MONROE - Organizers of the city's twice-weekly farmers' market have proposed a change in location that, if approved, will keep the market on the downtown Square next summer.
Representatives from Monroe police, Green County and Market on the Square reached the compromise during a meeting last Friday. Pending approval from the city council in the next few months, the market next summer will stay on the north side of the Square on Saturdays but move Wednesdays to the west side of the Square.
The move on Wednesdays to a different side of the Square is intended to open up handicapped parking and accessibility to the Courthouse during weekday business hours.
Organizers have also proposed blocking off only individual parking spaces on Wednesdays in anticipation of the afternoon market, instead of blocking access the entire day to the inner-ring traffic thoroughfare, according to Richard Dauck, the new president of Market on the Square.
In October, County Clerk Mike Doyle said he had received complaints about handicapped accessibility this past summer from visitors paying taxes and doing other business in the Courthouse and that some had warned they might file a noncompliance complaint with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
The proposal discussed at last week's meeting alleviates his concern.
"It didn't work on the north side. What they proposed I think would work fine," he said.
"What they're proposing is doable," said Police Chief Fred Kelley. But he cautions that moving the Wednesday market doesn't address the longterm issue of displacement. As long as the market stays on the Square, it will get periodically displaced during special events, like Cheese Days.
He sees a viable alternative in Spring Square, a parking lot one block off the south side of the Square.
"Longterm there's less displacement for everybody," he said.
Organizers have historically resisted such options because they say it would marginalize the market and reduce public visibility.
As every year, market organizers will need to get their proposal past the Public Safety Committee before it goes to the City Council for final approval early next year.
In the meantime, an indoor Market on the Square continues through the winter on the third Saturday of the month at the Masonic Temple, 1613 1/2 10th St.
The next winter market is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15.
Representatives from Monroe police, Green County and Market on the Square reached the compromise during a meeting last Friday. Pending approval from the city council in the next few months, the market next summer will stay on the north side of the Square on Saturdays but move Wednesdays to the west side of the Square.
The move on Wednesdays to a different side of the Square is intended to open up handicapped parking and accessibility to the Courthouse during weekday business hours.
Organizers have also proposed blocking off only individual parking spaces on Wednesdays in anticipation of the afternoon market, instead of blocking access the entire day to the inner-ring traffic thoroughfare, according to Richard Dauck, the new president of Market on the Square.
In October, County Clerk Mike Doyle said he had received complaints about handicapped accessibility this past summer from visitors paying taxes and doing other business in the Courthouse and that some had warned they might file a noncompliance complaint with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
The proposal discussed at last week's meeting alleviates his concern.
"It didn't work on the north side. What they proposed I think would work fine," he said.
"What they're proposing is doable," said Police Chief Fred Kelley. But he cautions that moving the Wednesday market doesn't address the longterm issue of displacement. As long as the market stays on the Square, it will get periodically displaced during special events, like Cheese Days.
He sees a viable alternative in Spring Square, a parking lot one block off the south side of the Square.
"Longterm there's less displacement for everybody," he said.
Organizers have historically resisted such options because they say it would marginalize the market and reduce public visibility.
As every year, market organizers will need to get their proposal past the Public Safety Committee before it goes to the City Council for final approval early next year.
In the meantime, an indoor Market on the Square continues through the winter on the third Saturday of the month at the Masonic Temple, 1613 1/2 10th St.
The next winter market is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15.