Goedken raises issue with Parks and Rec budget

     Monticello Council member Dave Goedken was against approving the list of city bills during the June 21 county meeting due to an issue he rose concerning Parks and Recreation.

     Goedken wasn’t happy with the fact that the Parks and Rec Department was paying a departmental employee, an additional staff member, from the Aquatic Center budget, and not the department budget.

     “Those programs fall under Parks and Rec, and not the pool,” he said.

     Parks and Rec Director Jacob Oswald explained that the employee has been spending some hours at the pool, especially with Parks and Rec Superintendent Shannon Poe on vacation. He said the additional $5,000 would only be coming out of the pool budget until the next fiscal year starts July 1.

     “Programming should come from the Parks and Rec budget,” reiterated Goedken. “The pool has enough trouble already.”

     City Clerk Sally Hinrichsen reminded the council that she needed four “yes” votes to pay the bills. Due to the lack of council members present at the meeting, all four needed to vote in favor.

     The council ultimately voted unanimously to approve the bills and payroll.

     Oswald said since he started, Parks and Rec has taken on a lot of additional programming. Initially, the line item for a summer intern was removed from his budget. Now, they need it added back in.

     “There are funds available in the pool budget to compensate,” he said.

     Additional, not only has the intern helped out at the pool, but has helped mow at Oakwood Cemetery, too.

     “I have no problem the way this is being handled,” commented Council member Chris Lux. “We’re splitting hairs in my opinion. The pool is part of Parks and Rec.”

     Goedken asked Oswald if Parks and Rec is taking on too much needing to hire an intern to help with programming.

     “We’ve added a lot and grown the program quite a bit in the last several years,” said Oswald of youth and adult programs.

     “Why do you need more programs when you have time to water the plants and flowers?” asked Goedken.

     Mayor Brian Wolken pointed out that in the past, Silver Service high school students assisted in watering the flower pots downtown and at Fountain Park. Now, Parks and Rec has taken it on.

     “If we don’t (water them), then we’ll hear about it,” he said.

     Wolken said Oswald and Poe do more than just work for Parks and Rec; they also help Public Works move snow in the winter.

     “They all work very well together and it all balances out,” he said. “Departments co-mingle.”

     He said it’s also hard finding enough volunteers.

     “If everyone bails out of Riverside (Gardens), are we taking care of that, too?” asked Goedken of adding more to the Parks and Rec plate. “They have the same issues as Garden Club with age and volunteers.”

     City Administrator Russ Farnum said Riverside is city property.

     “That’s a decision you’ll have to make,” warned Farnum, should the need arise.

     Council member Scott Brighton said he’d rather see Oswald as the face of Parks and Rec, not sitting behind a desk inside the Berndes Center 24/7.

     “He needs to be interacting with the community,” said Brighton.

In other city business:

   • The council approved amending the three-year mowing contract with Steve and Lisa Monk.

     • The council approved paving the remainder of Oakwood Cemetery, hiring Accent Construction with a low bid of $44,781.

     $30,000 would come from the cemetery’s budget for this fiscal year and next. There is also $59,000 in the Cemetery Improvement Fund to cover the remaining balance.

     The council felt that once the entire roadway in the cemetery is paved, they would be able to set aside less money in that budget each year.

     • The council approved reinstating a third full-time library staff member. The library is moving a current part-time employee to full-time, maintain just three staff members since COVID.

     “We had three full-time and one part-time until COVID,” said Library Director Michelle Turnis.

     The library budget has enough to cover the salary, with the city covering the benefits, roughly $7,000 a year.

     • The council approved the construction of an irrigation well at the Monticello Golf Club. The project is needed due to the lack of a decent water source. The well will be permitted through the DNR.