We offer advanced health and wellness treatments and new advanced therapies
Did you know that according to the CDC, obesity prevalence in the U.S. increased from 30.5% to 41.9% from 2017-2020? In that same time, the prevalence of severe obesity jumped from just over 4% to over 9%. It only takes a quick glance at these numbers to understand that we have an obesity issue in the United States. That's true for people of all ages, many of whom have tried fad diets and every weight loss regimen under the sun, only to get mediocre results. For older men and women, obesity can be concerning, too, especially when their bodies are going through hormonal changes associated with female and male menopause.
Being overweight has many negative effects on the body. From an aesthetic standpoint, many people hate being overweight because clothes don't fit well, being mobile and active is often hard, and people just seem to stare. From a health and wellness standpoint, however, the consequences of obesity are much worse. Some overweight people must face life-changing problems such as:
For people who have been struggling with their weight for years, it can seem like no help is available. Fortunately, nothing could be further from the truth, with innovative weight loss solutions like peptide therapy for weight loss in Orono, MN.
LX Medical's weight loss program has helped numerous patients achieve their weight loss goals, live a healthy life, and enjoy total well-being for years. At LX Medical, we believe that weight loss shouldn't be centered around a one-size-fits-all mentality. Our doctors and practitioners create custom weight loss programs that are tailored to your unique body, rather than creating plans based off of someone matching your age or weight. With our team's support, you can achieve real results and start living life without the extra pounds.
That's important in the modern world, where maintaining good health and fitness has become more important than ever. Research has shown that viruses and diseases are more likely to affect people who are overweight and unhealthy. Unfortunately, there are many "miracle" supplements and unhealthy diet plans that mislead people into thinking that weight loss is not beneficial. Furthermore, weight loss "experts" often offer unstructured and unsupervised programs that do more harm than good.
At LX Medical, we prioritize the well-being of our patients when it comes to weight loss. Our approach is patient-centric, focusing on personalized treatments. Our doctors first evaluate your lifestyle habits, and we work with you to replace negative patterns with positive, personalized lifestyle changes. This is crucial for achieving optimal wellness and weight loss. Benefits of losing weight include:
However, losing weight is only the beginning. To keep weight off permanently, adopting a healthy, active lifestyle is essential. At LX Medical, we help you achieve this by implementing manageable, positive lifestyle changes that jumpstart your weight loss journey. By making healthy behaviors a part of your daily routine, you can achieve your weight loss goals and become the best version of yourself.
One of the most successful treatments we offer to help patients shed pounds safely is peptide therapy for weight loss in Orono, MN. In fact, peptides for weight loss, such as semaglutide (also known as Ozempic and Wegovy, MOTS-C,) and AOD-9604, have been proven to be effective and have helped countless men and women live life at a healthy weight.
Consisting of amino acids, peptides help regulate the biological processes and functions in your body. As the building blocks of protein, they are crucial for your overall health. Unfortunately, however, many men and women suffer from peptide deficiency. Peptide therapy gives your body the peptides it needs, improving your ability to:
Peptide therapy is often used alongside other treatment plans from LX Medical, such as our custom weight loss plans. That's where peptides like semaglutide and AOD-9604 come into play.
Peptide therapy is often used to boost hormones and support our total well-being. Different types of peptides can target different areas of our health. For example, some collagen peptide supplements can help make our skin, hair, and gut healthier. Other peptides, like semaglutide and AOD-9604, can help facilitate healthy weight loss.
Peptide therapy works in a different way than vitamin supplements. When we take a multivitamin for our hair, skin, and nails, our body must absorb the nutrients. But sometimes, our body can't absorb all the nutrients, so they just leave our body through our urine. Peptides, on the other hand, are part of the proteins in our bodies, making them easier to benefit from and absorb.
But what about peptide therapy for weight loss? The truth is there are various peptides that have different effects, including some that facilitate weight loss. However, weight loss is a nuanced process that involves multiple factors such as diet, exercise, age, genetics, and lifestyle. While peptides can assist you in achieving your weight loss goals, they are most effective when combined with improvements like a healthier diet, more frequent exercise, and better life choices. If you've tried various weight loss plans and diets, but haven't had any success, peptides like semaglutide and ADO-9604 may be the extra boost you need to experience true weight loss.
