Mayor Walsh Disrespects Citizen Views, Again
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Mayor Walsh Disrespects Citizen Views, Again

Here's a fascinating exchange where Mayor Walsh has apparently blocked certain Citizens from commenting. Well we have far more views here than the Mayor's facebook page anyway. Please do comment below! Orono Fire Long Lake Fire Department #denniswalshformayor Thank you Shane for pointing out the obvious - Mayor Walsh apparently refuses to negotiate on any front and that is what will get him voted out this November. #togetherwearebetter Friends of Orono

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The Fire Service Solution is Easy Peasy!
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

The Fire Service Solution is Easy Peasy!

Lawlessness in Orono: Read Between the Lines

This week, Mayor Walsh released a single page document commenting on the second contempt of court against Orono. Is Mayor Walsh really refuting Hennepin County Court Judge Miller? Is the City of Orono really refuting two Contempt of Court judgements? Is Mayor Walsh appealing these two judgements? If so, when?

How unusual is it for a Minnesota City to defy a court order? Highly unusual and the City of Orono may be the only city to have ever done so in Minnesota’s history. Now we’ve had two Contempt of Court judgements before the actual breach of contract trial. This is very poor leadership and takes Orono Citizens into a legal abyss. And Mayor Walsh single-handily chooses to put the future of Orono’s fire service in complete disarray.

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Breaking News: City of Orono Appears to Break Open Meeting Law
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Breaking News: City of Orono Appears to Break Open Meeting Law

BREAKING NEWS: The CITY OF ORONO appears to have BROKEN OPEN MEETING LAW again.

On Monday January 8th, 2024 three Orono City Council members gathered at the Long Lake Fire Department’s “Pinning Ceremony.” Orono Council members #MariaVeach, #MattJohnson and #RichardCrosby attended without a public announcement of a quorum (half or more members of City Council) to the Citizens of Orono.

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Say No to Christmas Fireworks in Orono
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Say No to Christmas Fireworks in Orono

Orono City Council does it again. Sets off thousands of dollars of Fireworks on the wrong holiday for their own enjoyment. Citizens are voicing their concerns here: https://www.friendsoforono.org/oronosunrest

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Heal our Community by making Your Voices Heard!
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Heal our Community by making Your Voices Heard!

Please don’t assume these expensive proposals such as spending millions for another fire service can't be undone. Now that Orono Mayor Walsh has finally publicly written in the city newsletter about his go-it-alone approach to start up a fire department, the Orono citizens can speak up. Citizens can finally see how the economics and risk to public safety of this proposal doesn’t add up.

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Long Lake Files Motion and supports "threatened" Firefighter in Hennepin County Court 10/13/23
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Long Lake Files Motion and supports "threatened" Firefighter in Hennepin County Court 10/13/23

The City of Long Lake files a motion for order to show cause and a supporting memorandum of law today in Hennepin County District Court. A hearing scheduled for matter will be held November 8th regarding the recruitment and hiring of Long Lake Firefighters.

Of special note is Long Lake's support for a Firefighter who has been threatened and apparently bullied on social media by the Orono Mayor Dennis Walsh.

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Who is Maria Veach? What are her motivations?
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Who is Maria Veach? What are her motivations?

Something just isn’t right with Orono City Council member Maria Veach. She has two more conflicts of interest added to her list of seven.

The Orono City Council is hiring her Long Lake Firefighter husband on Monday, October 9, 2023. Why is she not recusing herself from all Fire related voting and negotiation?

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Why is Mayor Walsh Paving over T-Ball?
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Why is Mayor Walsh Paving over T-Ball?

It's almost Hackberry Park's 50th Anniversary and look what's happening. The City of Orono wants to pave over one of the T-ball fields for a parking lot. How about parking on the Willow side and two T-ball fields so that next year can be a celebration and not a sad event with more hardcover?

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How is Mayor Walsh Funding his Pet Projects?
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

How is Mayor Walsh Funding his Pet Projects?

Our Orono taxes are proposed to rise again this year. The city council wants to approve a 12% increase in property taxes for next year and this is on top of increased utility fees. Our Sewer rates are the 2nd highest in the West Metro. Our Water rates are higher than needed.

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Tell the City of Orono that our Woods don't need "Cleaning"
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Tell the City of Orono that our Woods don't need "Cleaning"

Who is maintaining Orono Parks?

Sadly, many of Orono Parks are in a degraded state because all these Park features take maintenance and upkeep. Bederwood Park is just one example. Many of the turf areas are mud, the park lot has been spray painted and the retention pond and lip by the Porta Potty are makeshift bike jumps.

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Is Council member Matt Johnson misleading Orono Citizens?
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Is Council member Matt Johnson misleading Orono Citizens?

Orono City Council member Matt Johnson disparaged a fellow City Council member not once, but twice during the 8/28/23 City Council meeting.

Johnson belittled Citizens by making fun of their comments, their demeanor and even how they walk from the City Chambers.

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Is Trust in Orono City Council at an all time low?
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Is Trust in Orono City Council at an all time low?

Apparently, the trust in Orono City Council continues to plummet. With another preselected City Council member, #mariaveach, there seems to be little balance and open discussion. Most of Orono’s city business appears to be done in subcommittee meetings out of the public eye. Ms. Veach was appointed to three subcommittees in apparent Conflict of Interest because she and her husband who is a Firefighter may benefit from her work.

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How many Millions are Orono Citizens going to let Mayor Walsh run over?
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

How many Millions are Orono Citizens going to let Mayor Walsh run over?

Ever heard the comment you are up to your eyeballs in debt? Well that may very well be the case already in Orono. If #spendydenny Walsh gets his new duplicate fire department this coming Monday, he apparently will spend anywhere from $7 million up to $15 million as estimated by former Firefighters.

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