The Monticello City Council met at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23. After the roll call, it was found that all council members were present except for Clarissa Pace and Craig McRae. Alderman Michael James led an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The council members read and approved the minutes from June’s meeting.
In unfinished business, the ordinance approving Brian Smith to apply for a Private Club alcohol license was read for the second time. A motion was made to waive the requirement of a third reading, which passed. The council made another motion to accept the ordinance which passed with Cedric Leonard being the only dissenting vote. The council made a third motion on the ordinance to invoke the emergency clause and make it effective immediately. Leonard was once again the only dissenting vote.
“We need some clarification on what is and is not an emergency,” Leonard said. “No offense to him (Smith) but this really isn’t an emergency for the city. We can’t just pick and choose what is an emergency.”
In new business, the council passed a resolution authorizing the city to apply for an Outdoor Recreation Matching Grant from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to make improvements at McCloy Park.
The council also saw three bids to replace the roof of the armory building. Reynolds Construction Co., Inc. bid the job at $76,770, Arkansas Strong Roofing, LLC bid it at $61,820, and Arrington Roofing’s bid came in at $94,750. The council voted to accept the $61,820 bid from Arkansas Strong Roofing, LLC.
The council presented a resolution declaring 221 S. Conley Street a nuisance. The property owner was at the meeting and stated that the property has been in her family since the ‘70s and that she has single-handedly been taking care of it. Due to personal health issues and health issues with her husband, this task has become increasingly difficult. She has spoken with her siblings and they agree that demolishing the structure is their only option even though they would love to restore it. The council tabled the resolution for 90 days to allow her to begin the demolition process.
1232 E. Railroad Street was also declared a nuisance. This resolution was tabled for 30 days after confusion over who owns the property arose.
Andrea Chambers gave an update on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Line Removal Program. In summary, all of the government’s allocated money has been spent. The city will have to undertake the project with no governmental assistance. In the coming months, customers should expect to receive an inventory with their water bills asking them to age their homes and determine the type of service line providing water to their homes.
Nick Cater presented an Inclement Weather Preparation Plan. This was designed in an attempt to avoid road conditions and hazards such as were seen during January’s ice and snow. The council approved the purchase of plow blades and sprayers to keep the roads in as good of condition as possible should Monticello and Drew County experience severe winter weather in the future.
L.R. Tyson came before the council to inform them about a 100 percent paid grant that requires no matching funds from the city. The city would have to apply for this rather than the non-profit that Tyson is a member of. The grant funds would be used to further the progress of the Lakewoods Trails project. The council authorized the city to apply for the grant.
Cater also requested a budget amendment for $16,000 to complete repairs to the ditch in Oakland Cemetery. A large box drain has collapsed, adding to the original damage and project cost.
“Since February, the city has had eight instances, where our infrastructure has been damaged by subcontractors boring holes for fiber optic lines. They have ruptured water lines on each of these occasions,” Mayor Jason Akers said. “This has disrupted services to local businesses and citizens of Monticello. We understand that people make mistakes, but since February, the city has spent over $7,200 of taxpayers' money to fix these mistakes. There is no ordinance on the books to regulate these people or have a means to hold them accountable. We have to do something about this. Next month I intend to present something to the council that would require the subcontractors to be bonded or have some form of surety before they begin boring holes in our city.”
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
