Orono and Long Lake have partnered to provide fire services for the local area for as long Orono has been a city.  The Long Lake Fire Department was founded in 1915 and formal contracts were first created in the 1960's.

Orono has notified Long Lake they want to terminate the fire contract with a service end date of December 2025.  Orono and Long Lake began negotiating about how to end the partnership. There have been many letters sent back and forth between the two cities over this issue.   Today both cities are pursuing separate paths forward.  

The attached documents provide more detail.

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 It provides a great recap of the fire department activity for those of us wanting to understand things better. Charlie also talks about the task levy honestly sharing the total tax amount the city will take in along with the tax rate.

https://youtu.be/wnEkEtgPZcU?si=AEWtKlxakuJALoNe:

November 30, 2023

November 22, 2023

A Hennepin County judge found Orono has violated a July injunction after recruiting from Long Lake. By Josie Albertson-Grove Star Tribune 

NOVEMBER 22, 2023 — 1:03PM

Orono Mayor Dennis Walsh led the City Council meeting Feb. 13 at Orono City Hall.

A judge found the city of Orono in contempt of court this week for recruiting firefighters from neighboring Long Lake and making plans to add onto a fire station that the Long Lake Fire Department still uses.

Over the last year, Orono has been moving fast to form its own fire department and sever ties with the Long Lake Fire Department that serves both cities. Orono has purchased millions of dollars in equipment and is working on plans to renovate the fire station to the tune of $3 million. It hired away Long Lake's fire chief in late 2022, but it will not be responsible for fighting any fires until the summer of 2024 at the earliest.

Long Lake sued Orono this summer, arguing Orono's work is hampering the Long Lake department, which is still responding to emergencies in both cities, as well as Medina and Minnetonka Beach.

In July, Hennepin County District Court Judge Laurie Miller ordered Orono not to interfere in the Long Lake department. In a ruling issued Tuesday, Miller found Orono in contempt of court for violating the injunction by trying to recruit Long Lake firefighters. The ruling also said that Long Lake's fire service could be impaired if it has to plan around construction at the fire station.

Miller ordered Orono to pay fines of $2,000 for each future contact with Long Lake firefighters aimed at recruitment, and for "any instance" of Orono making plans for the fire station without involving Long Lake.

Josie Albertson-Grove covers the western Twin Cities suburbs for the Star Tribune.

josie.grove@startribune.com

https://www.startribune.com/orono-found-in-contempt-of-court-after-proceeding-with-fire-department-plans/600321775/

November 22, 2023

The court ruled on the case that Long Lake brought against Orono, here are some key points, the legal document is in the link.

Conclusions of Law

• The Court finds that Long Lake established, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Orono willfully disobeyed the Court’s Order for Temporary Injunction by recruiting individual Long Lake firefighters to work for Orono. Defendant Orono is in constructive civil contempt. 
• The Court finds that Long Lake established, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Orono willfully disobeyed the Court’s Order for Temporary Injunction by taking concrete steps in planning to construct a building immediately adjacent to Fire Station 2 in early 2024, without consulting with Long Lake, informing Long Lake of the developing plans, or involving Long Lake in the planning process.  The Court finds that it is well within Orono’s power to comply with the Court’s July 14th Order, by consulting with Long Lake and involving Long Lake in the planning process as it relates to Fire Station 2, but it has failed to do so.  

Court Order

1. Plaintiff City of Long Lake’s motion for an order to show cause and for a finding of constructive civil contempt is GRANTED. 

2. Defendant City of Orono’s motion to strike is DENIED. 

3. Orono shall pay a fine of $2,000 for each instance of any future contact for the purpose of recruitment in violation of the Court’s July 14th Order, between any Orono City officials and any Long Lake firefighters, or any instance of future unilateral planning by 24 Orono with respect to either Fire Station 1 or Fire Station 2, without involving Long Lake in the planning process. 

4. Orono shall pay all costs and attorney’s fees incurred by Long Lake in bringing its motion for an order to show cause and for a finding of constructive civil contempt. 

5. Further violations of this Court’s July 14th Order on Plaintiff’s Motion for Temporary Relief or this Order for Contempt may result in issuance of a bench warrant or other contempt sanctions. 

6. The Court hereby orders the Defendant City of Orono to show cause why it should not be held in contempt for hindering the LLFD in violation of the July 14th Order. 

7. The parties shall appear before the Court for a hearing on a date to be scheduled either during the week of November 27, 2023 or on December 13, 2023 on the following issues: 

(1) Whether Orono’s construction plans are likely to hinder the LLFD within the meaning of the Court’s Order; 

(2) Whether the hiring of Long Lake firefighters to begin work for the Orono Fire Department has hindered or will hinder the Long Lake Fire Department within the meaning of the Court’s Order. The Court’s clerk will reach out to the parties to schedule the date and time for the hearing. 

8. The parties are hereby directed to resume their mediation efforts as directed in the July 14th Order, within 30 days from the date of this order.   

Order for Contempt Issued 11/21/2023 in the Matter of

City of Long Lake v. City of Orono

Yesterday (11/21), Hennepin County District Court Judge Laurie Miller held the City of Orono in contempt of court regarding the Temporary Injunction Order she issued against the City of Orono in July in the case of City of Long Lake vs. City of Orono. Judge Miller’s Order for Contempt can be viewed here, and it outlines multiple violations of her injunction relating to:

• Orono’s recruitment of current members of the Long Lake Fire Department (LLFD).
• Orono developing preliminary plans for their proposed addition to Fire Station 2 without including Long Lake in the planning process.
• Orono’s Mayor and Fire Chief using “pressure tactics to clear the way for Orono’s overall recruiting efforts directed at LLFD firefighters” with a LLFD Deputy Chief while “trying to intimidate him into refraining from doing anything that might impede their efforts to recruit other LLFD firefighters.”

