Council Hears Electric Rates to Go Up From MEAG
A representative from the Metropolitan Electrical Authority of Georgia (MEAG) was on hand at the Monticello City Council regular meeting Tuesday evening for a preliminary update and a forecast for power costs for the calendar year 2011, and it appears there will be a substantial increase to the city.
Two of the reasons quoted by the MEAG Representative were compliance with federally mandated environmental issues and shutdowns in the fall and spring of next year at Plant Sherer and other plants.
The projected wholesale cost to the city would go from $1,724,063 to $2,076,289, a difference of $353,226 or an 8.3 percent increase.
This presentation came shortly after two citizens complained bitterly about just receiving high bills covering 45 days. City Manager Bob Schwartz blamed the late arrival of the parts to install automatic meter readers. Mayor Glenn Newsome explained the city had spent $700,000 for the automatic meter readers which should eliminate this problem going forward, and offered the citizens an adjustment if they would apply at city hall.
Mayor Pro Tem Russell Gross said the city should absorb this increase in the cost of electricity and that he would not vote for another increase in the cost of any kind of power.
Councilperson Katherine Alexander said the rate increase was beyond their control, but that the Council was going to really have to work on their budget because she thought there was still fluff to cut.
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Also, James K. Dunn who was present at the September regular meeting and had requested a release of electrical service from the city because his property on Hwy. 16 was bisected by the line dividing the city’s service area from Central Georgia Electric membership Corporation (EMC), was back at Tuesday’s meeting expecting an answer. His request was reviewed with MEAG and a response from the CEO of Electric Cities of Georgia recommended Mr. Dunn’s request be denied.
Councilperson Bobby Jacobs wondered about the precedent it would set if Mr. Dunn’s request was allowed.
Mr. Gross said this was a special case because the property was split on the line, and made a motion to approve Mr. Dunn’s request. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Alexander and passed 3-1 with Councilperson Bryan Standifer voting to approve along with Mr. Gross and Mrs. Alexander, while Mr. Jacobs voted against. Councilperson Molly Pompey did not attend the meeting.
David Dammann, chairman of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), presented a petition to borrow $10,000 from the city to pay the authority’s outstanding debts including $2,439 in property taxes.
Mrs. Alexander said she needed to see where the money would be coming from. Mr. Standifer asked if the authority’s list included all debts owed, which was answered in the affirmative.
Mr. Jacobs said the DDA was a separate entity from the city and the city was not legally bound to bail them out.
The Council reached a conclusion that the request would go to their budget and finance committee with a decision to be rendered at the next regular meeting.
Other action and presentations taking place at the meeting are as follows:
•Council members signed the bank account for the Community Development Block Grant of $500,000 for sewer repairs.
•Voted unanimously to extend the city’s contract with Advanced Disposal with the rate frozen through 2011.
•Walter Smith presented the details of a five year $500,000 grant, as previously reported, for the Get Ahead House, which will provide 15 jobs.
•The Mayor asked for volunteers to fill three vacancies on the DDA Board, as well as three on the Historical Preservation Commission.
•The Council reviewed a 28 page financial report from Capable Financial Solutions and agreed to study the report and determine which reports would be required monthly and which would be more appropriate to receive quarterly.
•The recreation committee for the improvement of Westview Park scheduled a second meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.
•Council members had their photo made with a large check for sewer improvemenst, which had previously been announced.
Before adjourning the meeting Mr. Newsome asked the Council to begin thinking about what issues they needed to talk to the new legislature about after the upcoming election, and scheduled a work session for Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. to discuss the MEAG budget.
