City Council Re-Visits Topics

The Monticello City Council re-visited several topics from last year at its regular meeting Tuesday evening, and now City Council members who do not take advantage of city insurance will receive a fringe benefit of $200 per month, and the city finally has a signed memorandum of understanding with the Get Ahead House, an issue that had several sticking points the last time it was addressed.

Neither topic has been discussed in open meeting in the last several months, but City Council members did not raise many questions, seeming to be familiar with the topics. There were also two other topics, council members felt they had addressed before, but voted Tuesday to be on the safe side. Council approved the use of the Funderburg Park tennis courts by the Piedmont Academy tennis team, starting last week through their season which ends in April. They also approved a new Blockstream agreement, which according to City Attorney Joe Reitman is necessary since a new city has been added to the agreement.

Council approved the use of the Square for several activities for the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). A summer kick-off party is scheduled for Saturday, May 28. The DDA also has requested Saturdays from June through December (skipping November) for family movie nights. The DDA is also planning Friday evening events monthly from June through September. As each gathering is expected to attract 75 people or more, council approval was necessary, and was given.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council made its annual appointments of attorney—Joe Reitman, and engineer—Robert Jordan. The council did not appoint a manager or clerk at the meeting. (The city is currently seeking a new manager, after the resignation of Angela Redding late last year.)

Council approved two developer agreements for Oak Ridge subdivision off Hwy. 83 north in Monticello. The city is installing natural gas mains throughout the subdivision, and one agreement concerned those. The other agreement concerned the roads, with the city agreeing to take over the roads once they are up to par. The agreement says the developer will fix the roads and the city road superintendent will approve it.

Councilman David Wease gave an update on the trees on the Square. The project was approved for just over $8,000, and the cost will be about $125 above the approved cost. The previous city manager had assured Councilman Wease she had some discretionary funds to handle the overage.

Interim City Manager Peggy Billerman said that code enforcement reported it has 80 open cases, and 13 are scheduled to be in court this month. She also reported that funds from the Blockstream account need to be transferred to the general fund. After some discussion, council voted to move the funds.

Early in the meeting, council heard from David Thompson with the Historic Preservation Commission. He reviewed the five Certificates of Appropriateness (COA) that were approved, which included the memory wall at the American Legion. He said the group has two COA applications coming up. He said realtors were beginning to ask questions, and he hopes that it will become more common knowledge that COAs are necessary before work is done in the historic district.

Next the council heard from Daniel Jeffries, treasurer for the DDA. He gave an accounting of the last year, showing the non-profit including the Shoppes of Monticello, had a total income in 2021 of $254,668. He also said that equated to $10,978 in tax dollars coming back to the community.

He also said the DDA is planning to expand the Shoppes, and therefore needs office space, and the DDA was requesting office space in the city complex. Council voted to approve DDA using office space upstairs, with entry from the back and signage showing where the office is.

During citizen comments, Mr. Thompson said the council had voted to livestream its meetings, but had stopped. He said he had talked with Dr. Tyson Harty at Jasper County High School, and said most likely a student could do the work, and it would likely be minimal cost to the city. Mayor Gail Harrell thanked him for the info and said she would look into it.

Alonzo Colbert was there to complain about the fire hydrants in Pine Valley. He said his vehicle caught on fire last Sunday morning and that when firefighters tried to use the hydrant dirt came out. He said there is no water, and that is the third time it has happened on that line.

Dorothy Hirneisen said she is glad code enforcement is citing people , but said the worst eyesore is the property at Webb and Tower Streets—the city lot. She also talked about the road hazard on Pine Street. She also commented that the city’s water and sewer policy is unfair. She said her husband wants to water the grass in the spring and summer, and that they get charged for water and sewer. That’s not right, she said, as sewer is not being used.

Patricia Finger who said she represents the Concerned Citizens of Monticello which is headquartered at 275 Frobel Street. She was asking about the results of a study by Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG), that is scheduled to be presented April 7. She wanted an advance look at the report. She said that as a team, they have someone to review it that can understand it. She also asked about the possibility of a senior citizen discount based on income for the utilities. She said she was told last year that the council would do it. Council said they agreed to look into it, and said they would have that discussion when they get the study results.

Ms. Finger also said she was promised solar options documentation and had not received it. Mrs. Billerman told her she’d gladly provide it to her. The city passed a solar energy policy some time ago.

Next to speak was Roberta Anderson who lives at 275 Frobel Street. She said the board for the Get Ahead House would like to meet with the council during budget season. She also complained about the roof leaking at the Get Ahead House. Mrs. Billerman told her Robert Jordan was working on the specs, and when they are complete a new roof will be put out to bid.

After council completed its public business, it went into closed session to discuss personnel and real estate.