Breaking News: Four Former Mayors Speak Out
Read all about how and why Four Former Orono Mayors think Orono is becoming the Pariah of the Community.
A Quote for Mayor Walsh
How can a couple of council members and Mayor Walsh think spending millions to create an entirely new fire department makes any sense? Where is their responsibility to the Orono taxpayers who would have to fund this?
Mayor Walsh Disrespects Citizen Views, Again
Here's a fascinating exchange where Mayor Walsh has apparently blocked certain Citizens from commenting. Well we have far more views here than the Mayor's facebook page anyway. Please do comment below! Orono Fire Long Lake Fire Department #denniswalshformayor Thank you Shane for pointing out the obvious - Mayor Walsh apparently refuses to negotiate on any front and that is what will get him voted out this November. #togetherwearebetter Friends of Orono
Breaking News: The Laker & Pioneer story on Orono's 2nd Contempt of Court ruling
The Key takeaway? "Orono Mayor Dennis Walsh said Orono would continue to pursue the creation of the Orono Fire Department."
Even though the vast majority of Citizens do not want it.
Even though no budget has been given to the Citizens (because it's somewhere around 10X what is being paid now).
Citizens Speak: Comments from the Star Tribune Article
This is what the Citizens are saying about the duplicate Orono Fire Department...Ten times the cost for no improvement in service? Why is Mayor Walsh pushing this through?
Breaking News: Orono is once again featured in the Star Tribune
Seems that Mayor Walsh just can't stop himself? This type of lawlessness is dividing our communities and creating a drain on taxpayer funds. The Orono duplicate fire department appears to be the result of poor leadership and short term reactionary thinking. Temporary fire houses? No budget given to Citizens? No psych or health evals for Firefighters? No Town Halls for Citizens? Get Mayor Walsh back to renegotiate the Long Lake Fire Department contract like Judge Miller has asked - twice.
The Fire Service Solution is Easy Peasy!
Lawlessness in Orono: Read Between the Lines
This week, Mayor Walsh released a single page document commenting on the second contempt of court against Orono. Is Mayor Walsh really refuting Hennepin County Court Judge Miller? Is the City of Orono really refuting two Contempt of Court judgements? Is Mayor Walsh appealing these two judgements? If so, when?
How unusual is it for a Minnesota City to defy a court order? Highly unusual and the City of Orono may be the only city to have ever done so in Minnesota’s history. Now we’ve had two Contempt of Court judgements before the actual breach of contract trial. This is very poor leadership and takes Orono Citizens into a legal abyss. And Mayor Walsh single-handily chooses to put the future of Orono’s fire service in complete disarray.
Court Ruling Issues Second Order for Contempt - City of Long Lake v. City of Orono
Breaking News: The City of Orono is found in contempt of court for a second time.
"On March 25, 2024, a Hennepin County District Court Judge once again found the City of Orono in contempt of court in the case City of Long Lake v. City of Orono regarding the Long Lake Fire Department (LLFD) situation. After entering into what appears to be uncharted territory when it was found to be in contempt related to an action between two cities, Orono now finds itself on an apparently unprecedented path when it was found in contempt a second time for violations related to their recruitment and hiring of LLFD firefighters and proposed construction of a garage structure adjacent to LLFD’s Station 2."
For more information, see the official announcement from the City of Long Lake here:
Long Lake Fire Service has always been the answer!
The Simple, Low Cost Answer = Safe Service with #LLFD
Let’s not tinker with public safety. Let’s not try to fix something that isn’t broken. Let’s not spend tens of millions for a fire fiefdom for #OronoMayorDennyWalsh and Orono Council Member #mariaveach
There isn’t one single reason to move away from Long Lake Fire according to the Orono City Council. Orono City Council members admit that there is nothing wrong with the #longakefiredepartment service.
Orono Mayor Walsh Appears to Flip Flop on Citizen Input
Back in 2015, then council member Denny Walsh stated “the public expects that they have input and it there is an agenda item this may be the only time that they have a chance to say anything they want about it”.
Now that he is mayor, he can do anything he wants even going against his own ideas about the importance of allowing the public to speak.
3/11/24 Orono Council Work Session: Walsh, Johnson offended by clapping? They Want Further Citizen Suppression
Mayor Walsh openly advocates for "muting" and blocking Citizens from clapping at city hall.
Ironically this Citizen censoring discussion takes place during a conversation about the lack of City Council civility.
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.
Citizens speak out against Orono Fire - top concerns are safety, response times, training, temp fire garage as fire house?
On March 11, 2024, Orono Citizen, Kelly P. addressed the Orono City Council about her concerns related to the future of fire service for the City of Orono. She specifically spoke about concerns regarding the July 1, 2024 change in service for the Navarre area requested by the City of Orono.
For over 20 years the Long Lake Fire Department has effectively served Navarre, but In just 16 weeks the untested and unestablished, Orono Fire Department will respond to emergency calls the area.
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.
Breaking News: Spend, Spend, Spend
Breaking News: Spend, Spend, Spend
Yet another Orono City project is squandering more taxpayers dollars, and running over the initial estimate by over 46%. During the Monday February 26th, Mayor Walsh and his council majority will ask city council to vote for a temporary fire shelter next to the Navarre Station #2.
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….