Orono Park Commission
Orono’s New Park Commission after #brianroath resigned 12/31/25 and Janie Delaney resigned sometime in January. She resigned after being publicly shamed by Commissioners Kim Carswell, Mollie Reynolds and Michael Huddy.
Please see our previous post about the 11/4/25 meeting. To date there has not been a public apology by either the Park Commission nor staff nor any elected officials.
We suspect Carswell and Reynolds were at best misled by leadership and at worst has some misguided ideas about who they actually are working for ie: check the top of the org chart in Orono - it’s the Citizens.
As we all know - this position - the Chair - led to all sorts of poor and even corrupt decision making. There are several worrisome behaviors by this commission already. Their anger, sandbagging, gaslighting and general disrespectfulness is outrageous. Once Roath was out of the picture some things settled down but not for Carswell. She continued to break open meeting law and is far too eager to assume a post she has little to no experience operating. Given the behind the scenes meetings and lack of process we can only hold our breath to see how bad this gets. It became crystal clear that Reynolds and Carswell hadn’t watched many if any previous Park Commission meetings nor had they read city documents like the CIP, Comp Plan or any previous resolutions. This in and of itself is disrespectful to the Citizens of Orono. Do your homework Commissioners!
We’ll keep documenting their next steps. We hope for more collaboration, transparency and ethical behavior.
#kimcarswell
#molliereynolds
#jacobselseth
#michealhuddy
#gordystofer
How did this happen? Another “Magic Appointment” from behind the scenes?
How did Carswell become Chair of the Orono Park Commission after the openly prejudiced letter she published in the local newspaper?
Link: https://youtu.be/So16KmA23bw?si=jk7ccxLSCOB6dwyY
How did Carswell become Chair of the Orono Park Commission after not allowing inclusive discussion in the work session where she interrupted and talked over eveyone?
Link: https://youtu.be/_v-V2NoxLtI?si=L6CaDW2hxmIYBysD
How did Carswell become Chair after allowing open shaming of another commissioner during the 11/4/25 Park Commission meeting? And why isn’t she following the City process?
Link: https://youtu.be/Xq13gceAjWA?si=8xhxmlZ3kTaQHbQP
How did Carswell become Chair after another commissioner was voted into the position? Where’s the new vote? Where’s the City Council notification? The open dialog or the resolution? Was she “placed” by staff or City Council somehow? Did she make herself Chair behind the scenes?
This lack of process and transparency is exactly how we became forced to have #BrianRoath as Chair. Roath was “placed” by former Mayor Walsh in 2019 and then Roath went behind the Citizen’s backs with efforts to develop Summit Beach, Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area, Bederwood Park, the Orono Golf Course, Hackberry Park, and the Donation Garden.
He also broke open meeting laws on numerous occasions and allowed trespassing on private property. And then he broke somewhere around 10 building codes. Let’s not have any part of this situation happen again, please.
Link: https://www.friendsoforono.org/oronoparkcommission
Now we have someone who has proven their lack of consideration for the Citizens, other Commissioners and our municipal process. Carswell has shown and published her prejudices openly. She has also stated in public that she has been blind copying other commissioners to “get around open meeting law.”
Allowing commissioners to be “trained” bad habits by corrupt leadership should have consequences. Did we reach out to City Council about all this? Yes we did. We received one private written apology.
What is up Orono? When will the Citizens be considered your “North Star”? When will we have qualified, vetted leadership that is chosen with Citizen involvement and not by a handful of staff and/or council members if any? Can you please consider all that our neighborhoods and constituents have been through already?
Let’s get those new commissioners in place and then have a proper vote for the Chair and Vice Chair positions with interviews first. And please make those interviews for any and all commissioner positions open to the public.
PS. Thank you City of Orono for correcting Ms. Delaney’s name on the public record but it is still offensive to have her stellar history commingled with the past corruption of another. Guess you couldn’t see to create two resolutions could you? One for the “shamed out of office” commissioner and one for the “finally asked to resign” commissioner?
https://www.friendsoforono.org/oronoparkcommission
#togetherwearebetter #communitythatcares #makeyourvoiceshear @friendsoforono
4th in our Series
Orono Park Commission’s Embarrassing Presentation to Council
Wow. Orono is batting 1000 as they say. On 12/8/26 the two new Park Commissioners got up to present their “Guiding Principles" to the public without any Citizen feedback. Clearly they hadn’t done their homework and acted like they were going to be running the Commission and more. (Note today Carswell was posted as Chair - more to come on that decision in our next post). Just a reminder, in municipal business the Citizens are your “North Star” unlike what appears to be the corporatizing of the Park Commission to kowtow to the Park Commissioner’s own desires.
