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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br /> Monday,August 1,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> ROLL CALL <br /> The Orono Park Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: <br /> Chair Brian Roath, Commissioners, Janice Berg, Gordy Stofer,Kjersti Duval, Cameron Porter, and <br /> Alternate Commissioner Sandra Rasmussen. Taylor Stephens, Rick Carter were absent. Representing <br /> Staff was City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards, Parks and Golf Course Superintendent Josh <br /> Lemons. <br /> Chair Roath called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> APPROVAL OF MINUTES <br /> 1. May 2,2022 Park Commission Minutes & June 6,2022 Park Commission Minutes <br /> Berg moved,Duval seconded, to approve the minutes of the May 2,2022 and June 6,2022 Park <br /> Commission meeting as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT <br /> Jay Nygard, 1386 Rest Point Road,had a question and noted this meeting was improperly noticed as a <br /> work session than a meeting.He does not know if they violated the Open Meeting Law by doing so but <br /> wants to bring attention to Staff as they need to get these things correct. Second, he has done some <br /> research and he believes the illegal sale of a fire lane has happened to Mr. Erickson of the Orono Planning <br /> Commission. Unfortunately the City is in the middle of this and things are happening behind closed doors <br /> and for some reason the City lawyers cannot be bothered to explain to the Council how things work. In a <br /> simple 15 minutes of research Mr.Nygard found out that, according to the League of Minnesota Cities, <br /> statutory cities have the power to sell land or buildings they no longer need to anyone other than public <br /> officiants. Mr.Nygard noted Mr. Erickson is a public officiant and he knows they will say it was vacated <br /> and he donated money,but to use any other words than a sale is ridiculous.He noted that cities with <br /> Comprehensive Plans may not acquire or dispose of any property until the City's Planning Commission <br /> has reviewed the proposed acquisition and reported on whether it will comply with the City's <br /> Comprehensive Plan and the report must be in writing.Mr.Nygard would like to see the Planning <br /> Commission's report. Mr.Nygard spoke about real estate contracts with a City official and said again, <br /> according to the League of Minnesota Cities, a City is specifically prohibited from selling City land to <br /> one of its officials. He stated here they have a fire lane going to a public official for a supposed donation <br /> and Mr.Nygard does not buy the fluff and sees right through it. This is a sale that did not go through the <br /> proper process. The amazing thing to Mr.Nygard is that Councilmember Seals was not ever present at the <br /> Park Commission for a vote on something happening in her neighborhood.He does not understand it and <br /> asked what the hell is going on that Statute was not followed. If he was any one of the Commissioners he <br /> would be P.O.'d because this is the Park Commission's purview. <br /> 2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT <br /> Chair Roath noted they had a great listening session at Casco Circle Park with approximately 40 people <br /> attending. The natural park was originally donated by the neighbors, it is a beautiful park, and the <br /> Commission wanted to reach out to see if they had input on the way the City is maintaining the park.He <br /> noted they now have a better understanding of how the park is used and some maintenance things that <br /> came out of it. He shared that Suzy Swanson brought some great historical artifacts and timelines of what <br /> Page 1 of 6 <br />