The Monk Gardens controversy is far from over

The new construction is under fire and, according to the group and city sources, paused by the contractor hired to build it

Monk Botanical Gardens file photo, Stephanie Kohli

Editor’s note: I meant to publish this Tuesday morning and was pretty sure I had done so. Yet, I discovered that never happened and it remained in my draft folder. So I am publishing it today. My apologies. It’s been a bit of a rough week, recovering from a tailbone injury. I wrote this piece entirely laying on my side.

Though the leadership at Monk Gardens seemed to have capitulated around changing the name from Monk Botanical Gardens to Wausau Botanic Garden, a decision that has already cost the Monk Gardens organization at least $10,000, the controversy is far from over.

I’ve argued before that the name change is really only the flame that lit the built-up gas - it revealed that a lot of people no longer feel welcome there, including stories The Wausonian has heard from volunteers who work or worked at the site (as well as stories relayed to this publication).

It also revealed concerns about plans for building out the site.

In a letter received by The Wausonian from Melissa Clemens on behalf of the Community Group Save Robert Monk’s Garden, the group says in a recent Village of Rib Mountain Board meeting, they were heartened by Board President Paul David acknowledging that they’d made a mistake in changing the name without getting community feedback.

But then, according to the letter, Director Darcie Howard in an email to the board told them that the group is engaged in a hate campaign and employing the use of bots and social media influencers. Clemens says that is false. The Wausonian obtained a copy of the letter sent to the board and it does contain the allegations Clemens claims.

The group is using that letter as well as the overall community sentiment to ask that the work on the phase I of the gardens plans that starts with an education and visitors center and eventually proceeds to a beer garden be paused. Many in the community have questioned the need for a beer garden on the site. According to the Monk Gardens website, it will help educate people on the connection between brewing and botany. (Also, the site mentions, it’s a revenue source for the gardens.)

The work was supposed to have begun today. But the group is now reporting that contractor Findorff delayed the start of construction on phase I in order to give the Monk Family time to discuss the new construction phases. A city source confirmed with the city inspector that Findorff did indeed pause construction, according to information that source relayed to The Wausonian.

I reached out to Darcie Howard to inquire about the details of the letter, and to ask for any evidence she had that bots and social media influencers are involved in this campaign. From conversations around the community, everyone seemed befuddled and angry by the name change decision and it’s bringing other complaints out of the woodwork. As The Wausonian has pointed out, it seems to be the rare issue that has equally outraged people of all political persuasions.

As of Tuesday morning, Howard had not responded. The Wausonian will update this story with any response we receive from her.

The letter suggests that Howard and the board might be out of step. They said that David seemed taken by surprise by Howard’s letter as it was read. Her appearance at the Weston Tourism Commission got especially heated. You can watch that below.

And paid subscribers can read the full letter below: