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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, March 9, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />Page 38 of 43  <br />  <br />(17. CYGNET AND CHEVY CHASE PARK STATUS, continued) <br /> <br />Levang stated Chevy Chase and Cygnet are drainage areas and not parks. Due to the topography, they are <br />essentially ravines and that development of those areas is not possible. <br /> <br />Edwards stated the concerns of the Park Commission were that these two areas are being advertised and <br />listed as a park and that there is the possibility the City will put park resources into them when there is no <br />recreational aspect to them. Edwards stated the City will continue to maintain them as drainage ways and <br />natural areas. <br /> <br />Levang stated people do go looking for them and are likely disappointed when they find out it is a ditch. <br /> <br />Printup stated his concern related to the more global picture and how the definition of parks may be <br />clawed back. Printup stated if the designations are changed periodically, it may open the door to future <br />development of those areas. <br /> <br />Printup moved, Walsh seconded, to approve removal of the Chevy Chase and Cygnet Parks from <br />the list of Orono Parks. <br /> <br />Levang stated she is wondering why he feels that the definition of parks will be clawed back. <br /> <br />Printup stated he has a concern with future Councils simply changing the designation. <br /> <br />McMillan noted the City holds the deeds to those areas. McMillan stated she does not remember these <br />two areas being a park when she was on the Park Commission. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated as it relates to Cygnet Place, it was dedicated to the City as part of the subdivision that was <br />done back in the 1960s. Gaffron indicated Chevy Chase is tax forfeited property that nobody wanted for <br />development because it was a drainage way. Gaffron stated those two areas probably should never have <br />been called a park. <br /> <br />VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br /> <br />PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER’S REPORT, CONTINUED <br /> <br />Edwards reported the water plant rehab is currently underway and some heaters were replaced at the <br />Navarre treatment plant. The Public Works Department has also been keeping busy with tree trimming <br />and removal at the city-owned parks. <br /> <br />Edwards noted the seasonal road restrictions begin this Wednesday, March 11. The Public Works <br />Department will be posting the signs on Wednesday and the police department will begin enforcing those <br />restrictions on Thursday. Those will remain in effect until the state lifts their restrictions.