Is this happening at Orono City Hall?
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Is this happening at Orono City Hall?

During the last City Council meeting, a Citizen called out a communication style that they felt the Orono City Council and specifically the Mayor was using with residents. This isn’t the first time a resident has brought up gaslighting as an Orono City Council communication style. Considering some of the major issues that are pending, we wondered if any of these points appeared to be exemplified?

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Apparently Council member Johnson is not Walking His Talk
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Apparently Council member Johnson is not Walking His Talk

Often, Orono Council member #MattJohnson engages in crosstalk during the mayor/council report. He uses this time to tear down fellow council members rather than giving his own report.

Why does he do that? Why does he feel obligated to bully people and defend the mayor? Does it have to do with the fact that Mayor Walsh paid for Matt Johnson's entire city council campaign?

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New Orono City Council member Does Not Recuse Herself
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

New Orono City Council member Does Not Recuse Herself

It appears that new Orono council member Ms. Veach is not afraid to create a possible conflict of interest with her husband being a Long Lake firefighter. She did not recuse herself prior to a closed legal session discussing the lawsuit between Long Lake and Orono which directly impacts the fire department that her family is involved with.

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Tell Mayor Walsh to stop promoting the Fictitious Duplicate Fire Service
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Tell Mayor Walsh to stop promoting the Fictitious Duplicate Fire Service

Is the Orono Fire Department for real?

Not according to the State Fire MarshalNot according to the Minnesota State Legislature

Not according to sister cities around us

Not according to the pension funding

Not according to the Long Lake Fire Fighters

Not according to 722 citizens that signed the petition https://www.change.org/p/figure-out-fire-keep-long-lake-firefighters-serving-together

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Orono Citizens' Voices Need to be Heard
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Orono Citizens' Voices Need to be Heard

'The survival of democracy depends upon the trust of the people and that necessitates a government with integrity and competence, one that is truly "of the people, by the people and for the people."'

- Former Governor Arne Carlson Star Tribune June 19, 2023

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The next Preselected Orono City Council member announced
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

The next Preselected Orono City Council member announced

Where is our new City Council woman #mariaveach ? Who is she? Was the June 12th City Council meeting any way to introduce our next City Council member?

Welcome to #dennysworld - where public assets are given away to city officials, where millions of dollars are spent without the public’s vote, where city officials lose their licenses and have numerous criminal complaints and lawsuits both civil and federal pending.

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Citizens Want Fire Decision Reconsidered
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Citizens Want Fire Decision Reconsidered

Citizens Speak Out in the recent Laker Pioneer 6/17/23

This issue will not be over until Orono lays down the autocratic sword and listens to the people. We want our Firefighters together with the Long Lake Fire Department. We want fiscal conservancy and our voices heard.

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What’s the biggest issue facing Orono right now? Debt.
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

What’s the biggest issue facing Orono right now? Debt.

What’s the biggest issue facing Orono right now?

Debt. Orono is in debt to more than double we ever have been and that debt is going to possibly grow with further overruns on projects that we didn’t vote for.

We need Citizens to come to City Council meetings and speak about our fiscal situation. No matter how Mayor Walsh spins the tale, we are in massive debt for years to come with high interest payments more than ever before.

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Long Lake, Medina, Mtka Beach, Orono You are All Invited!
Barbara Schmidt Barbara Schmidt

Long Lake, Medina, Mtka Beach, Orono You are All Invited!

It's Time for the All Important Meeting!

The Orono City Council Work Session at 4 pm Monday June 12th is when new candidates for the open Orono City Council member position will be interviewed. Also on the roster for the City Council Meeting is another decision about Orono Fire Service which we all know would be far less costly if we stayed with Long Lake, Medina and Minnetonka Beach.

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