HALES CORNERS -- Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor has sponsored a budget amendment that will allocate $51,000 to address staffing concerns at Hales Corners’ Boerner Botanical Gardens. This move comes after FOX6 News spoke with some of the garden's long-time visitors this summer, who indicated the garden's bloom has been fading in recent years.
Boerner Botanical Gardens
The County Board’s Finance, Personnel and Audit Committee approved Taylor's amendment, which would assign three seasonal horticulturists during the garden’s peak season and would dedicate an individual horticulturist to each specialty garden.
This levy-neutral amendment was introduced in light of a June 2015 audit titled, “Boerner Botanical Gardens Must Address Numerous Needs To Achieve Its Mission,” which highlighted serious staffing and maintenance concerns at the Garden.
“Boerner Botanical Gardens is the historic crown jewel of the County Parks System. This amendment will increase the effectiveness and improve training of garden staff,” said Taylor.
Supervisor Anthony Staskunas joined the amendment as a co-sponsor.
The County Board will consider the amendment, along with the proposed 2016 County Budget, on November 9.
The Boerner Botanical Gardens have been around since the early 1900s. The June audit of the gardens revealed some concerns.
Boerner Botanical Gardens
"We need to make sure we're providing the public what they expect," Susie Devcich with Milwaukee County Parks said.
Milwaukee County Parks officials said they welcomed the audit of the garden, and the audit's recommendations to improve the garden's "tired and weak" appearance and its profitability.
"We are very dependent on outside -- we are very dependent upon donations and a lot of volunteers," Devcich said.
The 40-acre garden has struggled to flourish in response to budget cuts. Those cuts are reflected in seasonal staff hours which have declined from about 27,000 in 2003 to about 7,000 in 2014.
Boerner Botanical Gardens
"This is something that Milwaukee should try to maintain. It's a positive thing," Viola Hazley-Williams said.
Hazley-Williams has been visiting the Boerner Botanical Gardens for 40 years.
"Awhile back they had more staff people in there," Hazley-Williams said.
Hazley-Williams still loves the garden, but has noticed the care for plants and their labeling could be improved.
Boerner Botanical Gardens
"If you're going to perpetuate something, let this be it," Hazley-Williams said.
More comprehensive signage and labeling were among the audit's recommendations, along with an internship program to help with its labor shortage.
The garden's regular visitors said they're hopeful it still has many sunny days ahead.
"I like the idea that we have a place where people can come for little or nothing and see all the different types of things that can grow," Hazley-Williams said.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Boerner Botanical Gardens.