After instituting new leadership earlier this year, the Gillespie Center has undergone substantial changes, with Director Rhonda Nelson requesting increased financial support from Orono during the Sept. 9 city council meeting. Nelson asked the council to raise Orono’s annual contribution from $9,500 to $12,000, as part of a broader strategic plan to reverse financial losses, grow membership, and expand programming.
“We were going in a downward trend and operating in the red, and it was clear we needed a refresh, a rebranding, and a new start,” Nelson shared with the council. She shared the Center’s visions of a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative space.
Nelson and the Center instituted goals to increase membership, profit, programming usage, and its Net Promoter Score at the Center. Membership at Gillespie grew 9% between May and July (374 members up from 343) and saw a 14% increase in monthly programming usage in the same timeframe (826 users up from 722). The Center will measure profit increases and customer service next year, with a goal of breaking even in operations by next May.
Nelson says they’d like to support 429 members and 833 monthly users by next May.
Orono would reflect this change once the 2025 preliminary levy and budget are adopted on Sept. 23. Orono remains the only city supporting the Gillespie Center, which is also funded through membership and programming.
The Center plans to continue providing free presentations and classes on items including income tax preparation, health insurance counseling, and defensive driving while also offering spaces for presentations on health and medical issues.
The Center has expanded on its existing programming to include a series of presentations on dementia from the Central Minnesota Dementia Community Action Network, a Health & Wellness series hosted by CareInSight Partners, and is planning on having a presentation on estate planning and market outlook in the near future.
Programs like fitness classes, art and craft groups, and card and game clubs will continue, with new yoga programs, walking/hiking clubs, and planned excursions to nearby performing arts centers to be incorporated. Some of the new programming is intended to appeal to a broader audience.
“There is a new generation of people ages 55 to 65 who don’t necessarily view themselves as seniors,” Nelson said to the Mound City Council on Aug. 27.
“We want to make sure our services and our programming are available to seniors– that doesn’t change, we’re not taking anything away from our seniors,” she said. “But also trying to diversify and make it open to the community.”
Nelson emphasized that the Gillespie isn’t trying to replace other community centers, but rather be a more inclusive space for all.
Honey Hill on Lake Classen
Orono’s newest development, Honey Hill, has continued to make its way through the necessary proceedings. The Council held a required public hearing regarding the vacation of former easements on the property and directed staff to draft a resolution approving the vacation and consideration. No attendees spoke at the public hearing.
The council granted preliminary plat approval on July 8 after the planning commission’s approval on June 17. Final plat approval is tentatively scheduled for Orono’s Sept. 23 council meeting.
The plat is separated into six lots, with all lots to be served by a private road/cul-de-sac. The lots will have private wells and septic systems. Built and designed by Aspect Design Build & Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, the development has been marketed as a private area with a rural character.
Orono City Planner Melanie Curtis shared that the existing easements on the property will become obsolete once it is split into the six subdivisions. With the changes to property, new easements will be created.
The process has not hit any snags. The neighbors of the development, the Sawyers, accidentally planted a series of trees alongside the future development property, but they and the builders quickly agreed to keep the trees in place. The Sawyers operate The Garden of the Sleeping Angels, 15 gardens dedicated to helping those who have lost an infant or child.
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