1/2/24 Orono Park Commission Work Session: Developments for Private Interest/Non Residents/Niche Sports
Some sad and low moments during the latest Orono Park Commission meeting held Monday, January 2, 2024.
Orono Council member Maria Veach sets up her own Official Government page on Facebook
So how can this be an "Official Government Page"? Does this follow Orono's Social Media Rules? If Maria is running for office doesn't it need a disclaimer? Isn't this misleading?
Healthy Trees Cut Down at Orono Golf Course for Development
Breaking News - The City of Orono is slating to develop the Orono Golf Course. It appears to be for some sort of Pavilion. Honestly, with all the trees being cut down it looks like there could be more planned. Please do attend Park Commission and City Council meetings to make your voices heard!
Another Land Giveaway to the Wealthy in Orono
Over the past few years Mayor Walsh and three members of the Orono City Council have approved land giveaways and sales to Wealthy Lake Minnetonka homeowners. Some of these homeowners are Orono Public officials.
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.
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
Is the apparent "Scorched Earth" strategy what Orono Citizens voted for? Or even want? #startribune
Make sure you come to Orono City Council meetings to hear the apparent anger and what has been called the “scorched earth strategy”. It appears that the City of Orono has a no holes barred approach to what looks like a fiscally irresponsible fire department and public works building.
Breaking News: The City of Orono is found in Contempt and their motion to strike is DENIED.
Breaking News: The City of Orono is found in Contempt and their motion to strike is DENIED.
The judge's order is posted below in the comments. Several stipulations are now in effect.
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.
$2.66 Million from Utilities is paying for other Orono Projects?
It’s a Budget Shell Game isn’t it? Are Orono Utility Rates so high they are funding other projects?
Under Mayor Walsh, the usage rates for Orono’s sewer and water has increased to the point that it has created a large surplus. Instead of reducing fees, Walsh is proposing taking $1.66 million from the sewer fund and $1 million from the water fund to make up budget deficits he has created with his oversized public works building and startup fire department.
The Taj is now $11+M Over Budget?
Orono’s “Taj Mahal” Public Works Facility
Why so BIG Orono? Why add on an additional 30,000 square feet when our population hasn’t grown but 1% a year?
Why so BIG Orono? Having to bond for this has created interest payments of $6 million over 25 years.
Is Orono's New Public Works Building running 30% over budget?
Orono has designed a Giant Public Works building that is double the size of the existing Public Works facility. Why build double the space with virtually no increase in population or no justification in analysis?
These are good questions, and now we see the budget for this project has grown nearly 30%? This brand new building was bonded at $13 million. Then apparently bid at $16 million, and now looks like it will cost somewhere around $21+ million including interest.
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.
Is Mayor Walsh Pushing T-Ball out of Orono with Youth Sports Orgs?
Is #MayorWalsh is wiping out T-ball fields in Orono so that he can put another nonregulation sized Soccer field in? Looks like this is an inside deal with #MariaVeach (Orono Westonka Treasurer) again.
The Hackberry Hill neighborhood and the Baseball Association want two T-ball fields. Orono Parks Superintendent #JoshLemons says that he is not going to follow the neighborhood's wishes because there are others out there that want a substandard another sized soccer field? Weren't you just complaining about Bederwood's substandard sized soccer field in a recent meeting Mr. Lemons?
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?
Where is all the Orono Park Funding? Why isn't Orono saving?
If Mayor Walsh is borrowing from bond debt payments and leasing equipment, something has to be up with Orono's cash flow. It appears that Orono is struggling to pay for Park maintenance and Park projects as well.
Mediation fails to end lawsuit between Long Lake and Orono
The mediation between the City of Orono and the City of Long Lake did not bring our two cities closer together 9/26/23. Sadly, the Orono/Long Lake Citizens and the Long Lake Council want to come together and bring resolution to the contentious situation with three Orono City Council members. Please ask #mayordenniswalsh #councilmemberrichardcrosby and #councilmembermattjohnson to stop fighting with the overwhelming majority of constituents - stop spending tens of millions of dollars on a Stand Alone Fire Department we do not need.
Why doesn't Maria Veach Recuse herself from all Fire Related Matters?
What is a conflict of interest?
A conflict of interest is a situation in which a person or organization has two or more competing interests. When a conflict of interest occurs, the person or team can't perform their duties appropriately because it could mean betraying their interests to one of the parties within the situation. When such a situation arises, it's often a legal requirement for the primary party to remove themselves.
Where is the Revised Hackberry Park Plan? Why isn't it part of the Grant Packet for 9/25/23?
Once again we are discussing lack of process with the #OronoCityCouncil and #mayorwalsh
Apparently Mayor Walsh has been communicating with only one resident to revise the last publicly shared Hackberry Park Plan. Where is the new revised plan for Hackberry Park? This plan is part of a grant application that is up for approval tomorrow Monday, September 25 at the Orono City Council meeting.