Washington’s City Council, during its meeting Monday, reaffirmed its decision to move the “big wheel” at Havens Gardens farther eastward at the waterfront park.

The council also made it clear they want the wheel to remain accessible to the public. The majority of the council rejected the idea of placing a fence around the wheel after it is relocated.

That reaffirmation came after Ray Midgett, a representative of the Historic Port of Washington Project committee, told the council it is willing to assist in placing interpretive signage at the wheel describing its history and placement at the waterfront park. Dr. Mark McClure, a Washington dentist who did some research about such wheels, told the council it’s likely the wheel was a flywheel that was part of a steam engine used in the lumber industry and that steam engine probably was built in the early 1900s.

“It deserves a historical marker plaque that explains what it symbolizes,” McClure said. “The flywheel monument, appropriately placed, would be a valuable addition as a waypoint for the historic walking tour and provide tourists and local citizens a touchstone for learning and photographic opportunities … of historic Washington, a city with, quote, pride in the past and faith in the future.”

During his presentation to the council, Midgett suggested a more appropriate location for the wheel might be the west end of Stewart Parkway or near the caboose that’s part of the Underground Railroad exhibit housed in the caboose next to the Peterson Building. Midgett said the relocation site is in a relative obscure area of Havens Gardens, where the number of people visiting the wheel would be limited.

Several speakers, including some who spoke two weeks ago in favor of keeping the wheel at Havens Gardens but relocating it, told the council to keep the wheel at the waterfront park. One of those speakers was Lindsay Knox, a girl who has grown up playing on the wheel.

“You have heard … the older generation speak about the importance of the wheel, but I think it’s important to hear from the younger generation,” she said.

Earlier this month, the council authorized moving the wheel — apparently the flywheel of a steam engine at the Mason Lumber Co. in Columbia — to the bridge side of the park, next to the N.C. Highway 32 bridge that connects Washington and Washington Park. That was the option recommended by the city’s Recreation Advisory Committee.

The wheel must be relocated so equipment for the Play Together playground can be installed to make the park more accessible for disabled or handicapped children, according to Kristi Roberson, the city’s parks and recreation director.

An initial $225,000 grant from Trillium Health Resources provides the money for the project. Implementing the plan carries an estimated price tag of $264,055.42, according to a project document. Eliminating some of the new playground equipment can reduce the project’s cost. The project’s contract has been amended to $280,556. Also, the city has received a $3,600 private donation for the project.

The city is seeking bids for relocating the wheel. An initial estimate for relocating the wheel came in at $500, but the source of that estimate later revised its bid to $8,000. The initial estimate was made without an on-site visit by the source of the original bid.

City staff recommended erecting a fence around the wheel after it’s relocated to reduce the city’s liability should someone get hurt while climbing on the wheel. Councilman Doug Mercer’s motion (seconded by Councilman Richard Brooks) to erect such a fence failed. Council members Larry Beeman, William Pitt and Virginia Finnerty voted against it, with Mercer and Brooks supporting it. Finnerty said someone could get hurt climbing on the fence put up to keep people off the wheel.

“Then we have the liability of someone climbing, and falling off the fence, and breaking their neck,” Finnerty said.

“Exactly,” responded Beeman.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Finnerty concluded.