MONROE - During a newly scheduled quarterly meeting of the Monroe Common Council meant to provide updates on projects and ongoing agenda items, members asked that entities that receive monetary support from the city but are not run by the local government give reports to the council.
The request came from Alderman Ron Marsh after discussion of the Greenwood Cemetery Board's financial problems and the city's $48,000 contribution to the facility this year. Marsh said this had "mushroomed" from $6,000 when he had previously served in local government.
City Administrator Phil Rath said groups had previously reported to the council with news of programs and events.
"In the past, it was kind of an update of what the groups were doing," Rath said. "An educational piece on how these groups are helping within the community."
Rath added that the amount of information to be provided during a general council meeting could become rushed if there were issues to be discussed at length, which means scheduling updates during special quarterly meetings could be more beneficial to council members wanting to ask questions.
Main Street Monroe is one of the quasi-city organizations that receives funding from the city but does not operate under its control. It is a non-profit organization that receives $7,500 quarterly from the city. Executive Director Jordan Nordby said he had given reports in the past, when former mayor Bill Ross was in office.
"We've got a really good working relationship with the city and these other groups," Nordby said. "The city contribution has been vital to the success of our program."
Nordby said the city's contribution's make up a third of the annual Main Street Monroe budget. Funds from the Business Improvement District Board and the group's own fundraising efforts, including sponsorships, make up the other two-thirds.
Cara Carper, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, enthusiastically welcomed the idea of reporting to the council on a quarterly basis. She said she prefers to show council members the work of the chamber as often as they would allow.
"I would welcome any opportunity to go before the city council anytime," Carper said. "If all of the groups went together, we could highlight how different groups work. We work well together."
Mike Johnson, executive director of the Green County Development Corporation, said transparency and providing awareness is a positive piece between a group and its contributors.
"I think anytime we can share value and present some of the things we do, it is almost always a positive," Johnson said. "We're a small non-profit. Monroe, since I've been here, has been a positive impact."
City contributions make up roughly $30,000 of the GCDC annual budget. Johnson said the organization makes about $170,000 for use each year. He added that because aldermen and Rath currently serve on the board, there is already some awareness of the organization's projects within the city.
Reports could begin with the next quarterly meeting, which Mayor Louis Armstrong said should take place at the end of May or in early June. If council deems it appropriate, Rath said reporting agencies would include the Chamber, GCDC, Main Street, the cemetery board and the Green County Humane Society.
The request came from Alderman Ron Marsh after discussion of the Greenwood Cemetery Board's financial problems and the city's $48,000 contribution to the facility this year. Marsh said this had "mushroomed" from $6,000 when he had previously served in local government.
City Administrator Phil Rath said groups had previously reported to the council with news of programs and events.
"In the past, it was kind of an update of what the groups were doing," Rath said. "An educational piece on how these groups are helping within the community."
Rath added that the amount of information to be provided during a general council meeting could become rushed if there were issues to be discussed at length, which means scheduling updates during special quarterly meetings could be more beneficial to council members wanting to ask questions.
Main Street Monroe is one of the quasi-city organizations that receives funding from the city but does not operate under its control. It is a non-profit organization that receives $7,500 quarterly from the city. Executive Director Jordan Nordby said he had given reports in the past, when former mayor Bill Ross was in office.
"We've got a really good working relationship with the city and these other groups," Nordby said. "The city contribution has been vital to the success of our program."
Nordby said the city's contribution's make up a third of the annual Main Street Monroe budget. Funds from the Business Improvement District Board and the group's own fundraising efforts, including sponsorships, make up the other two-thirds.
Cara Carper, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, enthusiastically welcomed the idea of reporting to the council on a quarterly basis. She said she prefers to show council members the work of the chamber as often as they would allow.
"I would welcome any opportunity to go before the city council anytime," Carper said. "If all of the groups went together, we could highlight how different groups work. We work well together."
Mike Johnson, executive director of the Green County Development Corporation, said transparency and providing awareness is a positive piece between a group and its contributors.
"I think anytime we can share value and present some of the things we do, it is almost always a positive," Johnson said. "We're a small non-profit. Monroe, since I've been here, has been a positive impact."
City contributions make up roughly $30,000 of the GCDC annual budget. Johnson said the organization makes about $170,000 for use each year. He added that because aldermen and Rath currently serve on the board, there is already some awareness of the organization's projects within the city.
Reports could begin with the next quarterly meeting, which Mayor Louis Armstrong said should take place at the end of May or in early June. If council deems it appropriate, Rath said reporting agencies would include the Chamber, GCDC, Main Street, the cemetery board and the Green County Humane Society.