04-12-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 12, 2010 7:00 o'clock p.m. (4. Funding Request for Milfoil Project, Continued) the City of Orono since 1939 and has seen a lot of people come and go. He feels that in light of the purchase on Big Island, the Council would be turning its back on the residents of Carman's Bay if it does not contribute. Kaster stated people should realize that the milfoil rots at the bottom of the lake and adds phosphorus to the lake and that currently the milfoil is out to 19 feet from the lakeshore. In Deephaven, every spawning bed is full of mud. The residents are losing the lake and the City should consider that. The native plants will come back following treatment. Kaster stated in his view this is a chance to preserve the lake. Bill Koch, 3251 Casco Circle, stated he moved to this area a couple of years ago and did not realize the milfoil was going to be as bad as it is. Koch encouraged the Council to look at this as a pilot project and a way to study the problem. The residents have raised $36,000 on their own and that they are asking the City to contribute a small portion to the project. The residents have taken on the lion's share of the project and are asking that the City participate in the pilot program. Koch stated if, after a few years, it is not effective, the residents will not be asking for additional money but that they want to see something done. The treatment has been shown to work on other bays and that in his view the funding commitment on the part of the City should be for the length of the pilot project. White noted he used to work for the chemical industry and the employees were cautioned not to breathe it and not to touch it. The chemical company eventually went out of business due to the liability. White stated that was around the same time as Agent Orange. White commented he is not suggesting that this is Agent Orange • but it is a chemical and he does not support the use of chemicals in water. White stated he supported the pilot project and that he understands the toxicity level is rather low. White stated he does have a problem with funding the project since the majority of the citizens do not live on the lake and then having to tell other people they will not be funding their projects. White stated there is a question whether it is the entire City's responsibility to deal specifically with one bay when there are 13 bays in Orono. White stated as it relates to the pilot project, he personally does not like using chemicals in water, but that he does understand the issues. White indicated the City Council will need to take future funding under advisement but that the residents are not requesting a great deal of money at this point. Franchot commented it is a complicated issue and that it is difficult to reach a full conclusion on the first night. Franchot indicated he would be in support of funding it this year but that he is not comfortable with making a long -term commitment. Franchot stated in his view the milfoil needs to be addressed on an overall basis and not on a piecemeal basis. McMillan stated she has a concern with the sustainability of the project and that hopefully there will be a better result than two years ago. McMillan noted this is not something that is permanent, such as fixing a road, and that there will be an ongoing maintenance issue. The LMA and LMCD have tapped into different funding sources and have provided some funding in addition to the money contributed by the residents, but that there is no guarantee that this is a viable solution. If the pilot program goes well, there is a chance to look at it again and that perhaps the entire lake can be treated. McMillan noted that milfoil has been in the lake since 1987. McMillan stated she does have an issue with funding something that does not have any sustainability or permanence to it based on the current information available. • Murphy commented he does believe that this is a slope that is very slippery and that the City should not participate in funding it. Murphy indicated he would vote no on the City's participation but that he would be Page 8 of 15