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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, August 8, 2011 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 10 of 21 4. LMCD REPORT – ANDREW MCDERMOTT, REPRESENTATIVE McDermott stated he had misunderstood that the LMCD would be inspecting at all sites during the government shutdown and that inspections did not occur during that time at Gray’s Bay and Maxwell's Bay because they are owned by the state. McDermott reported the milfoil harvesting program is up and running again but that one of the boats had capsized and ended up with a hole in one of the pontoons. Thanks to Multi Services, Minnetonka Portable Dredging, and Gabriel Jabbour, they were able to get the boat off of the bottom of the lake and it has been hauled to the county site off of County Road 19. The League of MN Cities has been contacted regarding insurance coverage. At the present time they believe it is repairable. Due to that accident, the LMCD stopped the harvesting program and had all of the equipment inspected. They are looking at whether they should just have longer days or how this will impact the harvesting. On Friday there will be an inspection of Carman’s Bay to see how the herbicide treatment went this summer. At the present time everyone feels it went well and that the majority of the complaints were regarding a native plant that looks similar to milfoil. McDermott indicated he will have more information on the herbicide treatment by the next city council meeting. McDermott reported that the state has purchased equipment for three boat washing operations in an effort to kill zebra mussels but that he is not sure how they will be deployed throughout the state. Rahn asked if there is concern that the lake will not get down to the level that the LMCD would like by the fall. McDermott indicated it will depend on the amount of rain that is received this fall and that they are attempting to lower the level of the lake but that it has been difficult given the heavy rainfalls this summer. The dam has repeatedly been open and shut to control the water level. Rahn commented that it appears to still be almost full. McDermott stated if this area continues to get lots of rain, it will remain high. McMillan commented the volunteers for the community garden requested a truck load of milfoil to be used as fertilizer and that was dropped off over the weekend. McMillan stated it will be interesting to see if milfoil can be used on a regular basis at the community garden. Rahn commented to his understanding they also haul it out to the arboretum. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS – DENISE LESKINEN, REPRESENTATIVE Leskinen stated she had nothing to report but would be available for questions. PUBLIC COMMENTS None Item #03 - CC Agenda - 08/22/2011 Approved Council Meeting Minutes 08/08/2011 [Page 10 of 21]