These two new Commissioners had so many missteps from lack of knowledge to misleading the Council on process that our video is a lot of repeat commentary. Please see our previous three videos for more context here:
Honestly, as Citizens, we found the entire situation offensive. Shoving through something that doesn’t have Citizen input about our Park lands next to our homes? This is exactly why Orono continues to be so distrusted. When are they going to stop putting the cart before the horse?
How about making suggestions and including other views that have historical background? If Park Commissioners are not going to go back to read and watch previous meetings, then please consult with historical experts and at a bare minimum read our CIP and Comp Plan.
For example, when Alisa Benson came to the Park Commission, and we know this is a high standard, she watched at least a couple of years of previous park meetings so she knew what was going on.
She read resolutions and our codes. Like we said, this is a tall standard but it should be required of any commissioner to read up on what they are asked to do and previous decisions made.
We can tell you what the Park Commissioners are not asked to do - shame each other and pile on to get each other to resign. That’s exactly what Reynolds, Huddy, Roath and Stofer did in their last full meeting on 11/4/25 and it was the worst meeting we’ve seen since the Coffee with the Mayor meetings. Link is above.
Well, their wish came true. Delaney resigned as Chair of the Park Commission and the City of Orono couldn't spell her name correctly on the public notification that came out on 1/22/26 nor give her her own respectful send off apart from the corrupt Chair Brian Roath.
To date there has been no public apology for these current Commissioner’s unprofessional behavior. Unbelievable. So let it be said here - Janie Delaney has been a volunteer running the highly successful Orono Donation Garden for longer than Roath led the Park Commission. Her successes far outweigh Mr. Roath and his road to ruin. If you see her in the community, please offer your thanks - we should all aspire to be such service minded volunteers to our community.
#orono #oronoparkcommission #molliereynolds #kimcarswell #michaelhuddy #gordystofer #brianroath #jacobselseth
3rd In our Series: Orono Park Commission repeatedly demonstrates uncivil behavior 11/4/25
We’ve seen plenty of poorly run Orono Park Commission meetings but none as cruel, and toxic as this one. It was all out shaming and a sort of cannibalization of a singled out Park Commissioner beloved by the community.
Please watch the tone and hideous way they treated each other here https://youtu.be/XeIGPUxj1G4?si=oJXj0YTiNwFEzKr3 This version on our Youtube channel also matches the time stamps below. We have cut the beginning of the meeting off to start where the dysfunctional behavior begins.
If you’d like to see the entire meeting please go here: https://oronomn.new.swagit.com/videos/359902
For context and history, please check out these key points and the discussion around them here:
History
Orono Park Commissioner Chair Brian Roath is found to have violated perhaps up to 10 building codes on his personal property early in 2025. We have documented that here: https://www.friendsoforono.org/oronosunrest
Several Citizens and City Council members called for Roath’s resignation. It was slow in coming but did happen officially 12/31/25.
Roath spent 6 months working with two new Park Commissioners to develop what is very similar to principles already held in Orono through the Comprehensive Plan, the Capitol Improvement Plan, and Orono Code, rules and regulations. Also, there is an Orono Mission, Values and Goals which was only considered late in the process.
So why did we need “Guiding Principles” for the Park Commission? Look to the Chair - apparently he wanted to spend a half a year on a few pages without doing his homework. He also misled these two other Park Commissioners to create this document without research nor public input. This is a classic behind the scenes strategy for control - we’ve seen it before with staff, and other Commissions.
Due to this illegal behavior by Roath, and the call for his resignation, Orono City Council named Park Commissioner Delaney Vice Chair on March 21, 2025. Roath ignores this, and ignores her Park wide documentation by hiding it from other Park Commissioners and the Citizens. Roath also ignores the Vice Chair during the “Guiding Principles” debacle.
On 11/4/25 during the Park Commission meeting, Roath obviously tried to derail Delaney becoming Chair. He’s clearly had side meetings and allows some of the most toxic commentary we’ve seen since the Coffee with the Mayor meetings.
Here are just a few highlights from the meeting:
26:16 Roath starts his diatribe of mistruths and misinformation. How and why he is still in his leadership position at this point is questionable. Who allowed this behavior to drone on after Roath broke Orono’s code of conduct repeatedly? Edwards? Certain City Council members? Please make this stop. This is a bad example, and Roath’s tenure needs to be severed in Orono so we can turn the page.
