Storm over courthouse rain garden subsides

The recent storm of protest over a rain garden on the courthouse lawn has subsided in compromise. Soil and Water technician Tristan Beaster told county commissioners Tuesday a smaller more aesthetically pleasing version has been agreed to by all sides.

 

Soil and Water supervisors Jim Hall and Joan Farnam attended the meeting. Farnam said she thought it was a good compromise.

 

“It seems like a really good solution,” she said, “it’s going to satisfy people concerned about it and it’s still going to do what we want it to do, which is treat the water coming off the parking lot.”

Beaster said the revised project would occur in two phases, the first of which would remove the lower two tiers, the second phase would be to reconstruct the second tier east of tier one and away from the Veteran’s memorial and flag poles. American Legion representative Don Wilson supported the changes.

 

“The only concern I have is just that when you start this project keep an eye on it,” said Wilson. “Don’t let it get out of hand, don’t let it get three, four feet high.”

Commissioner Jim Johnson said he was pleased the reconstructed project would continue to serve as a demonstration for members of the public interested in building rain gardens of their own. Farnam said the compromise would still create a beautiful space as well as clean the courthouse parking lot run off.

 

Total cost of the reconstruction is estimated at $5,000 – far less than the cost of taking out the rain garden and returning 150% of the grant money.