Advertisement

With potential budget cuts looming, community voices support for Wetlands Centre

Error message

  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 133 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to get property 'settings' of non-object in _simpleads_adgroup_settings() (line 343 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Warning: array_merge(): Expected parameter 1 to be an array, bool given in _simpleads_render_ajax_template() (line 157 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/includes/simpleads.helper.inc).
  • Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in include() (line 24 of /home/pdccourier/www/www/sites/all/modules/simpleads/templates/simpleads_ajax_call.tpl.php).

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

Over 20 community members voiced support for the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre at the Dec. 8 Marquette City Council meeting, as potential budget cuts threaten facility operations and the hours of director Alicia Mullarkey.

At last month’s meeting, city clerk Bonnie Basemann revealed the city of Marquette is looking at cost saving measures in anticipation of a revenue loss of just over $110,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes a 50 percent drop in hotel/motel tax revenue, the main funding source for culture and recreation, including the Wetlands Centre.

“We have a group of people here to thank the city of Marquette for funding the Wetlands Centre, and just to give a better idea of why funding the Wetlands Centre and doing what we do, how that impacts the community,” Mullarkey said to start the discussion. 

“For me, it’s important to think about our mission: to provide a unique learning experience that connects people to the natural world and to each other,” she added. “There’s a little line on our donor board that says ‘Fostering natural connections: learn, gather and grow here.’ And I feel like that’s what we’ve done the last five years I’ve been here. We’ve really focused on this to be a place for education, to learn about the natural world, but also to have gatherings and make it more of a community resource.”

Many in attendance appreciate the educational opportunities at the facility, whether it’s unstructured play on their own time, field trips or after school programs. The Wetlands Centre also regularly hosts events, such as Wetland Explorers: Nature Tots, Astronomy Night, Dino Day, HawkWatch, an Easter egg hunt and farmers market. Musical events have been held there, as well, providing a safe outdoor venue even during the pandemic.

Sharon Burke, with the early childhood program for Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation, said she recognizes the essential role nature plays in the healthy environment of young children, both physically and mentally. 

“I have observed the joy and excitement on the faces of toddlers and preschoolers as they scoop up tadpoles and hunt for insects. Nature is an amazing teacher,” she remarked.

“There’s a lot of free exploration they don’t always get to experience,” added Eva Swatek, a Marquette resident and MFL MarMac elementary teacher. “When kids get to experience things like this, they become better readers, they become better writers, and critical thinking improves.”

Another Marquette resident and mom, Miranda Ludvik, described Mullarkey as a boundaries-free teacher.

“That’s huge to kids these days, to be able to play in nature and have someone there to teach them,” she said. “I don’t think people realize her knowledge and impact. To lose her would be a huge blow.”

Luana resident Heather Bettmann said her family takes advantage of a lot of programming, but most often just stops to play. 

“They love the inside as well as the outside play areas, which just keep growing,” she noted.

It’s been a valuable resource for local Cub Scout Pack 38, said Cubmaster Danielle Friedlein. Fellow leader Neil Dodgen added that, because of the Wetlands Centre and other area amenities, MFL MarMac actually has the largest pack in the area.

The Wetlands Centre isn’t only beneficial to younger students. MFL MarMac’s agriculture teacher Sarah Wille said the facility has played a key part in her curriculum, especially for the horticulture classes. Mullarkey helps stratify prairie plant seeds and grows them in the school greenhouse, then the students take a field trip to plant them, whether it’s at the Wetlands Centre itself or a new pollinator habitat project along B45. 

“It’s a great way for students to take what they’ve learned in class and connect it to this precious resource in our community,” Wille shared. “A lot of times, in agriculture, it’s easy to get caught up in farming and production agriculture, but the Wetlands Centre does a great job of showing students there are other opportunities and careers.”

Other supporters referenced the Wetlands Centre’s role as a tourist destination.

“I see families utilize it, I see campers from Yellow River State Forest, people who camp in Prairie along the river,” said Wetlands Centre board member Scott Boylen.

Some people come back year after year, stated employee Jan Stavroplus. All it takes is one family to have a positive experience to attract others. 

“There was even a gentleman from Germany who spent two hours taking pictures of swallowtail butterflies. He ended up spending the night here at Cobblestone and coming back the next day,” she said. “You are bringing people in from afar.”

Cheri Moser, a McGregor resident who owns Grumpster’s Cabins with husband Jonathon, said the Wetlands Centre is especially important during the winter, when some other tourist attractions are closed.

“We have nearly 3,000 people stay with us, all year round,” she said. “In the winter, I send them to explore the outdoor areas. They can take their kids there at no cost and run and explore.”

Another McGregor resident, Dan Keyes, said interest will only grow with development of a trail that would come to the Wetlands Centre and tie in all of Marquette.

“People come to this area because of its natural beauty. We have a state park and a national monument, and now we have the Wetlands Centre,” said Jen White, who owns Paper Moon bookstore in McGregor with her mom Louise. “It’s like the solar panel project you invested in. This is another investment that will just continue to grow, and I think it’s important that you maintain it and continue to support it.”

Aside from attracting tourists, MFL MarMac Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier said the facility’s ability to attract residents to the area should also not be discounted.

“I was on the original committee that built it. Part of the practical side was to grow families, so we would have people move to the area, so we’d have more to offer,” he explained. “When I came here 20 years ago, enrollment was 1,200, and it wasn’t that long ago it was 750, and this year we topped 800 again, so we are coming back. People are starting to want to come here and live here. I can’t prove this, but a lot of the reasons are what we have to offer.”

Boylen described it as community building.

“To take that away seems like kicking a leg out of a four-legged table,” he said. “They have given you guys something to be proud of. It is an asset to you.”

Fellow board member Patti Ruff agreed. 

“The reason you’re hearing the passionate statements from these individuals is because we are afraid of budget cuts, both for Alicia’s position for the rest of the winter and also going into the next fiscal year. Taking a look at the numbers from 2019, in pretty much every category, the numbers have increased. You had an increase in visitors and programs. It’s taken awhile to get where we’re at now,” she said. “What we have is an asset, and I would hate to see budget cuts that would affect Alicia’s ability to get grant dollars. I don’t want to see a setback, because I think [the Wetlands Centre] truly is getting to the point of fruition for what it had the potential to be.”

Ruff said she understands the hit the city has taken due to COVID-19, “but let’s compromise and really take a look at where we can be more prudent in our budgeting, because I don’t want to see this as a setback. I feel that would not be in the best interest for the city of Marquette.”

Following the audience address, mayor Steve Weipert thanked attendees for their input. 

“I do believe you’ve enlightened the council on what does go on there,” he said. “Believe me, we will take that into consideration.”

The council opted to make no decisions about the Wetlands Centre last week, instead agreeing to discuss potential funding solutions at an upcoming budget meeting.

Rate this article: 
No votes yet