Why is OFD parked in Long Lake? 12 minute drive from Navarre?
What is happening during the day with the Orono Fire Department?
Why are they parked in Long Lake? Isn’t their coverage over in Navarre? That’s a good 12-15 minute drive.
More importantly, what is happening while you Sleep Navarre?
Again, your fire trucks are parked over near Orono High School in the Old Public Works Building just between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This is at least a 12 minute drive over to Navarre after the fire fighters reach the station.
Does this sound unsafe?
Breaking News: Summary Judgement DENIED in Defamation Lawsuit
Breaking News: Summary Judgement DENIED in Defamation Lawsuit
Defendants #dennywalsh and the City of Orono are going to trial 9//3/24
This is just one of several lawsuits pending against the City of Orono and also Mayor Walsh. In this particular case, a Citizen is suing the City of Orono and Mayor Dennis Walsh for defamation. The case goes to jury trial September 3rd.
City of Orono’s Deflection Tactics
How ironic - and where is your boat City of Orono, Minnesota Government ? Didn’t you decide that the pushing through #control of Orono Fire is more important than public safety? Thousands of residents will be celebrating on Lake Minnetonka this weekend - where’s your service? Oh, that’s right, you are depending on Long Lake Fire to make up your missing service coverage for the Lakeshore City aren’t you? And charging us 7x+ more for less.
#votethemout
Orono Fire Chief James VanEyll Appears to Brush off Safety
Orono’s Chief #VanEyll brushes off Citizen SAFETY right before one of the biggest accident weekends of the year on Lake Minnetonka - 4th of July.
If you have a water related emergency, who is coming to rescue you? NOT Orono Fire because they didn’t plan short term or long term to cover their taxpaying public with service.
And yet, Orono is charging more than $11.800+ per service call. Stop #overspendydenny Stop #unsafeofd and renegotiate with Long Lake please - our Citizen’s health and wellbeing is more important than the #walsh #empire and control.
Orono Fire Department is not Ready
Not ready. Yet another part of the tens of millions of dollar Orono Fire not ready for service on the holiday with the most calls per year - 4th of July. Sadly we hope nothing happens due to the under equipped, understaffed and undertrained fire service that City of Orono is forcing onto Navarre residents. It’s not too late for Mayor Walsh to negotiate with Long Lake. It’s right thing to do for our Citizen’s safety.
Who is creeping around your back door? #mariaveach
Who is creeping around your back door?
It might be Orono Council member Maria Veach. Seems she's been emailing and apparently lobbying for Orono Fire behind the scenes with various Fire Fighter wives. Is Ms. Veach lobbying for herself? Orono Fire is the same department her husband works for and will receive a pension from.
Orono Citizen writes concern about Orono's Fire Services
10 Reasons why everyone should be paying attention to this issue and the lack of process, lawsuit, extraordinary expenditures without Citizen input and the clear taxpayer opposition to such a move.
If you have concerns, please comment below and share this article with fellow residents. It's never too late for Safety in our community.
Calling all those who Boat on Lake Minnetonka! And those living in and around Navarre!
During last night's City Council meeting, Orono's Lake Minnetonka Conservation District (LMCD) Representative said that Orono doesn't need a rescue boat - because the private marinas would rescue Citizens.
Long Lake Fire Department to provide water response this summer amid dispute with Orono
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/long-lake-fire-department-to-provide-water-response-this-summer-amid-dispute-with-orono/
Mayor Walsh's "Great Ride" at Taxpayer Expense
Mayor Walsh’s messages in the city newsletter boast of the last eight years being a “great ride”. Much of that "great ride” for him has come at the expense of increasing the city’s tax levy over 80% in those eight years. It's a great ride if one can spend, spend, spend.
Orono’s tax base and citizens' house assessments have never been higher in the city’s history. Inflated home values and new density developments have created the largest tax base from which to tax and spend. Repairing roads and maintaining parks is great but not creating a whole new fire department and going into debt to build a new supersized public works building when only a new outside storage area was needed. These new projects are costing the citizens over tens of millions of dollars. Instead of getting a break in tax rates when times are good, the Orono citizens are watching their property taxes rise and the city’s reserves dwindle.
Wealthy Orono Leverages Charity for the Needy - For Themselves?
Wealthy Orono Leverages Charity for the Needy - For Themselves?
You read that right - Orono - the 6th Wealthiest City in Minnesota - is leveraging a charity to build a shelter at its own revenue-generating golf course.
