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
Breaking News: The City of Orono appears to break Open Meeting Law - again
Breaking News: The City of Orono appears to break Open Meeting Law - again
When will the City of Orono listen to and care about their Citizens? #dennywalshformayor blocks Citizens from his campaign page posting City Business and then forgets to inform them of upcoming public meeting? This administration appears to have a big problem understanding and respecting their residents.
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.
Breaking News: Majority of Citizens do not want a Separate Orono Fire Department
Breaking News: Majority of Citizens do not want an Orono Fire Department
During the 3/11/24 Orono City Council meeting, Orono Council member Alisa Benson presented a tabulation of the citizen comment cards. Calculations show that 26% were for the fire department, 60% were against the fire department and 11% had more questions regarding fire service.
Why isn't Mayor Walsh following his own guidelines for Citizen input?
When Denny Walsh first ran for mayor, he campaigned on allowing citizens the ability to publicly comment on any agenda item at a meeting. He went as far as publishing this on the top of the council agenda, "The public is invited to address the council regarding any item on the regular agenda. If your topic is not on the agenda, you may speak during the Public Comments section.”
Why doesn't Council member Veach follow our laws?
Why is Maria Veach taking it upon herself to singly negotiate with the City of Long Lake?
According to Orono Municipal Code, Ms. Veach cannot be exercising control over the administration of the city in trying to seek concessions from the city of Long Lake. At the very least she should have had City Administrator Edwards with her and a majority vote of the council allowing her to approach Long Lake officials on city business.
Is a lean-to garage really safe as a Fire Station in Navarre?
Orono is setting up its new fire department on a hope and a prayer
At Monday night’s meeting, Orono City Council will be discussing whether they are able to start their own controversial fire department slated for the Navarre service area this July 1st.
The hope is that they can park their equipment in a yet-to-be-built garage next to the Navarre water tower.
What has Orono become at the hands of Mayor Walsh's imagination?
During the 2/12/24 City Council meeting, Mayor Walsh spoke of “imagining” all sorts of spending opportunities for Orono. Before he was mayor, he had a different tune. In 2011, he is on record saying “his goals are that the City lives within what they have and that they need to start saying no to different expenditures unless the residents are convinced we absolutely need it”.
Is Mayor Walsh's Orono now the metro's Wild West?
What has happened since Mayor Walsh has taken office? Has Orono become the Wild West?
Public Land Sold and/or Given away without Citizen Input
Public Access Property on Lake Minnetonka has been sold and given away to city officials and/or friends of the Mayor or special residents chosen by the Mayor.
Large Expenditures without Citizen Input….
Is Mayor Walsh creating a Circus at the Orono Golf Course?
What a difference a year makes. Last year a golf league was fighting to keep Pickleball courts and a Hockey Rink out of the Orono Golf Course. Now, they are planning on building their own extra large private picnic shelter apparently for themselves. Is this a clever move by Mayor Walsh in order to push forward development in Orono on public land again?
Orono Citizens are Being Billed Multi Millions for Water and Sewer
Lately the Mayor has been under pressure to answer the following questions:
Why are you billing the Citizens so much more than needed for their water and sewer?
Are you hoping to fund the Duplicate Fire Department with the extra millions these funds are now accumulating?
Is it fair for the city’s utility customers to be funding a startup fire department?
Have you been intentionally avoiding going public with your funding ideas for Orono Fire? Have you held public hearings for all these issues and their actual budgets? No, it appears that you have not, and you continue to suppress Citizens' voices about this enormous spending.
2nd in our Series: Mayor Walsh Misstatements?
Second in our Series about misstatements in the Orono Happenings Newsletter
Why is Mayor Walsh writing mistruths?
Walsh said Finance Director Ron Olson “retired.” That is not what Mr. Olson said in his resignation letter. Mr. Olson stated that he took another job due to “the stress of the
current political climate within Orono.”
Why would Walsh cover this up?
Why would Mayor Walsh Make up a Quote for Rep. Andrew Myers?
With numerous lawsuits pending and many misstatements in his own Orono Happenings Newsletter, perhaps Mayor Walsh needs a fact checker to correct his mistruths.
Citizens Speak Out at 1/8/24 Orono City Council Meeting
Krista goes on to make another great point - why belittle the LLFD, and then hire their Chief and several of their Firefighters? This form of double talk to the Citizens of Orono is insulting given the vast expense that Orono taxpayers will be footing for this unnecessary fire department - millions of dollars yet to be finalized and explained in a public manner
Breaking News: Hackberry Grant to Eliminate T-Ball Fields is Denied
Breaking News
The 6th wealthiest city in Minnesota (Orono according to Forbes) was denied Hennepin County funding for the Hackberry Park project that meant losing two T-Ball Fields.
This is great news for baseball and T-ball enthusiasts because those two Hackberry fields are the only dedicated T-Ball fields in all of Orono. Mayor Walsh wanted them gone in lieu of another softball field, and multi use field we don't need or want.
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.
Will Orono Lose the Donation Garden?
Another park is slated for change in Orono. This time it is The Donation Garden, started in 2011 and located behind the Long Lake Fire Department. City officials are looking at ways to put in a parking lot and recreation courts that can only be used in the warmer months. We are looking to the upcoming open house for a plan that leaves The Donation Garden intact without moving or disrupting its important mission.