City Approves Alcohol Licenses

The Monticello City Council last week approved retail sales for alcohol for the following businesses which applied for beer and wine licensing for 2017: A&Q Grocery, LLC, A-1 Foods, Circle K #2069, Ingles Market Inc. #496, Monticello Food Mart and Monticello Family Foods.

The council also named Doug White City Manager, Lathaydra Sands, City Clerk; Joe Reitman, City Attorney, and Robert Jordan, City Engineer.

City Council heard a preliminary audit report for the year ended June 30, 2016, from Rick Hartley. The report showed the city in sound financial shape, with a positive trend as compared to year’s past.

The city also approved a solar ordinance and rates to accompany it after a public hearing that elicited no interest. The council spent considerable time at the last two meetings learning about the ordinance, and the safeguards in place to keep city workers safe in the case of emergency.

Council spent some time discussing a zoning issues where a young lady wanted to open a beauty shop as a home occupation. The city zoning code forbids that. City Attorney Joe Reitman said the applicant could apply for a text amendment to make the use allowable, then re-apply for the license. However, she wants to have the shop in a home she does not live in, but belongs to the family. Mr. Reitman explained that raises another issue. Council tabled any action on the application until the February meeting.

Council also tabled an application for a car dealership at 210 West Greene Street, as there was no one at the meeting to speak in favor of it.

In other action at January’s regular council meeting, council members:

•Approved a flood prevention ordinance

•Approved a resolution for National School Choice Week.

•Approved the December payables.

•Approved the use of Funderburg Park for a community fun day on Saturday, April 22, with a rain date of Saturday, April 29. The fun day is sponsored by St. John C .M.E. and Monticello Presbyterian Churches.