09-24-2001 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, September 24, 2001 is (Coffee Channel, Continued) Sansevere inquired how many of his members are under 12. Silton stated it is a family club and there are a number of kids under 12. Silton stated he does not have the exact breakdown at this time. Fay Dawson, 1940 Shadywood Road, stated she has lived here for 16 years and in her opinion people look to their homes for security and safety. Dawson stated Orono does have a large number of public accesses available to the lake, and in her opinion the residents of Orono should not have to have the financial responsibility placed on them to provide accesses to every possible location snowmobilers may want to go to. Dawson expressed a concern regarding the petition that was circulated in her area, noting that it is her understanding people were told if they did not sign the petition, they would have snowmobilers driving through their yard. Bill Omlie, 1860 Shadywood Road, stated he would like a permanent solution to this problem, noting that he does have snowmobilers driving through his yard when the channel is open. Omlie stated the channel is not effectively blocked when it is unsafe which allows the snowmobilers to go through the channel. Omlie stated due to the safety concerns, in his opinion the alleyway cannot be discarded until a better solution is found. Omlie reiterated a permanent solution needs to be found, especially since there are a large number of snowmobilers who reside in Orono. Bob Albertson, 2100 Shadywood Road, stated he lives approximately one block south of Coffee • Channel and he and his family have lived in this area for 38 years and are snowmobilers. Albertson stated he and his children have used this fire lane in the past, noting the alleyway was donated to the City as public land approximately 80 years ago. The primary use at that time was for fire truck access to the lake and obtaining ice, with a very limited number of boats in the area. Albertson stated times have changed and there are a significant number of people who own boats and snowmobiles nowadays. Albertson stated this alleyway has not been publicized in the past, with a large number of the snowmobilers not being aware that this access point exists, and as a result they use Coffee Channel even though it is unsafe. Albertson stated the residents in this area pay taxes to use the lake and the lake access points, with the number of snowmobilers being on the rise. Albertson stated the City needs to look to the future and provide safe access to the lake. Albertson stated widening the bridge or road is not economically feasible at this time. Albertson stated the only proper way to use the channel is to have the Water Patrol properly test the ice and close the channel when it is found to be unsafe. Albertson stated snowmobiles generally are 48 inches wide, with a typical road being 12 feet wide in Orono. Albertson stated in his view there is ample space for travel through the channel, and suggested that a five -mile an hour speed limit be posted through this area. Albertson stated Seton Channel is not a viable alternative since it is also unsafe at times. Albertson stated the state ordinance reads that it is unlawful for a person to operate a snowmobile on the roadway, shoulder, inside the bank or slope, or any street or highway. Albertson stated the fire lane needs to be open when the channel is unsafe and should be deemed unsafe by the proper authority based upon appropriate testing. Until a better solution is found, the alleyway is the only viable solution at this time. • PAGE 4