Laserfiche WebLink
V' <br />Long Lake/Orono Consolidation Committee <br />Joint City Council Meeting <br />Monday, June 5,2000 <br />Page 6 <br />Peterson stated this issue was covered in the Commi^ee's interim report given in March of <br />this year. <br />Fifield stated the Consolidation Committee has reviewed these issues in detail, with the <br />Committee determining that the residents of Long Lake should not be negatively impacted <br />should Orono decide to improve their streets or extend sewer or water to its residents. <br />Fifield indicated that Orono has a policy that requires a private street to be upgraded to city <br />standards, with the costs being assumed by those affected property owners, prior to the <br />road becoming a public street. Fifield stated the ability to expand the sewer system is not <br />entirely controlled by Orono and is dictated by the Metropolitan Urban Service Area (MUSA) <br />boundary to a large extent, with the costs of hookup being assessed to those residents being <br />added to the sewer system. <br />Mayor Bash pointed out the residents of Long Lake w ill experience a decrease in the City <br />portion of their taxes, with the residents of Orono being able to pay those costs without <br />increasing Long Lake's taxes. <br />Mayor Jabbour stated the merged city would need to collect an additional 2.1 million <br />dollars in ta,\es before a resident in the City of Long Lake would experience an increase in <br />their city taxes. Jabbour indicated the City of Orono has increased its budget over the laxt <br />few years substantially in order to repair its streets. <br />Phyllis O'Mally, Orono, inquired whether the formation of certain precincts that are outsidcof <br />the school district boundaries would require those students to transfer to a different school <br />district. <br />Peterson indicated the precincts are established within the wards and do not apply to school <br />boundaries. <br />O'Mally commented typically only 15 to 20 percent of the voters fully understand tjhe issues <br />involved in an election, and inquired whether the Consolidation Committee has taken that <br />into consideration. <br />Peterson indicated the Consolidation Committee is planning to hold outreach meetings <br />throughout the summer months in an effort to inform the voters on this issue as well as meeting <br />with the local civic and church groups in this area. Peterson stated it is a goal of the Committee <br />to provide the information to the residents so they will be able to make an informed decision <br />regarding the merger. <br />A Long Lake resident inquired whether 100 percent of the costs for sewer or water hookup <br />would be assessed to that individual or developer.