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Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”

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 In-Home Care Long Lake, MN

How does In-home Senior Care in Long Lake, MN work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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 Senior Care Long Lake, MN

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Long Lake, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Long Lake, MN gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Long Lake, MN

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Long Lake,MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

 Caregivers Long Lake, MN

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

01

An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

02

Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

03

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

Latest News in Long Lake, MN

Minnesota DNR confirms starry stonewort in Long Lake near Hawick in Kandiyohi County

HAWICK — Just two weeks after zebra mussels were confirmed in the lake, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Thursday confirmed the presence of the invasive algae starry stonewort in Long Lake near Hawick in Kandiyohi County.More local news: According to a news release, DNR staff conducting a survey of algae in Long Lake found starry stonewort at a depth of 8 to 12 feet near the west public access.Starry stonewort is an a...

HAWICK — Just two weeks after zebra mussels were confirmed in the lake, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Thursday confirmed the presence of the invasive algae starry stonewort in Long Lake near Hawick in Kandiyohi County.

More local news:

According to a news release, DNR staff conducting a survey of algae in Long Lake found starry stonewort at a depth of 8 to 12 feet near the west public access.

Starry stonewort is an algae that looks like some native aquatic plants. It can form dense mats, which can interfere with recreational uses of a lake and compete with native plants.

Until the June 15 announcement confirming the presence of zebra mussels, Long Lake by Hawick was celebrated as one of the last remaining recreational lakes in Kandiyohi County without a known aquatic invasive species infestation, according to West Central Tribune archives.

The 324-acre lake is located in the watershed of the Middle Fork of the Crow River. It’s known for its largemouth bass and panfishing opportunities.

The DNR in Thursday's news release said follow-up surveys of Long Lake showed the starry stonewort appears to be present in a roughly one-quarter-acre area of the lake near the public access. Available treatment options could include hand pulling, herbicide applications or other methods as appropriate.

Starry stonewort has never been eradicated from any U.S. lake or river, according to the DNR, but treatment or careful removal can help reduce the risk of spread and relieve associated nuisance impacts on water-related recreational activities. Early detection is key to effective management.

Starry stonewort has now been confirmed in 24 water bodies in Minnesota. It was first confirmed in Minnesota in 2015.

In late summer and early fall, starry stonewort’s small white star-shaped bulbils become more visible, making it easier to distinguish from other aquatic plants. Information on how to identify starry stonewort can be found on the DNR’s website at mndnr.gov/invasives/aquaticplants/starrystonewort .

Starry stonewort is most likely spread when fragments have not been properly cleaned from trailered boats, personal watercraft, docks, boat lifts, anchors or other water-related equipment.

Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:

The DNR said in the release that these additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:

More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website at mndnr.gov/ais .

Starry stonewort confirmed in Long Lake

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed the presence of starry stonewort in Long Lake, near Park Rapids in Hubbard County.An aquatic vegetation survey company hired by the Long Lake Area Association Inc. (LLAA) discovered the aquatic invasive species (AIS) and a DNR invasive species specialist confirmed its presence, according to an Aug. 24 DNR news release.FIND MORE NEWS IMPORTANT TO YOU Sharon Natzel is LLAA’s AIS prevention coordinator. On Sunday morning, Aug. 13, she said, “the team ...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed the presence of starry stonewort in Long Lake, near Park Rapids in Hubbard County.

An aquatic vegetation survey company hired by the Long Lake Area Association Inc. (LLAA) discovered the aquatic invasive species (AIS) and a DNR invasive species specialist confirmed its presence, according to an Aug. 24 DNR news release.

FIND MORE NEWS IMPORTANT TO YOU

Sharon Natzel is LLAA’s AIS prevention coordinator. On Sunday morning, Aug. 13, she said, “the team from Aquatic Survey Professionals detected starry stonewort in about a 5-foot-diameter, bright-green patch underwater at a depth of about 10 feet.”

On Monday afternoon, Aug. 14, Natzel said the DNR specialist “snorkeled the area and used an underwater drone to confirm the small infestation of starry stonewort.”

The DNR says, “Starry stonewort can form dense mats, which can interfere with recreational uses of a lake and compete with native plants. It is most likely spread when fragments have not been properly cleaned from trailered boats, personal watercraft, docks, boat lifts, anchors or other water-related equipment.”

