PARK PHOTOS

CLICK THE PHOTO THEN SLIDESHOW FOR FULL SCREEN

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HELP, EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL!

I will post a list of supporters shortly

Playground

ALL COMPONENTS HAVE ARRIVED !!

• Logistic meeting
• April 14^th 2011
• Volunteers needed
• W Monroe town hall 7:00 pm.

We are doing a community build event, which accomplishes three things. Limits expenses, creates community awareness and added security and allows citizens to be involved in the community. Parents and kids benefit the most. The play equipment will also be a nice addition to our summer youth program.We are planning on installing lighting at the entrance of Depot Rd Park and also in the vicinity of the flag pole. We will add a surveillance system which would be accessible by Internet to anyone 24 hrs. per day. Also we are planning an update to the ball fields and the play equipment.

Everyone welcome !     We need help!! It will be fun!        You will enjoy it!

Tentative Build  Early June 4th 


On Build Day we will be unwrapping, organizing and assembling the play equipment. To do this we need groups of layout, assemblers and installers. We will need small hand tools and wrenches.

The project will be completed in one day, so many hands are necessary of all ages and backgrounds. Check out the columns left and right of this artic
funded by member grant Sen. Darrel Aubertine
This Option gives us climbers, slides swings and independent play areas

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• We have installed a new gate at the Depot Rd Park entrance. This will restrict unwanted access to the park and also help maintain park operating hours. The gate was designed and fabricated by our own town highway department. the design and fabrication was overseen by Superintendent Randy Shaw and the welding and fabricating by Marty Hammaker and highway crew. A very very nice job, thanks guys!
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mait to: westmonroesupervisor@windstream.net

Park Grant

• West Monroe Residents: Daylight just exploded this week. The member grant has arrived and we can finally order the Park Playground.
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• Next step is to submit the vouchers to the State. Luckily the money was encumbered so the State Budget will not have an effect. 

State Senator Ritchie

• Horonable Senator Ritchie requested a meeting with the Town Executives and Local business owners.
• We accepted her request to have a meeting on Wednesday Feb 23 2011 at the town hall
• Feb 23 2011
• Unfortunately, there was a scheduling error in her office and the meeting was postponed.
• I am very sure she will return and give us plenty of lead time for a more appropriate appearance and meeting with all of her constituents.
• John Messere

Trim Trim Trim

• Finalizing the West Monroe 2011 town budget was an enormous challenge. The town, just as any business, requires a defined amount of money to operate efficiently. We actually trimmed the budget by reducing operating expenses. We have been assessed a 385% hike in retirement benefits from the state retirement fund. The majority of this challenge is born by the highway department as employee benefits. The state retirement system has increased astronomically through out the Empire State and created an additional $60,000 liability to us. Just as everyone is aware, medical insurance costs have skyrocketed nation wide. A 38% multiple in this department proved to develop into a $25,000 increased expense to the town. The combined result is an $85,000 hard cost, leaving absolutely no alternative, but to pay for these increases. We compensated for a certiorari billing of $18,000, which was unappropriated in the 2010 budget. We have included the final $9000 in the new budget. The last major item we needed to compensate for is the reduction in revenue from sales tax, home sales, and State and highway fund aid, due to an unusually weak economy. We estimated a 10% loss of revenue amounting to $36,000.

• The total of these listed items, which we need to counteract, is $157,000. These are hard costs, which have escalated astronomically. We offset increases by trimming administrative and highway expenditures, but maintained a keen eye on snow removal and road repair programs. We realize the need for everyone to get to and from work and the necessity of road preservation.

• The final result, excluding utilities; a $100,000 home will result with a $7 increase in town tax (9.8%) and a $28 highway (10.3%) tax hike. We were able to reduce last years budget in the general fund by $34000 worth of expenses, but as noted above, revenues will fall short. I want to commend the Town board for their time and effort slashing the expenses for the benefit of their town residents and then making the decision to pass the 2011 budget changes. Similar to an electric bill, we may not like the amount charged to us, but if we do not pay, the alternative is unpleasant.

John Messere

Monroe Town Supervisor