MONROE — It took two votes, but the Monroe City Council on Monday night approved the annexation into the city of land slated to be home to the new Monroe High School.

The vote, on Nov. 20, was expected to be routine but briefly devolved into a robust discussion of the city’s responsibilities and liabilities when it comes to expenses that will be required for the new, $88 million building and property.

Jim Krebs, a resident of 18th Avenue, was the first among the public to speak at a public hearing prior to the council vote on the annexation of the property — located on the far east side of Monroe off County KK and 31st Ave.

“They are going to put a (water/sewer) pump station on private land and then give it to Monroe so they can pay for it all,” he said, adding that Monroe taxpayers may also have to foot the bill for a new access road for the school; and perhaps even new sidewalks and curb and gutter.

Ald. Andrew Kranig, who twice voted against the annexation, agreed that the city may have to be responsible for more expenses.

“This whole process has been going on with the school,” he said, noting that the property also is nearby another parcel that has not been annexed into the city. “Annexation of this will be a wrong decision and because of that I will be voting no.”

Also voting ‘no’ the first time around was Ald. Corrine Warterweiler and Ald. Kyle Noll, with Ald. Chris Schindler abstaining.

That failed vote prompted several, including Mayor Donna Douglas, to say they were disappointed in the council. Then, after concurring with City Attorney Dan Bartholf and additional discussion, they agreed to take another vote. 

Among other points made, Bartholf said a vote to annex won’t take away any future decisions city leaders must make regarding the new property.

“This council will have a say at that time,” he said.

Mayor Donna Douglas agreed, saying there will able ample time to discuss specifics of the property, and the city’s role, in the future, as planning for the building gets finalized and construction started.

“We are annexing the property. I don’t think we need to answer all of the questions tonight,” she said.

Ald. Mary Grenzow reminded the council that the school measure has already passed by voters and been unsuccessfully challenged.

“We are at odds here,” Grenzow said. “I think we need to get past the school district versus Monroe…the school remains the heart of a small community.”

Prior to a second vote, Ald. Tom Miller asked the council to recall recent visits to the old high school made by the council, in which significant issues with water drainage and other structural problems were obvious.

“We need a new school,” Miller said.

Another vote was taken, and this time the only two dissenting votes came from Kranig and Wartenweiller, with Schindler again abstaining. The measure was approved.

To build the school, voters passed an $88 million referendum in the Nov. 2022 midterm election. In Dec. 2022, 77-acres of land at the B&S site, located on the far east side of Monroe off County KK and 31st Ave, failed to pass in a vote of school board electors — essentially made up of district residents. 

Then, in March 2023, while litigation against the district tried to halt the referendum, about 1,500 voters descended upon the existing high school, voting down a 70-acre property on County DR north of the industrial park. Eventually, though — and after spirited community debate — another vote was taken and the B&S won final approval.

Dates are subject to change depending on weather and other factors, but groundbreaking and the start of construction are slated for spring of 2024. It is now expected to open in fall of 2026.