at the governor's mansion. See this here? (holds up photo board) I don't <br />have a problem with mask mandates. What I have a problem with is when people like you and he start