Monticello Council Makes Appointments

Members of the Monticello City Council appointed the following in the positions that follow for 2015.

The 12 month appointments include Robert Jordan, City Engineer; Peggy Billerman, City Clerk and City Manager, and M. Joseph Reitman, Jr., City Attorney.

Judge E. Ray Lanier, Judge of the Municipal Court and Timothy Bumann, Judge Pro-Tem of the Municipal Court were both reappointed but only with a six month appointment as the city plans to dissolve its Municipal Court June 30, 2015, the end of its fiscal year.

Mayor Bryan Standifer informed the council that State House Representative Susan Holmes was consulted and was going to introduce legislation dissolving the Municipal Court of Monticello. The process was to be legally completed by the end of the fiscal year, according to Mayor Standifer.

The council also heard from Monte Roper as to the costs associated with relocating utilities associated with the Park to Park Sidewalk Project.

He said that the pole relocation would all be done in house with no costs incurred. He said that AT&T was going to charge $45,420 for relocation, and $2,405 for water meter and hydrant relocation.

Mr. Roper told the council that for poles and moving an underground service the cost for materials would be approximately $6,500.

Mr. Roper also asked for the council to approve the low bid of $11,548 to replace a transformer in the industrial park that was key to PermaTherm. The council voted to accept the low bid from Florida Transformer. Mr. Roper noted that repair would be made on a weekend.

Two committees were formed amongst the council members Tuesday night. One was for the Memory Bricks that citizens can purchase and one for a blighted properties inventory within the city. The council was asked to study, count and decide whether to update or eliminate such properties.

The council also voted to delete the first “citizens comments” portion from the agenda. They will receive comments from citizens toward the end of the meetings