Monticello Council O.K.s Full Time Police Officer

During the regular Monticello City Council meeting Tuesday evening, council voted 3-2 on several issues including allotting the funds to give the police department one more full time officer. The move basically just adds benefits to what a part time officer was already making as he was already working full time hours, according to discussion at the meeting. `

The move will cost the city some $10-12,000, and it was not clear where the funds would come from.

Councilman Randy Stromade the motion to add the item to the agenda, although he did not take that action until after the police chief’s monthly report.

The motion to add it to the agenda passed 3-2, with Councilman Strozier being joined in the affirmative vote by Councilmen Larry Thurman and Cornell Williams. Mayor Pro-tem Bobby Jacobs and Councilwoman Katherine Alexander voted against adding to the agenda at that time.

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Councilman Strozier also made the motion to add a police officer at a cost not to exceed $38,558 which is the cost of salary and fringe benefits. The motion initially sounded like it was to add another officer. However, upon discussion, Councilman Thurman said that it was what they talked about in an earlier work session, making a current part time officer full time. Therefore, in the 2012-2013 budget, the full $38,558 will have to be budgeted, but the actual cost in the current budget will just be until June 30.

Councilwoman Alexander asked if some part time funds would be freed up by the hiring of the full time officer, and Chief Bobby Norris indicated possibly some, but not a great deal, not with one officer when he needs four. Councilwoman Alexander said she is just trying to come up with the math for where the city will find the money to pay the officer.

The mayor pro tem said, “we’re losing money every month.” He insisted that the city can’t hire someone without finding the revenue to do so. He said four years ago the city was facing bankruptcy and is barely solvent now.

Councilwoman Alexander said, “we have checks we’re holding because we don’t have enough money to pay the bills.”

Councilman Strozier said, “It’s strange we find money for everything else, but when it comes to having a police presence there’s no money.” He suggested that the contract with Tillman’s Lawn Maintenance be eliminated, and the street department go back to taking care of the parks. That would save the city $10,000 annually.

Councilwoman Alexander said that the street department does not currently have the equipment to take care of the parks, and it is running on a skeleton crew already.

Councilman Williams said, “Why did we have the work session? I thought we would come together as one here and hire an officer. We get the police chief up here and give him the runaround.”

Councilwoman Alexander said the gas department badly needs new trucks, but we tabled that action until we get a new budget.

After much back and forth, they voted 3-2 to fund the officer.

Another item that garnered much discussion was an item that had previously been voted down, and then was put back on the agenda by the mayor at the request of numerous citizens. Mayor Pro Tem Jacobs had suggested that the city consider putting turning lanes on Southern Street entering Eatonton Street. Since making the road one-way, it is unclear to drivers when they approach the stop sign if there is one lane or two. The suggestion was to paint a right turn and left turn arrow so two lanes could be formed.

Councilman Williams said to do that would be an accident waiting to happen, and explained how one vehicle could block the view of another.

The police chief said he had not been consulted, so he could not make a recommendation.

Councilman Strozier said a lot of people park there, going into the bank or post office, and there is not room for two lanes. He said it is a great idea, but the street is not long enough.

The motion failed 3-2 to place the arrows, with Councilpersons Jacobs and Alexander dissenting.

Also, during the citizens’ comments, Nancy Arnold Wood said that the Sherman’s Trail regional yard sale is the weekend of May 5-6, and recommended the upcoming city yard sale be held in conjunction with that. The city’s yard sale had already been set for Saturday, May 12, but after much discussion, and actually after the meeting ended, city officials agreed a change would be good, then the Market on the Square can open the following week, May 12, which is what the Chamber of Commerce had planned before learning of the conflict with the yard sale.

Mrs. Wood also commented on parking for West View Park, saying people parking along the road make it difficult for others to get into the cemetery. City Manager Bob Schwartz indicted that once the work is finished at the old school, signage could be put in place to encourage people to park there, but that right now it is off limits because of prisoners on the property.

Then, Roberta Anderson complained about Frobel Street and the drainage problems and curbing. She also asked about soccer nets at Funderburg Park. Ms. Anderson also asked about putting benches in the park, and commented on how bad the Courthouse looks on Sunday morning after teen-agers and young adults have been hanging out there at night and littering. “It’s not a good image,” she said.

The council was asked by the Get Ahead House (GAH) board to renew its agreement to serve as fiscal agent for the Bright from the Start grant. Councilwoman Alexander said she thought when the GAH got the Carrera grant, the board took over handling all monies. Walter Smith, who serves on the board, said the city is still needed for this.

City Clerk Peggy Billerman said the paperwork that she was shown required someone to sign and be liable for the grant. She said that it was confusing, and the GAH officials were going to get more information and return it, she thought. No one had the paper at the meeting, but the council voted to serve as fiscal agent, as it has done in the past. Councilpersons Alexander and Jacobs both abstained, saying they weren’t comfortable voting for something without seeing the paperwork.

In other action, the council:

•Learned it would be a conflict for the city to round up utility bills to donate money to the food bank. The city attorney provided them with an opinion showing why the city cannot contribute to non-profit causes.

•Named a few more members to the ethics board. Each council member is supposed to name two members.

•Heard from Walter Smith about road improvements needed on Funderburg Drive at South St.