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Mayor Jason Akers called the December meeting of the Monticello City Council to order at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 19. After an invocation by Wayne Morphis and the Pledge Of Allegiance, the roll was called and all council members were present. The council voted to approve the minutes from the November meeting.
The first item of business on the agenda was to hear the first reading of an ordinance approving the private club application for Superior Crab of Drew County, Inc., and allowing for the application of the required permits from the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
“Before we get too far, I want to remind the council that the last time one of these ordinances appeared before us, we did not enact any emergency clauses or do anything to bypass the required readings,” Mayor Akers said. “We all agreed that we would set a precedent by having the first reading and allowing the public plenty of time to voice any concerns they may have.”
The ordinance will come before the council again in January for its second reading.
The council members passed a resolution adopting a new pay scale for city employees.
The council also passed a resolution to adopt the 2025 Operating Budget.
The council approved a resolution authorizing an Infrastructure Grant for Weyerhaeuser NR Company. Per the resolution, the City of Monticello will commit $300,000 for infrastructure improvements at the Southeast Arkansas Intermodal Authority. This will go to build the new water well that is needed to sustain the Weyerhaeuser facility.
The council also approved a resolution allowing the Weyerhaeuser NR Company to participate in the Tax Back program.
The council passed two additional resolutions pertaining to the Weyerhaeuser project. The first resolution waved the pre-annexation agreement required for new water hookups. The second waived the water and sewer tap fees.
The council passed a resolution authorizing the facilitation of a voluntary contribution to the Monticello Senior Citizen Center. Soon, citizens of Monticello can make these contributions, if they so choose, with their water bill payments. The mayor stressed that no one is being forced to make these contributions, they are 100 percent voluntary.
Finally, the council passed a resolution to renew the lease of 65.5 acres to the Razorback Bird Club.
“I want to thank the council and our city employees for doing an outstanding job this year,” Mayor Akers said. “I want to say thank you for all you do. The council has been attentive and offered constructive and invaluable insight for us to move forward.’
The council voted to recognize December 18, 1849, as the official “birthday” for the City of Monticello.
With no further business, the Monticello City Council adjourned until the January meeting.
