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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />September 25, 2023 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 12 of 13 <br /> <br />that is industry best practice, the letter continued. She asked the Council to build upon the 108-year <br />foundation of exemplary fire service go into mediation with open minds and consider the wishes of the <br />volunteer fire fighters. She contended based on what Council members said tonight they cannot <br />possibility be going into mediation in good faith. Through it all, she said, the Long Lake fire fighters have <br />continued to serve the community and she asked the community to support the Long Lake Fire <br />Department open house on October 9. <br /> <br />Brad Erickson, Corcoran, said he thinks Mr. Crosby ought to be fired. Two meetings ago he at the very <br />least compared Erickson to a Nazi. He asked when will someone speak out because this is becoming the <br />official message of this City that it is okay to peddle in this stuff. He added Walsh started it, saying he <br />doesn’t know why anyone would bring this up and state it from the Orono City Council table. Erickson <br />said he had asked for them to sit down to discuss this, adding Crosby should apologize and be censured. <br />Council Members are dug in on this Nazi stuff, he said. Crosby was out in Washington DC on a first <br />amendment binge but somehow when he comes up to exercise his first amendment rights they have a <br />problem with it. He asked when is he going to get an apology and are certain Council Members so <br />radicalized they think this should be part of civic discourse. <br /> <br />MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT <br /> <br />Benson said she does not make a habit of responding to public comments in her report but wanted to say <br />she appreciates the comments made tonight. She denounces hate in any form and speaks for decorum in <br />City Council meetings and does her best to abide by this. She attended the Wayzata Fire Department <br />pancake breakfast and said it was wonderful to see communities coming together for positive reasons. <br />Benson wished City Clerk Anna Carlson well and congratulated her on her new position. <br /> <br />Veach also thanked Anna Carlson and said she has been great to work with since her days as an election <br />judge. She wished her well in her new position. Veach said she was at the Fire Advisory Board meeting <br />and can state that within 24 hours of that meeting, Crosby did reach out after putting in more thought <br />about what he had said. She also mentioned the Fire Department open house on October 9. In her mind, <br />there never was anything saying that Fire Department can’t stay together, she said. <br /> <br />Johnson said he also wanted to congratulate Anna Carlson as she is very capable. With respect to the <br />mediation the next day, he said he was going in good faith and with an open mind. He said he holds out <br />hope that there is a path forward for both cities with a path of keeping the fire fighters together. If <br />progress is being made it could be a multi-day mediation. He is concerned about needing an alternate if it <br />goes for multiple days. <br /> <br />Benson said she was not aware that the City was disclosing who was representing the City in mediation <br />and that the City Attorney had advised them not to. <br /> <br />Johnson said it has been open that he was attending mediation. <br /> <br />Johnson moved, Walsh seconded, that the Council appoint Veach as an alternate for mediation in <br />the event one of the two representatives could not make it. Vote: Ayes 4, Nayes 0.