Monona Council puts off approval of MCED contribution
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The Monona Council, at its Dec. 6 regular meeting, held off on approving its annual contribution to the Monona Chamber and Economic Development, Inc. (MCED), in order to learn more about the organization’s 2022 plans.
MCED is requesting a 25 percent increase in funding from the city for the coming year, from $12,000 to $16,000. Board members said the additional $4,000 would help offset a $5,000 decrease in funding from FreedomBank.
Isaac Brehmer, MCED treasurer and FreedomBank employee, said the decrease had been planned since MCED was re-established several years ago and executive director Rogeta Halvorson came on board.
“When Rogeta took over and the chamber was re-established, the intent was to get it going. The intent was never there to do the full $10,000 donation. It was to gradually decrease as time went on,” he explained. “At this time, they decided to cut back their donation and are putting those funds toward other avenues.”
MCED board member Justin Birdnow added that a $16,000 contribution from the city of Monona would keep the 2022 budget in line with 2021.
“Rogeta is committed to making any budget work,” he said, “but I don’t know if the city and economic development is ready to allow her to work less. That’s why we’re asking for more money. We just raised our dues to every business at the beginning of this year, and we’re not ready to do that again two years in a row.”
Board president Linda Knockel said MCED plays a key role in fundraising and grant writing for community projects, listing the restoration of the historic bandstand in the city park and the new all-inclusive playground and RV sites at Gateway Park as examples.
MCED has also worked with the city and Monona Enterprises to expand housing opportunities, aided businesses, cultivated volunteers for projects and vendors for the summer farmers market, spearheaded advertising and promoted events and tourism.
“How much of this would’ve gotten done if the chamber wouldn’t have been there and worked with the community to improve these things?” Knockel asked. “All of us have full time jobs. If we don’t have money to fund this, that stuff is going to fall through the cracks. That stuff is not going to happen.”
She cited another community in Clayton County where the city ceased funding the chamber. After the director quit, “they found out how bad it hurt the town,” Knocked shared. “They tried to get him to come back and he said no. Now, the city only has a couple activities they do because there isn’t a committee or group there to get things done.”
“We want to see Monona grow, and we think it’s very important that the chamber and town work together to make sure that happens,” she added. “We can’t do this without your contribution.”
Against other area chambers that receive $20,000, even $80,000, in support from cities, Knockel said MCED’s $16,000 request “is not comparable.”
“I do want to note, though, that they have hotel/motel tax and use that to fund,” responded Monona city administrator Barb Collins, listing McGregor-Marquette, Elkader and Guttenberg as examples.
Based on Monona’s latest Census figures, Collins said a $12,000 contribution would mean $8.16 per resident. That amount would go up to $10.88 per resident with a $16,000 contribution.
“To have businesses grow, to try to get businesses to come into town, to keep people in Monona, to have housing in Monona, to have activities in Monona for people to do, it’s a no-brainer,” said Knockel.
Council member Andrew Meyer seconded the importance of working together.
“Cities that don’t have a chamber or economic development don’t go anywhere,” he said. “We don’t like increasing the budget, but it’s important. It brings people to town and keeps the businesses we have healthy. It keeps the ball moving. We’re only better with both sides working together and talking.”
Collins also acknowledged MCED’s efforts.
“What you guys are doing is more of refurbishing things to keep Monona looking good, with our kiosks or trails, whereas the city has to concentrate a lot on if you have sewer lines breaking, water lines breaking, streets falling apart. Fortunately, we have the chamber and Rogeta works on smaller grants,” she said.
Council member John Elledge praised MCED’s efforts too, calling meetings “one of the greatest brainstorming events, period. You get like minded individuals wanting to solve problems. It’s awesome we have that and we need to do all we can to keep it.”
But Elledge said he’s not a proponent of spending money to solve problems.
“Money doesn’t solve money problems. Action solves money problems,” he said.
As a steward of the community’s money, he said details about 2022 plans would help justify the city’s contribution—something other council members agreed with.
“It would help us if we knew what you guys were thinking for next year, because we’re also coming up with a budget and would hate to be working on the same projects,” Collins added.
Change would allow rear ground level dwelling units in downtown
At last week’s meeting, the council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would allow rear ground level dwelling units in the C-2 downtown district. The proposed change came at the recommendation of the planning and zoning commission, based on building owner complaints that some spaces are too large, making it difficult to secure renters.
Currently, structures in the C-2 downtown district can only have apartments in the upper story, not in the ground level or basement. With the proposed change, apartments would still not be allowed in building basements, but units could be placed in 50 percent or less of the back half of the building’s ground level. Permits will be required to build a dwelling unit, and spaces will have to be inspected by the fire chief, according to the city.
Ande Davies, who plans to open Driftless Harvest Coffee Company in downtown Monona, feared the change might “deaden growth” in the community and wouldn’t be cost-effective for owners. “We have a lot of viable, empty upstairs spaces already,” she said at the meeting.
Megan Snitker, owner of Megan Snitker Photography who has Haven - Studio and Event Space on Page Street, disagreed. Her three-suite building is over 11,000 square feet and, over the past year, she has tried unsuccessfully to rent the back suite.
“I’ve had a good 10 business owners look at the back half. In our instance, it’s too large for anyone to want to rent, with zero storefront and really no walking traffic,” she said. “The reason I brought it up is that, for 3,000 square feet, that would be the perfect space for a handicap accessible apartment in downtown. Everything would be on one level.”
“It’s a big expense,” she acknowledged, “but it’s not on the city to decide to spend that money. That would be on the business owner. We budgeted for that this year so our building isn’t just sitting vacant with nobody interested in using it.”
Addressing Davies’ fear of a blanket policy, council member Meyer stressed the permit process.
“It’s a decision by the property owner if they want to do it. If they want to buy a building and use the whole first floor, that doesn’t change any of that. They can still do that,” he said. “It just gives an option. It’s not making anybody do that.”
2022 goals discussed
At the end of the meeting, the council briefly discussed goals for 2022, especially with budget time upcoming. Collins noted plans to undertake a sewer lining project and finish sidewalks in poor condition. Council member Preston Landt said he’d like the city to look into adding another parking lot downtown.
