Monticello City Council approves Ad Valorem increases

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Monticello’s City Council met at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29. After the roll was called it was determined that all of the Aldermen were present. An invocation was offered and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. The meeting minutes from September were read and approved, and Mayor Jason Akers moved into New Business.

The first item on the agenda was for the council to approve a resolution continuing the levy of annual Ad Valorem taxes in the city. The Ad Valorem tax is levied on all real and personal property in Monticello. Last year the tax was upped to 2.5 mills, the first time the tax had been increased in decades. This year the tax will be upped to 3.5 mills. This still puts Monticello behind in collections when compared to all of the other cities in the surrounding area. 

The resolution also pertains to the city’s contributions to the Arkansas Local Police and Firemen’s Pensions for the Monticello Fire Department. An increase to 0.75 mills was approved.

The council also approved a resolution to reject two bids on the Main Street Water and Sewer Relocation Project. Both bids received were well over the projected cost of the project. Mayor Akers noted that anything higher than a 15 percent increase was not legal, and both bids were over 30 percent above the estimated cost.

A resolution accepting a bid to replace the roof on the Historic Post Office was also approved. Arkansas Roofing and Construction out of Conway submitted a bid for $64,424.00 which was the bid the council selected. The city is also receiving money from an insurance claim that will go towards the cost of the project, and the project also qualifies for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Depending on the amount of the insurance claim and the city’s ARPA match, Monticello may only be responsible for around $30,000 on the project.

221 S. Conley Street was brought back before the council to discuss the status of the property after being declared a nuisance a few months ago. The property owner appeared before the council and stated that the house had been torn down, and everything was stacked up and ready to be hauled to the landfill. She added that she wasn’t sure when she would be able to complete this phase of the work due to monetary concerns. Mayor Akers told her that he would discuss how the city could help, and the council tabled the resolution since she had made so much progress. 

602 and 604 East Pauline Street were both declared nuisances. Brian Rodgers, City Code Enforcement Officer, stated that the owners have received and signed for the letters he sent them, but have not responded.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned until November 19.