Starry stonewort is an algae that looks similar to some native aquatic plants. “In late summer and early fall, starry stonewort’s small, white star-shaped bulbils become more visible, making it easier to distinguish from other aquatic plants,” stated the release.

“The LLAA Ready Response to AIS team is currently working with the DNR invasive species specialist and potential AIS management vendors for treatment to contain and control the starry stonewort to prevent further spread,” Natzel said. “We will also reach out to the University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center to determine if current and past projects’ information or a pilot could be helpful.”

The DNR news release stated available treatment options include hand pulling, herbicide applications or other methods, as appropriate.

“Starry stonewort has never been eradicated from any U.S. lake or river, but treatment or careful removal can help reduce the risk of spread and associated nuisance impacts on water-related recreational activities. Early detection is key to effective management,” the release continued.

Starry stonewort has now been confirmed in 26 water bodies in Minnesota. It was first confirmed in Minnesota in 2015.

Natzel explained that LLAA “takes a proactive approach to identifying potential AIS threats to Long Lake. In addition to volunteer shoreline monitoring, the association does a professional aquatic vegetation survey every five years, or as needed. This early detection allows us to identify AIS early and provides us with the capability to manage and respond quickly in the early stages of infestation.”

To learn more about starry stonewort, Natzel recommends visiting https://maisrc.umn.edu/starry-stonewort .

As more information becomes available, updates will be made to the LLAA website ( www.longlakeliving.org ) and the Long Lake Living Facebook page.

Information on how to identify starry stonewort can be found on the Minnesota DNR’s website at mndnr.gov/invasives/aquaticplants/starrystonewort.

If people think they’ve found starry stonewort or any other invasive species new to a lake or river, they should report it to the Minnesota DNR by contacting their area invasive species specialist at mndnr.gov/invasives/ais/contacts.html .

Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to do the following:

These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:

News release: Starry Stonewort confirmed in Long Lake in Kandiyohi County

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of the invasive algae starry stonewort in Long Lake, near Hawick in Kandiyohi County.DNR staff conducting a survey of algae in Long Lake found starry stonewort at a depth of eight to twelve feet near the west public access on Long Lake.Follow-up surveys showed the starry stonewort appears to be present in a roughly one-quarter-acre area of the lake near the public access. Available treatment options could include hand pulling, herbicide applications or oth...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of the invasive algae starry stonewort in Long Lake, near Hawick in Kandiyohi County.

DNR staff conducting a survey of algae in Long Lake found starry stonewort at a depth of eight to twelve feet near the west public access on Long Lake.

Follow-up surveys showed the starry stonewort appears to be present in a roughly one-quarter-acre area of the lake near the public access. Available treatment options could include hand pulling, herbicide applications or other methods as appropriate.

Starry stonewort has never been eradicated from any U.S. lake or river, but treatment or careful removal can help reduce the risk of spread and relieve associated nuisance impacts on water-related recreational activities. Early detection is key to effective management.

Starry stonewort has now been confirmed in 24 water bodies in Minnesota. It was first confirmed in Minnesota in 2015.

In late summer and early fall, starry stonewort’s small white star-shaped bulbils become more visible, making it easier to distinguish from other aquatic plants. Information on how to identify starry stonewort can be found on the DNR’s website.

If people think they’ve found starry stonewort or any other invasive species new to a lake or river, they should report it to the DNR by contacting their area invasive species specialist.

Starry stonewort is an algae that looks like some native aquatic plants. It can form dense mats, which can interfere with recreational uses of a lake and compete with native plants. It is most likely spread when fragments have not been properly cleaned from trailered boats, personal watercraft, docks, boat lifts, anchors or other water-related equipment.

Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:

These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:

More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website.

Funding for the Long Lake algae survey was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), Project 2021-055: Protecting Minnesota’s Beneficial Macroalgae – All Stoneworts Aren’t Starry.

Long Lake sues Orono over future of fire department

This is a modal window.No compatible source was found for this media.This is a modal window.This video is currently unavailable.Long Lake sues Orono over fire department decisionFor 20 years, the Long Lake Fire Department has been contractually bound with its neighbor Orono, helping to serve and protect its community. The partnership between the two cities is set to end contractually by Dec. 31, 2025.Earlier this month, Orono City Council members voted for the city to take over Fire Station 2 and b...