A recent study in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism found that people who used peptides in conjunction with a weight loss plan experienced incredible results. More specifically, patients reported a 14% reduction in body fat on average. Two of the most popular peptides for weight loss also happen to be FDA-approved and, when appropriate, part of your weight loss journey with LX Medical.
Those peptides are semaglutide and AOD-9604 and are touted for their therapeutic benefits and long-term safety profile. If you're looking for a little extra help to lose weight and keep it off for good, peptide therapy for weight loss could be for you.
Looking to shed some pounds and keep them off for good? Diet and exercise are crucial, but for busy adults and parents, sticking to a routine is easier said than done. If you need extra help losing weight, consider semaglutide. This injection, approved by the FDA for diabetes and obesity, can stimulate GLP-1 receptors in the brain to aid in quicker weight loss and long-term health.
Semaglutide works in several ways. First, it acts as glucagon in your body, which helps tell your brain that you're full and don't need to eat anymore. Secondly, it slows down the time it takes for food to transit out of your stomach. This process reduces unnecessary eating and snacking throughout the day. Perhaps more importantly, it reduces glucose spikes after you eat, which causes a litany of issues like inflammation.
Semaglutide also helps your pancreas secrete insulin while making you insulin sensitive. This regulates glucose levels in your body and how your body metabolizes that glucose. Additionally, by reducing inflammation in your body, you benefit from powerful anti-aging and longevity properties.
When combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, semaglutide can provide:
Unlike other weight loss clinics, at LX Medical, you can enjoy the benefits of semaglutide from the comfort of your office or home. Injections are administered once a week. Once you've met your weight loss goals, you can reduce your intake to a minimum dose for additional positive effects like ongoing weight management. You can also quit taking semaglutide entirely. If you opt to stop, our medical weight loss team can chat with you about other types of peptide therapy for weight loss in Orono, MN.
This peptide, which is often used in conjunction with semaglutide regimens, stimulates the breakdown of fat while inhibiting lipogenesis and supporting your tendons and cartilage. It has grown in popularity because of its ability to boost your metabolism, which helps burn fat. What's great about AOD-9604 is that it stimulates the pituitary gland but does not affect tissue growth or blood sugar. Perhaps most impressive is that this peptide can burn fat without you feeling the need to overeat as a result.
In fact, AOD-9604 activates your body's fat-burning processes using its own unique mechanism without needing an HGH receptor. It also releases obese fat cells and reduces new fat cell accumulation. One of the most notable benefits of AOD-9604 is its ability to regulate blood sugar and manage insulin levels, which can lead to reduced inflammation and weight loss. Additionally, AOD-9604 can aid in building muscle, similar to growth hormones. Its benefits extend beyond fat loss, as it contains regenerative properties that may be beneficial for individuals with various conditions, such as:
With the ability to reduce fat that is stored in your abdominal region, this weight-loss peptide is very popular for older people with stubborn belly fat. It is also often used by people who have tried other diets and weight loss plans but had little or no success.
At LX Medical, our doctors offer a range of peptide therapies for your health and well-being. Peptides like semaglutide and AOD-9604 are often used as part of a comprehensive peptide therapy plan, crafted by LX Medical specialists for your body. If you're interested in losing weight, gut health peptides like BPC-157, Thymulosin Alpha, Thymulosin Beta, and GHK-Cu can be incredibly beneficial along your weight loss journey.
This naturally occurring peptide, sometimes called the "Body Protection Compound," is secreted in your gut and helps repair its lining. It works by helping your body be in a constant state of restoration and repair, providing powerful anti-inflammatory effects. This process helps with issues like:
When it comes to losing weight, BPC-157 is often included in peptide therapy for weight loss in Orono, MN, because it can help reduce pain and inflammation resulting from new or increased exercise efforts. As noted previously, exercise and diet are key in long-term weight loss, and BPC-157 can make those efforts easier.
This peptide is injected once a day, with courses ranging from 30 to 60 days. After you finish the injection course, consider BPC-157 oral supplements to maintain its benefits.
Thymosin Alpha-1 is a powerful immune system modulator that helps you resist infections, illnesses, and disease. By naturally stimulating T cells to locate and eliminate viruses, bacteria, and even tumor cells, this peptide prompts your body to respond to these invasive organisms, making your immune system naturally stronger and more effective.
Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Thymosin Alpha-1 in regulating immunity and inflammation related to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other conditions. Recent clinical studies have also shown promising results in using this peptide to fight lung, colon, breast, and other types of cancer. By reducing inflammation in your body and enhancing your immune system, you can optimize your body as you lose weight with the help of LX Medical.
