Monticello Council Discusses Services

The Monticello City Council met in a called meeting Monday to discuss the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) more in depth and went into executive session for almost an hour to discuss litigation and for the acquisition of an interest in real property.

After the closed session the council voted to “authorize the city attorney to move forward with litigation discussed in executive session.”

There was little change from the work session last week in the council’s discussion on the SDS as Mayor pro tem Stone Workman discussed his points again on the existing document that resides on the DCA website dated 1996, and re-signed in 2006.

Mayor Bryan Standifer urged the council to get something down on paper to present to the county for review and feedback from them. The council voted to send the county a letter with the below terms and to attend a meeting with the Board of Commissioners on Monday, March 12 to present.

Mr. Workman told the council that the law was on their side citing House Bill 489 on double taxation.

Going through the DCA document he stated that the following services would stay with Jasper County as stated: Code Enforcement, Economic Development Industrial park upkeep, the hospital, Fire Department and hydrant fees, and law enforcement. Mr. Workman asked that courthouse and juror parking be added to the services stating that there was no enforcement for parking on the Square for long hours.

There was additional discussion on other services such as 911, ambulance and other items listed in the SDS, but those above were the hot topics.

Mr. Workman stated that the county benefited from these things as well as the city and that the citizens already pay for these services through their ad valorem taxes. Mr. Workman said, “this will just be a letter telling them [the county] it’s their responsibility to provide. There are no money talks yet.” “Everything that we charge people we put back on our citizens with utility rates,” said Mr. Workman.

Councilman David Wease mentioned parks and the upkeep using city services and there was a consensus amongst the council that services that were currently provided will be continued. Mayor Standifer stated that anything above and beyond the current services and contributions will have to be reviewed and voted on.

Before the executive session the council agreed to put the proposal from them together in the form of a letter and to attend the meeting on Monday to present.