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Monticello Mayor Jason Akers called the March meeting of the Monticello City Council to order at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. After roll call, it was found that Cedric Leonard, Clarissa Pace, and Craig McRae were absent, but a quorum was present. Gerald Shepherd gave an invocation and all present recited the Pledge Of Allegiance. The minutes from February’s meeting were also approved.
Before moving on to Old Business, Mayor Akers stated that the meeting’s agenda needed to be amended to add four items to the New Business section. The agenda was approved as amended.
The first item covered in Old Business was the third and final reading of an ordinance allowing the city to raise its bid limit from $20,000 to $42,900, which is the new limit set by the state of Arkansas. The council voted to pass the ordinance and implemented an emergency clause, making the changes effective immediately.
The council also revisited two separate resolutions about the acceptance of bids to make repairs to roofs at the Sports Complex and various other park facilities roofs. Last month the council requested time to research the companies so that they could make a more informed decision. Since the previous meeting, the city has emailed and mailed letters to each of the bidding contractors. Three of the six companies responded and provided the city with the requested information. The three who didn’t comply were deemed non-conforming and their bids were disqualified.
The council voted to accept the bid from Arkansas Strong Roofing, LLC for $38,620 to repair the roofs at various park facilities. Arkansas Strong’s bid of $84,940 was also accepted to repair the roofs at the Sports Complex.
In New Business, the council was presented with a resolution authorizing the Monticello Police Department to trade two vehicles to go toward the purchase of a 2025 Dodge Durango. The resolution was presented and approved last month, but errors in VIN numbers were found and the price of the vehicles has changed. The new resolution, with the necessary changes, was approved.
The council also approved a resolution to amend Resolution No. 24-44. The original resolution was to accept a grant to repair the roof of the Historic Courthouse. Since the resolution was passed, insurance has decided to pay for the repairs. The amendment will allow the grant funds to be used for repairing the building's leaky windows.
The council passed a resolution authorizing MPD Chief Carlos Garcia to apply for a Walmart Spark Good Community Grant. The grant will award the city $2,000. The city has decided to allocate the funds to Options, Inc. to provide shelter necessities.
The council also passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Akers to begin advertising for bids to replace the red light system located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 425 and U.S. Highway 278.
The council then passed a resolution to allow city employees to observe Good Friday as a paid holiday. Good Friday will be permanently added to the holiday list starting next year.
The council was presented with copies of the city’s water ordinances, and each was urged to review them to see how they could be streamlined and modernized.
With nothing else on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