Judge Miller summarizes these issues by stating, "The Court concludes that Long Lake has sufficiently proven violations of the July 14th Order enjoining recruitment by Orono of Long Lake firefighters and enjoining Orono from interfering with the [Fire Protection] Contract and Long Lake’s use and operation of Fire Station 2 to support a finding of contempt." (Page 22, Section 8)

Among other sanctions, Orono has been ordered to pay all costs and attorney’s fees incurred by Long Lake in bringing our motion for an order to show cause and for a finding of constructive civil contempt; they will be fined $2,000 for each instance of any future violations; and both cities are to resume mediation efforts within 30 days of the order.  

A city needing to take legal action against another city in Minnesota is an unusual circumstance in and of itself. But then a judge issued a Temporary Injunction Order against the City of Orono and is now holding Orono in contempt of court for violating her injunction, which may be unprecedented in the State of Minnesota.

You are encouraged to read her order for more information, but most of Judge Miller’s Findings begin in Section G on page 11. To be as transparent to the community as possible, Long Lake has placed all documents, declarations, and legal letters from both cities on the 'Fire Services Updates and Information' page of our website.

The Long Lake City Council is very pleased that Judge Miller fully understands what our city has been enduring regarding the challenging relationship we are in with Orono regarding the 2002 Agreement and Contract for Fire Protection and associated contracts and agreements between both cities, as well as the City of Medina is in. However, we wish we were not in this situation with our neighboring community and we are hopeful there are brighter days ahead when it comes to the relationship between our two cities. Cities our size need to get along without a judge ordering them to and we need to be able to share resources. As discussed in their Council meeting last night, the Long Lake City Council continues to want to partner with Orono and other communities for fire services as outlined in Option A in our January 27, 2023 letter to Orono, which Orono has never responded to. But if Orono is not willing to do that, Long Lake will look to other cities and fire departments who do want to partner with us.

We will continue to keep our residents and those in the geographical areas served by the members of the Long Lake Fire Department (LLFD) updated on this important public safety issue impacting our communities. And this Thanksgiving, we are thankful for members of the LLFD who step up each and every day to proudly serve the citizens of Long Lake, Orono, Medina, and Minnetonka Beach.

Message From City Staff: A new City website will be launching sometime in the next few weeks. While the City's web address will not change, document links provided in this and prior messages will be changing. All the content referenced above will continue to be available on the new site.

Thank you for your interest in City of Long Lake news and information, and have a great day!

City of Long Lake | 450 Virginia Avenue, PO Box 606, Long Lake, MN 55356jmoeller@longlakemn.gov | 952.473.6961 | www.longlakemn.gov

Here are several legal documents filed on 11.1.  Long Lake continues to press Orono on their actions.

1. Is a statement by LL mayor 

Here is a key statement that describes the implications of Orono's actions in recruiting LL firefighters and not approving the LL fire dept 2024 budget

"It is my belief that the Orono City Council is now deliberately withholding LLFD operating budget approval for two reasons: First, to leverage an improved opportunity for the Orono Fire Chief to continue his recruitment of LLFD members by demanding his participation in LLFD duty crews; and second, to delay or prevent a needed LLFD firefighter pay increase to make their pay more competitive with the pay Orono is offering its firefighters."  

2.  A statement from Cody Farley disputing Dennis Walsh's version of the call between them

3.  A statement from the firefighter Cody was texting with (Blair Mileski), disputing Dennis Walsh's impression of the communication and supporting Cody's version of the event 

4.  Broader document that recaps all of this (Orono recruiting LL firefighters, Walsh's take on Cody Farley texts, building on station 2)

These statements in document provide a  good synopsis by the lawyers representing LL

"Orono is correct, the situation between the LLFD and the Orono Fire Department has gotten toxic. But that is entirely attributable to Orono’s actions. Orono decided to create its own fire department at the expense of Long Lake—in its hiring of the former Long Lake fire chief, in its purchase of the ladder truck that Long Lake was interested in purchasing, in its request to transfer Long Lake pension funds to Orono, in its denial of capital budgets and purchases, and in its recruitment and hiring of Long Lake firefighters."  

"Orono and its representatives continue to act as if they are above the law. Nevertheless, Orono must answer to the Court in connection with its violations of the Court’s July 14, 2023 Order. Orono and Fire Chief Van Eyll have admittedly recruited Long Lake firefighters—and have subsequently hired the same. This is a clear violation of the Court’s Order, and Orono must be held accountable. Orono additionally plans to construct an expansion or additional structure on or near Fire Station 2, but has not shared any of its plans with Long Lake. These actions will invariably lead to a violation of the Court’s Order and a breach of the Contract for Fire Protection. As such, Orono should be prohibited from commencing construction without Long Lake’s consent. Orono’s violations of the Court’s Order cannot be explained away; Orono’s violations of the Court’s Order cannot be “purged.” As such, Long Lake seeks a finding that Orono is in civil contempt." 

Please read and share with your neighbors.

Thank you!

Documentation Follows: