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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, June 27, 2016 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 6 <br /> <br />5. GILLESPIE CENTER (continued) <br /> <br />Brustad stated it is difficult to determine from each of the seven or more communities how many <br />residents come from Orono, but that the Gillespie Center has attempted to calculate that number. In 2015, <br />50 Orono residents were served through Senior Community Services for various activities, 35 Orono <br />residents are listed as paid members of the Gillespie Center, there are 25 Orono Meals-on-Wheels clients, <br />and 1,411 meals were delivered. <br /> <br />Brustad noted most of the programs offered by the Gillespie Center are free and open to the public and do <br />not require registration or fees. Brustad indicated they have used a percentage of members to make some <br />logical estimates of the number of Orono residents who have utilized the program. In 2015, there were <br />1,248 people who utilized the health services from Orono. Approximately 988 people throughout the <br />year from Orono participated in educational events and programs; 1,293 people from Orono participated <br />in recreational events and programs; and 44 people used the IRS Certified AARP tax preparation service. <br /> <br />Brustad stated the Gillespie Center also volunteers at the Tour de Tonka Mound rest stop. <br /> <br />Deb Taylor thanked the Orono City Council for their support over the years. Taylor noted in previous <br />years the Gillespie Center received $19,000 from the City of Orono, which was decreased down to $9,500 <br />the past several years. Taylor stated she would request that the City’s contribution remain at $9,500, and <br />that she would like to thank the Council for helping them create an environment to help seniors live now <br />and well into the future. <br /> <br />Council Member Walsh stated he is one of the 35 Orono members and a golf course sponsor as well. <br />Walsh commented he appreciates everything the Gillespie Center does. <br /> <br />Walsh noted he spoke with Orono’s City Administrator about this a number of times and that he is <br />becoming educated from a services perspective. Walsh stated a lot of cities provide senior services <br />directly but Orono has the Gillespie Center and that they are one of the assets that help support the Orono <br />community. <br /> <br />Walsh stated he has also talked with Council Member Printup about this a number of times and that in his <br />view it is important to support the Gillespie Center from a business and personal perspective because it <br />helps enhance the local community good and allows citizens to stay in the area. Walsh stated he would be <br />glad to support their mission and funding. <br /> <br />Council Member Printup thanked Deb Taylor and Jeanne Brustad for their presentation. Printup stated it <br />was the most thorough presentation they have ever had. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she really appreciates all the work that has been done by the Gillespie Center and that <br />she appreciates the update as well as the community forums that have been held. McMillan stated the <br />Gillespie Center has been a very good asset to the community and that the Meals-on-Wheel program <br />provides a great service. McMillan stated the City of Orono is very lucky to have the Gillespie Center <br />available to its residents. <br /> <br />Council Member Levang stated she is very familiar with the Gillespie Center and that she often sees the <br />people having coffee, playing cards, or exercising or dancing. Levang stated the Gillespie Center is a <br />wonderful organization and that Orono is very lucky to have it in their community.