City Council Sets Millage Rate
Monticello City Council members moved through their agenda swiftly during their November meeting last Thursday approving a 6.62 mill rate for 2005 advalorem taxes, among other items of business.
On a second visitation the proposed millage rate was accepted 3-1 after their initial vote, taken earlier during the meeting, failed to acquire a majority vote of three with councilmen Bryan Standifer and Otis Clark voting in favor of the proposed rate and Jacqueline Smith voting against it. Mayor Susan Holmes did not vote, Councilmen Scott Sauls was not in attendance, and Glenn Newsome arrived late.
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Nine other agenda items received unanimous approval from the council including October payables in the amount of $879,716; the declaration of 17 surplus items to be sold by auction; and two beer and wine pouring licenses for site consumption at Cafe’ Frobel and Olive Tree Gallery.
With regard to the city’s electric system conversion, the council approved a resolution to finance the $750,000 loan from the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG) with Wachovia Bank at a 4.52 interest rate.
Relative to the conversion, the first step in the progress is to trim trees that impact overhead electric lines, according to city manager Hugh King. Of the three bids received for the trimming contract, council members accepted the lowest bid submitted from Henderson & Son for $90,000.
Council members approved a memorandum of understanding between the City of Monticello and the Board of Education for the provision of water and sewer services to the new high school.
Design, bidding, and construction management of the project will be paid by the school except for excess capacity in the lines. To that end, council members voted to select Keck & Wood, Inc. as the design and construction management firm for the water and sewer project with costs not to exceed $61,000.
In other collaborative project discussions, the council approved a joint contract with the Jasper County Water & Sewer Authority to lease property from the CKG Partnership in order test wells on the Upper Cedar Creek Basin as a source of water. The one year lease allows for the drilling of five test wells at a total cost of $5,000, to be divided equally by each party.
With regard to the city’s Funderburg Park project, council members agreed to employ Jordan Engineering for engineering and surveying services estimated at $10,000 to be paid from Housing & Urban Development grant funds already received. It was also agreed upon to replace Tim Coffey, an employee of Jordan Engineering, on the Funderburg Park Committee.
During the City Manager’s report, Mr. King provided an update of the USDA joint application status with JCWSA for an emergency grant. The application has been submitted and phase two will require documentation of city and JCWSA financials. He presented invoices from the lift station project that required payment to Sam Hall & Sons, Carter & Sloope, and Calibration Controls.
A Get Ahead House update, per memo from Dan Norris, included the reduction of one paid teaching position; elimination of all field trips; extra activities will require sponsorship by parents; research grant sources; and increase effort to locate volunteers.
Mr. King presented a letter from the Dept. of Natural Resources regarding the request to transfer a $65,000 land and conservation fund grant intended for the acquisition of two houses to the development of Funderburg Park. The letter informs the council that a transfer of funds would not be considered until the park located near the old Washington Park School was brought into compliance with a January 31 deadline.
During council comments, several accolades were given to SPLOST committee members for their efforts in aiding the passing of the referundum.
Chamber of Commerce director Maggie Potter provided an update on the Deer Festival which included the estimation of 5-7,000 visitors and that the local dollars generated were tremendous.
Mayor Holmes also recognized Mrs. Potter’s positive attitude as the COC director over the past two years as a plus for the county. The director is leaving the position to become a State of Georgia Economic Development Regional Representative.