06-26-2000 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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!■> ' fi -r ■ " Long Lakc/Orono Consolidation Committee Joint City Council Meeting Monday, June 5,2000 Page 10 two cities merge, the residents of Orono will continue to support Long Lake and would not want Long Lake to be degraded. Ringus stated it is a matter of whether the merged city will be stronger with a unified set of values, which are included in the Charter of the City and act as guiding values for the merged city. Ken Hammerschmidt, Long Lake, invited the residents to ask themselves what values will be enhanced by the merger. Hammerschmidt stated in his view the residents of Long Lake will not have equitable representation by the creation of the wards. Jim Murphy, Consolidation Committee, stated the equitable representation by all citizens of the merged community was an important part of this merger review process. Murphy stated the residents of Long Lake will have the opportunity to vote one representative from their ward to the new city council and will have the opportunity to vote for four out of seven people on the city council. Murphy commented the reduction in taxes is an important factor to consider but is not the fundamental reason why the two cities decided to consider merger. Murphy stated the residents need to look at how they can preserve and enhance their quality of life, and that without a merger, the residents are depending on the goodwill of the other city. Murphy stated in light )f the problems that have occurred in the past, he is thankful the two cities are now able to work together. Murphy raised the question of what Long Lake will need to do should they have to expand their tax base, and questioned whether the residents of Long Lake would like to see their community become a big commercial shopping district or whether they would like to see the small-town atmosphere preserved. Murphy stated in his opinion the residents of both cities will have more fair and equitable representation with the merger than without; and without the goodwill that presently exists, the residents will experience problems. Neil Weber, Consolidation Committee, stated he was impressed by the attitude of the Committee members to try to work together on this issue. Weber stated the Consolidation Committee has discussed the majority of the questions raised by the residents tonight, with the answers to those questions being addressed in the merger report. Weber stated the questions raised by the residents are perfectly understandable, with the Committee attempting to address each and every one of them. Weber stated he is in agreement with Otten that the two cities basically operate as one large community with the exception of governance. W'eber stated the City of Long Lake will change forever as a result of the new Highw ay 12 corridor, and that if the residents take the