Patients inject this peptide every day for two weeks and then continue three times a week for 2.5 months.
Thymosin Beta-4 is a peptide consisting of 43 amino acids that is known to promote healing in the body and has anti-inflammatory properties. It occurs naturally in higher concentrations at injury sites and is a water-soluble protein that can regulate cell migration to a site. It is also very good at repairing tissue damage. The substance is not only beneficial for wound healing and skin repair but can also aid in the repair of the brain, spinal cord, and heart. Medical professionals consider Thymosin Beta-4 to be a safe and potent substance in both its natural and synthetic forms.
Like its Alpha counterpart, this peptide can be beneficial for individuals undergoing weight loss, and can help reduce the inflammation and pain associated with exercising and more.
Patients inject this peptide every day for two weeks and then continue three times a week for 2.5 months.
Research suggests that GHK-CU functions as a feedback signal when tissue damage occurs. This peptide is effective in shielding damaged tissue, reducing inflammation, and replacing scarred tissue with healthy tissue. Although further research is necessary to determine its effectiveness on a larger scale, GHK-CU has already been proven to play a role in wound healing and inflammation reduction. Like other peptides for weight loss in Orono, MN, GHK-Cu supports your gut health and weight loss efforts by lowering inflammation in your body, which often happens from changes to your diet or exercise regimens.
Patients should take this peptide for 20-30 days, especially when used for wound healing or as part of a more robust peptide therapy package.
At LX Medical, we're proud to make better care possible.
We are a physician-led team of doctors, nurses, and health experts, advised by a panel of top healthcare leaders who are revolutionizing the power of house calls. In fact, all of our peptides for weight loss in Orono, MN, can be applied in your home or office without having to wait in long lines or uncomfortable waiting rooms.
We offer exceptionally robust and personalized weight loss plans for patients who can't seem to lose extra weight. To do so, we use innovative weight loss medications such as semaglutide and AOD-9604. To supplement our patient's success, we bring with us advanced diagnostic technology, IV fluids, and medications, with access to outpatient imaging and lab centers. Unlike some weight loss centers, we only staff highly-trained medical professionals and advanced practice providers with experience and compassion.
Are you sick and tired of the way that you look and feel every day? Is your health getting out of control? Are you ready to break out of your cage and lose weight the right way? If you're ready to begin your journey to weight loss success, our team is here to guide you along the way. Contact LX Medical today to get started.
612-662-5448
Just like in 2021, Orono High School is ranked as the No. 1 High School in Minnesota in 2022 by U.S. News and World Report.Orono was ranked the No. 1 traditional high school in the state and moved up one spot to No. 4 in the overall Minnesota High School rankings. Orono is ranked 370th nationally.“That is incredibly important for our community but it is also important to our students in terms of access to the world of work as well as college admissions,” Orono superintendent Dr. Kristine Flesher said at the Orono sc...
Just like in 2021, Orono High School is ranked as the No. 1 High School in Minnesota in 2022 by U.S. News and World Report.
Orono was ranked the No. 1 traditional high school in the state and moved up one spot to No. 4 in the overall Minnesota High School rankings. Orono is ranked 370th nationally.
“That is incredibly important for our community but it is also important to our students in terms of access to the world of work as well as college admissions,” Orono superintendent Dr. Kristine Flesher said at the Orono school board meeting on May 9 when announcing the ranking. “When a student applies to college, not only does their transcript go with to the college but so does our Orono High School profile. Students admissions to colleges are studied in context of their high school. Very strong schools prepare children for the future.”
Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation and how well they prepare students for college.
U.S. News and World Report also ranked Orono high in these categories:
• College Readiness Index Rank - No. 3 in the state (The proportion of 12th graders who took and passed at least one AP or IB exam.)
• College Curriculum Breadth Index Rank - No. 2 (The proportion of 12th-graders who took and passed AP and IB exams in multiple areas.)
• State Assessment Proficiency Rank - No. 7
• State Assessment Performance Rank - No. 50
• Graduation Rate Rank -No. 48
In 2021, 450 Orono High School students took 899 Advanced Placement exams with 79 percent earning a score of three or higher.
“Schools are ranked on their students’ performance on state-required tests, graduation rate, and how well they prepare students for college,” Flesher said. “We give credit to all teachers, parents and staff who work diligently to prepare our students academically. We also credit our students who challenge themselves academically and achieve remarkable success.”
