The Monticello City Finance Committee met on Tuesday, October 17, in the City Council Chambers to discuss several items that will be voted on for the 2024 budget.
The first item on the agenda was department heads making requests for items to be purchased with the One Cent Sales Tax fund. These requests ended up totaling over $3 million, while the total available revenue is estimated to only be $2.95 million. Committee Chairman, Mark Tiner, and Mayor Jason Akers said that with the requests amounting to more than the funds available, the department heads needed to prioritize needs over wants.
The Solid Waste Department requested a John Deere backhoe to replace a 1999 model, and they requested a 2025 International Roll-Off truck to replace a 1997 model. When asked which was the bigger priority, Charlie Hammock, Department Head, said that the truck was the bigger need. He said the current one is unsafe and he doesn’t feel comfortable having people out on the road in an unsafe truck. Mayor Akers noted that the $293,200.00 price tag was a lot of money for a truck that was driven approximately 20 miles a week. Tiner asked Hammock if it would not be more fiscally responsible to find a used truck that was in good condition. This truck would be cheaper, and that would make more sense than paying over $200,000 for a truck that gets very limited use. Hammock agreed to look into used options.
The street department requested a 2025 International flatbed truck. $100,000 was allocated to purchase this truck in both 2022 and 2023. The lack of availability of the trucks from the manufacturer has prevented the purchase from taking place during the two previous years.
The Senior Center requested to purchase a Ford Maverick to replace a 2007 van. The center purchased a Maverick last year, and they said it is perfect. Tiner noted that Cindy Villarreal, Senior Center Director, may have been trying to choose the cheapest option possible, and that if a van was more feasible, that used options should be out there. He suggested speaking with Villarreal to see if she truly wants the Maverick, or if a used van would be more beneficial.
The Parks Department came in with approximately $1.5 million in requests. Tiner stated that there was no way possible that the One Cent Sales Tax account was going to be able to pay the Parks Department $1.5 million. Alderman Mike Wigley said that he agreed, but the city needs to find a way to finish the Sports Complex without relying on the One Cent Sales Tax fund. When asked what the priorities were, Lighting for the Miracle League field and Field Nine, which is used for Co-Ed softball, were on the list as well as finishing concrete sidewalks to Fields Seven and Eight.
The Cemetery Department requested two new mowers, a leaf blower, and two trimmers, along with a cargo shipping container for $35,100. These purchases were requested because the equipment currently being used is owned by a private individual who is not going to be using his equipment anymore.
The Monticello Economic Development Center requested $288,000. This is the first request for an increase in five years. The proposed increase would go toward hiring an additional employee who would handle research and marketing. This would allow MEDC Director Nita McDaniel and other staff to have more flexibility in handling day-to-day operations. It would also help in making sure that all tasks get completed by the MEDC staff as things are currently “falling through the cracks.”
“This is the first time in five years that we have requested an increase,” McDaniel said. “I haven’t even given myself a cost of living increase in that period.”
The final One Cent Sale Tax item on the agenda was a project to pave 1.36 miles of North Hyatt Street. The project would begin where McCloy St. meets Hyatt at Sav-a-Lot and run north to where North Hyatt meets US Highway 425 N. The project is estimated to run $649,500.
Mayor Akers also updated the committee members about the Davis to Merrydale Drainage Project. He said that concrete will be poured into the ditch in some areas, and that the main part of the project would then be complete, but that there is additional work that needs to be done on Merrydale Lane. The drain on Merrydale Ln. that feeds the drainage ditch isn’t large enough to manage the amount of water that feeds into it. They are looking to replace this drain with a larger, more efficient drain. The drainage pipe that feeds from the drain to the drainage ditch also has a pipe that is collapsing. The city is looking to replace the pipe from the drain to the ditch. This will lead to digging up three concrete driveways and laying new pipes for approximately 70 yards unless they can cut across a vacant property and tie into the ditch in a different location. The additional work is estimated between $24,000-$30,000.
The committee also discussed millage rates. These rates have to be voted on during the City Council meeting that will take place next week. The city is currently sitting at 1.8 mills, which has been the rate for many years. Monticello’s millage rate is also the lowest in the region. The committee discussed having several resolutions presented at the city council meeting and voting on one of those options at that time.
With no further business, the committee agreed to adjourn but to hold a special called meeting in the coming weeks to handle certain items that would not be able to wait until the regularly scheduled committee meeting.
