The new Orono Public Works building at 365 Old Crystal Bay Road is nearing completion, the council learned at the May 28 city council meeting. With an Open House slated on June 13 from 3-5 p.m., the facility has been under construction since December, 2022.
The council approved a bid by Ebert Construction in October 2022 for $16,067,000 after rejecting what it determined were high bids earlier that year.
After two distinct change orders in July and November of last year, the council approved a third and final change order to account for increased costs to complete the project. A contingency of $100,000 was set up before construction that gave the project financial flexibility.
Through the change orders, an additional $101,333.67 was added to the $16 million initial planned cost.
This extra money was necessary despite the cancellation of installing a new generator. Per the second change order approved in November 2023, the generator would have cost $271,337. The facility instead will use a generator the city already owns.
Orono also purchased $94,655.88 worth of wetland banking credits in accordance with Minnesota’s wetland banking program. Being that the new facility is constructed on existing wetlands, these funds are supposed to “offset” or “mitigate” the associated environmental losses. These funds were covered by the stormwater fund, while most other facility costs came from the city’s facilities fund.
Orono spent $43,338.20 in special inspection and construction testing costs at the onset of construction in December 2022 to ensure the facility’s safe and smooth construction.
In other news, two new officers officially joined the Orono Police Department in a ceremony held at the council chambers. Nickolas Schwartz, who was previously a caretaker at Mankato Rehabilitation Center before joining Orono police in August 2023; and Stephen Thomas, who worked with South Lake Minnetonka Police Department in 2020 before joining Orono in February, were both sworn in.
The Orono Police Department also celebrated its Explorers for their strong showing at the Minnesota Law Enforcement Explorer Association State Conference in April. Explorers are youths interested in careers in law enforcement that work with local Police Departments.
The Explorers earned seven awards: 1st place in Job Interview, 1st place in Crime Prevention, 4th place in Traffic Accident Investigation, 4th place in Hostage Negotiation, 5th place in Arrest & Search, 5th place female in 5K Run, and 5th place in Sample Police Examination sessions.
The council also heard a presentation from Orono Parks Legacy (OPL), formerly Big Island Legacy, about a future city-organization partnership. OPL is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that seeks to “enhance Orono parks & public spaces by aligning philanthropic & public investment with community vision to build relationships with our national resources.”
OPL would be independent from the city, and would operate with the city through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as a philanthropic partner.
Presenter Kjersti Duval stated that OPL is interested in supporting Orono Orchards Golf Course and future pickleball courts, as well as to “support enhanced outcomes that are in the public interest.”
Mayor Dennis Walsh and council member Richard Crosby expressed interest in a partnership with OPL and directed staff to have conversations about a potential MOU.
The Navarre Garage, a temporary storage facility for Orono Fire Department equipment, is expected to be completed by July 1. Navarre Garage cannot act as a fire station, but will house fire engines for Orono firefighters to use “out and about” between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. as they answer calls.
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