43:51 Commissioner Mollie Reynolds starts aggressively trying to shame Delaney on public record. Reynolds is relatively new to Orono, and has been a Park Commissioner for less than a year. This was so cruel we contacted Orono City Council. They are aware and relayed this information to Mayor Tunheim. To date, we’ve not seen a public apology.
44:24 Reynolds will not let up. She continues with uncalled for questioning of Park Commissioner.
44:43 Reynolds continues to be uncivil.
44:47 Reynolds will not let it go.
45:08 Call for Reynolds to be censured to stop the toxic communication on the record here.
46:26 Orono Park Commissioner Michael Huddy begins his passive aggressive commentary about Delaney.
48:13 Huddy uses a sexist term to describe how he is shaming Delaney.
48:39 Huddy describes Delaney in a derogatory term.
49:16 Carswell continues interrupting others.
50:43 Huddy shames again.
1:01:36 5 Commissioners vote for Delaney to be Chair including Carswell, Delaney, Reynolds, Selseth and Huddy. Roath and Stofer abstain without explanation. Delaney is now Chair according to the Park Commission.
As far as we know City Council member Jon Schwingler is in the audience as a witness, Did he pay attention? We did note he was on his phone almost the entire time during public comments so who knows?
1:43:14 Reynolds laughs out loud at Delaney. #uncivil
11/10/25 Orono City Council meeting. City Council member Jon Schwingler does not recognize the vote. Nor does City Staff in any of the subsequent meetings to date.
Why is this? Is there collusion behind the scenes? Please ask Mayor Tunheim to enforce his civility code of conduct. Please ask for public apologies. Let's move on from this dysfunctional behavior and go with what our City Council set up in the first place. Who is respectful in this meeting? Who is most knowledgeable? Who has been an Orono volunteer for decades?
btunheim@oronomn.gov
@friendsoforono
#orono #oronoparkcommission #brianroath #gordystofer #michaelhuddy #kimcarswell #molliereynolds #jacobselseth #janiedelaney
2nd in our Series:
Awkward Letter to the Editor
Did anyone see this odd Letter to the Editor in the Laker Pioneer 12/25/25? It was written by an Orono Park Commissioner and raised a lot of questions in our community. Here is the link to the Lake Pioneer: https://www.hometownsource.com/.../article_b573c7c8-134c...
Just DM if you need a copy.
Why would an Orono Citizen and Park Commissioner be naming local business employees by race? Why didn’t she describe herself (white) or the kid who backed over her mailbox by their race? Why bring up race at all? Orono’s lack of diversity as a community is a topic but is a handful of people who are minorities and happen to work in Orono? And did she ask those individuals if she could call out their race? Did she consider Orono’s media policy?
According to https://bestneighborhood.org/race-in-orono-mn/ Orono’s racial make up is 92.7% White; 0% Hispanic; .1% Black; 5.9% Asian; 0% Native American; Other 1.3%. Orono is ranked as being far less diverse than most cities in America.
As this letter to the editor was bantered about on social media - several Citizens wondered who Kim Carswell is and what she is doing writing such content. Carswell has been an Orono Park Commissioner for less than a year and is apparently vying for the leadership position. Please see her unprofessional behavior in a recent Orono Park Commission Work Session here:
https://youtu.be/_v-V2NoxLtI?si=MxStetshlzoO0nJR Please ask your Orono City Council to think very carefully about naming leadership without the Citizens involved. Let’s not continue the past chaos into 2026.
@friendsofOrono
Orono Park Commissioner Kim Carswell writes a questionable letter to the Lake Pioneer published 12/25/25 with offensive language. See “delightful black woman”, “affable Hispanic postmaster”, and highlighted “wise Eastern European”. These people may or may not live in Orono but they’ve been called out by their race in a very off putting manner. Did they give permission to do so? Is Carswell aware that she did not call out her own race? Or the race of the kid who hit her mailbox, or the people at Ace Hardware? This is so 1950s that it should be a big red flag. You can have your opinions but when you are a public official and write what is called “the racist letter” around town, maybe it time to apologize and sit down. We hope the Citizens of Orono step in for better Park Commissioners in the coming weeks.
#kimcarswell #orono #oronoparkcommission #lakerpioneer https://www.hometownsource.com/laker_pioneer/opinion/lte-diverse-team-works-together-well-at-po/article_b573c7c8-134c-47ce-adc0-6023a8fab7a0.html
10/7/25 Orono Park Commission Work Session: Unprofessional process/Disrespectful communication
Please watch the entire meeting here for full context:: https://youtu.be/_v-V2NoxLtI?si=e4tF4lwzecfQmaLF
While the City of Orono speaks of civility, it appears that some of the meetings are still showing behind the scenes communication, and lack of transparency, along with disrespectful behavior towards each other.