Orono wasn’t the only local high school ranked on in the report.
Mound Westonka High School was ranked 15th in state rankings and 1,377th in the national rankings.
“I am proud of the efforts our high school staff have made with student learning and instruction while dealing with the challenges during the pandemic,” Westonka assistant superintendent for teaching and learning Mark Femrite said. “This ranking is another measurement of the high quality learning that occurs at Mound Westonka High School every day.”
Other area schools that were ranked include: Minnetonka No. 5, and Wayzata No. 6,
Math and Science Academy in Woodbury was the No. 1 ranked High School in Minnesota, followed by Nova Classical Academy Upper School in St. Paul at No. 2, and Eagle Ridge Academy Charter School in Minnetonka at No. 3.
Edina, Eastview, Eagan and Mahtomedi rounded out the Top 10.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the vast majority of public high schools in the country are ranked. In coordination with North Carolina-based RTI International, a global nonprofit social science research firm, U.S. News ranked approximately 17,840 public high schools out of the nearly 24,000 reviewed. This is the count of public high schools that had a 12th grade enrollment of 15 students or greater, or otherwise had sufficient enrollment in other high school grades during the 2019-2020 school year.
With most states closing schools for in-person instruction beginning in March 2020 – typically just before most states conduct assessments – the U.S. Department of Education granted waivers allowing all states to forego state testing in 2020. To account for this, U.S. News relied on past assessment data from the three prior school years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19). Ranking factors pertaining to graduation rates and college readiness incorporated 2019-20 cohorts.
Barbara Schmidt loves nature. Loves it so much, in fact, that she's given names to individual trees in the woods adjoining her Orono home.Now Schmidt fears her leafy friends will suffer from a mountain bike trail that the city is permitting to be built in Bederwood Park on Lake Minnetonka's Stubbs Bay.The small parcel of woods will be damaged by regular racing traffic from dozens of knobby-tired bikes, she said, and deer, quail and other wildlife may be driven away."We've had a standing ordinance — no bikes in...
Barbara Schmidt loves nature. Loves it so much, in fact, that she's given names to individual trees in the woods adjoining her Orono home.
Now Schmidt fears her leafy friends will suffer from a mountain bike trail that the city is permitting to be built in Bederwood Park on Lake Minnetonka's Stubbs Bay.
The small parcel of woods will be damaged by regular racing traffic from dozens of knobby-tired bikes, she said, and deer, quail and other wildlife may be driven away.
"We've had a standing ordinance — no bikes in parks — for years and years," she said. "These are very, very special park properties. You can't replace this kind of stuff."
In June, the City Council approved construction of the bike trail, which was sought by the mountain biking team at Orono High School. Schmidt then sued the city, as well as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and Orono Schools, claiming the trail would violate the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act.
But the city says it's a lawsuit "built on sand" and has moved to dismiss the case.
"There is not an idea that the woods are going to be torn down," said Jared Shepherd, an attorney for the city. "The work contemplated by the approval was very minimal."
There's a legitimate public interest, he added, in using the park for recreation, including for a student bike team.
"I think the city allowing a bike trail is very reasonable," he said.
The DNR and the watershed district have already been dismissed from the suit, according to court documents, because there are no waters or wetlands under their jurisdiction in the park.
"There is no protected water here, which is why the DNR is no longer involved," Shepherd said. "There is no protected wetland, which is why the watershed district is no longer involved."
There are also plans to build mountain bike trails in the city's Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area. That's a nearby, wooded, 15-acre parcel, which was donated to Orono in 1994 by the Nature Conservancy as "a nature preserve for scientific, educational and recreational purposes."
Lowry Woods isn't part of the current lawsuit. But in a letter to the city, the conservancy warned that it would be watching closely to see whether mountain bike trails would damage the land's "natural and wooded conditions." The conservancy asked the city to detail its plan to prevent damage to the woods, noting that if "adverse impacts" result from the bike trails, the conservancy may seek to have the trails removed and restored.
Gabriel Jabbour, a former Orono mayor, also opposes the bike trails. Orono has always viewed itself as "an oasis," he said, attracting residents who value natural surroundings.
The reason Lowry Woods was donated to the city, he said, "is because we're trusted. We were the great trusted entity. The woods, in my book, should be woods."
