04-13-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 13, 2015 7:00 o'clock p.m. (4. ORONO POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT continued) McMillan thanked Police Chief Famiok and his officers for doing an excellent job. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS — JON SCHWINGLER, REPRESENTATIVE None. PUBLIC COMMENTS Joe Stevens, Minnetrista, stated he was here two months ago and attempted to discuss water rights with the City Council. Stevens indicated he would like to sit down with the Council at a future date and discuss this issue to help remove perception and false misinformation and replace it with facts and common sense. Stevens stated he respects Council Member Cornick's position that this went through the process and that there was an opportunity to speak then, but that Orono's pre -meeting agenda mentioned nothing about banning and simply listed a Wellhead Protection Ordinance. Stevens noted that evening he attended another Council meeting that was further away because he was not aware that the Orono Council would be taking the action that they did. Stevens stated he would welcome the chance to set the record straight and submit some useful information that in his view the Council may be missing on this subject. Stevens stated he anticipates having approximately a 10 -minute presentation, with the overall discussion being hopefully limited to 30 minutes. Stevens stated in his view the League of Minnesota Cities is misleading the City Council and that they are championing 368.01, Subd. 8 as well as 412.221, Subd. 11, that state Councils may provide and by ordinance regulate the use of wells. Stevens stated the Council is very familiar with what the legal definition of regulate means and that those two sections do not give the basis for the Council to ban wells. Stevens stated he is well aware of the case that was cited by Attorney Mattick and that the case involved a contaminated ground water problem, which was the sole reason that the water main was put in. Stevens indicated the State of Minnesota was involved on the side of the township in that case, which basically forced people to hook up to City water. Stevens noted there was a dissenting opinion in the case, with one of the judges stating that it was unconstitutional and that the only people that will be harmed by using their well water is themselves. Stevens reiterated he would like to discuss this matter further with the City Council at a work session. Jay Nygard, 1386 Rest Point Road, stated he is here to speak for a few minutes about what the City Council is planning to do regarding wind turbines. Nygard indicated he is also here as a representative of the Micro Wind Advisory Council, which is something that he started to help cities and encourage them to accept wind turbines in the communities. Page 3 of 40