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The Monticello City Council met at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25. After the roll call, it was determined that all of the Aldermen and Alderwomen were present except for Mark Tiner. The council then voted to approve the minutes from January’s meeting.
The council revisited a resolution that was tabled last month. The resolution would allow Finance Director Vickie Norris to sign for Mayor Jason Akers should he be absent. The resolution passed unanimously.
The council also heard the second reading of an ordinance to raise Monticello’s bid limit from $20,000 to $42,000 which would match the limit set by the state of Arkansas. The council asked City Attorney Whit Barton to add an emergency clause before the third reading so that the ordinance if approved, would go into effect immediately.
The council passed a resolution allowing the city to take legal action against Lemons Engineering. Since 2019, the city has had contracts with Lemons for two sidewalk projects. The City of Monticello has paid in full for the projects, but to date, no work has been performed.
“We don’t have a single square of concrete to step on,” Mayor Akers said.
The resolution will allow the city to seek all monies paid and any other damages that may be associated with the projects. The city has also terminated all contracts with Lemons Engineering.
The council also passed a resolution authorizing the Monticello Police Department to trade in two vehicles to go towards the purchase of a 2025 Dodge Durango.
The council tabled two resolutions to authorize bids on repairs for several of the city’s parks. There were a couple of bidders who were unknown to anyone involved and the council requested time to research them to make sure they were suitable for the jobs.
A resolution declaring 410 E. College Avenue a nuisance was brought back before the council. Michael Jones, pastor of the Revival Center, addressed the council and thanked them for giving him time to look into the abandoned church on the property as it became his responsibility upon abandonment. He stated that the structure cannot be salvaged and agreed to work with the city to to resolve the situation.
The council revisited the discussion regarding 2nd Chance Fur Dogs. Mayor Akers informed all present that the current situation violates Arkansas laws. With the city providing water and other resources at no cost, and 2nd Chance not having a contract with the city, state laws are not being followed.
“I realize that this situation is the result of previous administrations not taking care of business,” Mayor Akers stated. “It is my job to make sure we, the City of Monticello, follow the appropriate laws, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Alderman Michael James argued that he felt that the city was obligated, to a degree, to help 2nd Chance resolve this issue because of the past agreements with the city.
Alderwoman Clarissa Pace argued that the city shouldn’t be solely responsible for resolving the situation. She felt that 2nd Chance needed to put the work in and solve the problem for themselves.
Mayor Akers formed a committee consisting of James, Pace, Monticello Police Chief Carlos Garcia, and Alderman Craig McRae. The committee will come up with qualifications for 2nd Chance, or anyone else who may choose to offer the same services, to operate out of the Transfer Station, where the city currently operates its animal control facility.
“It is my legal duty, according to Arkansas law, to deliver to the people of Monticello a State of the City Address within the first 90 days of the calendar year,” Mayor Akers said.
The Mayor then directed everyone’s attention to a PowerPoint presentation giving highlights from the 2024 calendar year. In the year 2024, the city received $1,815,885 in grant money. Throughout 2024, the city has also bought a brand new fire engine and retired a 1997 model fire engine. All of the intersections in the city now have cameras installed. Speed bumps have been installed in areas where residents have requested them.
Since 2019, traffic accidents in Monticello have gone down 46 percent according to the Arkansas State Police. This equates to $3.2 million less in insurance claims and 46 percent fewer injuries to people in the city. There has also been a 10 percent decrease in criminal offenses since 2023.
There have been many improvements to the city’s water works and water quality. Monticello is no longer under any sanctions from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).
All of the city’s drainage projects that were part of the 10-year plan have been completed in 18 months. This is a testament to the hard work of the city crews.
Through efforts by the city to save money and do as much repair work in-house as possible, Monticello taxpayers were saved $746,000.
The city hosted two city-wide cleanups in partnership with Keep Arkansas Beautiful and assisted several organizations with their cleanup efforts.
19 nuisance properties were brought before the council, and 18 nuisance properties were demolished in 2024. City Code Enforcement Officer Brian Rodgers issued a total of 346 letters asking citizens to clean up their properties.
The city saved a total of $2,516,885 in 2024. Over the past two years, the amount saved is $8,168,463.
“I’m proud to say that the City of Monticello is fiscally sound,” Mayor Akers added. “We currently have $11,327,042.60 cash on hand and an additional $4,650,910 in CDs for a total of $15,997,952.60. This is up $258,434.46 from this time the previous year. The city also manages an additional $38,165,462 in other assets. I’m honored to work alongside each of our city’s employees. They all work hard each day and provide essential services to the citizens of Monticello. I believe there are six primary pillars of responsibility in local government: water quality, public safety, drainage and flood control, economic development, roads, and parks and recreation. We continue to work hard to improve in each of these areas. Moving forward, I would say to our citizens that we need your support, your input, and most of all, your prayers. We are all in this together. I challenge each of you to join us in continuing to make Monticello a place that future generations can be proud of. May God bless and keep each of you, and may God bless the great City of Monticello.”
With no further business on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned.
