The Orono City Council will get its 2009 meeting schedule underway with what looks to be a rather light schedule.
Prior to the start of the meeting Mayor Jim White and Councilmembers Doug Franchot and Lili McMillan will be sworn into office. This will be Whites second term as mayor and McMillans second term on the council. Franchot is entering his first term after narrowly defeating David Runkle in Novembers election.
During the meeting the council will also take the time to honor two former elected officials who have recently left office.
Dave Rahn spent two years on the Orono City Council after White was elected mayor in 2006; and Jerry Rockvam from neighboring Spring Park will also be honored for his 45 years of service to the community
• Also meeting for the first time this year will be the Orono and Wayzata Boards of Education. Both meetings will also take place at 7 pm..
The Orono Board of Education is expected to accept its 2007-2008 annual financial audit report. The report shows that for the 12th time in 15 years the school district has come in under its annual budget.
In what also appears to be a light start to 2009, the Wayzata Board of Education will receive its annual financial audit report. Complete details of that report are expected to be released during tonights meeting.
• There will also be meetings to discuss long-term projects that affect both Wayzata and the Orono/Long Lake area.
The Wayzata City Council announced at its Jan. 6 meeting that it will hold a workshop tomorrow morning where they will get an update from Presbyterian Homes on the status of the Wayzata Bay Center redevelopment. The council will also discuss the future of its municipal liquor sales operation and where potential future sites for it might be, whether its in the new Bay Center or elsewhere.
• And then on Wednesday, business leaders from Long Lake and Orono will meet to discuss what can be done about the new Highway 12 bypass and its confusing signage.
Business owners saw a sharp decline in business once the long-awaited bypass opened in January and are placing at least part of the blame on the lack of easy-to-understand signage marking exits to the downtown area on Highway 12.
Orono Mayor Jim White, Long Lake Mayor Randy Gilbert and representatives from MnDOT are also expected to attend the meeting.
And now for news that you wont find on a meeting agenda:
• 12 Wayzata High School students will get the opportunity of a lifetime next week when they travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
The students are members of the schools Close Up program, a non-profit formed in 1971 to help educate and inspire young people to participate in democracy.
The students will attend the parade, the pre presidential oath and inaugural address. They will also have the opportunity to meet Minnesota members of Congress and visit the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and attend the Close Up Inaugural Ball.
According to a Wayzata Schools press release, the school has taken part in Close Up trips for the last 8 years, and advisor Andrew Junker said that when the students return from the trips they return incredibly fired up because of the amazing things they have seen and done.
And that is whats happening in your neighborhood today. Im Jared Huizenga and Ill see you tomorrow
(Reporting and broadcasting by Sun-Sailor Community Editor Jared Huizenga)
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