It was very disappointing to see how this meeting was run. It was typical of the past administration to preload discussion and direction with Park Chair #BrianRoath and this meeting was no different. There also appears to be a lot of misdirection and lack of historical information sharing with the new Park Commissioners.
Simply put, this group needs new respectful leadership that enforces civility and cross functional respect of their fellow commissioners. There needs to be an education process required for new commissioners so that they are up to speed with things like Park Dedication, the Orono Comprehensive Plan (linked below), Capitol Improvement Plan (linked below), and Orono’s mission, vision and goals (also linked below).
With Roath on his way out the door, hopefully a regime change will help bring cohesion and optimism for open dialog. One thing is for sure, we need historical data and processes shared with the new team members so that another year is not wasted rewriting what has already been written and implemented.
Another big Red flag is how often the entire Commission either forgets, ignores or is misdirected to leave the Citizens out of their process. This is perhaps the second greatest downfall of the previous administration other than the pointed corruption (see several links here: https://www.friendsoforono.org/oronosunrest).
On that note we leave you with the Orono organizational chart as a reminder - everyone at the city from elected officials to staff to volunteers works for the Citizens. Without that, we devolve into what became a noninclusive, dysfunctional, embarrassing municipality - “the Island of Orono”.
https://www.oronomn.gov/371/2040-Comprehensive-Plan
https://www.oronomn.gov/556/Capital-Improvement-Plan-CIP
https://www.oronomn.gov/461/Mission-Vision-and-Goals
#brianroath #molliereynolds #kimcarswell #michaelhuddy #gordystofer #janiedelaney #adamedwards #joeruthenberg #jacobselseth
2025 Orono Park Commission
As 2025 comes to a close the Orono Park Commission seems to be in turmoil as has been the case with past leadership. The corruption uncovered earlier this year has not been resolved. Chair #brianroath was found to have numerous building and code violations on his property and some extending onto his neighbors’ property. All these violations are well documented through our posts on Facebook.
To date, there is no public information regarding a resolution to these violations and it appears that all the structures are still in position on the properties. Was his resignation effective on 12/31/25 a part of some sort of behind the scenes deal? Perhaps. Only time will tell. Roath remains a public servant through his Westonka School Board position that expires 12/31/26.
On 3/10/25 Orono City Council named Janie Delaney as Cochair which somehow the Park Superintendent has either forgotten or has chosen to ignore. In a recent meeting, the Park Commission voted Delaney the next chair while Mr. Joe Ruthenberg, Orono Park Superintendent and Mr. Adam Edwards, Orono City Administrator, decided not to mention at the next City Council meeting. Ruthenberg and Edwards are waiting for new members to vote for a new choice? Interesting that the power and control is still with Edwards isn’t it?
#kimcarswell #michaelhuddy #molliereynolds #jacobselseth #gordystofer #janiedelaney #oronoparkcommisssion
#briatroath #rickcarter #gordystofer #michaelhuddy #mikehuddy #sandrarassmussen #caseyconradhudson #oronoparkcommission #orono https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
2024 Orono’s Park Commissioner’s left over from the Walsh regime
From top to bottom and left to right: The Orono Park Commission Chair Brian Roath has been on the commission starting prior to COVID in 2020. He was named chair by former Mayor Denny Walsh without Citizen input nor due process. Rick Carter has also been on the commission for many years starting prior to COVID. He claims to be the architect of the Big Island Legacy Fund that was actually formed due to public outcry allegedly because Orono was considering selling the island. Gordy Stofer has been on the commission as a spearhead to develop the historic Orono Golf Course into a high traffic sports complex venue. His lack of neighborhood representation and somewhat spotty attendance is notable. Second Row left to right: Michael Huddy is a relative newcomer to the commission and seems to have a somewhat more balanced approach to issues and yet votes in mass with the rest of Denny Walsh’s appointees. Sandra Rasmussen appears to be a Roath/Walsh recruit with a single issue focus - Pickleball at the Donation Garden site against Citizens concerns about noise and the already over 100 Pickleball Courts in the area #notaneed Casey Conrad Hudson We have not seen Hudson for several years. Did he officially resign and the website not changed?
