Monroe Main Street has its hands in a couple projects in downtown Monroe.
One is streetscaping of the downtown Square, which Monroe Main Street's (MMS) board could request to begin next year.
The other is the development of a National Historic Cheesemakers Center and connected culinary center.
MMS and other groups should continue to pursue the museum, which could be similar to the Potosi Brewery Museum complex in Potosi, which Monroe residents, civic leaders and business people toured last week.
But MMS also should sharpen and intensify its efforts on the more immediate project of streetscaping.
The question of funding for both projects came up at Monday's MMS meetings.
"We only have so much money," board member and Alderman Dan Henke said.
"We look at priorities," board member Mike Sanders said.
The priority should be the streetscaping. Monroe's downtown Square already is a strong draw for people in Monroe and the surrounding area looking for unique shopping venues or restaurants.
Beautifying the historic destination would only draw more shoppers and diners to the heart of Monroe. It also would allow the community to begin to see the physical fruits of labor that thus far have focused mostly on preparation and planning.
The committee will have a limited time to decide which benches, trash receptacles and other items will grace the downtown Square. It should make those decisions carefully, but quickly, so that streetscaping can begin on time.
"I think we should push it as much as we can and get it going," MMS board chairman Dr. David Riese said Monday.
Fellow board member Ryan Wilson agreed.
"If we're serious about getting the work done, we need to get (from design plan to construction) in a reasonable amount of time."
MMS should continue to be involved in the museum discussions, but there are other groups and individuals to help guide the project along. Main Street's primary focus should be on streetscaping. Judging from Monday's meetings, and the board's insistence on moving quickly, it appears that it is.
One is streetscaping of the downtown Square, which Monroe Main Street's (MMS) board could request to begin next year.
The other is the development of a National Historic Cheesemakers Center and connected culinary center.
MMS and other groups should continue to pursue the museum, which could be similar to the Potosi Brewery Museum complex in Potosi, which Monroe residents, civic leaders and business people toured last week.
But MMS also should sharpen and intensify its efforts on the more immediate project of streetscaping.
The question of funding for both projects came up at Monday's MMS meetings.
"We only have so much money," board member and Alderman Dan Henke said.
"We look at priorities," board member Mike Sanders said.
The priority should be the streetscaping. Monroe's downtown Square already is a strong draw for people in Monroe and the surrounding area looking for unique shopping venues or restaurants.
Beautifying the historic destination would only draw more shoppers and diners to the heart of Monroe. It also would allow the community to begin to see the physical fruits of labor that thus far have focused mostly on preparation and planning.
The committee will have a limited time to decide which benches, trash receptacles and other items will grace the downtown Square. It should make those decisions carefully, but quickly, so that streetscaping can begin on time.
"I think we should push it as much as we can and get it going," MMS board chairman Dr. David Riese said Monday.
Fellow board member Ryan Wilson agreed.
"If we're serious about getting the work done, we need to get (from design plan to construction) in a reasonable amount of time."
MMS should continue to be involved in the museum discussions, but there are other groups and individuals to help guide the project along. Main Street's primary focus should be on streetscaping. Judging from Monday's meetings, and the board's insistence on moving quickly, it appears that it is.
