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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,February 27,2017 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> 17. BIG ISLAND DOCK PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT(continued) <br /> Mike McElhaney,Maple Plain,stated he is here tonight on behalf of the Commissioner of the Department <br /> of Veteran Affairs and that he is here to read a letter from him. <br /> "Dear Members of the Orono City Council. This letter is in reference to Minnesota Veterans for Veterans <br /> efforts and the retention of the big island docks. It has been brought to my attention that a generous donor <br /> has come forward with an offer to cover the incurred costs involved in putting in and removing the docks <br /> for the coming season. The docks have been essential in enabling Minnesota veterans and their families <br /> to share in the beauty of Big Island. <br /> The core of my concern remains with the necessity of adequate accessibility for our veterans who need <br /> assistance due to mobility issues. Hopefully this new financial support will allow sufficient time and <br /> resources for an in depth study to find ways to make the docks and Big Island accessible to all <br /> Minnesotans. Big Island is a crown jewel of Lake Minnetonka and a recreational destination for <br /> thousands of people in the region. As such,all citizens and communities that enjoy all the island has to <br /> offer should be encouraged to contribute and continue to support the increased costs that are being <br /> incurred by the City of Orono. After almost nine years of use,disabled veterans should not be the victims <br /> of any operational cost in the scope of things that are so minimal. <br /> Finally,I would be supportive of a joint venture that enables all citizens of Minnesota to enjoy and <br /> preserve the beauty of our lakes and,in particular,Big Island on Lake Minnetonka. <br /> Sincerely signed Larry Shellito,Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs." <br /> Van Erickson noted he sent the Mayor and Council an email this afternoon and that he would like to read <br /> it so everyone would have a chance to hear it. Erickson stated he is here on behalf of his father-in-law, <br /> Bill Lurton,who donated property which is now the dog park just west of here. <br /> "As a long-term resident of Orono and to honor the memory of my wife,I gifted 49 acres of land to <br /> Orono for use as a passive park. A short while after making this gift numerous years ago,part of the <br /> property was condemned by MN/DOT. Subsequently,I modified the gift covenant to allow the City of <br /> Orono to utilize some of the proceeds from the condemnation for a portion of the purchase of Big Island <br /> Park. I worked with Jim White and Gabriel Jabbour,who were both very honest and upfront and made <br /> sure that I was totally in agreement with designating where these proceeds were going,which was in <br /> excess of a million dollars. <br /> I was then and am now supportive of the City's actions to purchase Big Island with the help of the <br /> condemnation money. As a major contributor in the purchase of Big Island,I was excited in 2006 that the <br /> Big Island Park would be open and available to all people. As a veteran myself,I was excited that the <br /> veterans will still be able to access and enjoy the park. If the docks were not there,I would not be able to <br /> access the park myself nor many of my family members who live in and around the Lake Minnetonka <br /> area. I cannot imagine too many veterans or people in general going to Big Island if the docks were not <br /> there. The docks and the accessibility they bring to all the citizens are one of the main reasons I agreed to <br /> have the condemnation money from my wife's park used to help purchase Big Island Park. <br /> The other purpose for me being here tonight is at the last City Council meeting Mayor Walsh said that my <br /> father-in-law had threatened to sue the City. To set the record straight, I have never sued the City of <br /> Orono or threatened to sue the City of Orono,and I do not appreciate being mischaracterized for doing so. <br /> Page 4 of 23 <br />