City Electric Rates to Rise
Two representatives from Municipal Electrical Authority of Georgia (MEAG) were on hand to discuss the city’s electric budget during last week’s regular Monticello City Council meeting.
The good news was the City Council has reduced the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) by about one cent per kilowatt hour (kwh) using general fund transfer reductions, business units are already running minimal operations, and September projections show only a $73,099 shortfall instead of one of $300,000.
The bad news is that July/September shows 15.4 percent above the 2010 MEAG budget, while October/December are expected to be above budget also, and the 2011 budget shows a 17.7 percent increase.
Recommendations from MEAG were to increase the PCA immediately to .0185, to monitor the PCA every month and report status to the council, and that the council approve the PCA change as needed based on projections. It was also recommended to lobby the U.S. Congress and Senate to control environmental costs because the more environmentally-friendly you become the more power will cost.
The conclusion from MEAG was the cost of power is a long term problem and will get worse as the cost of it continues to go up.
Mayor Glenn Newsome reiterated that no consensus has been reached about raising rates, and no decisions were made by the council at the meeting.
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During citizens input two residents complained about the condition of Rooks Lane and invited council members to drive on it, saying it hasn’t been paved in 40 years and is the worst street in the city.
The mayor introduced Rev.Rufus Whitlock as the Honorary Council Member for November as nominated by Councilperson Bryan Standifer.
During presentations the chairman of the county historical foundation asked for the city’s endorsement of an application for a grant from the Department of Transportation (DOT) which is due December 15 and comes to between $200,000 and $300,000 with a local match to be made by the foundation. The endorsement was approved unanimously by the council.
The chairman of the Downtown Development Authority presented the conditions of a $10,000 loan from the city to pay its debts which include $2,439 owed in property taxes. The finance committee had already approved the loan which would be paid back at a rate of $450 per month. The loan was unanimously approved by the council.
The Monticello Chief of Police reported there were 22 cases scheduled for December City Court. He also reported the force to be at full staff of six including himself, and covering the city 24-7 Monday thorough Friday and 8-12 midnight on the weekends, with the county taking over from there. He also reported he had just graduated form Chief School.
After a committee meeting on October 19, a proposal was recommended for a playscape in Westview Park at a cost of $67,281 which was budged from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and the general fund. However after discussion it was agreed the project should go out for bid.
After being offered an opportunity to teach horseback riding and pony cart driving to a limited number of students in Funderburg Park, the Adopt-A-Horse, a non-profit organization in Newton County, asked the city for authorization to access the park. The cost of the program will be funded by the recent grant received by the Get Ahead House, which specifies this as one of the sports the grant sponsors. The program was unanimously approved by the council.
As the last item on the agenda acted upon, the council unanimously approved an agreement for Reciprocal and Mutual Services. Under this agreement when the city has an electrical problem (storms, floods, etc.) too large for the city crew, it would accept an offer from Central Georgia Electric membership Corporation (CGEMC) to provide backup. This was done because its service area surrounds the city and it is the closest utility.
