Former City Manager, Doug White, To Return

The Monticello City Council voted to enter into a verbal interim agreement to hire Doug White, of the Local Government Consultant Group as the point person for the City Manager position for the next nine days. The city manager position was vacated by Peggy Billerman at the end of March and Mr. White was slated to start yesterday morning.

There was an agenda item and recommendation from Mayor Bryan Standifer to hire Mr. White and the group officially; however council members stated that they had not had enough time to look over the contract to make that hiring final. Mayor Standifer agreed as he stated that he and Joe Reitman, City Attorney had just reviewed and completed it the day before.

The council met in a called meeting and budget work session last Thursday and made the determination to select Mr. White and the consulting group, with the mayor and attorney to work out the contract. The council is scheduled to make its final decision and hire Mr. White and the group during a called meeting next Thursday, April 21 at 6 p.m. This meeting will also include a work session on the FY17 budget.

Richard Martin, Gas Superintendent for the City of Monticello presented the council with a plaque recognizing their being a charter subscriber of the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia (MGAG). He also asked for approval of a budgeted expense of $3,300 for an odorant for the gas system. It is currently the council’s policy to get approval from the council for any expenditure over $500.

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Mr. Martin then also requested a new heavy duty truck for the gas department. Mr. Martin told the council that he would like to purchase an installation and repair truck to aid the gas department in becoming more efficient. He said that currently it takes three trucks to get the adequate equipment to and from locations. There is not a truck heavy duty enough to hold excavation equipment, pull a trailer, and include a welder and air compressor used to test gas lines before gas is released into them. He did not have a total for the council Tuesday night; he said that the time frame of the purchase would greatly impact the final cost.

Mr. Martin stated that the truck had been requested in two previous years’ budgets and that the need was increasing. He said that currently he has to schedule with the water department to use various city trucks and equipment. The budgeted number was $132,000 for the truck, which he said would be equivalent to an F-550 and the body and all equipment.

Mayor Pro-tem Stone Workman suggested that Mr. Martin get with the new city manager and Council member Larry Thurman to get a better idea of the price and time line to bring back to council for final approval. Also, in conjunction with April being Safe Digging Month, Mayor Standifer suggested getting information out about digging and how to properly go about that to the citizens of Monticello in their utility bills. He said that information may help prevent emergencies with gas and other underground lines.

The council voted to buy three lights for Mason Street (see related story) in the amount of $879. They sought last month to see if they could get the lights donated but could not. There was no indication of where those funds were budgeted for or where the money would be taken from.

Council members heard from Pam Mayer, Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce President, on upcoming events that are going on in the city, some of which need council approval.

She informed the council that there would be a Mother’s Day get together on May 8, from 1 – 9 p.m. in Funderburg Park. There would be less than 50 people in attendance, so there was no action needed from the council. She said that the annual Market on the Square was to begin Saturday, May 7 and will last through September with the center being open being 8 a.m. – noon weekly. Mrs. Mayer was excited to say that the currently had 12 season passes sold, two market passes and nine week to week passes sold for market vendors to date.

Ms. Mayer also reminded the council about the Veteran’s Appreciation Day celebration and parade to take place on May 21. She stated that the Monticello Garden Club would be using the Visitor’s Center on May 24 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. for its annual Flower Show. She said that this was a tourism event that allowed visitors into our city and center. She also got approval for a Kids Fun Fest to be held at Funderburg Park May 29, from 4 p.m. until dark.

Council members also voted on a handful of business items Tuesday which included a Purple Heart declaration for veterans’ in the community; appointing Rachel Torrance to the Housing Authority; and one declaring next week, April 17 – 23, Georgia Cities Week. Events for that week will include the community yard sale and clean up. The council also voted to advertise for a front desk employee for City Hall.

After a short executive session for litigation and possible land acquisition the council heard from Mr. Reitman and voted unanimously to settle with former employee Gail Harris on FMLA and Fair Labor Standards for a total of $11,522. This amount would close any further claims from either side of the case and there would be no further action on this.