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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, March 10, 2014 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />    Page 14 of 17   <br />(PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT, Continued) <br /> <br />Struve reported the City has experienced a couple of frozen service lines located under the street. The <br />Public Works Department was able to obtain some equipment from the City of Crystal to help thaw the <br />ground out but those efforts were not successful after two days of trying. Struve indicated temporary <br />lines have been run to the neighboring properties and the Public Works Department has instructed the two <br />homeowners affected by the freeze to run their water continually about the size of a pencil to ensure that <br />water is moving through the hose and does not freeze up. Struve stated Staff will be adjusting those two <br />property owners’ water bills accordingly. <br /> <br />Levang asked if that is a unique problem and why it occurred. <br /> <br />Struve stated the unusually cold winter has driven the frost down further than normal and that the frost <br />typically does not go quite as deep if it is covered by snow. Struve indicated one of the homeowners was <br />on vacation for a week and the water froze in their line. Struve stated he does not expect to see this occur <br />very often but that other communities have been dealing with hundreds of cases similar to this due to the <br />very cold weather. <br /> <br />MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT <br /> <br />Levang reported last week the Communication Committee met and everyone should have received the <br />City’s latest newsletter. Levang noted an e-version of the newsletter is also available and instructions on <br />how to sign up for that are included on the last page of the newsletter. <br /> <br />Levang noted she has mentioned in the past that the committee was looking at increasing it to three <br />newsletters, which will happen this year. The committee has also been working on creating a new look to <br />the newsletter and utilizing a different vendor. <br /> <br />Levang noted included in the City Council packet was the information on the Granicus figures. Levang <br />stated the new service is being utilized by the residents, with some residents watching the meetings live <br />and a steady number of people who are viewing the meetings later. Levang noted 92 percent of the <br />residents are watching the meetings on desktop and eight percent on mobile devices. Levang stated in her <br />view these kind of statistics are a good indication that the route the City has taken is working. <br /> <br />Levang noted she also attended the first meeting of the Park Commission. The first order of business is to <br />review the City’s existing parks and beaches and will be making some recommendations. The focus in <br />the beginning will be on maintenance. <br /> <br />Bremer asked where the City is in the process of getting additional applicants on the Park Commission. <br /> <br />Gaffron indicated the openings are published on the City’s website and last week information was sent <br />out to the local newspapers announcing the openings. Gaffron stated the City likely will hear within the <br />next two weeks from any interested parties. <br /> <br />McMillan noted she attended the Relationship Abuse Forum that was held last week. McMillan stated <br />there were a number of very good presentations but unfortunately the forum was not well attended. <br /> <br /> <br />Item #03 - CC Agenda - 03/24/2014 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 03/10/2014 <br />[Page 14 of 17]