City Manager Finalists Are Released
The Monticello City Council met last Thursday and narrowed the city manager candidate list to three, then discussed Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) again.
The three candidates are Scott W. Meszaros from Meeker, Colo., James A. Woods of Hogansville, and Monticello native Roger Harrison. After a 14-day review, the council will vote to name one of them city manager. The 14 days started on Thursday, so he should be named on October 18.
Mr. Meszaros has a master’s degree in public administration from Troy State University. He has worked as a town administrator, a town clerk, and as an elected town council member in Colorado. He holds membership in the International City Managers Association. Currently Town Administrator of Meeker, Colorado.
Mr. Woods has a bachelor of science degree from Florida State University in Panama City, Fla. He has worked as a city manager for several small cities in Georgia and Florida and holds membership in the International City Managers Association.
Mr. Harrison has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. Has worked in business development and economic development for several large companies including Coca Cola, University of Georgia and the Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce. He is currently president and CEO of Harrison Family Farm, LLC and Harrison Recruiting, Inc.
The council discussed the candidates in closed session, then came out and discussed SDS. Mayor Pro Tem Stone Workman expressed his concerns about water territory. The city recently purchased some 700 acres which is a good source of water, but the Service Delivery map only shows Monticello’s territory in the incorporated areas which would be the new site and the old city limits. There is no line delineated for delivery of that water from the site to town or anywhere else.
Currently the Jasper County Water & Sewer Authority (JCWSA) has rights to all areas not specified for another authority. Mr. Workman is concerned about working with JCWSA when the time comes to run water lines, as JCWSA fought the city buying the property.
Other council members mentioned a current situation where the city has worked with JCWSA to provide water to a resident outside the city limits. Mr. Workman wanted the county to designate areas between the new site and the city as being serviced by the city. However, the county cannot do that as it is up to JCWSA.
After much back and forth, with Mr. Workman insisting it must be fixed, the council agreed to postpone action until Tuesday, Oct. 9. They passed a motion to have the city attorney contact the county attorney and ask that the area in question be designated Monticello’s service district. The motion passed 4-1 with the stipulation a decision would be made Tuesday.
