Councilman Doug Marr found himself on the short side of a 7-1 vote Monday night to take plans for a fountain out of the streetscape roundabout at Third & State.
Before adjournment of Monday’s session, Councilman Marr unexpectedly announced his resignation from the governing body.
After the vote to remove the water feature from the roundabout, Marr told his fellow Council members they had “found a really good excuse to follow rather than lead the community.”
During discussion, the others talked about the $151,000 cascading water feature in a terraced garden roundabout. Reports were by architect Bill Morris, designer of the fountain, and engineer Martin Goedecke.
The cost and concern over a possible decline in sales tax revenue for street maintenance work in the year ahead were factors in the decision to remove the fountain project from the downtown streetscape program.
All Council members who spoke to the fountain topic indicated they liked the idea and thought it would be nice, but could not justify the cost. Councilman Mike Wallace made the motion to remove the water feature from roundabout plans. It was quickly seconded by Council members Holly Harper and Tom Leffler.
After the vote was taken, Mayor Kristey Williams said the good side of streetscape is that $2.1 million is being spent to enhance downtown Augusta.
The mayor said the roundabout will have the former Prairie State Bank clock as a centerpiece and garden areas.
Marr said the whole idea of streetscape “is to attract people downtown. We’ve got to build for success. It’s a sad day for the people of Augusta.”
Marr cited some expenditures proposed in the city budget that he felt could have been delayed and applied to the water feature project. These included employment of a human resources director, a storage building, new patrol cars, a used truck, signage, RV pads at Santa Fe Lake, and cemetery work.
Following his resignation announcement, Mayor Williams thanked Marr for his service and positive actions he has supported during his Council service.
Appointment will be needed
Marr’s Monday night action leaves city staff and Council in a position to appoint someone from the First Ward to complete his unexpired term.
The position will not be in this year’s election, because it wasn’t certified to county election officials.
Augusta, Kan. —
