MONROE - Monroe residents passed on the opportunity to give feedback on options to update City Hall during four separate open houses last month.
City Administrator Phil Rath said the turnout was disappointing, with roughly 20 people over the course of five total walkthroughs. Those who were given the information and a chance to tour the building filled out questionnaires to help the city gauge what would be the best route for either repairing or remodeling City Hall. Options designed by an architectural firm range from simply filling in cracked cement outside to an entire renovation which would create an attractive lobby and enclosed stairs as well as elevators and public bathrooms. The survey even asked for feedback on the idea of creating a new building entirely.
"The hope is that information spreads through those people who attended and through the media and other things," Rath said. "So that (renovations) are not a completely foreign concept to people."
Option 1 would reconstruct the exterior stairs and put new ramps in place with the addition of a canopy over the Parks and Recreation Department entrance. The least expensive option, No. 1 is estimated to cost between $391,000 to $532,000. Just to replace existing infrastructure, the estimated cap is $97,000. The most expensive option, No. 4, would add a new lobby with interior stairs, elevators for accessibility and public restrooms. The cost of that option could be as high as $2.23 million. Other options fall between the extent of renovations, with some leaving stairs exposed and others leaving out the elevator, with the reconfiguration of council chambers as a focal point.
Rath said the feedback seems to indicate people are looking for a middle-of-the-road solution.
"In a general sense, I got that most people saw a larger opportunity to enhance accessibility," Rath said. "But to build a brand new building, I got the sense they didn't want to do that either."
Rath will be compiling the results on the city's website; while the sample is small, he said it's important information.
Once that's done, he will give the Common Council the results and a committee may be formed to especially handle the follow through or the council may make direct decisions for the structure instead.
If a final decision on the building is made within two months, a referendum could be included on the April ballot. If the process takes longer, it could go on the fall ballot, when a higher voter turn-out is expected due to the presidential election.
City Administrator Phil Rath said the turnout was disappointing, with roughly 20 people over the course of five total walkthroughs. Those who were given the information and a chance to tour the building filled out questionnaires to help the city gauge what would be the best route for either repairing or remodeling City Hall. Options designed by an architectural firm range from simply filling in cracked cement outside to an entire renovation which would create an attractive lobby and enclosed stairs as well as elevators and public bathrooms. The survey even asked for feedback on the idea of creating a new building entirely.
"The hope is that information spreads through those people who attended and through the media and other things," Rath said. "So that (renovations) are not a completely foreign concept to people."
Option 1 would reconstruct the exterior stairs and put new ramps in place with the addition of a canopy over the Parks and Recreation Department entrance. The least expensive option, No. 1 is estimated to cost between $391,000 to $532,000. Just to replace existing infrastructure, the estimated cap is $97,000. The most expensive option, No. 4, would add a new lobby with interior stairs, elevators for accessibility and public restrooms. The cost of that option could be as high as $2.23 million. Other options fall between the extent of renovations, with some leaving stairs exposed and others leaving out the elevator, with the reconfiguration of council chambers as a focal point.
Rath said the feedback seems to indicate people are looking for a middle-of-the-road solution.
"In a general sense, I got that most people saw a larger opportunity to enhance accessibility," Rath said. "But to build a brand new building, I got the sense they didn't want to do that either."
Rath will be compiling the results on the city's website; while the sample is small, he said it's important information.
Once that's done, he will give the Common Council the results and a committee may be formed to especially handle the follow through or the council may make direct decisions for the structure instead.
If a final decision on the building is made within two months, a referendum could be included on the April ballot. If the process takes longer, it could go on the fall ballot, when a higher voter turn-out is expected due to the presidential election.