City Completes Automatic Meter Project
During the regular monthly meeting of the Monticello City Council Tuesday, City Manager Bob Schwartz reported that the long awaited installation of electric, gas and water automatic meters is virtually complete, and will be completely done by the end of this week.
These meters are touted to be much more accurate than the old ones, and of course will automatically report usage without the need of a meter reader. As previously reported, going forward all meters will be read the second week of each month, bills will be sent out the fourth week, and will be due the 15th of the following month.
Mr. Schwartz also presented the current financial report for the first seven months of the budget year ending January 1, 2011. The bottom line reflected the budget was on target with 55 percent, or $4,884,033 of the total budget of $8,841,597 having been used.
However, during the Citizen’s Input portion of the meeting, several people came forward to express their concern about their current high utility bills. Rev. Randy Stroozer said, “Some people’s bills are a hundred dollars more than their income. The citizen’s can’t tote the city. You can say the city’s rates are competitive, but they are not, and something has to change. I don’t know the solution, but the city is crippling the citizens, and no one wants to live here and no business wants to come here. Something has to change.”
Another citizen told the Council they had to find other ways to bring revenue to the city.
Mayor Glenn Newsome responded by saying, “We are all concerned about the utility bills. Our problem is we have to buy the power and it has gone up, and we have to pay for it when we get it. We have lost industry, and there is no single solution. The only thing we can do is to conserve.”
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Monticello Police Chief Bobby Norris reported that for February his department collected $4,154 in fines and fees, responded to 212 calls for service and wrote 37 citations.
Anna Mickle, new director for the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce introduced herself to the Council, and said she was working toward using volunteer help to keep the Visitors’ Center open Monday through Friday, from nine to five, and possibly four hours on Saturdays. She added that, among other programs, she was also working on putting out a community newsletter.
Chief Norris also reported on the very bad condition of the police force’s vehicles, and that if nothing was done, in three months they would be down to one car. The plan he presented was to purchase six cars long range, beginning with immediately purchasing one new and two used vehicles, or two new and one used now. After some discussion, the Council took no action, but agreed to take the problem under immediate consideration.
In other action, the Council:
•Approved a calendar for the preparation of the budget for FY2012.
•Approved a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan submitted by Melissa Slocumb, Emergency Management Director.
•Approved a recommendation from City Engineer Robert Jordan to award the contract for the Community Development Block Grant sewer assessment to AUI, LLC of Cookeville, TN for $40,936. A summary of all bids showed this to be the lowest, and the highest one was $116,788.
Before the meeting was adjourned, Mayor Newsome took the time to explain the new staggered election of city officials, which is currently being considered by the state legislature. If approved, all six positions, in the election of November 2011, will specify a two-year term for the mayor, a four-year term for the mayor pro tem, and a two-year term for two of the council members, and a four-term for the other two. After the initial election all terms would be for four years, and the purpose of this staggered election is to provide experienced leadership at all times.
