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?
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.
Mayor Walsh Eliminates T-Ball In Orono: Dozens of Residents Speaking Out
Due to the City of Orono’s desire to develop the park, they have decided to apply for grants for a softball field. Their plan is to eliminate both T-ball fields presumably because they can’t get grant money to redevelop those fields for T-ball.
Orono Council member Richard Crosby in his own words
Orono Council member #RichardCrosby (RC): How does he come up with these statements?
RC: “I believe that the two people that are in the negotiating positions, which are Matt (Johnson) and Maria (Veach), should be the people attending this meeting. Without a doubt.”
Really Mr. Crosby? Well we have a lot more than doubt about this whole arrangement because Maria Veach’s husband is a fire firefighter and she has a clear Conflict of Interest on any fire related committee or meeting.
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.
Why are Crosby's views on National Politics a topic during a local Council meeting?
Has Richard Crosby gone too far? Please watch the close up view of his what appears to be an angry rant during the 8/28/23 meeting here: https://youtu.be/jmxZfLpzunQ?feature=shared at about hour 3 and minute 54:00.
Why is Walsh Eliminating T-Ball from Orono?
Why would Mayor #DennisWalsh want to take away historic T-ball away from Orono? Is it because he needs funds to develop Hackberry Park? What this means is that T-ball will be wiped away from play in Orono all together. There are no other T-ball fields in Orono.
Orono's Debt Level Highest Ever
In the recent city newsletter, Mayor Walsh makes it sound like he's paid down or paid off City debt. The only decreases are those debt payments that were already scheduled to be paid yearly.
As a matter of fact, he has dramatically ballooned the city’s overall debt since he has been in office. This new debt load is not only the highest level ever, it also includes the addition of lots of new interest payments, around $5 million over a longer period of time, 25 years. For comparison, all the previous bonds were 15 year timeframes.
See the entire video on our youtube channel: https://youtu.be/dUrvJ3I9JqY?si=qDS8le0UpYe4NwZ-
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.
Stop Orono Grant Funding for Parks We Don't Want
Orono City Council and Park Commission are trying to railroad through a Park Plan without Citizen input for grant applications. Once these applications are funded, the Park must include those features to which the grant applies i.e. Softball Field and yet another Soccer field.
Mayor Walsh Spends More and More on Failed LLFD Take Over
Mayor Dennis Walsh sure likes to spend taxpayer dollars on his pet projects doesn't he? Now he wants a temporary fire station apparently because his hostile attempt at taking over Long Lake Fire Department failed. He's hoping you don't notice that he's spending more and more funding on a duplicate fire department we don't need.
Who puts a parking lot in the middle of a Park?
Hackberry Park Plan was presented and approved in one City Council meeting Monday August 28, 2023. There will not be a public hearing. There has not been any information in the city’s newsletter. This has all been decided by a couple of park commissioners and the city council - less then 10 people.
Orono Council member Richard F. Crosby II - Denying Long Lake Fire Department Legacy?
How does Mr. Crosby come up with these statements? He said during the 7/24/23 Orono City Council Work Session, “...that doesn’t even cover the lack of support and equipment the department needs…” Who voted to underfund and under capitalize the Long Lake Fire Department since you came into office Mr. Crosby? You did. Please take responsibility for your own actions instead of cowardly blaming the City of Long Lake. #integritymatters
Walsh wants to spend $15-$20 Million Dollars Extra on Fire
Why do we need to spend $15-$20 Million or more Extra Dollars on a Duplicate Fire Department? That’s the fiscally prudent question that Mayor Walsh could not answer in the Coffee for the Mayor meeting held on 8/16/23. You can watch the entire meeting here: https://youtu.be/Rcu8c23X8qg
The Deal is On the Table Orono City Council!
Long Lake is offering Orono more control of the Existing Fire Department. The city of Long Lake is offering to create a new governance board for the existing fire department. Orono began exploring this idea until Mayor Walsh stopped the negotiations.
In His Own Words: Orono Planning Commissioner Dennis Libby
In their own Words
Orono Planning Commissioner Dennis Libby has been very active, along with Mayor Dennis Walsh, in commenting about both private citizens and former officials. Both of them have been posting on Nextdoor through the local Politics group and commenting in various meetings. Attached is one of Libby’s rants criticizing former city officials during the 7/12/23 Coffee for the Mayor meeting. Is this ethical, professional or warranted? Isn’t the City Council and the rest of the departments including City Staff supposed to be nonpartisan?
Alert for Orono Homeowners - Your Lk Mtka Views are Diminishing
Orono lakeshore homeowners pay attention to what the city council is discussing. They are considering loosening or removing the Average Lakeshore Setback rules. This could allow your neighbor to develop additional structures or build a new house in front of your home, possibly blocking some of your side views to the Lake.
What is a Conservative?
Council member Richard F. Crosby II - Conservative No More? How does #richardcrosby come up with these statements? He said during the 7/24/23 City Council meeting, “Am I a conservative? Yes.” Really Mr. Crosby? Because you are spending taxpayer dollars like Orono money grows on trees.
Orono paves over more green space at Hackberry Park
Why is Orono taking the middle of a park for hardcover parking in a neighborhood? What happened to T-Ball? Won’t this bring more traffic and more league games to the small neighborhood park? More noise, more traffic, less green, less trees and less habitat for wildlife?
Let's see all the Hackberry Park Concepts - Orono Citizens Paid for them
Why is Brian Roath initiating Hackberry Park Concept before showing Citizens the Options?
Monday, August 7, 2023 Roath does it again. “This is one of the concepts that Bolton & Menk brought to us. This is the one that we chose to start running with.” That’s right, a few individuals - namely Park Commissioner Brian Roath and Park Commissioner Gordy Stofer with Mayor Walsh watching from the back row decided the Hackberry Park park concept for you.