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2 <br />๞๟๠๡ 6. It is the opinion of the Long Lake firefighters that <br />deconstructing LLFD adds no benefit to the public. Do you <br />agree? If no, why? <br />๞๟๠๡ 7. Can you report on complaints about fire service that <br />would be solved with the creation of a new department? <br />๞๟๠๡ 8. It is my understanding that if Orono choses to create their <br />own department that taxes allocated to fire services for <br />individual households will not increase, BUT the cities overall <br />spend for fire service will drastically increase in Orono. Those <br />cost will be covered by property tax increases and the <br />development of new properties that will contribute the Orono’s <br />overall budget, thus increasing the cost for fire services in the <br />City significantly. Can you explain how will taxes increase for <br />residents if Orono builds a new department? <br />๞๟๠๡ 9. Given that the Long Lake Fire Department has provided <br />exemplary fire service consistently to all call areas including <br />Orono, wouldn’t additional tax dollars be better spent in other <br />areas? <br />๞๟๠๡ 10. Orono is proposing Duty Crews vs. Paid-On-Call <br />Firefighters (the existing structure). Is this a hybrid solution that <br />would allow existing volunteers to continue service? What is <br />the cost for these full-time firefighters (wages, benefits, etc.) <br />and how does it compare to the POC model? <br />๞๟๠๡ 11. There are approximately 335 years of volunteer service <br />currently on the department. How will you ensure that they are <br />staying whole? (Ex: Allowing them to maintain their positions, <br />years of service and pensions.) <br />๞๟๠๡ 12. What are the fire service options for Long Lake, Medina <br />and Minnetonka Beach if they don’t continue a partnership with <br />Orono? <br />๞๟๠๡ 13. In 2021 John Ehret from the MN State Fire Marshall’s <br />office said, “There are too many fire departments in the State of <br />Minnesota.” In 13 years only one independent department has <br />been created. Has Orono sought council from other Fire <br />Chiefs? If so, what was their opinion? Is there any fire service <br />leader that would agree that the creation of a new department <br />is the best option for the City of Orono? If so, who? <br />๞๟๠๡ 14. Some citizens are under the misunderstanding that the <br />City of Orono has NO CONTROL under the current contract <br />with the City of Long Lake but that is untrue. Can you clarify? <br />a. Orono pays for 85% of future equipment but that gives <br />Orono 85% ownership of equipment & apparatus’ <br />b. Orono has the ability approve or deny a proposed operating <br />budget. <br />c. Orono has the ability to approve, deny, negotiate capital <br />improvement budget. Ex: There have been past requests to <br />improve Capital Improvement Budgets that would have <br />improved the current equipment and facilities that Orono has