HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2025 CC MinutesMinutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, January 13, 2025, 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
Page 1 of 4
OATH OF OFFICE CEREMONY
1. Oaths of Office -- Mayor and Council Members
The Oaths of Office were administered by the City Clerk Christine Lusian individually to newly-elected
Mayor Bob Tunheim and newly-elected Council members Steve Persian and Jacqueline Ricks.
Mayor Tunheim called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Orono City Council members present: Mayor Bob Tunheim, City Council Members Alisa Benson, Steve
Persian, Jacqueline Ricks and Claire Berrett. Members absent: None.
Staff present were City Attorney Soren Mattick, City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards, City Clerk
Christine Lusian, Finance Director Maggie Jin, Fire Chief James Van Eyll and Public Works
Superintendent DJ Goman.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The Agenda was approved as presented by consensus.
CONSENT AGENDA
2. City Council Minutes
3. Claims/Bills
4. Recognize Year of Service – Resolutions 7549, 7550, 7551 for former Mayor Dennis Walsh and
Council Members Richard Crosby III and Maria Veach
5. Annual Appointments – Resolution 7548
This item was removed from the Consent Agenda
6. 2025 Pay Equity Report
7. Tobacco Licenses
8. Hire Parks and Facilities Superintendent
9. Hire Administrative Assistant to Administration
10. Hire Administrative Assistant to Public Works, Parks and Facilities
11. Hire Utility Maintenance Worker – Jason Holms
12. Hire Utility Maintenance Worker – Lance Kraemer
13. Hire Firefighter
14. Job Title Rename and Pay Adjustment – Records Technician
Persian moved, Benson seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda with Item 5 removed. VOTE:
Ayes 5, Nays 0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, January 13, 2025, 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
Page 2 of 4
Kelly Prchal, 4705 Watertown Road; Charlie Miner, Mayor of the City of Long Lake; Kelly Grady, 271
Greenhill Lane, Long Lake; Kelly Kaiser, 3043 Tuxedo Blvd, Mound; Jay Nygard, 1386 Rest Point Road;
and Daniel Gustafson, 1040 East Circle Drive, Wayzata; provided comments.
5. Annual Appointments – Resolution 7548
This item was brought forward from the Consent Agenda.
Berrett pointed out a position, representative to the Orono Ice Arena, that was not on the list of annual
appointments. City Administrator Edwards indicated that was an inadvertent omission and the intention
had been to appoint Persian.
Benson moved, Ricks seconded, to adopt Resolution 7548 and amend it to add the appointment of a
Contract Negotiating Team consisting of Tunheim and Persian for the purpose of conducting
negotiations with the City of Long Lake relating to fire service and Persian to the Orono Ice Arena
Board. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
15. Replace Equipment -- Sewer Cleaning Easement Machine
The City Council received a Staff report from Public Works Superintendent Goman concerning the
replacement of several pieces of aging equipment. All the purchases were planned in the 2025 Capital
Improvements Plan and all quotes came in under budget. Flexible Pipe and Equipment, a state contractor,
provided a quote for the new sewer equipment, including trade-in of the old equipment, in the amount of
$83,599.
Persian moved, Benson seconded, to replace the sewer cleaning easement machine. VOTE: Ayes 5,
Nays 0.
16. Replace Equipment – Mini Loader, Mini Excavator and Trailer
Goman’s Staff report listed two quotes and recommended Lano Equipment for all three pieces including a
trade-in for a total of $252,348.82.
Berrett moved, Benson seconded, to purchase a new mini loader, mini excavator and trailer.
VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
17. Replace Vehicle – Street/Stormwater Service Truck
The Staff report recommended purchase of the truck and related components from Morrie’s Buffalo Ford
in the amount of $72,777.
Ricks moved, Berrett seconded, to replace the street/stormwater service truck. VOTE: Ayes 5,
Nays 0.
ATTORNEY REPORT
Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, January 13, 2025, 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
Page 3 of 4
Attorney Mattick said his report would be made during the closed session but recommended a change to
the agenda since adjournment should come after the closed session.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT
18. Work Session Schedule
City Administrator Edwards went over the 2025 work session schedule and said topics for the Jan. 27
work session would include the City Council Code of Conduct and a possible special election.
Ricks moved, Benson seconded, to adopt the 2025 Work Session Schedule. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
19. 2025 Sewer Rehabilitation Design (24-014)
Edwards said the next five items are for engineering design work for projects on the schedule for this
year. He explained they were not on the consent agenda because they had been discussed in the fall and
he wanted to give the new members of the council an opportunity to review and ask questions. The
current actions are for the design and engineering work only, which would be done by Bolton and Menk.
Benson moved, Berrett seconded, to approve the 2025 Sewer Rehabilitation Design. VOTE: Ayes 5,
Nays 0.
20. Public Works Commodities Yard Design and Engineering (24-035)
Edward said this portion of the new Public Works building project, including the salt shed, was delayed
until the 2025 budget.
Berrett moved, Ricks seconded, to approve the Public Works Yard Design. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
21. City Hall and Police Parking Lot Maintenance Design (25-035)
Persian moved, Berrett seconded, to approve the City Hall and Police Parking Lot Maintenance
Design. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
22. Stormwater Improvement Projects Design and Engineering (25-022, 25-024, 25-020)
Edwards said plans this year are for three stormwater projects for Casco Cove, the McCulley Road
wetland and Kenobi Pond.
Berrett moved, Ricks seconded, to approve the design and engineering for the stormwater
improvement projects. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
23. Navarre Water Treatment Plant Electrical System Upgrade – Design and Engineering (22-022)
Benson moved, Ricks seconded, to approve the design phase for the Navarre Water Treatment
Plant Electrical System Upgrades. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, January 13, 2025, 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
Page 4 of 4
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT
Mayor and Council provided reports.
24. CLOSED SESSION
Benson moved, Berrett seconded, to enter into closed session at 7:22 p.m., as permitted by Section
13D.05 Sub. 3b to discuss open litigation. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
(The City Council was in closed session from 7:22 p.m. to 10:13 p.m.)
Mayor Tunheim reopened the meeting at 10:13 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Ricks moved, Benson seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 p.m. to Monday, January 27, 2025
at 6:00 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
ATTEST:
_____________________________________ _______________________________________
Christine Lusian, City Clerk Bob Tunheim, Mayor
Minutes approved by Orono City Council January 27, 2025. Meeting videos and transcripts
available at oronomn.gov.