Monticello Council To Give Up Code Enforcement

Members of the Monticello City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance from Mayor Pro Tem Stone Workman, stating that the city will release code enforcement back to Jasper County and take the funds that were budgeted for that service, around $31,000 and distribute to the citizens back on their January utilities for any bill that was over $75.

After the first reading of the ordinance there was much discussion around the proposal which also included a proclamation on the city’s behalf. Mr. Workman reiterated that the city has been trying to work with the county and that after two years of no progress; it was time to move forward.

Doug White, City Manager, told the council that he had been paid out of those funds for the code enforcement work that he’d done, so that the entire budgeted amount was not available.

Mr. Workman was adamant that any money that the city couldn’t use for enforcement and that the county wouldn’t take would be given back to the citizens stating, “Whatever the difference of what was used and what was budgeted needs to go back to the citizens of Monticello.”

Councilwoman Jenny Murphy said, “I think that this is being rushed. We’ve now met with the county and made an offer, but I’d like to see the paper trail and it written that they won’t work with us.”

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Members of the council went to a meeting with the Board of Commissioners on Monday as well as presented a letter to the BOC on the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) and who was responsible for which services.

Mayor Bryan Standifer stated that this was just the first reading and that it would be re-read and voted on in another month.

Councilwoman Cynthia Miller said, “we’ve offered to work with them [the county] and they haven’t responded or been willing to work with us.”

Councilman David Wease stated, “the response was that they wanted to have a meeting, and that was last night.”

Mayor Standifer informed the council that there had been a sit down in his office. He said that himself, Mr. Workman and Mr. White had met with the county and there was not an indication of moving forward. He said, “we’re still currently under non-negotiable terms. If there are terms stated and to be met in the meantime [before the final vote] then great – otherwise we will move forward as we all discussed previously.”

“Each member of the council has a vote to say yea or nay when we do the final reading,” he continued.

Councilman Wease asked, “If there’s a change to the ordinance does there have to be another first reading? Also, when is the next meeting on SDS set?” He was answered that there was not a next meeting set. Next steps were for the city attorney to call the county attorney so probably two to three weeks out because of legality issues.

Mayor Standifer then reiterated, “this was something that we’ve talked about and this was just the first reading.”

No vote was taken on the ordinance, as there is not a vote for a first reading, nor was a copy available in the standard packet. The News has requested the ordinance that was read from the City and was not available at press time.

The council also heard from Walter Smith and Otis Clark requesting approval of the American Legion Post 110 to put up a memorial wall at the Legion building. Mr. Clark explained that it would be a Memorial Wall made of brick with park benches that match those on the Square. He said that it would be no more than 30 inches tall and would adhere to all Georgia Department of Transportation guidelines and traffic patterns.

He continued to explain that veterans would be memorialized in brick and would be done professionally.

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The council voted to approve the Memorial Wall with the guidelines that it passes all safety in the right of way and the specs were reviewed and signed off on by the city manager and the Historic Preservation Board and the GDOT.

Mr. Clark also asked the council for any assistance or anything that they could do to help the Jasper County Food Bank. He said that their utility bill was over $900 last month and they are only there two days a week for five hours each of those days.

The Food Bank feeds over 600 families every month. He said that the USDA is cutting back the food that they are able to purchase from the pantry in Macon and that there are a lot of people in the city that use the assistance. He said that they cater to seniors and children and aid those that are recommended to them through churches, the Sheriff’s Office and other emergency situations.

Mr. Clark said that if the city could help anything would be appreciated. He said that the Food Bank was solvent currently – that they had great stewards of money – but that they wanted to stay ahead of the curve.

Mayor Standifer asked the city clerk if the Food Bank was on commercial or residential rates and was told commercial. He said that he’d look into whatever he could do to see what could be done.

The council also heard from Walter Smith on issues on and around Funderburg Drive. He asked that the council look into the following: the hydrants on Funderburg and Mason Streets, he wanted to know when they had last been flushed. He said that he was the only two story building on that street and said that he was open to the fire department doing training at his building.

He asked what the city’s long range plan was to improve the water pressure in that part of town. He said it is very low and with the newly acquired land and water that it’s plenty to help.

He said that his business, Smith and Sons Funeral Home, has had two 18 wheeled vehicles hit his property in the last year and there is a pole about to fall. He said it was dangerous as there were still lines attached to the pole – even though the electricity was disconnected. He encouraged the city to get the persons responsible to get the pole down.

He also asked for no through trucks signage put at each end of Funderburg Dr. He stated that the trucks use that as a cut through and they’re noisy and speeding.

He asked the council what the timeline was for resurfacing Funderburg Dr. stating that it had not been done in 20 years and that there were repairs and patches everywhere. He said that the DOT could possibly help with funding.

He asked the council to contact Southern Railroad to see what could be done about the pot holes on either side of the train tracks on Persons Street. He said that they need to be filled and the surrounding pavement fixed.

Mr. Smith asked about the repair of a collapsed pavement and or damaged sewer line at Sanders Heights and St. James A.M.E. church.

After complimenting the sidewalk work on Funderburg and Short Street he said that it was nice work but there was no handicapped or ADA accessibility.

He also was adamant that there be a new Post office. He said that years ago they worked hard to get a post office on the books with an new, more easily accessible building and it’s not here yet. He said that the post office was given a face lift – but it’s still difficult to get into and out of with the steps. He said that the ground work was there and that a new post office would make many citizens extremely happy.

After Mr. Smith spoke, the council heard from Pam Mayer with the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority on updates. She stated that there would be an Easter Sunrise service on the Square on April 1, at 7 a.m.

She also talked about an upcoming training on April 9 that was required for the DDA members and would be open to the public. The training is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and anyone from the council, the BOC or downtown businesses are welcome.

Mayor pro tem Workman asked Ms. Mayer about the traffic on the Square during court days and she explained that it had gotten worse from her perspective.

She said that the DDA could work on tracking parking spaces to begin working on a plan. She said that there were things that could be done locally to help the issue. She and councilwoman Murphy discussed a notice in the juror summons and maybe a map with parking suggestions off of the Square. She said that there are numerous out of town tags and in her mind each of those is a tourist.