The Orono Park Commission has a storied past degrading habitat and adding unnecessary sports activities to public parks. Also under consideration is how these parks and their sports fields are adding to chemical runoff and degrading our environment for wildlife. Pockets of natural habitat need to remain throughout Orono if we are to keep all wildlife in our surrounding area. Chemical lawn treatments have polluted our fresh water resources and degraded streams, ponds and Lake Minnetonka. Check to see if you live on a polluted bay here: https://www.hollerman.com/search-by-lake-minnetonka-water-quality
#briatroath #rickcarter #gordystofer #michaelhuddy #mikehuddy #sandrarassmussen #caseyconradhudson https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
See our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofOrono.org/ Our Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsoforono9551 and Instagram feed here: https://www.instagram.com/friendsoforono/
A key component to all this Park degradation is City Administrator Adam Edwards. He is instrumental in initiating and coordinating construction and communication behind the scenes. Below you will see that Mr. Edwards was well apprised of the plan to continue degrading the Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area. Was Mr. Edwards working for the Citizens of Orono at that time, or Mayor Denny Walsh? Is Edwards still working for former Mayor Walsh and Mr. Rick Carter on the Golf Course Mountain Bike Complex?
#joeantilla #westonkamtb #oronomtb #oronowestonkamtb #moundmtb #johnwithrow #cityoforono #adamedwards #brianroath #victoriaseals https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
https://ce.oronoschools.org/youth/youth-sports-recreation/mountain-biking
2nd in our Series: Falsehoods
Coach spins yarn around an unsanctioned sport
Let’s review some of the crazy talk from the last Orono Park Commission meeting 2/4/25. It was hyperbole all the way to outright fibbing. It was as if the former Orono Mayor was still in the room and after recent City Council meetings, we now know that might not be far from the truth.
In this video, Second in our series, we focus on Orono/Westonka Mountain Bike Coach #JohnWithrow We’ve heard Withrow’s rhetoric before. He says mountain biking is a growing sport and we have documented the opposite with statistical data from the National Sporting Association. In 2023, Mountain Biking ranked only 34th most popular out of 56 sports. Total riders have dropped over 500K in the last few years.
Why is Mountain Biking dropping in popularity? It’s expensive and unsafe compared to other youth sports. And no matter who says it’s as unsafe at LaCrosse, as one infrequent rider stated during the Park meeting, well, logically, that’s just not true is it? Racing around at many times more miles per hour through obstacles and over jumps makes it many times more unsafe than Soccer or LaCrosse.
But that’s not really the point is it? You can do whatever you want and allow your children to do whatever you want them to - but Orono Citizens shouldn’t have to pay for your niche recreation if they don’t want to.
And that’s the irony. Recently, Council member #claireberrett was threatening Citizens with a lawsuit somewhere in the $20-$30k range but a $100k Mountain Bike Complex? That really sounds like #overspendydenny doesn’t it?
One of the greatest falsehoods Withrow states is that the Mountain Bikers are great “stewards” of the land. Nothing could be further from the truth in Orono.
The Orono/Westonka Mountain Bike Team trespassed repeatedly on private properties. They cut limbs off trees around Lowry. They cut trees at Bederwood. They literally decimated an old growth sugar maple forest by pulling out hundreds of tree shoots by hand, etc. For documentation, please see our webstie here: https://www.friendsoforono.org/oronoparks
Who authorized this? Commissioners #rickcarter and #brianroath were found to be planning these activities behind Citizen’s backs with the coordination of City Administrator Adam Edwards. See our website here: https://www.friendsoforono.org/oronoparkcommission
When will this team get reined in? When will the Orono School District 278 and Westonka School 277 pull these Coaches off the roster for openly trespassing and breaking laws repeatedly in Orono? And when will we have a new Orono Park Commission?
Hope is on the horizon. Both Mayor Tunheim and Council member Jacqueline Ricks were in attendance to hear Withrow's recent spiel. They listened to Carter present a project without any data or studies. They listened to Roath suppress Citizens. They also heard Withrow pretend the past didn’t happen. Over 200 signatures still stand against biking in Bederwood Park and he should know by now that we will be sharing those with the new council.
Let’s stand up for Bederwood Park and the Historic Orono Golf Club. Let’s stop developing our parks in secret and open up the process for everyone. These parks affect our home values - with green space being one of best listing attributes a neighborhood can have.
