Council Approves Zoning Variance

The Monticello City Council approved a zoning variance for a new Family Dollar store during a public hearing at its regular business meeting Tuesday.

Harry Hawkins was in attendance and represented Cagle Development. The new building will be larger and more modern than the current Family Dollar store, and its address will be 209 East Greene Street. The actual building will face Greene Street and will be located at the corner of Greene Street and Frobel Street, across from Dave’s BBQ and Hamilton State Bank.

The variance allows a reduction of buffer requirements, parking space size, and placement of those spaces. The Historic Preservation Commission approved the design of the building where the outside will be a dark brick color and the trim in beige. Planning and zoning held a public hearing on November 15, and also recommended approval of the variance.

There were questions from the audience as well as council members, and Mr. Hawkins assured them that there would be three entrances allowing adequate visibility. He said that these would ensure that people get in and out safely.

Councilwoman Katherine Alexander asked about a timeline for starting construction and completion. Mr. Hawkins said that there was still more approvals to get but the possibility of beginning in February-March and completion coming in late summer was the timeline.

He said that the current location is being rented. David Wease, citizen, asked if the company would hire local contractors and laborers, to which Mr. Hawkins replied, “We try to work with local people when we can. We will use an engineer for sure, there are no guarantees otherwise, but we want to be a positive input on the local economy.”

City Manager Tim Sweezey commented that he had worked previously with Family Dollar and they hired concrete finishers, painters, people to pick up trash, etc. from the local community.

The council also voted to approve the renewal of alcohol, beer and wine retail sales for the Hide-A-Way Package store, and McMichael’s Package Store.

The council members also met the new EMS Director, Ellette Jackson. Mayor Bryan Standifer said that Mr. Jackson was on his second or third day working, and “I think he’s super. I like the spirit that he has.”

Mr. Jackson told the council that he was from Brunswick and had over 15 years with EMS. He said that he had 55,000 calls under his belt and all of those were in and around the Atlanta/metro area.

He was previously the EMS director in Randolph County and had worked in both Afghanistan and at Grady Memorial Hospital. He said that while at Grady he learned a lot, and that he has a lot planned for his work here.

Mr. Jackson said that there are going to be changes seen and made, and that there will be three town hall meetings and invited everyone to attend to voice their concerns and/or good comments pertaining to EMS.

{{read more}}

In closing, Mr. Jackson said that “I’m here for you guys, the taxpayers, and not for private entities,” before thanking the council for the introduction and their time.

During the citizen’s comments, Peter Jones owner of the car wash and ice machine on Hwy. 16 west in Monticello addressed the council on the issue of his water bill. He said that when the city went to billing for water and sewer equally, he and former mayor Glenn Newsome and the council came up with a resolution that if Mr. Jones put in a separate sewer meter, at his personal expense (about $1,500) it could be checked and charged accordingly.

Recently, he received a bill that follows the current polity on sewer and water charges. Two months ago the guys at the water department had trouble reading his meter and there was a tag left on it. Mr. Jones checked it and had an issue as well, so he sent off for a replacement battery, he said. Once replaced, the meter still did not work and when he opened it up, he saw that it had been tampered with. There were broken seals and silicone inside the meter. There was a glass piece busted which made the meter unreadable, and the entire unit had to be replaced.

Mr. Jones called the meter reader, and he admitted that they had tried to fix it. It has since been replaced, and the city is saying still that they will charge him the same for both sewer and water.

Mayor Standifer said that a binding agreement cannot be passed from one Mayor and Council to the next and an agreement was made that the new council sit and discuss options at a work session type meeting today Dec. 13, at 6 p.m.

Mr. Sweezey spoke for police Chief Bobby Norris because he was out sick, and reported that there was a meeting where community policing was discussed. Cpl. R.W. Elkins was on hand as well to verify meeting facts. Mr. Sweezey said thatof Funderburg Drive was discussed. He said that the radar trailer unit was going back out on the streets. He said that it was a free to use resource that was not currently being used.

In the City Manager’s report, Mr. Sweezey commended Rev. William Gibson for the decorations for the night and gave a run down of each department.

He said that conversations on the street had been productive. That the streets department had been working on Smith, Funderburg, and Eatonton streets, and that new street signs were going up rapidly.

He told of the sidewalk progress and thanked this newspaper for the good news on the front page regarding the sidewalk progress. He said that they are currently working on College, Maddux and Forsyth Streets.

In the water department a second pipe has been installed for better water movement to the reservoir. He noted that several departments were working together, and that the city was going to have plenty of water.

In the gas department, the public service commission gave the city an excellent review. On the summary all of the yes boxes were checked and no no’s, and the city had no violations.

He told the council that city employees reviews begin in January and that there was a change in the requesting off procedures taking place.

The electric department has been busy, the entire Square is lit, and light fixtures are being changed and repaired. The department is also clearing right of ways all over town.

Mr. Sweezey was positive about the Get Ahead House and the heating unit that had been put in. He was working on the mulch for the playground at Funderburg Park. He said that overall the GAH was in good shape, there were just some budget reconfigurations that had to take place in order to obtain an accurate result for next year’s budget.

He also said that LOST negotiations were still ongoing.

The council voted on the reappointment of Billy Nalls to the Historic Preservation Commission for three more years, and the Mayor appointed Dr. Angela Gordon to the Monticello Housing Authority to replace Charles Bramlett.

They also approved a drawdown of $60,830 from the municipal Competitive Trust and authorized procedures and signatures for city bank accounts.

In closing all of the council members wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and productive 2013. Most wished for the positive direction that will be taken in the new year.