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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING _ <br />Monday, June 28, 2004 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. <br />(PUBLIC COMMENTS, Continued) • <br />Jabbour noted that the newly appointed board members, who've not ever visited the camp, voted to <br />dissolve the camp and have not met since handing down their decision. <br />Olson asked how many board members were replaced. <br />Anderson stated that three new members were at that meeting and two of the other five abstained <br />from the vote, though he had not been given a set of the minutes from the meeting as requested. <br />White stated that he felt that it was clear that money was the motivation. Someone thinks there is a <br />great deal of money to be made from the sale. White agreed that one option might be to rezone the <br />camp for commercial camp use, while the other might be to zone it for cemetery use. <br />Jabbour noted that no discussions had gone on with the American Indians either. He used an <br />analogy that someone has decided to butcher this milk cow for a one time beef steak, versus <br />keeping the milk cow indefinitely. <br />Ed Callahan stated that it is obvious to everyone in the room the City of Orono should and does <br />strongly support the continuation of the vet's camp on Big Island. He agreed that it would be a <br />good idea for the Council to adopt a resolution supporting this position and this as the best use of <br />this piece of real estate. As a symbol of our City, Callahan pointed out that Orono is not alone in <br />believing this to be a good use of Big Island, all of the other lakes communities agree, as do 178 <br />other VFW posts. He found it interesting to hear what was to be done with the money if the camp <br />were sold, and pointed out that vast numbers of vets would be vying for this money if the camp • <br />were sold as well if the camp is not saved in perpetuity. Callahan maintained that the camp <br />continues to be a unique and vital parcel to the City and community as a whole which present <br />problems and joys. He urged the Council to give careful consideration to what will become of this <br />parcel if it is not saved for future generations. He pointed out that soon the City would have to deal <br />with legislation, commercial interests, and strongly urged the Council to assign a group of liaisons <br />to talk to other communities and gauge their positions, develop a consensus around the lake, and <br />prepare to take action. <br />Olson pointed out that if the veterans or another public entity come up with the money within two <br />years they could proceed. She stated that, legislatively, they will do what they can to achieve the <br />veterans and City's ends, but urged supporters to go beyond the lakes communities in this <br />endeavor. Olson encouraged the vets to lead and be the voice at the forefront of any action taken, <br />with the City's support as the responsible party for use of this land. <br />Sansevere reiterated the need to obtain letters of support throughout the state. <br />White asked what the operational expenses of the camp were annually. <br />Kask stated that operational costs of the camp were $18,000 annually. <br />Jabbour stated that the issue over expenditures is irrelevant, since the vets currently have a donor in <br />hand who has stepped up to cover expenses for the next 10 years. <br />• <br />PAGE 6 of 19 <br />