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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />September 11, 2023 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 4 of 8 <br /> <br />PRESENTATION <br /> <br />15. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY ANNUAL UPDATE (continued) <br /> <br />Prosecuting Attorney Steve Tallon gave his annual update stating he has been the prosecuting attorney for <br />eight years. He said it has been a busy year in terms of zoning issues. There’s been a lot of trying to get <br />people into compliance. The goal is to do this in a friendly way but make people understand they can <br />follow the rules or they can come to the Council for a variance. It usually doesn’t come to him until the <br />City staff has been unable to get them comply, he said. Typically, after he files a compliant they get <br />compliance, the case settled and they have been able to mostly avoid criminal prosecution. In the police <br />department it is pretty much the same old stuff, he said. The County Attorney’s office is doing less <br />prosecution in some areas. A lot of what the County attorney turns down comes to his office. DWIs have <br />been about normal. Domestics seem to be down a little bit. He said the relationship with the police has <br />been good. He has joined another law practice so he will have some back-up. <br /> <br />Walsh asked about his plans to retire. <br /> <br />Tallon said he is 74 but has no plans to retire and will give his municipal clients a year’s notice. He said <br />he is healthy and likes what he does. His background before becoming an attorney was as a police <br />officer. He said he believes in accountability but also in treating people fairly. <br /> <br />Walsh pointed out that Tallon does not work for the City Council and is not the City Attorney. He gets <br />cases directly from staff. <br /> <br />COMMUNMITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT <br /> <br />Community Development Director Oakden gave a report on building permits and revenue. She said the <br />City is above the number of permits issued as of this time last year and so is very busy with permits, <br />reviewing applications and inspections. There will be about eight items for the Planning Commission <br />meeting next week. Late summer is always a busy time, she said, as people try to get applications in to get <br />work done before winter. <br /> <br />FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT <br /> <br />Finance Director Olson reported said the Council will be approving the preliminary budget and tax levy at <br />the next City Council meeting. The City’s new accountant is being trained. <br /> <br />FIRE REPORT <br /> <br />Fire Chief Van Eyl reported there would be another Fire Department open house on Sept 27. The <br />department is processing a number of applications for fire fighters and does have six or seven applications <br />from Long Lake Fire that are on hold. Both Fire Departments participated in observance of 9/11 that day. <br />The department also trained school staff on AED use. <br /> <br />CITY ATTORNEY REPORT <br /> <br />Attorney Mattick reported the City is headed toward mediation with Long Lake regarding the lawsuit, has <br />selected a mediator and has a mediation session scheduled for Sept. 26.