03-21-2023 City Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 21,2023 6:00 o'clock p.m. years. He said it is his understanding that the ladder truck recently purchased by the City is a 2009 so already past three quarters of its life expectancy. We're spending three quarters of a million dollars on it, not counting the refurbishing of it. So we could expect to get another five, six years out of it before we have to purchase a new one based on national averages. Walsh said he believes the truck will last another 10 years and that the speaker was talking a lot of maybes. Mr.Newcomer said he thinks there are probably four or five fire engines in the fleet that are close to needing replacing. He added when the needs assessment is presented in the spring it is likely to be a wake-up call for every community around here as far as how far behind we are. Chelsea Wetrick,Independence, said the Mayor uses the podium to sit up there and bash people and yet wants to talk about ethics. She said the Mayor had attacked the one person that wants to do what she's supposed to do and not look out for herself. And you two sit and follow him around having not a single thought for yourselves. You people don't want what's best for the City.You want what's best for you and your pockets.And then you want to talk about how Brad fundraised for her?Who bought racist signs, who's doing all the illegal stuff?You got into this seat illegally.You sit there and you laugh and you scoff and you are the biggest liar out there. Why are you not going to sit down with a negotiator or mediator? Brad Erickson,2485 Independence Road, said he had spoken with some people from the Northwest Hennepin League of Municipalities.You really are full of it. Good job trying to box her out,though,the only person that has shown any interest in a long time.He quoted from a letter Councilmember Benson had included in the packet for the previous meeting.He said her suggestion was that members of the Council,with the assistance of staff,locate an independent mediator to help find a solution to this problem. The League of Minnesota Cities offers these resources.He noted he had not seen Councilmember Crosby since November 28. That's a long time. You want to go after me and then start running out for the next three months?He said he had a two-hour meeting with his attorney last Thursday and the Council could expect something this week. So where have you been Mr. Crosby?Why can't you answer any questions about the Proud Boys and about the Capitol steps?Did you see we made the paper again?You know you're gonna be answering those questions. Why were you standing up here crowdfunding in front of this sign of this City,this honorable City,for a hate group?Those questions aren't worth answering to you. There are a lot of people that want to know, believe that,and the answers will be forthcoming. He added,he disagrees with City Attorney Mattick regarding legal advice he gave the Council at the previous meeting. I think that anything that comes through on a government computer, email,whether it's being disseminated about the office or not, should be public record. I don't think that's private. I don't think any of you guys' stuff should be private if it has to do with the government record. Claire Berrett, 1085 Brown South, Orono,said she just wanted to say that there are a handful of super- noisy people who spend a lot of time on social media stirring the pot. That's their right to do it. But I don't want the perception to be that the majority of the people of Orono are cut from that cloth. I am proud that you are my Mayor, and that all of you are on the Council. I think you run a very professional organization for our City. You do good;things you always have. I'm a staunch supporter and I just wanted to make sure that you know very clearly that there's a very large majority that isn't quite as noisy as the minority. Page 5 of 8