MONROE - Senior Citizens Board members dictated that Behring Senior Center Coordinator Tammy Derrickson hire a professional in order to understand the scope of possible building expansion after discussing future plans for the facility Thursday.
Derrickson said the group has been embracing strategic planning by looking for possible locations to plot a new building or branch out from the current space.
"This is just a tiny baby step to the future," Derrickson said. "This is not something that's going to happen any time soon."
Currently, the group wants to be provided an estimate for whatever possible project it may pursue. Because the current site has a number of space limitation issues, the board had been considering another location and still may look into that option as well.
In discussion of the current center on 10th Street, Derrickson noted what obstacles planned expansion and improvements may bring. For example, she highlighted that the building is landlocked and parking is limited. She added that a retention pond would be needed in the event of a larger building, which also poses a challenge.
"But we've always liked this site because it is centrally located," Derrickson said.
Once the estimate for work at the current location is complete, Derrickson said it would be possible to approach the Monroe Common Council for permission to conduct a feasibility study for the project.
On April 19, Derrickson approached the Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners with a proposal to include East School Park, also named Reasa Park, as part of a feasibility study. However, the board did not approve of including the park as a possible new location for the senior center.
Barb Woodriff, a member of Friends of the Park, noted the history of the area. The park was originally the site of the former East School, which was torn down. In an effort to keep a space where neighborhood children would visit to play, the group made a deal with the city to keep the green space as a park.
"Whatever wasn't to be the park outright was kept to be compliant with the playground area," Woodriff said. "We're sort of sold on keeping that area a park."
Which is why the request to include a portion of the park was rejected by the Department of Parks and Recreation, she said.
Board member Charles Koch suggested evaluation of the current site of the center for future development was the best option. He also explained to the board that he had been thinking about a parcel of land recently acquired by the city known as "the Dolan property" along Wisconsin 81 and County N.
"I don't see anything that's large enough to be advantageous to us within the city," Koch said. "I think we should look at the current site and its limitations, what we would need for an expansion and then wait to explore Dolan as an option."
The board approved of the idea after some discussion of other locations within the city. Derrickson, who had been looking from feedback by the board on how to proceed following the rejection by Parks and Recreation commissioners, given the task of hiring an architect.
Derrickson said the group has been embracing strategic planning by looking for possible locations to plot a new building or branch out from the current space.
"This is just a tiny baby step to the future," Derrickson said. "This is not something that's going to happen any time soon."
Currently, the group wants to be provided an estimate for whatever possible project it may pursue. Because the current site has a number of space limitation issues, the board had been considering another location and still may look into that option as well.
In discussion of the current center on 10th Street, Derrickson noted what obstacles planned expansion and improvements may bring. For example, she highlighted that the building is landlocked and parking is limited. She added that a retention pond would be needed in the event of a larger building, which also poses a challenge.
"But we've always liked this site because it is centrally located," Derrickson said.
Once the estimate for work at the current location is complete, Derrickson said it would be possible to approach the Monroe Common Council for permission to conduct a feasibility study for the project.
On April 19, Derrickson approached the Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners with a proposal to include East School Park, also named Reasa Park, as part of a feasibility study. However, the board did not approve of including the park as a possible new location for the senior center.
Barb Woodriff, a member of Friends of the Park, noted the history of the area. The park was originally the site of the former East School, which was torn down. In an effort to keep a space where neighborhood children would visit to play, the group made a deal with the city to keep the green space as a park.
"Whatever wasn't to be the park outright was kept to be compliant with the playground area," Woodriff said. "We're sort of sold on keeping that area a park."
Which is why the request to include a portion of the park was rejected by the Department of Parks and Recreation, she said.
Board member Charles Koch suggested evaluation of the current site of the center for future development was the best option. He also explained to the board that he had been thinking about a parcel of land recently acquired by the city known as "the Dolan property" along Wisconsin 81 and County N.
"I don't see anything that's large enough to be advantageous to us within the city," Koch said. "I think we should look at the current site and its limitations, what we would need for an expansion and then wait to explore Dolan as an option."
The board approved of the idea after some discussion of other locations within the city. Derrickson, who had been looking from feedback by the board on how to proceed following the rejection by Parks and Recreation commissioners, given the task of hiring an architect.