City Discusses Utilities Credit Policy, Speed Bumps, Probation Service

The Monticello City Council discussed the utilities credit policy, speed bumps and probation services at their meeting Thursday and it was clear that they were not one united body on any of the aforementioned issues.

Mayor Pro tem Bobby Jacobs presided over the meeting and told the council that the Water Leak Credit Policy which had been borrowed from another city and told council members that the city attorney and that the policy stated that residents be paid back for up to four years of services that were not provided by the city.

Mr. Jacobs made the motion that they amend and implement a city policy that residents are reimbursed up to four years for utilities that were not provided by the city.

The policy was up for approval Thursday but was eventually tabled until the March meeting pending a further legal opinion.

Councilwoman Katherine Alexander said “I don’t want to approve this until I see one that is specifically written for the city of Monticello.”

Councilman Larry Thurman commented “we just said at the last meeting that the rates for [water and sewer] were 100 percent for 100 percent with no exceptions. Now we’re going to allow them to get back four years. We haven’t had a policy in the past, but we have already been giving reimbursement for two years?”

Mrs. Alexander commented that she’d like to ask the city attorney his opinion on grand fathering in the two year clause.

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Councilman David Wease said, “if we’ve been doing two years previously, let’s do two years. Let’s not have the contingency amongst council members.”

City residents, Roger and Leslie Minter were present and spoke to the council about paying for city sewer in his rental home in Hunters Ridge subdivision but did not get the service. He asked for a full refund for his previous payments. He is the second resident in two months to have this problem, leading to the discussion of a credit policy on city utilities.

The council approved having speed bumps installedmon Mason Street which runs off of Funderburg Drive. This was presented to the council last month and a price was given for the project not to exceed $500. The road will get three speed bumps at the recommendation of Monte Roper, public works director.

Councilman Thurman told the council that this was needed for safety of the elderly, children, and residents on Mason Street. Mr. Thuman had visited and observed the traffic on the street and recommended several ways to make Mason Street safer to its residents including the speed bumps or a decrease in the speed limit with ample signage put up.

The presence of law enforcement in the area was questioned at a previous meeting and there had been no information. It was asked Thursday to the city of Monticello policeman in attendance if there had been any citations written on Mason street for speeding, to which he replied “not to my knowledge, no.”

Mr. Jacobs explained that residents from Persons Street had brought speed bumps to a meeting in a previous year and their request was denied. “I’m afraid that we’re opening the flood gates on this,” he said. “And what you have to do for one you have to do for all, it’s only fair. I have a petition from those residents.”

Mr. Thurman requested to see the petition and then explained that from Funderburg Drive down Persons Street that there is currently a railroad track and a stop sign. He said that he didn’t see a need for speed bumps in that location. It was also suggested that there be more of a police presence in areas that are continually brought before council where speed seems to be a reoccurring issue.

Saturday, May 3 is the date that the council voted on for the annual city wide yard sale. Although discussed, there was no date set for this year’s city wide clean up day.

Last month the council voted not to renew the contract of now former city manager, Tim Sweezey and at Thursday’s meeting Peggy Billerman, city clerk was named interim city manager.

The council voted to bring all new hires before council through June 2014, the end of this year’s budget. This stemmed from a proposed hiring freeze being that money is very tight with four months left before the end of the fiscal year.

Councilwoman Alexander stated in her comments, “our finances are not well, ya’ll. I have been told that they weren’t but I found out that we haven’t paid our bank note as of January 31. I want you to know. We’re bickering over speed bumps, and we can’t pay our bills.”

Another hot topic amongst the council was that of a meeting on the third floor offices in the city government complex. The motion to sign the lease for JAG Probation services was approved 3-2 with Councilmen Thurman and Cornell Williams voting against. There was some animosity amongst the council members with references to a “secret meeting,” that Mr. Thurman and Mr. Williams appeared to be unaware of.

This has been a hot topic since November 2013. The probation services with JAG had previously been terminated and CSRA had been approved as the new service.

Judge Ray Lanier came before the council last month and stated that the judge had to sign off on any change with the services and that had not been done. The contract with JAG was still binding according to Judge Lanier, thereforeit was reinstated and approved to be moved back into their office at the city complex with the lease being approved and signed Thursday.

At the conclusion of the meeting there was a comment from Pat Standifer as to the meeting and how the council members need to bring a united front to the public. She said, “you all are there for the good of the citizens. A unified front needs to be seen with all of the pettiness aside. From my observation it’s not about race or personal agendas, it’s about the city.”

Mrs. Alexander thanked the city employees and that she was thankful that there was little storm damage. She also said that she was thinking of those residents that had fires at their homes last week. She said that the city and street and electric crews were all out and the power got back on and that she was just thankful for all of their hard work.