Monticello Council Cuts Pay in Half

Monticello council members have underscored the city’s financial problems by voting to cut their salaries, and that of Mayor Susan Holmes, in half, effective with their next paychecks.

The action at Tuesday’s council meeting halves the $300 monthly stipend for council members, the $400 previously received by Mayor pro tem Otis Clark and the mayor’s $500-a-month salary.

Councilman Scott Sauls made the motion to slash salaries after Mr. Clark noted that the idea had been discussed at a council retreat last weekend. Mr. Clark was presiding at the meeting since the mayor was attending to legislative matters in Atlanta.

The $12,600 annual savings was hardly viewed as a significant remedy for the city’s budget woes, which were addressed at some length by city manager Walter Smith in his monthly report. Again referring to matters discussed at the retreat, Mr. Smith noted that despite significant cuts the budget shortfall continues to grow.

Without a formal vote council members tacitly authorized the city manager to “streamline operations, improve efficiency and reduce manpower costs.” The implication was that he probably will recommend cutting employes from city payrolls. He also suggested cuts in employee health insurance plans.
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On the revenue side he noted that a 12 percent increase in water and sewer rates had been mandated by a bond issue authorized several years ago and is recommended now.

He also said the council might consider raising property taxes this fall, consider selling some city property, selling surplus trash containers and reviewing occupational tax (business license) fees for possible increases.

Mr. Smith also said that some $108,000 is due from utility customers on an “active” delinquency list. The city is restricted from cutting off service in certain cold weather conditions, but city clerk Susan Roper told the council that weather had warmed sufficiently Monday to begin cutoffs.

On Monday, 21 delinquents were cut off, representing some $5,000 in outstanding bills, and about half of that had been collected Tuesday, she said.

Mr. Smith also said roughly $200,000 may be due from those on an “inactive” list—customers who have been cut off and not paid to reconnect, including many who have moved. Staffers must ‘sanitize’ the list, Mr. Smith said, to begin collection procedures.

A list of delinquents may be posted in the newspaper for those who have not paid in 30 days.

Mr. Smith preceded his comments with a review of factors driving up energy costs nationally, noting, “we feel the pain” of customers hit by high gas costs in the recent cold weather. Mr. Clark said the council would convene in a work session at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 to discuss budget issues.
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Mary Ellen Wilson, representing the Monticello Garden Club, got council approval for a plaque to be placed at the large oak tree on the Square recognizing the late Mrs. Ethel Wilson, a long-time leader of the garden club, the nation’s second oldest. Mrs. Wilson told council members that the tree was planted in 1979 in recognition of her mother-in-law but hadn’t been marked. She described the bronze plaque that will be used.

The council got a bit of a dressing-down from Charles Wojcik who appeared for the “citizen input” segment of the meeting, primarily to complain about street lights out in his neighborhood.

“I’ve been told the city is too broke to buy bulbs, is that right?” he asked. Mr. Smith responded that some years ago the city had increased lighting to put street-lamps on every pole, but as an economy measure currently has been using only every other pole.

Mr. Wojcik produced a $100 donation to the city that was accepted with thanks. That would be enough to buy about 40 streetlamp bulbs Mr. Smith said. Mr. Wojcik commented on other aspects of city government, noting that he had appeared before council before to tell members how “you could save $300,000 a year by consolidating law enforcement.”

Mr. Smith reported in some detail on a meeting on Jan. 28 concerning traffic problems around schools on Hwy. 212 West and at the intersection of Hwys 212 and 16. Representatives of county schools and Piedmont Academy, city and county enforcement and emergency agencies, county government and the state Department of Transportation (DOT) participated in the session arranged by the city manager.

He reviewed a variety of suggestions put forth at the session to address the problem, which he said nearly all agreed was at its worst between 7:40 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. on school days, with 2:30-3 p.m. also a busy time. Among the suggestions was adding a third lane by Piedmont, and Mr. Smith said Mayor Holmes had written a letter to the DOT requesting that a lane be added as part of a widening project already scheduled on Hwy. 16.

Councilman Scott Sauls asked that a timetable be set for action, and Mr. Smith said he would do so.
Mr. Smith reported that the city had received a $225,000 grant for work at Funderburg Park and that no matching funds would be required.

Councilwoman Jacqueline Smith asked him to arrange a meeting of the park committee to discuss how the money would be spent.

In other action, the council:
•Heard in the “Monticello History” segment from Gene Mathis, city zoning administrator, who told about visitors to the “ramble” held here last fall who were familiar with the Mathis house when it was occupied years ago by the Gus Lane family. The visitors later sent Mr. Mathis an 8×10-inch photo of a 1913 gathering of a sewing circle taken outside the house. He distributed copies of the picture to council members.

•Asked city attorney Roy R. “Robby” Kelly, III, to draw the appropriate ordinance to annex some 100 acres on Hwy. 83 North as requested by Dr. Ross Kittrell.

•Heard from Mr. Smith on a number of ongoing projects, including upgrades needed to deal with violations of state regulations involving the gas and water systems. Mr. Smith noted that the city would have to employ an additional certified water plant operator to conform. Regarding the gas system, the council accepted an emergency operations manual required by regulations.

•Heard from Mr. Clark that the following “areas of responsibility” had been assigned to members: Administration, Glenn Newsome; Public Safety, Jacqueline Smith; Water Plant, Bryan Standifer; Gas and Sewer, Mr. Sauls, and Electric, Mr. Clark.

•Heard Mr. Sauls read a “council comment”
critical of Ms. Smith’s reported use of natural gas without paying (see related story).