@friendsoforono
Please write to the new Orono City Council to ask that Mountain Biking be removed from any Orono City Parks as the our long standing code requires: https://library.municode.com/.../codes/code_of_ordinances...
btunheim@oronomn.gov
abenson@oronomn.gov
spersian@oronomn.gov
jricks@oronomn.gov
And please contact the school to ask why they are continuing to condone these falsehoods and this destructive behavior in our parks:
kristine.flesher@orono.k12.mn.us
kimberly.king@orono.k12.mn.us
katie.zaccaro@orono.k12.mn.us
tiffany.clifton@orono.k12.mn.us
#rickcarter #brianroath #michaelhuddy #gordystofer #adamedwards #johnwithrow #jayswenson #mikemckeand #oronoschooldistrict278 #oronomountainbiketeam #oronowestonkamountainbiketeam #orono #oronomtb #westonkaschooldistrict277 https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
2/4/25 Orono Park Commission Meeting: Falsehoods/First in a Series
Same old Bat Channel. Orono Park Commissioners vote and pass funding for a design the Citizens don’t need or want within a single meeting, again. They did not present any written data, nor outside research, nor year after year participation, nor surveys or anything about the environment. But they are telling residents to pay for a $15k plan to add a Mountain Bike Race Complex to the Orono Golf Course anyway.
When will the Citizens be first? When we get a new Park Commission? The current process is suppressive communication and exactly why we voted out the past administration.
Four Park Commissioners, two Orono Mountain Bike Coaches and three members of one family, along with LMCD Rep Rich Anderson got up and spread many falsehoods. Let’s tackle the first one: Mountain Biking Popularity since Anderson brought it up.
Between 2020 and 2023 (the most recent data publicly available) the National Sporting Goods Association found that Mountain Biking ridership dropped from 7.5 million to 7 million. They also consistently rank the sport somewhere in the 30s for popularity. In 2023, Mountain Biking ranked at 34 of the 56th most popular sports. This is well behind Soccer which consistently ranks in the top ten.
So we’re not sure where Mr. #RichAnderson got his misinformation but his misstatement has been repeated around Orono for a few years. To be clear, Mountain Biking is not sanctioned by the Orono School District nor does they allow Mountain Biking on school grounds. Why was the team asked to leave?
Nationally, the majority of Mountain Bikers are between the ages of 24 - 44 which leads us to ask the next question, exactly how many children that live in Orono are riding with this team? Is the team so small they had to combine with Westonka? Who are the Coaches and where do they come from?
Why are we spending what will be substantial funds ($100,000 or more) on a niche sport that takes away wildlife habitat and green space? Not to mention historic ambiance of the Golf Course. Speaking of which, why aren’t we maintaining that Golf Course by finally fixing that drainage issue they have listed and talked about on our annual goals for years? Why is maintenance second?
And now we get the the really big question, why are the Citizens supporting the damaging of their neighborhood parks for this activity when it degrades their property values? Green space is by far and away one of the leading factors for maintaining resale value on our properties so why carve them up when there are so many existing trails and courses around for this very sport already? And has anyone surveyed the Citizens? No, they have not.
Stay tuned as we uncover more Orono Park Commission falsehoods and some serious conflicts of interest. Make sure to let your City Council member know how you feel about increased traffic, a 24hour a day, unsupervised, very unsafe sport at your Historic Orono Golf Course. Your voice matters.
btunheim@oronomn.gov
abenson@oronomn.gov
spersian@oronomn.gov
jricks@oronomn.gov
#rickcarter #brianroath #michaelhuddy #gordystofer #adamedwards #johnwithrow #jayswenson #mikemckeand #oronoschooldistrict278 #oronomountainbiketeam #oronowestonkamountainbiketeam #orono #oronomtb https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
And please contact the school to ask why they are continuing to condone these falsehoods and this destructive behavior in our parks:
https://ce.oronoschools.org/.../youth.../mountain-biking
kristine.flesher@orono.k12.mn.us
kimberly.king@orono.k12.mn.us
katie.zaccaro@orono.k12.mn.us
tiffany.clifton@orono.k12.mn.us
@friendsoforono
Orono Park Commission Open Meeting Violation?
You’d think there would be hyper vigilance with communication between the City of Orono and residents wouldn’t you? All the meeting violations and misleading commentary - all the resignations - and all the disrespectful rhetoric. We need this turned around don’t we?
Are we back to square one? On Friday we checked repeatedly for the 2/4/25 Park Commission meeting agenda and packet on the website. It wasn’t next to the City Council meeting notification like it usually is. It was buried on a hard to find page and if you didn’t know better, you wouldn’t have looked for it.
Today, at noon the Park Commission meeting and packet notification appeared suddenly in its usual spot - on the Public Meeting page. Is this an open meeting violation? Because the general public did not get 72 hours notification? Is this something that we should just let go by or should we ask for a meeting postponement?
And no, Mr. Adam Edwards, this is not an excuse for a new costly Communications employee. The City was able to send out twice daily invitations to the sad Charlie Brown Christmas/Tree Lighting Ceremony for a week but you can’t notify us of a regular meeting on the website? Hmmm. Something is fishy here.
