Monticello Council Agrees on Issues; Will Welcome New Industry and Business
The Monticello City Council passed unanimously and signed a resolution to enter into an agreement which will bring a new industry into the City of Monticello.
David Dyer and Rusty Bullard, both of the Development Authority of Jasper County (DAJC), were on hand to make the presentation which stated that a manufacturing company will locate in the industrial park in Monticello and assist in the creation of 80 to 90 jobs, where a minimum of 51 percent will be available to low and moderate income persons.
This project has been in the works for about a year, according to Mr. Dyer and is a great thing for the City of Monticello. The project, for now known as Project Wings is a 101 year old company that is in its fourth generation of being family run. There are currently two of these companies in California and one in Indiana and they pride themselves on becoming an advocate for the community.
With the definitive timeline, Mr. Dyer is hoping for a ground-breaking sometime in November. He has traveled to the existing plants and says that there is no waste, no odor or noise, and they use no hazardous chemicals.
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The company produces five gallon, and three and a half gallon plastic pails and will do the same here. They also have a stainless steel fasteners division, which will not locate here yet.
The plant will bring a capital investment of $12 million over the next 15 years, a 100,000 sq ft. building. The initial building will be $4.1 million and will eventually add $4 million more over the next 12 years. The annual payroll according to Mr. Dyer will be $2.5-$3 million.
It will supply the southeast region which holds 27 percent of the company’s customers. The company also intends to locate a rail spur in the industrial park.
Mr. Dyer asked the Council to resolve financing in order to drive down the lease rate in order to remain competitive. There will be a longer amortization, 15 years and the lease will only run 12 years. For the three years in between the City acts as collateral for bank authorization.
The Council also voted after an executive session to appoint Peggy Billerman, City Clerk as interim City Manager effective October 15. The current City Manger, Bob Schwartz resigned to take another position in Oxford.
The Council also reviewed applications for the City Manager position during its executive session and will begin interviews within the next two weeks.
The city held a public hearing on a request from Robert Ross, for owner Silvia Fontaine, requesting a variance to allow the use of the existing drive and parking area at 111 Venture Court at the corner of Hwy. 16 west without improvements required by the zoning ordinance. The business going into that space is Evergreen Monticello Funeral Home.
Mr. Ross brought a proposed plan for parking spaces and asked that the existing driveway be used. He brought a plan before the Council and told them that “I intend to not use the front of the building unless there is a need. I want to keep the historic aspect and maintain the beauty of the home when viewed from Highway 16.”
There was much discussion as to the location of the funeral home, being that a bar is going in across the street. Mrs. Billerman reminded council members that that lot was zoned for a funeral home, and the council was only determining the variance for parking.
Councilman Larry Thurman made a motion to accept the variance and the plan as submitted for parking. The variance passed 3-1 with Bobby Jacobs voting no because of not being on the property and wanting more information and to be able to go out and look at the spaces. He requested that it be tabled until November.
During the police chief’s report there was much discussion from Councilmen Randy Strozier and Cornell Williams on the need for new police vehicles.
The council voted during budget time to hire a full-time police officer and did away with the cars. There was much discussion on the condition of the Chief’s car and Mr. Strozier encouraged everyone to go and ride with the Chief.
After much back and forth, Mayor Bryan Standifer said, “you as council must bring this to the meeting and before the council for the amendment. You can amend the budget but you have to take something away to add the cars. You have to find the money.”
The council also presented Matilda Segal a resolution for her accomplishments as an equestrian. The council applauded her for her accomplishments for her team and individual bronze medals in the North American Junior Olympics and Young Rider Championships.
The council recognized nine-year old Sammy Puckett for being Honorary Councilmember of the month. He was in attendance and when asked to sit up front with the council, took Mayor Standifer’s seat. The audience laughed and applauded him as well.