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Long Lake sues Orono over fire department decision

For 20 years, the Long Lake Fire Department has been contractually bound with its neighbor Orono, helping to serve and protect its community. The partnership between the two cities is set to end contractually by Dec. 31, 2025.

Earlier this month, Orono City Council members voted for the city to take over Fire Station 2 and build its own fire department by summer 2024. Long Lake filed a lawsuit against the city claiming a breach of contract.

“They’re now taking steps to try to get out of that even sooner than what’s contractually allowed,” Long Lake Mayor Charlie Miner said. “We’re not really sure exactly why. It seems to be more about a power control than it is about providing public safety to their residents”

Orono Mayor Denny Walsh argues the contract allows them to reduce territory. He said for years, the city has planned to have its own fire department.

“We pay between 85 and 90, we only use 72% of the services. And we think we can do a better job managing from a long-term perspective without having to have anybody else’s approval for making decisions,” Walsh said.

“They do have a lot of control contractually,” Miner responded. “They have control over things such as the capital budget, the operating budget. They’re on a joint fire advisory board. They have a lot more control than what they would tell you that they have.”

The lawsuit outlines how Orono has undermined the Long Lake Fire Department. It states that Orono hired acting Long Lake Fire Chief James Van Eyll and bought a ladder truck Long Lake had wanted, using their resources and knowledge.

“Their whole story is kind of based on a bed of lies and deceit,” Walsh said. “We told them about it. They knew about it. They decided they said they were not interested in it, so we bought it.”

The document also says the city of Orono refused to approve future capital budgets or future shared equipment purchases and has been actively working to obtain control of LLFD pension funds.

Walsh admits they don’t have a problem paying for equipment LLFD needs, “but when it comes to buying a $2 million truck, we’re not going to approve having partial ownership on something that we’re starting our own fire department in a year.”

The lawsuit also claims Orono is seeking to offer employment to Long Lake firefighters amid an already trending hiring shortage.

“This has been very frustrating, particularly for our firefighters. They’re kind of caught in the middle of this,” Miner said. “People liken it to a divorce. Like their parents are getting divorced and they have to pick sides.”

Walsh told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that Orono is open to sharing Fire Station 1 with Long Lake. If not, the city plans to convert its old public works facility into a fire station. That building would only be a short distance from Fire Station 1 in Orono.

The Orono City Council will discuss the 2024 budget during Monday night’s meeting, which includes the creation of the Orono Fire Department. The agenda also includes a closed session to discuss litigation strategies regarding the lawsuit.

Orono has the chief, the truck — but so far, no fire department

The Lake Minnetonka city of Orono has spent more than $750,000 this year to hire a fire chief and buy a ladder truck — for a department that doesn't yet exist.City officials say they want to break away from the fire department Orono shares with neighboring Long Lake, and that they're putting pieces in place to establish a new Orono Fire Department. But Long Lake leaders see a hostile takeover, with Orono hiring away their fire chief and asking state legislators for control of pension funds."They haven't given any goo...

The Lake Minnetonka city of Orono has spent more than $750,000 this year to hire a fire chief and buy a ladder truck — for a department that doesn't yet exist.

City officials say they want to break away from the fire department Orono shares with neighboring Long Lake, and that they're putting pieces in place to establish a new Orono Fire Department. But Long Lake leaders see a hostile takeover, with Orono hiring away their fire chief and asking state legislators for control of pension funds.

"They haven't given any good reason why they needed to take these steps and create their own fire department," said Long Lake Mayor Charlie Miner. "It seems much of this is about power and control and egos."

Leading the charge in Orono is Mayor Dennis Walsh, who said he wants his city to have full control of its fire services. Long Lake administers the shared department, which also serves parts of Medina and Minnetonka Beach, but Orono pays for most of it.

"We're bringing it in-house because we're big enough, we can do it ourselves," Walsh said.

Orono is the largest of the four cities, which fund the shared department based on the number of calls for service each year. Orono, as the city with the most calls, funded just under 85% of the department's budget last year. Under the shared-services contract, Orono also has veto power over the department's capital and operating budgets.

Orono has chafed at this arrangement in recent years, with discussion of forming its own fire department since at least 2016. The four cities had been talking about forming a fire district to cooperatively run a fire service, but in 2021, Orono notified Long Lake that it would be ending its service contract when it expired in2025.