Friends of Orono
One Man’s "Passion Project": Slated to further degrade Orono's Historic Golf Course
On Tuesday Feb. 4th the Orono Park Commission is going to try to shove through another 24 hour Mountain Bike Complex proposal - this time for the Historic Orono Golf Course.
Sadly, this is the third park that Orono Park Commissioner Rick Carter has degraded for his own niche unsanctioned activity.
For history on his last sales pitch see our video here: https://youtu.be/5w8P8th_ve8
For insight into how Carter, Orono City Administrator Adam Edwards and Orono Park Commission Chair Brian Roath maneuver behind the scenes see our website here: https://www.friendsoforono.org/oronoparkcommission
Please write to our new City Council members here and join Citizens who are trying to keep biking out of Bederwood Park and the Orono Golf Course. After all, isn’t that what the Luce Line and the surrounding half dozen single track areas are for already? And shouldn't the overarching City Ordinance be adhered to?
@friendsoforono
btunheim@oronomn.gov
abenson@oronomn.gov
spersian@oronomn.gov
jricks@oronomn.gov
https://ce.oronoschools.org/.../youth.../mountain-biking
https://lhbcorp.com/insights/lhb-leadership-transition/
kristine.flesher@orono.k12.mn.us
kimberly.king@orono.k12.mn.us
katie.zaccaro@orono.k12.mn.us
tiffany.clifton@orono.k12.mn.us
#joeantilla #westonkamtb #oronomtb #oronowestonkamtb #moundmtb #johnwithrow #cityoforono #adamedwards #brianroath #victoriaseals #lhb https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
Against the Bederwood neighborhood including Bayside, Watertown and Maple Plain, over 200 residents signed a petition to stop biking in Bederwood since this Resolution was papered over said "illegal” activity. The Orono/Westonka Mountain Bike Team rode against the law for about 5 years in Bederwood Park condoned by Head Coach John Withrow, Head Coach Joe Antilla and Coach Jessica Withrow along with Orono School District 278 against city ordinance. The City of Orono condoned this activity as evidenced through correspondence with participants City Administrator Adam Edwards, Council member Victoria Seals, Park Commissioners Brian Roath and Rick Carter.
kristine.flesher@orono.k12.mn.us
tiffany.clifton@orono.k12.mn.us
#joeantilla #westonkamtb #oronomtb #oronowestonkamtb #moundmtb #johnwithrow #cityoforono #adamedwards #brianroath #victoriaseals #lhb https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
See Explanation below. #johnwithrow #rickcarter #brianroath #victoriaseals #oronoparkcommission #trespassing #district278 #district277 https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
This is what is wrong about lack of due process in Orono.
Withrow’s email is an example of the ongoing backroom negotiating between a privileged few and the City of Orono out of the public eye.
Why would the City of Orono allow an unsanctioned sports team to “adopt “ a public park that is privately land locked? Withrow notes that the park is “largely unknown.” Lowry Woods is surrounded by private property with no public access so anyone who went to Lowry Woods was trespassing unless they had permission of one of the homeowners. And we checked - no one wanted 20-40 Mountain Bikers coming across their private property.
He misleads citizens by saying that the boys and girls team would “maintain and improve the trails.” We now know that as of the date of this letter the team had been trespassing on private property, cut limbs on private property and dug trails throughout the conserved park since sometime in the spring/summer of 2020. They had also held at least three practices and broadcast Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area open to mountain biking on social media.
Withrow writes that Lowry Woods “would certainly remain a multiuse park”. How would he know, and why is a private citizen telling another resident about public property functionality? And why is a private citizen determining use without the public involved?
Withrow writes, “As a first, I (with my son and another member of the team) made the rounds to speak to each of the neighbors who adjoin Lowry Woods to explain the process….” Again, why is a private citizen “explaining the process” to other citizens without City representation?
He goes on to say ”...and simply give each neighbor a contact if they have any questions or concerns.” Why is a private citizen trying to field questions and concerns about a public piece of land owned by the taxpayers?
“This would be intended for light use…” and we now know that the team had already been using the park with about 20-40 riders per practice with multiple rounds of riding throughout the protected area. Hardly “light use” not to mention that many riders crossing about 450 feet of private land up a hill past a no bikes sign to get there.
He then writes “a couple of hours per week for a few months in the summer.” We now know anyone and everyone was riding up there in 2020/2021 and practices were three times a week in the fall. So he is clearly trying to downplay how much damage dozens of riders were making in the Big Woods.
