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[jahadmin]

Right now the City of Monroe does little to nothing for the residents of the City.  What should the city do?  What would the residents want from their city?  What should the city stop doing?  Should the city continue investing in the downtown area?  What would teens want to do in the city?  Any ideas of what would make the City of Monroe a better place? 

[Will Sweat]

OK, I am going to look like a suck up but, here goes. 

Jadahmin wrote:

Right now the City of Monroe does little to nothing for the residents of the City.

What?  Your trash is picked up on time.  Your water is delivered in an effective manner.  We have a fully staffed police and fire department.  We have 40 some odd parks that are open to the public without cost not including the River Walk.  There is the Dick Waters pool and connected splash park.  The Multi Sports Complex is open to the community (at minimal fees).  There are two skate parks.  There is a snow hill for the winter.  The City operates not only a Port Authority but an Airport.  The City is a major sponsor in the Jazz Fest, Downtown Hoedown, Ice Festival.  Additionally, the Parks and Recreations department sponsors movies and concerts in in the park.  The City has worked with the DDA and DMBN to sponsor "car shows" on Thursday night.  The City sponsors and runs tot-lots during the summer.  The City sponsors and runs various sporting events including; adult softball, youth baseball, volleyball.  We have a wonderful trail and pond at Munson. 

I would argue that the City does a ton, maybe too much!  I wonder if we have not become a victim of our own success. 

Of course the City, through the DDA should invest in downtown.  I don't think they should be purchasing property, but, assisting property owners and promoting the downtown sounds like a great thing. 

I would love to find more activities for teens and on another thread made the offer to any parent or teen to please call me at the Arthur Lesow Community Center (734-241-4313) if they have any suggestions.  As a 501c3 not for profit I would love to assist.  On another thread it was discussed how teens need dances or a place to hang out.  OK, get me some volunteers to help staff these events and we can do it. 

What will make the City a better place?  I have a ton of ideas, but, have already taken up too much space at this point.  One thing I would love is - as someone who has lived in Alaska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Ohio and has spent time in, Hawaii, Philippines, Korea, Japan, Guam -  I wish we would all realize what a wonderful, safe, good community we have.  Yes, there are problems - but, why do we always want to throw our town under the bus and act as if this is a poor community.  It isn't.

[Ishkibibl]

Will, I agree with you.  Everyone always cuts down the City of Monroe, but very few offer to come forward and try to assist with improvement.  And, to listen to the higher ups in the city, we are broke, so I wonder if a lot of these sponsorships you mentioned will be disappearing, along with the fire station on the east side of town, which some with the power in the city are hell-bent on closing.  So good luck with all your endeavors Will.

[zard0z]

Your trash is picked up on time.  Your water is delivered in an effective manner.  We have a fully staffed police and fire department.

OK, all good points, yet all of these are required by law to be there and paid for by your taxes...I think what this person was asking for is future activities and events. Not just for someone to point out what the infrastructure consist of...BTW, my trash service is substandard at best, they leave trash in the streets, neighbors cans are thrown out of their yards or out into the streets...It maybe on time, but it's a mess after they leave...

You sound like you have been to a lot of places and probably think Monroe is a sweet wonderful place, but I have lived here all of my life and it has never changed, it is stagnant...I understand that finances are the major set back today, but decades have rolled by with little to no change...Adding a wal-mart or new strip mall is not growth, it's nothing more than the status quo of middle America...

[zard0z]

Wal Mart is not in the City, BTW.

What's your point...?   

Every citizen in the city of Monroe goes there, it is a part of the community, if you were to remove it most of the people around here would be lost...I'm using the presence of wal-mart as a symbol of the idea that this is the kind of thing that excites people in Monroe...It's not a promising future...

[zard0z]

Wal Mart leaving would be the highlight of my year. Turn it into a huge indoor farmers market, that would benefit many.

I'm all for that...!

 

[Will Sweat]

You sound like you have been to a lot of places and probably think Monroe is a sweet wonderful place, but I have lived here all of my life and it has never changed, it is stagnant...I understand that finances are the major set back today, but decades have rolled by with little to no change...Adding a wal-mart or new strip mall is not growth, it's nothing more than the status quo of middle America...

I have been blessed to be able to live in other places.  I was brought up here in Monroe (Lavender St., then in Frenchtown where my parents still live today).  I think that it says a lot about Monroe that my wife and I made the choice to move back here. 

Yes, change in Monroe is slow.  Yes, we are middle America.  But, that is what keeps families here - safety, security, beauitifull communities.  I do believe we need more economic opportunity but, that isn't really something for this tread. 

[jahadmin]

I would like to thank everyone who has replied so far.  That was my point in asking this question.  I, like many others just love living in the City and plan to do so for a long time to come. We do have it good when you compare us to surrounding communities.
From looking at some of the other discussions it appears that a lot of current and future city leaders are reading these.  Please continue to post your ideas and comments, you never know who is reading them.

[chuntley]

Why do everyone think it is the City of Monroes responsibility to provide entertainment for their specific wants and desires. Did anyone see that the city is in the red and we are still enjoying everything as always? What will happen as usual,, the home owners will be required to give more and the non home owners( trailer park people, apartment people and non poperty owners) will get a free ride on their backs as usual. I think the ones that tax hights effect should be the only ones that gert to vote on increases. We need a tax system simular to the states without poperty taxes. they tax all useable goods at a higher rate so everyone bear the burdon of the state and local goverment not just the home owners.
We have kids wanting a park so they can ride their bmx's , they need to figure out a way to make their own grinding walls.  Stop belly acking wanting someone to entertain you.
The city is doing a great job at being a city. Sorry the only free center is on the East side of the city,, get over it,,,

[Semper Fi]

More jobs of course

Less traffic

Thriving downtown

Don't let the old architecture depreciate, like some have east of Navarre St.

Investment in old east end area

The east end thrived when they had some mills or places of employment, such as, Southside  and Northside Consolidated, Maeco, DPS, Union Camp, etc. These mills created other businesses. These people working there had to buy gas, eat lunch, buy food, fill prescriptions, etc.

When the mills closed, the east end started falling apart. I think the city needs to look in to building some small mills in the east end area. Tear down the Maeco building and the old Consolidated plant in the orchard and create some jobs in the area. How about the old DPS and the area from Winchester St. to Laplaissance. Everyone puts down or is afraid to go to the east end. Bring in some industry to help revitalize the area. Don't just let it die. If you improve the east end, you will also bring property values up downtown.

Heck most locals on the other side of town or outlying areas grew up in the east side or their parents and grandparents did. I don't know the answer, but something has to be done.

[The Fuzz]

Stronger and better leadership that has the ability and mental fortitude to overcome the status quo of the local governments that have transparent boundaries.  This municipality is missing golden opportunities for cost reductions by combining on purchased goods and some services.

It appears to me that there is little vision in the leadership of the City, Township, and Frenchtown to discuss what makes sense to combine.  What is more freightening is that it appears that most trying to get into positions of power to be an enabler of change are not willing to do so. 

The only way to stablize the area and secure any future growth going forward will be to work together; not as separate entities.

[ladyjane]

I agree that if the administration doesn't take care of downtown and the surrounding neighborhood, then it will start decaying like the east end has over the years.

I also agree that if they will revitalize the east end and the east end neighborhoods then the property values in the downtown area will go up. It doesn't take a genius to realize that the east end decay is gradually spreading closer to downtown.