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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITS’ COUNCIL <br />MEETING HELD ON JUNE 12. 1995 <br />(#4 - Adult Shelter - Continued) <br />Peterson said safety was a major issue addressed in the review process. Judge Davidson <br />of Hennepin County informed the commission and statistics show that the shelter is the <br />last place an abuser would ao iMost abusers are under court orders and are rcstriaed <br />from going near the shelters Peterson said what we would think would happen just does <br />not occur. The abusers would more likely go to friends and relatives iomes to approach <br />the victim They would run into problems with the police at the shelters <br />Robert .Albertson, 2100 Shad>^ ood Road, said he is a 32 year resident of Orono <br />Albertson has a family member who is a ps>’chiatnst and heads up a shelter. That <br />particular shelter is well run with counselors and security but sees problems for this new <br />shelter. Albertson questioned how this operation would be run He felt the staff was not <br />qualified and anyone needing a job could get one there Albertson did not think the <br />Westonka people knew how to work with these people He fears this would be more of <br />an open boarding house. <br />John Anderson, 2195 Shadywood Road, sad he is against the shelter and says there is no <br />r.eed for one in Orono Anderson said this would only bring e ther people to Orono. He <br />said he never got a letter from Orono or he. rd an^^hing regarding the shelter. Anderson <br />said there is a need for abuse shelters, citing the Simpson case, but questioned the need <br />for this community Callahan said that 300 houseliolds in a certain radius around the <br />proposed shelter site were notified by mail and would like to know if he had a problem <br />with getting his mail. Anderson suggested conuaciing with individuals to temporarily <br />help residents of Orono. <br />Dr Bryant Powers, 3 701 Shoreline Drive, a psychiatrist in Navarre, said his last client of <br />the day was an Orono resident. He is unable to disclose names but knows of tte need for <br />the shelter He also works with offenders, suppt^. i ;hc need for a shelter in this area. <br />Powers said viaims ask where a shelter is and fi> 1 ihey need to go into Minneapolis. <br />T-his is a major deasion to break this cycle of v .vlence, and then they are asked further to <br />go outside of their city of residence as well as away from their support syrtem. Powers <br />said this causes them to feel like they are being punished. He felt more will use a shelter <br />if one is located here than if they had to go into the city and make major changes. The <br />issue of children in school is major. In Powers work with offenders, he says he has never <br />had a case where a victim was stalked. The offenders are aware that the shelter is not <br />where they can go. <br />Callahan asked Powers about the issue of offenders approaching victims outside the <br />shelter, for example, at a park. Powers said we need to know the dynamics of the <br />problem These are people who have problems of dependency and control. The people <br />are frustrated but not crazy; they need help. The spouse being battered is in need of <br />support. The issue of stalking is being well handled by the criminal justice system, and <br />the offender knows this. It has never been Powers' experience of children being snatched. <br />This would occur • ore in a divorce situation.