Sauk Rapids City Council Votes to Abolish Advisory Park Board [AUDIO]

SAUK RAPIDS - The Sauk Rapids city council voted to abolish the city's Advisory Park Board this (Monday) evening.

By a vote of 3-2 the council narrowly moved forward with a plan to eliminate the board in an effort to save money and streamline the process.

Mayor Brad Gunderson says the the seven-member board each collected a per diem for their meetings.

The Planning Commission has already been receiving recommendations from the Advisory Park Board, before moving on to the City Council for their approval.  This move will eliminate that first step.

Paul Weber is one of the two council members who voted against the move.  He argued fewer residents would be involved in making park decisions.

City staff will now come up with a recommendation on how they want to handle park-related issues moving forward, the Planning Commission is expected to absorb most of the duties of the Advisory Park Board.