MONROE - The Finance and Taxation Committee last week approved borrowing funds to tear down the city's parking ramp, but concerns over the appearance of the area and the possibility of saving money could delay demolition until after Green County Cheese Days in September.
The city has three options to fund the project; either borrow funds at 2 percent interest; take from reserve funds; or borrow from local banks. Alderman Reid Stangel said local banks could be an option, but opposed using money from the city's reserve fund.
"I am not in favor of taking money from the general fund," Stangel said. "It does not strengthen our bond rating to do that."
Committee members voted in favor of the funding at the suggestion of financial company Ehlers. But when the ramp will come down remains up in the air: The council has yet to decide but could still demolish the deteriorating structure by the end of August, or, as some have suggested, wait until next year to tear it down.
Questions over what the parking ramp site will look like post-demolition arose when the Cheese Days board asked city officials about the condition of the area after the ramp is taken down. Cheese Days uses the parking ramp site as a drop-off for those riding the shuttle bus to the festival.
Cheese Days Director Noreen Rueckert said the board had been neither for nor against tearing down the ramp before the event. Rather, organizers want more information to make accommodations in their plans.
"It's really a question of what it looks like," Rueckert said. "Will it be paved? In that case, we could designate it as handicapped parking, but if it's gravel, we would have to make other arrangements. It's more a question of what it will be."
Council members also raised concerns over costs. Alderman Charles Koch said he thought knocking down the ramp should cost less than the estimated total of $650,000.
Alderman Michael Boyce said due to the repeal of prevailing wage laws within the state, the city could stand to save between $30,000 to $75,000 on the project if it's delayed until after the beginning of the year, though he was unsure of the exact amount.
"That cost savings, in conjunction with the Cheese Days concerns, makes me think the city should consider postponing until spring of 2017," Boyce said. "I wouldn't be opposed to closing (the ramp) if safety is truly a concern."
State law currently requires the Department of Workforce Development to determine the prevailing wagefor workers on all types of local construction projects; that law will no longer be in effect on Jan. 1, therefore if the city waits until 2017 to request proposals from construction companies for the project, it could save money.
City Administrator Phil Rath said although the project may fare better financially if the city waited until January to request bids from contractors, there are also safety implications to consider. However, he added, he is unsure to what extent the structure is dangerous.
The city has three options to fund the project; either borrow funds at 2 percent interest; take from reserve funds; or borrow from local banks. Alderman Reid Stangel said local banks could be an option, but opposed using money from the city's reserve fund.
"I am not in favor of taking money from the general fund," Stangel said. "It does not strengthen our bond rating to do that."
Committee members voted in favor of the funding at the suggestion of financial company Ehlers. But when the ramp will come down remains up in the air: The council has yet to decide but could still demolish the deteriorating structure by the end of August, or, as some have suggested, wait until next year to tear it down.
Questions over what the parking ramp site will look like post-demolition arose when the Cheese Days board asked city officials about the condition of the area after the ramp is taken down. Cheese Days uses the parking ramp site as a drop-off for those riding the shuttle bus to the festival.
Cheese Days Director Noreen Rueckert said the board had been neither for nor against tearing down the ramp before the event. Rather, organizers want more information to make accommodations in their plans.
"It's really a question of what it looks like," Rueckert said. "Will it be paved? In that case, we could designate it as handicapped parking, but if it's gravel, we would have to make other arrangements. It's more a question of what it will be."
Council members also raised concerns over costs. Alderman Charles Koch said he thought knocking down the ramp should cost less than the estimated total of $650,000.
Alderman Michael Boyce said due to the repeal of prevailing wage laws within the state, the city could stand to save between $30,000 to $75,000 on the project if it's delayed until after the beginning of the year, though he was unsure of the exact amount.
"That cost savings, in conjunction with the Cheese Days concerns, makes me think the city should consider postponing until spring of 2017," Boyce said. "I wouldn't be opposed to closing (the ramp) if safety is truly a concern."
State law currently requires the Department of Workforce Development to determine the prevailing wagefor workers on all types of local construction projects; that law will no longer be in effect on Jan. 1, therefore if the city waits until 2017 to request proposals from construction companies for the project, it could save money.
City Administrator Phil Rath said although the project may fare better financially if the city waited until January to request bids from contractors, there are also safety implications to consider. However, he added, he is unsure to what extent the structure is dangerous.