Orono Schools officials said they have not yet been served with the lawsuit and couldn't comment on litigation. Coaches of the mountain bike team did not return calls seeking comment.
For Schmidt, who walks in the woods several times a week, the dispute is about preserving land that contains remnants of the Big Woods that stood before white settlers arrived in the 19th century. That's why she's named trees, choosing monikers that link them to historical figures from the time the trees first sprouted, the oldest of which is nearly 200 years old.
"We want people to enjoy it," Schmidt said. "We just don't want them to destroy it."
John Reinan • 612-673-7402
ORONO, Minn. (FOX 9) - An Orono, Minnesota woman is facing time in jail and a fine for renting out her dock on Lake Minnetonka. The city is not backing down and is now taking the 75-year-old retiree to court.Nancy Edwards has lived in her Lake Minnetonka cottage for 20 years. She inherited the home from her parents, who bought the place in 1960.Edwards is on a fixed income and while she doesn’t have a mortgage, her property taxes alone cost her $1,000 a month. In an effort to off-set those costs, Edwards ...
ORONO, Minn. (FOX 9) - An Orono, Minnesota woman is facing time in jail and a fine for renting out her dock on Lake Minnetonka. The city is not backing down and is now taking the 75-year-old retiree to court.
Nancy Edwards has lived in her Lake Minnetonka cottage for 20 years. She inherited the home from her parents, who bought the place in 1960.
Edwards is on a fixed income and while she doesn’t have a mortgage, her property taxes alone cost her $1,000 a month. In an effort to off-set those costs, Edwards started renting her shoreline property for $3,000 a summer.
“It’s one-fourth of my annual income,” said Edwards. “It means the difference of being able to stay here or not stay here.”
Last June, the City of Orono cited Edwards for violating a city ordinance which prohibits homeowners from renting dock space.
In an effort to become compliant, Edwards entered into a lease agreement with the boat owner, in which he rents not just the dock, but her house as well. She says he and his children use the house like a cabin in the summer.
In addition, he added Nancy to the boat title.
But, the city of Orono did not drop the charges. Instead, they cited her for violating property rental license laws.
“I’ve always been one who can’t tolerate injustice... I know, and everyone out here knows it’s absurd,” said Edwards.
The City of Orono declined to comment on the case, but a public records request found they have spent $3,198.50 on outside legal counsel through the month of June. Officials confirmed that figure did not include hours logged by the city attorney and other staff.
“I’ve never even had a parking ticket so when I got this subpoena I thought, 'oh my god, what is this?'” said Edwards.
The parties have been unsuccessful in finding a resolution outside of court, and the case is expected to go to trial.
In checking with other cities, FOX 9 learned Mound, Wayzata, Excelsior, Deephaven, Spring Park and Tonka Bay all allow private dock rentals. Shorewood, like the city of Orono, does not allow it.
Many communities defer dock rental rules to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District, which allows one boat per 50 feet of shoreline--regardless of who owns the boat.
Edwards has obtained an attorney who is providing legal counsel pro bono. Her attorney says he estimates his billable hours on the case are $10,000 to $20,000 so far. Edwards believes this cost is why no one has pushed back on this ordinance until now.
“Somebody has to stand up and say, no,” she said. “I’m not going to take this. It’s not right.”
ALEXANDRIA - The Alexandria girls basketball team, who is the No. 5 ranked team in Class AAA (Minnesota Basketball News poll), took an 11-game winning streak into its battle with the Orono Spartans on Saturday at the Breakdown's Winter Lakes Classic.Orono got off to a good start, as it led 21-3 midway through the first half. While Alexandria did find a rhythm as the game wore on, Orono earned the 76-52 win."We've figured out what we need to work on," Alexandria head coach Wendy Kohler said. "We just didn't play w...
ALEXANDRIA - The Alexandria girls basketball team, who is the No. 5 ranked team in Class AAA (Minnesota Basketball News poll), took an 11-game winning streak into its battle with the Orono Spartans on Saturday at the Breakdown's Winter Lakes Classic.
Orono got off to a good start, as it led 21-3 midway through the first half. While Alexandria did find a rhythm as the game wore on, Orono earned the 76-52 win.
"We've figured out what we need to work on," Alexandria head coach Wendy Kohler said. "We just didn't play well against a very good Orono team. We were prepared. We're just disappointed with this loss on our home floor. It didn't help that our shots weren't falling. And it just kind of snowballed on us. This might end up being the best thing that could've happened to us."
