MONROE - The Monroe City Council voted 9-0 Tuesday night to release $10,000 from the city's reserve fund as matching funds for the Honey Creek Skatepark, as they agreed to do in a resolution adopted on Feb. 21, 2007.
Alderman Paul Hannes was absent.
The council also authorized Parks Supervisor Paul Klinzing to purchase skate park equipment at a cost of $51,904.43.
The city's matching funds will be combined with $20,826.44 from fundraising and donations in city accounts designated for the skate park and with the funds raised by the Monroe Area Skating Enthusiasts (MASE). Tom Miller, representative of the MASE group, volunteered to make up the $1,117.85 the group lacked, to have equipment ordered and delivered as soon as possible.
The equipment will be ordered immediately and is expected to be delivered in 30 to 60 days.
After the council meeting, Miller said he felt "a lot better."
MASE had been struggling to gather the remaining funds needed to have the new equipment installed this spring.
"Now it'll be more challenging for the kids and for advanced skaters. And it'll bring more people to the park and to Monroe," Miller said. "Now we've got equipment for some competitions."
One parent, Carrie Wyss, Monroe, said she brings her sons, ages 6 and 11, and their friends to the park "almost daily," including Saturdays and Sundays. The boys use dirt bikes, roller blades and skateboards at the park.
"It helps with coordination and keeps them busy, active and out of trouble," she said.
Miller said the equipment being ordered form American Ramp Company is all steel.
MASE requested at the April 2 Finance and Taxation Committee meeting that the city front the group approximately $4,400. MASE forecasted $3,200 would be received in 2008. But the committee members declined, and asked Miller to return in two weeks with at least $1,500 in confirmed donations.
Miller returned to the committee Monday with $2,250 in confirmed donations, and another $1,000 verbally approved from the Lions Club.
When Miller said he and his wife were willing to "throw in" their own money to cover the remaining funds, the committee recommended to Council to allow the equipment to be purchased.
Miller said MASE is looking forward to the future and two more pieces of equipment, which will bring the park value to $130,000.
The skatepark is small, but will be one of the nicer ones in the area, he said.
Miller said Machesney Park, Ill. and Delevan have skateparks worth $150,000 and Warren, Ill. has a park worth $500,000. However, their equipment has a wooden understructure.
Galena's skatepark equipment is from American Ramp Company's all-steel line and is worth about $200,000.
Alderman Paul Hannes was absent.
The council also authorized Parks Supervisor Paul Klinzing to purchase skate park equipment at a cost of $51,904.43.
The city's matching funds will be combined with $20,826.44 from fundraising and donations in city accounts designated for the skate park and with the funds raised by the Monroe Area Skating Enthusiasts (MASE). Tom Miller, representative of the MASE group, volunteered to make up the $1,117.85 the group lacked, to have equipment ordered and delivered as soon as possible.
The equipment will be ordered immediately and is expected to be delivered in 30 to 60 days.
After the council meeting, Miller said he felt "a lot better."
MASE had been struggling to gather the remaining funds needed to have the new equipment installed this spring.
"Now it'll be more challenging for the kids and for advanced skaters. And it'll bring more people to the park and to Monroe," Miller said. "Now we've got equipment for some competitions."
One parent, Carrie Wyss, Monroe, said she brings her sons, ages 6 and 11, and their friends to the park "almost daily," including Saturdays and Sundays. The boys use dirt bikes, roller blades and skateboards at the park.
"It helps with coordination and keeps them busy, active and out of trouble," she said.
Miller said the equipment being ordered form American Ramp Company is all steel.
MASE requested at the April 2 Finance and Taxation Committee meeting that the city front the group approximately $4,400. MASE forecasted $3,200 would be received in 2008. But the committee members declined, and asked Miller to return in two weeks with at least $1,500 in confirmed donations.
Miller returned to the committee Monday with $2,250 in confirmed donations, and another $1,000 verbally approved from the Lions Club.
When Miller said he and his wife were willing to "throw in" their own money to cover the remaining funds, the committee recommended to Council to allow the equipment to be purchased.
Miller said MASE is looking forward to the future and two more pieces of equipment, which will bring the park value to $130,000.
The skatepark is small, but will be one of the nicer ones in the area, he said.
Miller said Machesney Park, Ill. and Delevan have skateparks worth $150,000 and Warren, Ill. has a park worth $500,000. However, their equipment has a wooden understructure.
Galena's skatepark equipment is from American Ramp Company's all-steel line and is worth about $200,000.