They asked, I answered

A: When I moved to Orono about 22 years ago, and it took me a few years to truly understand what makes this community special. First, I came to appreciate the residents' deep love for nature and their commitment to preserving our irreplaceable resources. Second, I recognized the thoughtful and logical development of our city, although some developers I met while serving on the Planning Commission might not always agree with our approach. Finally, I admired our strong belief in maintaining high-quality city services and facilities

In the mid-1970s, I served on the Montrose City Council at a time when the city didn’t have a public works staff. We had a paid part-time police officer, a volunteer fire department, and the city council. Each council member, in addition to serving on the fire department, was expected to take on the duties of a public works employee. I was responsible for maintaining the sewer ponds, taking samples, managing their discharge when necessary, and emptying the catch basin twice a week. Our mayor, the only council member not afraid of heights, was tasked with thawing the water tower whenever it froze. While this might sound like an interesting story, it taught me an invaluable lesson: the importance of not just sitting in meetings making decisions, but also getting my hands dirty—literally—and truly serving the residents. I am eager to engage with our community by attending fire calls, doing police ride-alongs, and working alongside public works employees to understand firsthand the challenges they face.

Over the years, I’ve gained a wealth of experience. My degree in landscape architecture gives me a deep understanding of everything from sewer lines to subdivision development. My seven years on the Orono Planning Commission have provided me with valuable insights into city processes, and my 35 years as a project manager working with major clients have honed my ability to manage projects and people effectively. I believe this unique combination of skills and experience enables me to make logical, informed decisions that will benefit our community.

I believe Orono’s decision to establish an independent fire department was a mistake, resulting in confusion, unnecessary expenses, strained relationships with neighboring municipalities, and frustration among Orono residents as well as members of both the Long Lake and Orono fire departments. I’m hopeful that we can rebuild our relationship with the City of Long Lake by focusing on a fiscally responsible shared-services approach that enhances public safety for the entire community.

Furthermore, we must work to restore Orono’s reputation within the metro area. The negative press we've received needs to be addressed. Orono is a thriving community, and we shouldn’t be stereotyped as 'a bunch of rich nut jobs'—a comment I received, albeit in jest, from a coworker.

I believe the city budget should be adjusted as needed to account for normal inflation. As long as property values continue to rise, my hope is that these increases will help offset inflationary pressures. We should be able to meet our budgetary obligations through higher property values, provided we avoid unnecessary or misguided expenditures. Increasing the tax levy should be considered only as a last resort.

Beyond the citizens of Orono, our natural resources are our most valuable asset. Protecting our wetlands and lakes is crucial. I believe past decisions regarding development have established a strong framework for the city's growth. During my time on the Planning Commission, I often heard developers and builders refer to us as 'OroNO' due to what they considered restrictive regulations. I take pride in this designation, as it reflects our commitment to thoughtful and responsible development."

This version tightens the language, making the points clearer while maintaining the original meaning and tone.

I believe it is essential to build strong relationships with our neighboring communities—both the municipalities and their residents. We don’t exist in a silo; we shop, dine, and interact with Long Lake, Mound, Maple Plain, and all the surrounding lake communities. While it’s clear we need to repair our relationship with Long Lake, maintaining an ongoing dialogue with all neighboring communities is equally important, perhaps on a quarterly basis. As I mentioned earlier, we must also work on improving how our city is perceived within the broader metro area.

I am committed to continuing the respectful approach demonstrated by the current mayor and council. The council, mayor, and city employees serve the citizens, and it’s essential that we treat everyone with respect. I also believe it’s crucial to actively listen to the community, whether through informal coffee meetings or more structured feedback channels. When I served as president of the Minnesota chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), we conducted a survey to gather input from our members on how we were doing, where we could improve, and where the chapter should go in the future. While it would be a significant effort, a similar approach could prove valuable for gathering input from our residents.