02-27-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 9, 2023 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 12 Johnson said the City of Orono has purchased 100 percent of some of the equipment and/or vehicles, so this is not unprecedented in the existing relationship with Long Lake Fire. He said this isn’t a foreign concept in Orono’s longstanding relationship with them. Orono owns 100 percent of fire station number two and 50 percent of fire station number one. So, I don't see any reason why all of sudden, we wouldn't be using this equipment to serve our residents when it's ready to go, people are trained, and everything like that. I don’t see a path of not using this truck until 2025. Mr. Pierson said he was talking about a legal path to use the truck, for instance, if Orono and Long Lake can’t come to an agreement, how does that effect the use of the machinery we now have plus any new machinery. Can Long Lake say this fire truck can’t be used or will not be used until the contract is up. He asked if the city had gotten bids or done an RFP for the ladder truck. Mayor Walsh said the truck was purchased from another department that was selling it so there were no bids but bids were taken for the refurbishment. Johnson said this is not the first time the council has had public discussion at a council meeting about purchasing this equipment and the cost for refurbishing. The initial estimates were higher. He said this might be the first time for you but not the first time the council has had public discussion on this topic. Mr. Pierson said many people in the community have said they don’t know what is going on. He said there should have been a survey and a town hall meeting to ask people if they are aware that Orono and Long Lake are looking at going to separate fire departments in 2025. Johnson responded that the city is putting the information out in a very public way. Meetings are recorded, published live, and the information is available. I’m encouraged by the fact that you are here and learning more. That’s what we hope to see. Mr. Pierson asked referred back to his reasons for a town hall meeting to address why are we doing it, what’s the cost to the taxpayers, and what’s the alternative? Are you saying that because you've talked about it, does that mean that it should be done? I mean, we're a big community, and why don't we have the right to know how our money is being spent? He pointed out the action was on the consent agenda at this meeting. When did the public have a chance for input? Mayor Walsh responded we have been discussing this for over three years. There have been many discussions with the council between the reasons for engines, cars, and for why we doing this. The public had had a chance for input in August. September, October, November -- pick a month. It is on consent agenda now for refurbishing. He said Orono is the most transparent council. Everything is on video, the information is online, and these conversations have been had consistently. Mr. Pierson said what you are saying is the public isn’t engaged. It’s your responsibility to get them engaged. He again asked for a town hall meeting, pointing out the city was having one the next night on pickleball. Why can't the Council put together a similar meeting so that people can understand how their money is being spent? Part of your responsibility is to is to reach out to the citizens. Johnson said the City doesn’t have anything for you right now until Long Lake makes a decision. They have told us that after their next council meeting, they hope to have a counter or reply to our offer we gave them in October. Where the existing department is going to go is the first question that has to be