Council Votes To Settle LOST Issue
The Monticello City Council voted to accept a 28 percent allotment of the total Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) following an executive session held Tuesday evening during the council’s regular monthly meeting.
The decision by the council would effectively end the city’s lawsuit, filed last month, against Jasper County for what the city considers its “fair share” of the sales tax funds. Negotiations of the LOST funds began July 1 and no agreement since that time between the two parties led to the lawsuit. The city’s offer to accept that percentage is contingent upon the county’s willingness to accept the offer as well. Shady Dale also receives a share.
From the meeting’s closing action to its beginning action, Mayor Gail Harrell and all council members issued a proclamation in honor of the Jasper County Middle School (JCMS) Hurricane football team, which was in attendance, for their Piedmont Athletic Conference (PAC) League championship win in October.
Mayor Harrell read the proclamation in its entirety and then had team members pose for a picture with the city council.
Aside from Citizen Comments the only presentation Tuesday came from Ricky Haizlip who was asking council about a possible hunting lease at the Mine Lake property. The Monticello resident was requesting a five year hunting lease that would include no campers onsite and no overnight stays.
The lease would include putting up deer stands and Mr. Haizlip said liability insurance would be purchased.
Mayor Harrell had several questions about the lease, particularly the liability insurance. Council voted to table the issue for further review.
Council did take action on several agenda items including the approval of 10 alcohol license renewals for Circle K Stores, McMichael’s Package, Monticello Food Mart, Hide-A-Way, A-1 Food Store, El Giro Mexican Restaurant, Taqueria La Eskina, Monticello LLC, Ingles Market, and Monti Food Mart.
Also approved was a rezoning request from Van Box for 113 Burney Drive to go from R-20 medium density single family residential to R-15 medium density single family residential.
Council members voted to approve their 2024 SPLOST projects and resolution discussed during the last month’s regular meeting. The targeted water projects, new public works facility, and infrastructure improvements total $1.7 million.
The 2023 city holidays were finalized for a total of 12 including the new inclusion of June 19 as Juneteenth. A permit request for a candlelight vigil on the Square for the late Brooklyn Dalton on December 16 was approved from 5:30-8 p.m.
Also approved was the excess sale of local electric capacity to the city of Adel.
The city’s Gas Department is seeking to hire immediately a part-time administrative assistant for 20-30 hours per week at $17 per hour with no benefits. The department manager, who is currently without aid, was approved to hire someone that was in compliance with the guidelines if it was within the current budget. If not within the budget, the council would seek to amend it.
Council members took some time to discuss enacting a new purchasing policy which was motioned and seconded to be tabled until January. However the motion to table failed and the current policy will stand, according to attorney Joe Rietman.
Mr. Rietman also spoke to the issue of condemning the structure at 322 West Washington. Mayor Harrell said the owner had been issued a citation by the Magistrate Court and no response had been received. Mr. Rietman said that the owner can be notified by publication legally if the owner doesn’t respond.
Council tabled action on selecting a bid for repaving quotes for Kelly Lane and Sanders Height and took no action on the extension of the commercial solar power program or city hall repairs.
The city manager’s report included an update about closing the bridge at Funderburg Park for repair including new railings, food vending fees, and the employee holiday gift exchange on December 22.
A January 26 work session in addition to the regular meeting on January 10 are planned for 6 p.m.