Read more Alexandria Cardinals coverage from the Echo Press
Orono held Alexandria to 14 points in the first half. However, Alexandria got things going a bit in the second with 38 points.
"We played much better in the second half than we did in the first half," Kohler said. "We need to do a better job of creating better shots."
John's Hopkins commit Lauren Knudson led the Orono (9-9) offense, along with Mya Moore, as they both had 20 points on the night.
The Spartans had a strong second half as well, scoring 42 points.
Orono made 15 three-pointers in the game, and knocked down nine out of its 10 free throw attempts.
Alexandria made eight three-pointers in the win while knocking down 10 out of its 17 free throw attempts.
Orono now joins Becker as the two teams who have scored more than 70 points in a game (both scored 76) against Alexandria (15-4) this season.
Coming into Saturday's game, the Cardinals had held 10 of their last 11 opponents to less than 50 points.
Hadley Thul led the Alexandria offense with 18 points on Saturday, while Chloe Scholl had 10 points.
Freshman Kate Hennessy made some nice energy plays in Saturday's game and has stepped up in the starting lineup with senior Morgan Seesz out with an injury for the last couple of games.
"She's young, and she's stepped in well," Kohler said of Hennessy. "It's tough not having Morgan in the lineup, but Kate's athletic, and she got a ton of rebounds in this game. She did a lot of nice things for us as well. This is a silver lining to us, a kid getting a lot of great experience. And that will only complement us when we get Morgan back."
Kohler said they could get Seesz back in the lineup next week.
Saturday's loss was the Cardinals' first at home this season, and they are now 7-1 at home so far this season.
The Cardinals are confident that they can quickly move on and learn from this game.
"I think this got the girls' attention," Kohler said. "They know what they need to work on; they're frustrated and upset about their performance. They put a lot of time into their game, and they've had a great season. That certainly doesn't change anything. We want this competition. Orono is a great team. They're very good. They're very skilled; they can shoot it, and that will only make us better."
The Cardinals are in the midst of a great season. They've already surpassed their 2021-22 season win total of 12 and have done so in convincing fashion.
They currently are the No. 1 team in the Central Lakes Conference, as they have a 10-0 record in conference games. The Cardinals are the highest-rated Section 8AAA team in the Class AAA QRF rankings on Minnesota-scores.net and are 5-1 in section games. The Cardinals came into the night as the second-highest-rated team in Class AAA.
Saturday's game was the first of what will be six home games in the month of February.
Alexandria now turns its attention to Marshall (15-6). Marshall is on a hot streak, as it has won nine out of its last ten.
Alexandria plays on the road at Marshall on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.
Orono - 34 42 - 76
Alexandria - 14 38 - 52
ORONO SCORING - Lauren Knudson, 20 points, Mya Moore, 20 points; Pressley Watkins, 12 points; Evie Kompelien, 2 points; Rae Pearce, 9 points; Kayla Kallenbach, 11 points; Evelyn Miller, 2 points
ALEXANDRIA SCORING - Ella Steussy, 9 points; Hadley Thul, 18 points; Chloe Scholl, 10 points; MaCee Linow, 3 points; Allie Haabala, 2 points; Kaia Emter, 3 points; Kate Hennessy, 2 points; McKinley Hoelscher, 3 points
The wealthy Lake Minnetonka suburb of Orono has long been the genteel home to Minnesota dynasties such as the Pillsburys, Crosbys and Daytons, a place where power brokers worked quietly behind the scenes.But in recent months, an ongoing clash between city officials and a determined group of critics has turned typically dull City Council meetings into dramatic confrontations featuring shouting, threats and displays of theatrical defiance by both sides.In recent council meetings, Orono Mayor Dennis Walsh has cursed a member of th...
The wealthy Lake Minnetonka suburb of Orono has long been the genteel home to Minnesota dynasties such as the Pillsburys, Crosbys and Daytons, a place where power brokers worked quietly behind the scenes.
But in recent months, an ongoing clash between city officials and a determined group of critics has turned typically dull City Council meetings into dramatic confrontations featuring shouting, threats and displays of theatrical defiance by both sides.
In recent council meetings, Orono Mayor Dennis Walsh has cursed a member of the public and sneeringly called former city officials "clowns." He pounds his gavel furiously when a speaker's allotted three minutes expire during public comment sessions.
