05-22-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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From:noreply@civicplus.com To:James VanEyll; Nola Dickhausen Subject:Online Form Submittal: Fire Department Comment Card Date:Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:30:09 PM Fire Department Comment Card First Name Sheila Last Name Jones Address 2320 Longview Circle, Long Lake, MN, USA City Long Lake State MN Zip Code 55356-9474 Date 5/11/23 Orono Resident Yes Comments I hope that the Fire Department needs assessment will include an analysis of the costs associated with the various options for providing fire service including the current contract versus the model being pursued by the mayor and some members of the Orono City Council. This analysis should include information on the corresponding property tax implications for each option as well as changes in service. I am not aware of any issues with the excellent service provided through the current contract with the Long Lake Fire Department. I am grateful to the fire fighters of the Long Lake Fire Department. I believe that it's in the best interest of the citizens of Orono to retain the current arrangement with the Long Lake Fire Department. In addition, I believe that the public should have been brought into the conversation much earlier and am dismayed that citizens are having to beg the mayor and council for transparency around this issue. The lack of communication is frustrating. The May/June "Orono Happenings" did not list anything about the issues surrounding the fire department, the contract and the needs assessment. The "Message from the Mayor" did not say anything about the issue. Mayor Walsh stated in his column, "Social media is a great way to connect but may not be the best way to get information on what is actually happening in Orono." If I wasn't on social media I would not have known about the issues related to the fire department. I now receive the minutes from the Orono City Council meetings so I can be fully informed.