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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, September 14, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 3 of 39 <br /> <br />4. 2016 PRELIMINARY BUDGET INFORMATION (continued) <br /> <br />McMillan noted no public comments will be taken tonight on the preliminary budget but that the residents <br />can e-mail or call City Hall with their questions or comments. Public comment on the budget and tax <br />levy will also be allowed at the December meeting prior to adoption of the budget. <br /> <br />The City Council took no formal action on this item. <br /> <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS <br /> <br />Tom Haugan, 3585 Lyric Avenue, stated two weeks ago he wrote a letter to the Orono Police Department <br />entitled “My Pledge of Support to Local Law Enforcement.” Haugan indicated he has been watching the <br />attacks and threats on police officers across the country, including what happened outside of the <br />Minnesota State Fair. Haugan stated while no direct attacks have been made against Orono Police <br />Officers, in his view these threats and attacks have had a negative impact on police officers in <br />communities and cities across the nation. <br /> <br />Haugan stated Orono City Officials have shown strong support for the Orono Police Department, which is <br />great, but that tonight he would like the Orono Police Officers to hear from an ordinary citizen. Haugan <br />stated he would like to read his letter. <br /> <br />“On August 29, 2015, Sheriff David Clark of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, whom I greatly admire, <br />made an appearance on the Fox News television program, “Justice with Judge Jeannine.” During this <br />appearance, he called for every law-abiding American citizen to stand up and begin pushing back against <br />the war on police officers. It is his call to action, in part, that I reach out to you today. <br /> <br />Firstly, I want to thank you and your officers for their service to this community. Recently I attended the <br />Orono Police Department open house and I was very happy to see the great new facility constructed for <br />the force and meet and shake hands with all police officers that attended. Know this, your service to this <br />community is greatly appreciated, and the respect and safety of you and your officers is of paramount <br />concern to me. When I see news reports that unfairly and dishonestly characterize law enforcement, I am <br />left frustrated and with a desire to somehow defend law enforcement or somehow set the record straight <br />though I lack capability to really do either. <br /> <br />In closing, Orono is a long way from Ferguson and Baltimore, both in distance and socioeconomic and <br />political makeup. However, should such a threat ever exist in Orono, I want you and your officers to <br />know that I offer my complete and unconditional support. I am an average man of modest means, but I <br />will do what I can and stand proudly for our men and women in uniform.” Signed Tom Haugan, United <br />States Army, Airborne Infantry, Veteran and Patriotic American Citizen. <br /> <br />McMillan thanked Mr. Haugan for his letter in support of the police department. <br /> <br />Printup stated he appreciates Mr. Haugan’s courage to read his letter publicly and that it encouraged him <br />to propose a resolution of support for the police. <br /> <br />McMillan stated it should be on the agenda in two weeks. <br />