At a June meeting, when Jay Nygard — a former Orono council member and one of Walsh's loudest critics — got up to speak, Walsh opened a newspaper and buried his nose in it for Nygard's entire three minutes.
The clashes revolve largely around a series of land deals the city has recently made or attempted to make, as well as criticism of Walsh's plan for Orono to start its own fire department after more than a century of using the service from neighboring Long Lake.
Walsh says the furor is the work of a small group of "crazies," some of whom have threatened him. At Monday's regular council meeting, Walsh took time to publicly describe some of the "dark, threatening" attacks that he said have left him fearful for the safety of his family, the city staff and fellow council members.
"This is about to take a real nasty turn, the kind you do not recover from," Walsh read aloud from an email he had received.
Some of the texts he's received are of such a vile, sexual nature that he couldn't read them out loud, Walsh said, adding that he's turned those texts over to the city attorney.
"Obviously, these things aren't policy-related," Walsh said in an interview. "They're personal. There are these behind-the scenes issues that are just relevant to four people."
Yet Walsh's critics — not all of whom are in the usual group that speaks at council meetings — say that his own actions fuel the flames.
"You're supposed to be the voice and leader of this city. How can you do this?" said Tim Hultmann, former mayor of neighboring Long Lake and one of the people Walsh dubbed a clown. "The people in this area say, 'Let's go watch the circus.' "
Land deals in question
In one of the controversial land deals, the city signed over a Lake Minnetonka right-of-way access to Bob Erickson, a member of the city's Planning Commission and a donor (with his wife) to Walsh's mayoral campaigns.
Erickson owned lots on either side of the right of way, and the city's abdication of the land allowed him to combine his properties. In return, Erickson made a donation of $100,000 to the city's park fund.
The city engineer and the state Department of Natural Resources opposed the deal, but the Orono planning staff signed off on it and the City Council approved it.
Lili McMillan, a former Orono mayor whom Walsh defeated in 2016, said that kind of deal never would have happened when she was mayor.
"This was taxpayer's land," she said. "We didn't give it away unless there was some crushing need to do so. If some need comes up, you'll never get it back.
"The previous councils were all about, we don't give this land away. We don't care how much people offer."
Walsh said the right-of-way on Stubbs Bay was among several in the area and wasn't needed any longer. The shoreline was swampy and inaccessible, he said, and giving Erickson the property allowed him to "clean up" the area by demolishing several homes and combining properties.
Critics also have faulted Walsh and the council for entertaining a proposal to allow a rowing club to build a boathouse at Summit Beach Park on Long Lake, land donated to the city by the Dayton family. After public opposition, including by former Gov. Mark Dayton, the proposal was tabled.
Controversy also has arisen over the city's decision to allow a mountain bike trail to be built in Bederwood Park. Barbara Schmidt, who lives next to the park, is suing the city over the trail plan and is another frequent attendee at council meetings.
Future of the fire department
Another contentious issue is the fire department shared by the cities of Long Lake and Orono. For more than 100 years, the Long Lake Fire Department has provided fire service to Orono under a joint services agreement, with each city paying proportionate to its use.
That worked when Orono was much smaller. But now, with Orono's population about six times the size of Long Lake's, Orono is paying about 85% of the cost of the joint department. Orono recently gave notice, as provided for in the contract, that it will terminate its participation at the end of 2025 as it makes plans for its own fire department.
That's upset some Long Lake residents, who say their larger sister city and its leaders are power-hungry.
Long Lake Mayor Charlie Miner, noting that the cities are still negotiating the fire district relationship, was hesitant to criticize the actions of Orono leadership.
"Due to the delicacy of our negotiations going on now, I don't really want to say too much about it, because many Orono residents already have," Miner said.
Hultmann, the former Long Lake mayor, wasn't as hesitant.
"Orono never had any real issues [with fire service] until this Walsh took over," he said. "And they decided they should take over immediately.
"He's just totally on a power trip," Hultmann said of Walsh.
Walsh said he's proud of his six-year tenure as mayor. The city has improved its parks and its finances are in better order. For the first time, Walsh said, the city has a dedicated road fund that's not dependent on periodic property assessments. Orono has a triple-A bond rating, he added, and has been catching up on sewer, water and infrastructure projects neglected under his predecessors.
"I put things back on the right track, and we have not had to raise our tax capacity in 10 years," Walsh said. "I think some mayors might be a little bit jealous."
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