Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,February 27,2017 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENTS(continued) <br /> Nygard noted the decision will not affect any of the Council since none of them are veterans. Nygard <br /> stated there are approximately 8,000 people in Orono,which amounts to a dollar a person per year. <br /> Nygard stated he would authorize the City Council to raise his taxes a dollar a year to help pay for the <br /> docks. <br /> Bob Brown, 5453 Point Road,Mound,stated as a past Council member,he knows the Council can move <br /> items around on the agenda and that he would ask that they move Item No. 17 up on the agenda. Brown <br /> stated some of the veterans are pretty elderly and that they should not be kept waiting until the end of the <br /> meeting. <br /> Walsh moved,Printup seconded,to set Item No. 17 as the next agenda item. VOTE: Ayes 5, <br /> Nays 0. <br /> CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT <br /> 17. BIG ISLAND DOCK PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT <br /> Dean Acheman,Rosemount,stated he was involved with the original veterans' board of governors and <br /> that he was involved with the sale of the island. At the time of the sale,the veterans had other interested <br /> parties. Acheman stated what went on at that time was very impressive and that the veterans,the City of <br /> Orono,different legislators,and the Minnehaha Watershed District all came together to come up with an <br /> agreement where the island would be accessible to the veterans for the long-term and that the accessibility <br /> would be safe and easy. As a result,the veterans quickly turned their attention to the offer from the City <br /> and the veterans sold the island. <br /> Acheman noted there was a state statute in place that said once the sale was made,the money would go <br /> into an irrevocable trust,a new board would be formed to oversee that,and that the money would be <br /> disbursed for veterans' projects. The$5.3 million that was granted is still in that fund. In the meantime, <br /> the veterans have granted$1.6 million to state projects around the State of Minnesota in support of <br /> veterans. Acheman stated he is very proud of what happened. <br /> Acheman stated for the past 11 years,Gabriel Jabbour has attended their V4V meetings and that he has <br /> given them periodic updates on what is happening with the island. Acheman noted in 2007 through 2009 <br /> a plan was put in place addressing ADA compliance. <br /> Acheman stated he was amazed at what happened in the meeting two weeks ago and that he could not <br /> believe that a motion was made to remove the docks and sell them. Acheman stated that is the wrong <br /> thing to do and is going backwards on accessibility. Acheman noted he was part of the V4V Trust Fund <br /> and that they organized just a few months ago a trip for 36 veterans, 18 of them World War II veterans,to <br /> go out to the island and have lunch. Acheman stated the veterans really enjoyed it. <br /> Acheman stated he wants the Council to rethink the action that was taken and put it on a course where the <br /> veterans can expect safe and easy accessibility as well as to keep the commitment made to the veterans. <br /> Walsh thanked him for his service. <br /> Page 3 of 23 <br />