MONROE - Plans for a one-mile long nature trail along roughly 10 acres of wetland adjacent to the Green County Family YMCA have been halted after Monroe Common Council voted 5-4 against the plan submitted by Mayor Louis Armstrong.
Aldermen cited citizen concerns and project costs in their objection to the plan during council proceedings Tuesday. Brooke Bauman expressed an issue with the scheduling of the park's creation.
"I don't think this is the time for this," Bauman said, noting that waiting for priority-based budgeting to identify the project's importance would be a better option before proceeding with the nature trail.
Bauman added that given Armstrong's recent proposal to withhold a cost of living wage increase for city workers, it seemed unfair to create additional work for some of those employees. She asked Park Director Paul Klinzing's opinion, who said "it's a good project and has a lot of potential," but conceded that the department has taken on a number of "small things" recently, which "add up."
Armstrong approached the board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners mid-January to ask whether the Parks Department would be willing to aid in maintenance of the wetland area, some of which they currently maintain infrequently. Board members voted unanimously in favor of the plans.
Some costs included in Armstrong's plan would have been roughly $200 to $600 annually for the purchase of herbicide. Seedlings and grasses to be planted once were estimated between $1,000 to $3,000. Armstrong told council members he had secured $1,000 from the Monroe Fund and had planned to meet with members of the Green County Conservation League interested in donating to Monroe for the first time. He added that other nature-oriented groups within the community had expressed willingness to meet with him as well.
Alderman Michael Boyce said possible costs did not seem too great. He countered Bauman's wage freeze point, referring to it as a possible misunderstanding. He cited discussion that took place prior to council, during a closed session Finance and Taxation Committee meeting, in which Armstrong supported granting AFSCME union city employees the maximum allowable increase of 1.84 percent.
However, a number of council members relayed comments they had heard from constituents. Namely, the increased traffic and costs associated with creation of the nature trail.
Alderman Charles Koch said residents did not want additional people in the area near the subdivision. People would be walking close to homes, and would disturb natural wildlife, they had told him, and the true priority in spending money should be the pond on the corner of 12th Avenue and 2nd Street. Koch, a member of the Plan Commission that approved the plans in April, had previously expressed he liked the idea.
Fellow council member Tom Miller echoed Koch, and Jeff Newcomer said while he has heard negative comments, he believes the park is a good idea. Though more nature was identified as a goal in the 2015 Monroe Comprehensive Plan, he said, he suggested public input and support should be identified first as it had been with the nearly complete Monroe Dog Park.
After discussion, Boyce moved to adopt the resolution. It failed following no votes from Chris Beer, Bauman, Koch, Miller and Newcomer. Richard Thoman, Rob Schilt, Ron Marsh and Boyce voted in favor of the park.
Aldermen cited citizen concerns and project costs in their objection to the plan during council proceedings Tuesday. Brooke Bauman expressed an issue with the scheduling of the park's creation.
"I don't think this is the time for this," Bauman said, noting that waiting for priority-based budgeting to identify the project's importance would be a better option before proceeding with the nature trail.
Bauman added that given Armstrong's recent proposal to withhold a cost of living wage increase for city workers, it seemed unfair to create additional work for some of those employees. She asked Park Director Paul Klinzing's opinion, who said "it's a good project and has a lot of potential," but conceded that the department has taken on a number of "small things" recently, which "add up."
Armstrong approached the board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners mid-January to ask whether the Parks Department would be willing to aid in maintenance of the wetland area, some of which they currently maintain infrequently. Board members voted unanimously in favor of the plans.
Some costs included in Armstrong's plan would have been roughly $200 to $600 annually for the purchase of herbicide. Seedlings and grasses to be planted once were estimated between $1,000 to $3,000. Armstrong told council members he had secured $1,000 from the Monroe Fund and had planned to meet with members of the Green County Conservation League interested in donating to Monroe for the first time. He added that other nature-oriented groups within the community had expressed willingness to meet with him as well.
Alderman Michael Boyce said possible costs did not seem too great. He countered Bauman's wage freeze point, referring to it as a possible misunderstanding. He cited discussion that took place prior to council, during a closed session Finance and Taxation Committee meeting, in which Armstrong supported granting AFSCME union city employees the maximum allowable increase of 1.84 percent.
However, a number of council members relayed comments they had heard from constituents. Namely, the increased traffic and costs associated with creation of the nature trail.
Alderman Charles Koch said residents did not want additional people in the area near the subdivision. People would be walking close to homes, and would disturb natural wildlife, they had told him, and the true priority in spending money should be the pond on the corner of 12th Avenue and 2nd Street. Koch, a member of the Plan Commission that approved the plans in April, had previously expressed he liked the idea.
Fellow council member Tom Miller echoed Koch, and Jeff Newcomer said while he has heard negative comments, he believes the park is a good idea. Though more nature was identified as a goal in the 2015 Monroe Comprehensive Plan, he said, he suggested public input and support should be identified first as it had been with the nearly complete Monroe Dog Park.
After discussion, Boyce moved to adopt the resolution. It failed following no votes from Chris Beer, Bauman, Koch, Miller and Newcomer. Richard Thoman, Rob Schilt, Ron Marsh and Boyce voted in favor of the park.