Then he writes an odd comment, “...there would be no new ‘advertisement’ of the park,” Isn’t holding public bike practice and broadcasting it on social media “new advertising” of the area?
He then admits that “...a few of the neighbors did request signs on the NorthEntry (where the Variance entry trail splits) to keep any people from accidentally going up their ‘private’ property trail and into their back yards (which is apparently pretty common already).” Irony? He’s the one trespassing and showing dozens of kids how to do it as well.
Withrow tries to wipe away the fact that Mountain Biking is one of the most dangerous sports by writing “our number one objective is safety of the kids (6th - 12th graders).” If you are so worried about safety then why are teaching kids to disobey laws and ride in “hidden” areas?
He writes “A close second is our respect and appreciation for the land and the environment,” Oh boy, we could go on and on here but ribboning up the environment degrades it and since both Lowry and Bederwood had Big Woods, this biking really damages the old growth forests. We know, we asked experts. If he had respect for the land and the environment he would have studies and experts to validate his empty claim.
And then the biggest fib of them all “And a close third was respect for all of the neighbors and neighboring properties to this park.” Well we guess he didn’t even consider the residents and their property that he trespassed on repeatedly. He also decided to ride first and ask permission later if ever.
Who is this guy? And why is he emboldened to break laws and teach our children to do the same? And where are the school districts? Why is he or any of those individuals allowed to Coach?
#rickcarter #brianroath #michaelhuddy #gordystofer #adamedwards #johnwithrow #jayswenson #mikemckeand #oronoschooldistrict278 #oronomountainbiketeam #oronowestonkamountainbiketeam #orono #oronomtb #kimking #kristineflesher #taylorstephens #jessicawithrow https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
Shockingly in 2020 Mr. Rick Carter sends an email as to how to carve up the Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area and coordinates communication using one of his employees as a neighborhood go between. #conflictofinterest According to public record, Mr. Carter lays out a plan to carve up the Nature Conservancy protected woods into a 24 hour Mountain Bike Complex. He also coordinated at least three practices with the Orono/Westonka Mountain Bike Team(s) to ride in the woods in 2020 without the neighborhood’s knowledge or input. See Head Coaches John Withrow and Joe Antilla’s courses documented below. Even more egregious is that apparently Mr. Adam Edwards knew there wasn’t any public access so the teams of children were told to ignore “No Bikes” signs and to trespass across private property to get to the Big Woods. Further documentation and voice recordings highlight how these City officials were trying to not only mislead the public, they were trying to bend/break Nature Conservancy covenants.
#joeantilla #westonkamtb #oronomtb #oronowestonkamtb #moundmtb #johnwithrow #cityoforono #adamedwards #brianroath #victoriaseals #lhb #taylorstephens https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
https://ce.oronoschools.org/youth/youth-sports-recreation/mountain-biking
https://lhbcorp.com/insights/lhb-leadership-transition/
Not only did Orono Head Coach John Withrow ride through the protected Big Woods past “No Bikes” signs and trespass over about 450 feet of private property to get there, he showed 40 or so children from 6th grade to 12 grade how to do it on multiple occasions. And then he and others broadcasted on social media that they were now riding there so that others could as well. Also note that the team appears to be riding through the partial Big Woods at Bederwood and onto private property. Homeowners were not contacted and found Mr. Antila and Mrs. Withrow along with the two Antilla children damaging their property on 5/22/21.
#joeantilla #westonkamtb #oronomtb #cityoforono #adamedwards #brianroath #victoriaseals #oronowestonkamtb #moundmtb #johnwithrow #jesswithrow #jessicawithrow https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
https://ce.oronoschools.org/youth/youth-sports-recreation/mountain-biking
Not only did Westonka Head Coach Joe Antilla ride through the protected Big Woods himself past “No Bikes” signs and trespass over about 450 feet of private property to get there, he taught 40 or so children from 6th grade to 12 grade how to do it on multiple occasions. And then he and others broadcasted on social media that they were now riding there so that others could as well. Also note that the team appears to be riding through the partial Big Woods at Bederwood and onto private property. Homeowners were not contacted and found Mr. Antila and Mrs. Withrow along with the two Antilla children damaging their property on 5/22/21.
#joeantilla #westonkamtb #oronomtb #oronowestonkamtb #moundmtb #johnwithrow #cityoforono #adamedwards #brianroath #victoriaseals #jesswithrow #jessicawithrow https://lhbcorp.com/people/rick-carter/
https://ce.oronoschools.org/youth/youth-sports-recreation/mountain-biking