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The Monticello City Council met at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, for its regular monthly meeting in the Monticello City Hall Council Chambers. During the meeting, the council heard updates on neglected properties within city limits, shared plans to improve and expand city water lines, discussed repairs to the Historic Post Office, and received an update from Second Baptist Church’s food pantry, among other business.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jason Akers at 6 p.m. Following the roll call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, the council unanimously approved the minutes of its May meeting.
The first item on the agenda was an update on the status of 600 N. Main St. City officials described the unsafe condition of the exterior but noted that the homeowner has recently made steps to clean up the property and develop a plan for the building’s restoration. The homeowner was present and expressed his intent to restore the property in multiple phases and work directly with the city to ensure compliance with codes and safety standards. The council voted to grant the homeowner 30 days to make meaningful improvements to the property and will review his progress before the July council meeting.
Next, the mayor provided an update on the expansion of city water lines into a newly annexed area west of town. The city is partnering with Cody Stringer of A.L. Franks Engineering to carry out this expansion. The mayor also discussed ongoing restoration efforts of old and dead-end water lines within the city to improve water quality and accessibility for residents. He shared that the water tower at the Country Club should be back to full working condition soon.
Nita McDaniel, Director of the Monticello Economic Development Commission (MEDC), came before the council to request city assistance in repairing the Historic Post Office, next to City Hall, which currently houses the MEDC. She shared that the building has experienced frequent roof leaks since 2017, leading to carpet damage throughout the facility. The leaks have since been patched and the damaged carpet removed, and now new carpet must be installed in multiple areas. The City Council voted to amend the 1998 One Cent Sales Tax Fund to support the restoration of this historic building and voted to award the carpeting project to a local vendor, Paint & Lighting Plus.
The council also amended the Sales Tax Fund to allocate funds for the purchase of a Conex box to store city records. These records will be relocated from the old fire station to a city warehouse, where they will remain accessible for future use. Later in the meeting, the council approved a Certificate of Records Disposal from city staff, authorizing the destruction of sensitive documents that are four years old or older.
Next, the council accepted a bid for the Sports Complex Sidewalks Projects, awarded to WJ Excavating of Monticello. The improvements will include a new walking track that will circle a large portion of the complex and connect the West and East sides via sidewalks, replacing the often muddy connector. Walkways will also be added throughout the complex to improve connectivity to dugouts.
Next, members of the council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a contract with the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas. The agency currently provides the city with funds for its senior-citizen programs, supplies staff for the Monticello Senior Citizens Center, and offers training for managers.
The council also approved a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a bid for a 2025 Enterprise Funds Audit. The bid was awarded to local accounting firm Searcy & Associates.
In property discussions, the council imposed liens on multiple properties, including 118 Mona Lisa Court, 396 Winchester Road, and 1225 E. Shelton Ave, and declared 925 Cedar Hill St. a nuisance. The resolution imposing a lien on 866 N. Slemmons St. was tabled indefinitely as the property has recently changed hands and undergone extensive improvements.
During public comments, the council heard a presentation from Adena Handly, a representative from Second Baptist Church’s newly operating food pantry. Since opening its doors in April, the pantry has served over 1,000 individuals from Drew County and beyond and distributed over 24,000 pounds of food. The pantry holds regular pop-up distributions when fresh produce and dairy products become available and operates its regular pantry once a month. The pantry also partners with Baptist Health Medical Center-Drew County to offer free blood sugar and health screenings to anyone interested. Handly said the pantry is working diligently to address food insecurity in Drew County and provide a safe space for the people who need it most.
To conclude the meeting, Mayor Akers promoted the city’s upcoming Fireworks and Food Truck Fest, which will be held at the Monticello Sports Complex from 6 p.m. until dark on Friday, July 3. The event will feature live music, food trucks, and activities for children, with the fireworks show set to begin at dark.
With no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m.
