05-22-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING May 8, 2023 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 9 of 12 things she has learned since December. Number one, the time for citizen comments has been cut from five minutes to three. Number two, Mayor Walsh sent an offensive video to a local business owner. Every Council meeting now ends with a deeply disturbing display of bad behavior by both parties. Number three, Councilman Richard Crosby has connections to the Proud Boys. Their leader was convicted of sedition last week for his role in soliciting and inciting violence against Congress on January 6, 2021. Number four, this Council has granted right-of-way vacations of City land to both Councilman Matt Johnson and Robert Erickson, a sitting member of the Planning Commission. Three former mayors of Orono who were concerned about these transactions have requested that the Attorney General and the State Auditor investigate. Number five, the City of Orono currently has multiple lawsuits against it and may soon face another for breach of current fire services contract with Long Lake. Number six, eight former mayors of Long Lake and Orono are opposed to Orono’s current course of action regarding fire services. They have notified Orono by letter that they believe this move is an expensive way to tamper with a public safety service that is not broken. Number seven, all the towns around us are working with their neighboring cities to form fire districts. Mayor Walsh feels Orono is big enough to go it alone. Walsh called time. Henry Brantingham, 3185 County Rd. 6, said he sincerely hopes fellow citizens will join in paying attention to the actions of this Council in the weeks and months ahead, especially, but not exclusively, to the actions regarding the provision of critical firefighting, and other emergency services to Orono citizens. He said he hopes the Council will reflect on what it can do to help heal now seriously strained are relationships with our friends and neighbors, especially in Long Lake, and to restore trust between Council and Orono citizens that has been broken both by actions this Council has taken and actions it has refused to take. He noted this process you just approved is not what's been requested and asked what are you afraid of? Kim Carswell, 261 Cygnet Place, asked people to close their eyes for a minute and imagine it's 2025 and we're looking back at the legacy of the City Council and Orono. She asked, what will we be thinking about the fire service and how it came about in ‘22 and ‘23? What will those fire services be? She said all neighboring cities seem to be collaborating to provide the best all- around services they can, playing to the strengths of each city. They will be learning from one another, complementing one another, she said, and those cities will have the best and the most cost-effective fire services, because they're following best practices. While the communities that surround Orono continue to collaborate, according to Carswell, they will watch Orono going in the opposite direction. The cost to taxpayers will perhaps be the highest and yet the services might even be the lowest, she said. The tone of this Council will remember is that you know what you're doing and don't need citizen input. There is little interest from most of this Council in listening to the citizens, she said, adding Orono citizens would need to navigate hurdles to be able to speak while our neighboring city, Long Lake, is planning a second open house. She noted that in contrast, the story could be one of open collaborative partnerships like Loretto and Hamel coming together, or perhaps working with Long Lake, Maple Plain and St. Boni. She asked might Orono shift their position to embrace this trend for the benefit of our citizens? Brad Erickson, 2485 Independence Road, asked where Mr. Crosby is tonight, noting he has attended one full meeting since November. He suggested if Mr. Crosby is having a difficult time with things, maybe he has to step down. Erickson said elected officials have a duty and a responsibility to represent and serve