Orono Public Golf Course

So now your Lions Clubs International Donations are about making revenue for the wealthiest per capita City in Minnesota? Orono?

Tell the Orono Lions to do the right thing - Give $40k to the needy and not to the For Profit Golf Course that doesn't need it.

#togetherwearebetter @friendsoforono

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.

How did this come about? Apparently the Men's League Golfers, some of whom are Lions, wanted to build themselves a place to hang out. The clubhouse and deck weren't big enough so they are proposing using the Lions Club resources to build another structure.

Is this what is best for the golf course? With such a small parking lot, will this put pressure on other golfers who want to play? Tell Orono to consider and implement Citizen's voices BEFORE voting projects through. Let's not put the Lions in the middle of this consistently backwards process.

Tonight is the open house for this project that is already considered by the Orono City Council for approval. Tell Mayor Walsh to pull out the checkbook and stop leveraging charities to pay for Orono projects - #oronoproud #oronostrong #togetherwearebetter @friendsoforono

Orono City Council Votes in Block for the Orono Golf Course Pavilion

#mariaveach #mayordenniswalsh #mattjohnson voted for the Pavilion using Charity funding from the Orono Lions. This charity does not support funding for profit entities in wealthy membership only entities according to Lions Club International. Mayor Walsh also pushed through and approved a budget that was apparently unnecessarily high.

Orono City Council votes 3 to 1 for the “Pavilion” Featured in the Laker Pioneer Newspaper: https://www.hometownsource.com/laker_pioneer/community/orono-fire-department-ranks-continue-to-grow/article_ac760da0-21a9-11ef-bdb4-cfba5347f3d7.html

An Email Chain between a Citizen and Orono Mayor Denny Walsh and Josh Lemons. Other Council and Park Commissioners as well as City Staff are copied in one message breaking Open Meeting Law

Mayor Walsh shames Citizen for asking questions and says the questions are propaganda and misinformation (sic). Walsh emails all City Council members thereby creating a quorum and breaking open meeting law. #dennywalshformayor #denniswalshformayor #dennywalsh #denniswalsh

Mayor Walsh (in black type) shames Citizen appears to lie about the clear cutting of trees because we photographed several healthy trees cut right next to the parking lot where the Pavilion will be placed. Walsh then claims no one ever said this was just for the golf leagues but that is exactly what was said during the 1/2/24 Orono Park Commission Work Session at about minute 5-6 by Orono Park Commissioner Brian Roath. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pShl3g_u_A #dennywalshformayor #denniswalshformayor #dennywalsh #denniswalsh #brianroath

Citizen writes a concerns respectfully to Orono Park Superintendent Josh Lemons. #dennywalshformayor #denniswalshformayor #dennywalsh #denniswalsh

Orono Park Superintendent Josh Lemons obviously deflects the request for more information and supports the notion that a one hour meeting prior to the Park Commission meeting will suffice for any Citizen input. Citizens mistrust the entire process due to omission and deflection. #dennywalshformayor #denniswalshformayor #dennywalsh #denniswalsh #joshlemons

Once again during the 1/2/24 Orono Park Commission meeting Mr. Rick Carter proposes his pet activity Mountain Biking for the Orono Golf Course? No environmental consideration and in fact, Mr. Carter claims they won’t cut trees down completely ignoring the data about soil management and damage to tree bark. Mr. Carter wants to ride right through 3 Ecologically Significant Areas without any consideration to wildlife. Apparently because it is dry right now he had no idea he was riding a golf cart through a marsh area. He also tries to weigh in on legal matters as a volunteer? See our video at about minute mark 45:31 on our Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/7pShl3g_u_A?feature=shared #rickcarter #oronoparkcommission #orono #oronomn #mountainbiking #johnwithrow #oronomountainbiketeam #westonkamountainbiketeam #moundmountainbiketeam #oronomtb #westonkamtb #mountmtb

During the 1/2/24 Orono Park Commission Meeting the Orono Golf Course cam under fire again for development. As Orono Park Superintendent Josh Lemons cut down dozens of trees including those that were healthy, Citizens cried outrage. Lemons said “he just decided.” See the photos above of the damage and clear cutting for what appears to be a parking lot extension and Party Picnic Shelter by a Private interest group for their own use. For more information see about minute mark 1:44:47 on our Youtube video here: https://youtu.be/7pShl3g_u_A?feature=shared
#oronoparkcommission #joshlemons #josh lemons #trees #oronopublicgolfcourse #oronomn

The Orono Public Golf Course is one of the oldest natural grass 9-hole golf courses in the state. It will be 100 years old next year and now it’s slated for development by the City of Orono. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of citizens have asked that this development, a sports complex, be halted due to noise and lower property values along with the utter disruption to the golfers. Proposed was a Pickleball/Hockey Rink that was estimated to cost somewhere near a million dollars to complete. Even with donations, this was primarily going to need taxpayer funds.

The Orono Public Golf Course has three ecologically significant areas: First is the Tamarack wetland shown above.

The Orono Public Golf Course has three ecologically significant areas: Second is the Oak forest shown above.

The Orono Public Golf Course has three ecologically significant areas: Third is the Mixed Emergent Marsh shown above.

Letter to the editor by local citizen featured on January 21, 2023.

KSTP Channel 5 covers the Orono Public Golf Course on January 24, 2023

Channel 9 Fox News covers the Orono Public Golf Course February 9, 2023

https://www.change.org/p/keep-orono-public-golf-course-dedicated-to-golf-aa9da0c8-9ecd-4cb1-bcf2-d393076f2cfd?source_location=search

Although the Hennepin County Youth Grant application for a Hockey Rink has been withdrawn from consideration, there are four Park Commissioners, #BrianRoath, #CameronPorter, #JanBerg, #SandraRasmussen that are all in favor of adding Pickleball Courts to the Golf Course against nearly one thousand citizens. The search for a new venue and funding continues.

Orono City Council Votes in Block for the Orono Golf Course Pavilion