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Skate park funding advanced
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MONROE - Honey Creek Skate Park could get two new pieces of equipment this summer.

The Finance and Taxation Committee voted unanimously to recommend the Monroe City Council release $10,000 from the city's reserve funds to cover matching funds the city had agreed upon, and to authorize Parks Supervisor Paul Klinzing to purchase the equipment from American Ramp Company. The council could approve the funding at its meeting at 7:30 p.m. today.

According to City Clerk Carol Stamm, the expenditure was not in the 2008 budget, so it will come from reserve funds.

The Monroe Area Skating Enthusiasts (MASE) returned last night to the committee with another $2,250 in confirmed donations. MASE reprensentative Tom Miller told the committee the Lions club was going to approve another $1,000 that evening.

But that still left MASE $1,117.85 short of the needed $51,904.43 for the equipment.

Miller told the committee he and his wife agreed they would cover the remaining costs so the purchase of the park equipment could be approved.

"We're not going to let that be a stopper," he said about the remaining needed funds. "I'll put the money in myself until MASE raises it."

MASE expects to raise $1,700 this year at four events: the Balloon Rally, Pork Producers, Summer Fair on the Square and Cheese Days. It also scheduled a silent auction at the Business Expo on April 25-26. Miller said area businesses are donating to the auction.

The city will take advantage of the American Ramp Company's 1 percent discount for pre-payment of half the bill and of the installation supervision, Klinzing said.

Klinzing said the order will be submitted today. Delivery is expected in 30 to 60 days. MASE members and Parks Department employees will assemble the equipment.

One piece of equipment has eight components. Together they create a corner set of quarter pipes, a hip and ramps. The second piece consists of a 'funbox," a planter, stair with rail and a round grind rail.

MASE's original plan for new equipment would have cost $86,613.