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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL. <br />MEETING HELD ON JUNE 24, 1996 <br />( #16 - Saga Hill Land Acquisition - Continued) <br />• <br />Callahan said, although the plan is to leave the land as open space, he was opposed to <br />taking land with any conservation easement on it. <br />Jabbour said the City should obtain the grant, and the grant cannot be received unless the <br />ownership is with the City of Orono. <br />Jabbour said there have been concerns from neighbors over the use of the land. Jabbour <br />said future Councils could not be bound regarding the use of the land. <br />Moorse said he needs to check the language of the grant but thought there would be <br />some restrictions placed on the City's use of the land. <br />Hurr said she was in favor of stipulating park uses but not to what type of park uses. <br />Goetten said she was in favor of park use only. <br />Callahan informed Moorse that the Council was not in favor of any conservation <br />easement. Moorse said he would check the restrictions required by the DNR. <br />Hurr asked about the time of closing. Moorse said it was currently scheduled for July 1. <br />He said there may be the desire to do a phase 1 environmental study. Moorse said the <br />Minnesota Land Trust was okay with an extension noting Midway Bank has not • <br />completed its title work. Jabbour voiced concern with a possible problem due to the <br />closing deadline of the purchase agreement. <br />Renay Leone of the Minnesota Land Trust arrived. She said the title work was behind <br />but saw no problem with delaying the closing on the property. <br />Callahan informed her that the Council was not interested in providing a conservation <br />easement. <br />Jabbour informed Leone of his concern that the bank may not defer the purchase beyond <br />the July 1 date. <br />Leone said the Minnesota Land Trust could address the issue of separating the tax forfeit <br />property and the bank property regarding the conservation easement. Jabbour told Leone <br />that there would not be a conservation easement over the tax forfeit parcel. <br />Callahan said he was reluctant in accepting any land with a conservation easement on it. <br />Leone asked Moorse if the DNR grant did not have a contingency for a conservation <br />easement. Moorse said he would have to check on this. <br />• <br />10 <br />