MONROE - When asked, Monroe businesses, churches and preschools owners and managers have heard little from city officials about a proposed transportation utility.
Those who knew about it, or learned about it through contact with the Times, expressed a negative response to the idea, some comparing it to the city's stormwater utility.
A transportation utility is designed to raise funds for city roads and sidewalks in lieu of property assessments.
At a special meeting of the Monroe Common Council on May 18, Christy Cramer, a representative from the Ruekert-Mielke department of Municipal Economics and Planning, explained that the proposed utility should be funded by every user, including businesses, schools and churches.
The fee would be calculated on the estimated number of vehicles coming and going from a property.
Judy Nelson, owner of The Little Red Caboose on 21st Street, had not heard of the proposed utility yet Thursday, but quickly compared it to the stormwater utility.
"It's like when they put in the stormwater utility, suddenly you got hit with your bill," she said.
Nelson said the city needs an administrator instead.
At The Roadhouse, 1001 30th St., owner Kathy Fischer said she had "no clue" about the utility or how she would handle the fee.
She expressed her discontent with the way her stormwater utility bill is calculated.
"They said they could fit 31 homes on our lot. So we pay 31 times what a regular residence pays. I told my husband, 'You can't even put 31 trailer houses on our lot,'" she said.
The Common Council set the first fee for the Stormwater Utility at an annual rate of $60 per equivalent residential unit (ERU) on Dec. 19, 2006.
Fischer also mentioned the sidewalk behind the restaurant.
"I had to pay for it and keep it shoveled, but nobody walks on it," she said.
Randy Gobeli, owner of the Gasthaus Motel at 30th Street, knew about the utility before being contacted by the Times.
"Honestly, I know what it is, but you pay for it one way or another. Now, they put sidewalks, last year, around the Gasthaus, and I don't mind paying for it. But I go along with Chuck (Alderman Schuringa), I don't want any more taxes," he said.
Traffic-dependent businesses, like motels and gas stations, and community gathering places, such as churches and schools, would pay a much higher fee than most residences.
Businesses could pass the cost on to consumers.
Managers of corporate owned businesses, like Kwik Trip and Pick'N Save would not comment on how the corporation would adjust for such added costs of doing business.
But churches, which depend upon donations, will not have the option of forcing the extra cost on to parishioners.
Pastor Matt Spoonhour from the First Baptist Church on 31st Avenue had not known about the utility prior to the survey.
"That's definitely something we'd be against," he said.
The city Finance and Taxation Committee asked for another presentation by the Ruekert-Mielke firm, in order to ask more questions about the utility.
Cramer said an estimated minimum of $30,000 would be needed for a feasibility study and implementation, and another $10,000 for public outreach.
A date for the presentation has not been set yet, but will be open to the public, said Council President Dan Henke.
Those who knew about it, or learned about it through contact with the Times, expressed a negative response to the idea, some comparing it to the city's stormwater utility.
A transportation utility is designed to raise funds for city roads and sidewalks in lieu of property assessments.
At a special meeting of the Monroe Common Council on May 18, Christy Cramer, a representative from the Ruekert-Mielke department of Municipal Economics and Planning, explained that the proposed utility should be funded by every user, including businesses, schools and churches.
The fee would be calculated on the estimated number of vehicles coming and going from a property.
Judy Nelson, owner of The Little Red Caboose on 21st Street, had not heard of the proposed utility yet Thursday, but quickly compared it to the stormwater utility.
"It's like when they put in the stormwater utility, suddenly you got hit with your bill," she said.
Nelson said the city needs an administrator instead.
At The Roadhouse, 1001 30th St., owner Kathy Fischer said she had "no clue" about the utility or how she would handle the fee.
She expressed her discontent with the way her stormwater utility bill is calculated.
"They said they could fit 31 homes on our lot. So we pay 31 times what a regular residence pays. I told my husband, 'You can't even put 31 trailer houses on our lot,'" she said.
The Common Council set the first fee for the Stormwater Utility at an annual rate of $60 per equivalent residential unit (ERU) on Dec. 19, 2006.
Fischer also mentioned the sidewalk behind the restaurant.
"I had to pay for it and keep it shoveled, but nobody walks on it," she said.
Randy Gobeli, owner of the Gasthaus Motel at 30th Street, knew about the utility before being contacted by the Times.
"Honestly, I know what it is, but you pay for it one way or another. Now, they put sidewalks, last year, around the Gasthaus, and I don't mind paying for it. But I go along with Chuck (Alderman Schuringa), I don't want any more taxes," he said.
Traffic-dependent businesses, like motels and gas stations, and community gathering places, such as churches and schools, would pay a much higher fee than most residences.
Businesses could pass the cost on to consumers.
Managers of corporate owned businesses, like Kwik Trip and Pick'N Save would not comment on how the corporation would adjust for such added costs of doing business.
But churches, which depend upon donations, will not have the option of forcing the extra cost on to parishioners.
Pastor Matt Spoonhour from the First Baptist Church on 31st Avenue had not known about the utility prior to the survey.
"That's definitely something we'd be against," he said.
The city Finance and Taxation Committee asked for another presentation by the Ruekert-Mielke firm, in order to ask more questions about the utility.
Cramer said an estimated minimum of $30,000 would be needed for a feasibility study and implementation, and another $10,000 for public outreach.
A date for the presentation has not been set yet, but will be open to the public, said Council President Dan Henke.