09-12-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 12, 2011 7:00 o'clock p.m. (PUBLIC COMMENTS, Continued) Schoenzeit stated in his view it is important to show what private industry has provided to this area over the years. Frontier and Qwest provide a couple of megabytes and Mediacom provides coaxial cable. The newer technology stops at Hwy 494. A good majority of the citizens have high speed internet access. This fiber optic project will provide new technology. Schoenzeit noted that most everyone is already spending $30 a month for service but that they are not getting quality service. It is not cost effective for a private industry to go to each residence with the coaxial cable and so it comes back to the City to say that the City is going to deal with all of our citizens and bring them high speed wire for the same money they are already paying. Schoenzeit noted they could use the City's bonding authority to pay for the wire and that they would not be getting in the fiber optic business or taxing people for this service. Schoenzeit stated private enterprise has not met the needs of the citizens in this area and that he would like the City Council to discuss this project further and become educated on the subject. Schoenzeit commented he cannot stress the importance of this project. John Minge, JEM Technical, thanked the City Council for approving his application on the Consent Agenda. Minge commended City Staff for their fine work on his application and stated he is happy he is able to stay in the area and continue to expand. McMillan thanked John Minge for introducing himself and his family to the Orono Council, and wished his company good success. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT 5. RYAN COMPANIES US, INC., 450 AND 550 OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROAD NORTH — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT DISCUSSION Casey Hankinson, Ryan Companies US, Inc., was present. Casey Hankinson, Ryan Companies, stated he is here tonight to talk about the 33,000 square foot metal building and the proposal by Staff to demolish the building. Hankinson stated he is requesting an extension until 2020 to allow the building to remain on the property. The building is still a very functional building and it is currently leased to a tenant. If the building is demolished, the tax base will . decrease and there would be a loss of job creation. Hankinson stated he would propose that after 2015, if the building is not leased, Ryan Companies could possibly tear it down in 2016. It is still a very functional building and Ryan Companies would like to keep it. In the original development agreement, the building was to be taken down in August of 2010..The original plan was to upgrade building one, which was done; construct building two, which was done; and then demolish the metal building and construct building three and building four. Due to the economy, buildings three and four have not been constructed and he would like to ask for a five year extension to allow the tenant to stay in the building. Hankinson stated he understands Staff does not want the building to be reconfigured. The use would be light manufacturing or warehouse. Page 5 of 28