Chief Van Eyll blocks Citizens on Social Media
Please see the official Orono City Council remarks with the count here: https://youtu.be/Ri4eozm-jL8?si=4QZks2lmt0MFnVVa This information has been available to all for quite some time.
Orono Mayor Denny Walsh appears to Break Open Meeting Law
Orono’s Mayor Walsh breaks Open Meeting Law 4/29/24
Authors Uncivil comments to Citizen
Once again, we see the flagrant disregard for process and procedure by Mayor Walsh. He decided to blast an email to the entire City Council in response to a very kind request from a Citizen. By sending an email to more than one council member, Mayor Walsh is in effect creating a quorum, and therefore subject to a violation of the Open Meeting Law according to MN Statute 13D.015.
Orono’s “Taj Mahal” Public Works Open House
So here's the truth about the Taj Mahal and a budget overrun of nearly double: https://www.facebook.com/reel/297723062767698
This ridiculously large and frankly warehouse style building now sits as the monument to the Walsh regime. Unattractive? Too large for a City of around 3200 homes losing population for the last three years? No one wants to buy services from Orono now until there's a new administration City of Orono, Minnesota Government
Isn't Mayor Walsh Greenwashing Orono? #callhimonit
What is Greenwashing?
That’s when a person or entity releases and/or promotes environmentally friendly messaging to help them look like they are helping and/or care about the environment. In reality they are not helping, and in fact, may be harming the environment.
Isn't it interesting that Mayor Walsh chose Earth Day, Week and Month to start his own apparent greenwashing campaign for himself and the City of Orono?
Beautiful Orono! 2024 is the Renaissance Year
Orono's natural resources - including Lake Minnetonka, our wetlands and woods - are some of the reasons we love our home so much.
Let's make sure that 2024 is the Renaissance Year to vote for our environment and not against it.
Let's stop clearcutting trees and paving over our parks for niche activities.
Let's replant trees to offset our massive Ash tree losses, plant pollinator gardens and reforest our woods.
Keeping Orono's natural beauty for generations to come will be on the ballot this fall.
The Ugly in Orono - A New Series
The Ugly in Orono: Our Parks Lack Upkeep
Why are our parks not being kept up? Why does it seem the Orono Park Commission spends more time and money on feasibility projects than general upkeep of our parks? Tens of thousands of dollars have been spent on “study plans” - money that is going to consultants instead of investing in basic upkeep of our parks.
Why has Maria Veach flip flopped on her opinion of Orono Fire?
Is Maria Veach Misleading the Public?
When Orono Council member Maria Veach spoke on 4/8/24 at the Orono City Council meeting she read a document that we now have up on our website here: https://www.friendsoforono.org/maria-veach-1 There are many misnomers and several misleading statements that we will highlight throughout the coming weeks.
How can Ms. Veach advocate spending several times more for service that is essentially the same or that may be even less safe?
Cutting Service? Understaffed? Temp Firehouses? Are they Serious?
Are Orono residents getting the whole fire service story?
Orono’s new fire chief Van Eyll never hired one other paid on-call firefighter during their recruitment campaign other than those from the Long Lake Fire Department (LLFD).
Why is that? Because other departments and cities know about working with Mayor Walsh? Or was it because Walsh was trying to take over the LLFD? Or did outside firefighters not want to work with Van Eyll?
4/10/24 Coffee with Mayor: Shame&Blame LL, Citizens; Misquotes, Misinformation, Meanness, &Dating??
More Unbelievable Conversation with Orono City Officials
Listen to Mayor Walsh and Orono Planning Commissioner Dennis Libby deflect, distract and appear to blame and shame not only a Citizen at the meeting, but the City of Long Lake public officials as well.
Listen to Orono/Long Lake Firefighter apparently misquote Long Lake Mayor Miner, and then disparage the City of Long Lake.
Listen to Orono City Council member Maria Veach compare the process of fire service negotiations to her own experience of “dating in high school.” She is also taking credit for bringing the two “sides” together apparently against open meeting law.
The Citizen attending the meeting did point out that the Orono City Council does vote against Staff recommendations regularly, so if there is a plan from the two City Administrators/Fire Chiefs put forth, what will stop Walsh from block-voting against it? (Great point and this entire exercise may be a complete waste of time as the earlier Seals/Johnson negotiations were. And remember, Walsh cut the cord on communication just as there appeared to be an agreement.)