KTKA

City Council member Karen Hiller says it should be another year before the city and county merge their parks and recreation departments.

"We need to do it right," she said. "People really do want to have excellent services they can compare what city and county are doing right, but to save money they need to see it and that's not been on the table."

County Commissioner Vic Miller disagrees.

At a special meeting between both sides Monday night, he says the city first has to decide to do the merger, before savings will ever happen.

"I happen to know for they'll be money saved," he said. "As far as putting an amount on it, what difference does it make if it's a dollar of 20 million? It'll be less that what we're paying now."

The county's merger proposal includes pools, community centers, the Helen Hocker theatre and parks.

But 70 of the city's small parks, those that are two acres or less, are left out and it would be up to the city to take care of them.

It's an idea Topeka Parks and Recreation director Terry Bertels doesn't agree with.

"I think they should be included because they're important to those people in that neighborhood," Bertels said. "If there's going to be consolidation, let's consolidate and lets include everything regardless of size."

We asked all parties involved if they're leaning one way or another on the county's proposal.

"I think we don't have a plan," Hiller said.

"I don't get a vote so I don't know," Bertels said.

"I don't expect it to be passed until it ever does," Miller said.

The proposal also says the merger would be under county control.

Councilman John Alacla says the city needs to make a decision by July 1st.