About the City of Monticello

Last night, the City Council of Monticello held a called meeting (a meeting at a time other than the usual schedule) as a public hearing for local citizens’ opinions on next year’s budget.

This is the third year that I have covered City Council and have yet to see more than four Monticello citizens at this hearing which is held yearly before the final budget is passed.

As a citizen of Monticello, as well as a news reporter, I wondered last night if the other citizens do not care enough to show up or if the majority don’t understand local or any government and don’t know that their opinions can be voiced or if it’s something else.

Since I’ve moved back to Monticello, most of the complaints that I have heard were about utilities. Many citizens complain that they are sky high and that they cannot afford to live here with such high rates.

I’ll have you know that the City of Monticello utility rates are not increasing this year and have not in at least the last three years with the exception of a $3 a month garbage fee increase.

It seems at some of the monthly meetings (which are open to the public as well) the same citizens attend those.

I have to admit, I was uninformed about local government when I first began to cover the city meetings, and the last thing that I want to do is to go to a meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

But I do.

And because I do so for work, I am lucky to have learned about how the city works—it’s daily processes and what it means to have a budget.

I also have learned that most of our money from utilities funds the city, which is not how it is supposed to be but the officials of the city are working their way to having a fund balance (a remainder of money after all of the bills and stuff is bought) which will be used for the city to be run on. Anyway, I digress.

Back to the citizens.

I think that many of the citizens of Monticello love the town in which they live. I think that most of the ones that complain the loudest are the same people over and over again.

Last night, I sat in the public hearing—held for the public—with just two other local citizens, both of which attend virtually all city council meetings. Both of these men do research and have educated input for the council.

I just want to stress the importance of being a part of the community in which you live.

You can read about most of the ongoings in both the city and county here, when they are covered, but the best way to hear what your elected officials are doing, and where tax money is going, is to attend one of these meetings personally.

I find them enlightening, and like I said, it’s not the ideal place to be, but I like what our Council is doing. I like that Mayor Bryan Standifer is a leader and that the 2014 budget will be the best our city has seen yet.

Tim Sweezey, City Manager, has been working hard in the field, and three of the council members have been at almost every budget meeting that has been held to do what’s best for OUR city.

In last night’s meeting, all three councilmen were open to discussion and took suggestions and Mr. Sweezey answered any question the citizens had.

I just wish that there were more citizens in attendance to offer input and ask questions.

The City of Monticello is moving forward. There is new industry coming in and will be looking toward smart growth.

Be a part of your community. Have a sayso and attend a meeting to see good things happening in Monticello.