Last year, Orono offered to buy the Long Lake Fire Department's operations, equipment and fire stations for just under $1.6 million, and provide fire service to Long Lake for $70,000 a year. Long Lake presented a counter-offer, but negotiations have since stalled.

Walsh said he's not aware of any incidents under the shared department model that have endangered public safety. But learning more about the department has raised concerns, he said, including about aging equipment and operations spending — which jumped more than 19% from 2022 to 2023.

Long Lake Council Member Jahn Dyvik said last year's budget increase came largely because firefighters got a raise and other expenses — like insurance, equipment and fuel — surged in cost. Orono approved that increase, he said, and has denied capital budget increases for a decade.

It's not clear what a new department in Orono would cost. City leaders there are waiting for a "needs assessment," a draft of which is set to be presented to the City Council on May 8.

But cost is already a concern, particularly the up-front expenses of a fire station and equipment that could cost millions.

"It is an expensive way to tamper with a public safety service that is not broken," wrote a group of eight former Orono and Long Lake mayors in a letter opposing Orono's split.

Orono City Council Member Alisa Benson has called for the council to be more open to public input, and for more decorum at meetings. The decision to split from Long Lake, buy the ladder truck and hire Long Lake Fire Chief James Van Eyll preceded Benson's time on the council, but she has voted against spending since, such as outfitting the truck with radio equipment.

"Maybe you figure out what the needs of the community are first. Where's the funding? Where's the risk? And if all roads point to that decision, maybe then you look toward procuring equipment," she said. "What I'm not in favor of is spending real dollars and real time for a department that doesn't exist."

Department in waiting

The Orono City Council approved buying a used ladder truck from Coon Rapids in October — a vehicle that Long Lake officials had wanted to buy. The truck cost $349,000, but repairs, new equipment and marking decals raised the price to $644,492.

Van Eyll was hired to lead the Orono department starting in December 2022. His annual pay is $116,513.63, which Miner said is more than what Van Eyll made in Long Lake.

Van Eyll said he decided to take the job with Orono because it seemed to offer more long-term stability, and the idea of building a department from scratch was an exciting challenge.

Van Eyll also has the use of an Orono Fire Department SUV, which he said he uses to commute to and from City Hall as he works with city staff on the fire needs assessment. He also conducts fire inspections and grants burn permits, he said.

Van Eyll's departure hurt feelings in Long Lake, but Miner said he is more concerned about Orono's moves at the State Capitol.

Earlier this year, Orono council members lobbied for legislation that would give control of Long Lake Fire Department pension funds to Orono in 2024 — two years before the Long Lake contract expires.

Miner said he worries Orono will try to recruit firefighters away from Long Lake even as the Long Lake Fire Department is still active and trying to respond to residents' emergencies.

"The way they've been going about it, we feel they've been taking steps to take over our fire department," Miner said.

Walsh countered: "This is not a takeover."

Cooperation possible?

During a May 2 Long Lake City Council meeting, several residents of Long Lake and Orono pleaded for cooperation between the two communities. But Miner and Dyvik said Orono has declined invitations to negotiate, with Orono leaders saying they want to finish the needs assessment before resuming talks.

The shared service contract ends Dec. 31, 2025, but Long Lake wonders if Orono has broken the contract with its actions, such as the hiring of Van Eyll, the fire truck purchase and the efforts to control pension funds.

Walsh said supply chain snags and workforce shortages made Orono want to start assembling a department well before the contract ends. But seeing a threat, Long Lake sent a letter to the Orono council on April 25, warning of a possible lawsuit.

"There can be no reasonable explanation for Orono hiring a fire chief and purchasing a ladder truck three years before the expiration of the Agreement, or approaching the Minnesota Legislature about moving the Fireman's Relief Association over two and a half years before the expiration of the Agreement," the letter reads.

Long Lake officials say they're open to partnerships, but Miner said he worries about being a client of an Orono-run service, given how unpredictable these negotiations have felt to him.

"The current dynamics in Orono make it very challenging for us to navigate through this situation," he said.

Correction: Eight former Orono and Long Lake mayors signed a letter opposing the fire department change. An earlier version of the story misstated the number of mayors who signed the letter.

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