MONROE — A proposal by the Green County Leaders to add a splash pad water-park like amenity to Twining Park was heard Jan. 20 at the Monroe Common Council meeting.

The Green County Leaders have proposed fundraising for half of the capital costs of the splash pad, which would be approximately $150,000. Their proposal to the City of Monroe is to have the city pay for the other half in capital costs and then pay for the annual maintenance and operational costs of the splash pad, which could be anywhere from $15,000 to $5,000.

The Green County Leaders are a group of eight volunteers who examine all aspects of the government, communities and future needs of the county on a periodic basis. Classes of Leaders develop community improvement projects. The current group is promoting the splash pad. The pad would be located at Twining Park to allow water used at the splash pad to drain into Twining Creek.

A splash pad would operate from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It includes a concrete pad with drains and several water-spraying features on top of the pad for children to play around. The Leaders have expressed their interest in having the pad be free of charge to the public for certain hours during the day. Similar splash pads operate in parks in other nearby cities.

The Monroe City Council did not immediately forward the splash pad project for further discussion to a committee. Mayor Louis Armstrong said that due to both the up-front cost and the maintenance costs over 20 years, the city would have to consider becoming a partner in the project when it begins to discuss the annual budget for 2021 later this summer.

Monday evening’s meeting was attended by many individuals and families, and even day care facilities, that support the splash pad project. Dr. Laura Hibbard, a member of the Green County Leaders, spoke to the council. After the meeting she said her personal take-away from the discussion was positive.

“I think we will get support somewhere, somehow to move the project forward,” Hibbard said.

She said it was discouraging that the city council did not move the project forward to a committee, but the Leaders are planning to continually approach and work with the city. She was bolstered by the amount of public support for the splash pad.

The Leaders have been planning to use the rest of the year to raise money for the project. Approval by the city of the location at Twining Park would help the Leaders begin to solicit donations and pledges toward the project, which could be constructed in 2021.

Armstrong said the overall splash pad idea was a “great project,” but there is concern if the city can pay for the maintenance costs over 20 years.

“I think they (supporters in the audience) wanted to hear a ‘Yes!’ and ‘Go, go, go!’ from the city, but we’re not willing to take on that fiscal responsibility now,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said the key for approval by the city is fitting the costs of the project into the budget cycle for the city for next year. Armstrong said he was skeptical that maintenance costs would be as low as $5,000 and said his estimate would be closer to $10,000-$15,000 annually.

“Just like any other utility customer, the city has to pay for the water it uses,” Armstrong said.

Hibbard said good news on costs were the splash pad construction may be closer to $280,000. The maintenance costs of the project are further lowered by using a direct-flow water system that drains directly into Twining Creek. That system would be pending approval by whatever entity monitors the runoff into the creek, such as the DNR, Hibbard said.

According to alderperson Josh Binger, he sees the splash pad as a positive for Monroe.

“… I thought this project would be great for the city and that there were a lot of people in the community, myself included, that traveled to other splash pads in the area with their kids,” according to Binger. “…This would be good opportunity to have another place for families to bring their kids and to have a splash pad that would be accessible to the (disabled).”

Due to the large audience at the meeting and the fact there wasn’t a public address microphone set up for public comment, it was difficult for people attending the meeting in the council chambers to hear the entire conversation, according to Binger.

While some of the discussion focused on revisiting the splash pad project at the same time the budget cycle comes through, according to Binger the city’s finance and taxation committee could look into the project now.

The splash pad project could be placed again on an upcoming council agenda.