Monticello Council Sets Sidewalk Priorities

The Monticello City Council met with Scott Allison of jB+a, Inc, the consulting firm which was awarded the City Sidewalk Project, and Robert Jordan of Jordan Engineering Monday evening in a work session during which the Council set a working list of priorities on the project.

Those priorities included concrete multi-use trail/pedestrian ways, park improvements and asphalt connector trails as follows:

•College Street from Jasper Memorial Hospital to Maddux St.

•College St. from Maddux St. to Westview St.

•Westview St from College St to Westview Park.

•Westview Park improvements.

•College St/West Greene St from Westview St. to the Square.

•Funderburg Drive/South Warren St from E. Washington St to Van Buren St.

•Funderburg Drive from Van Buren St to MLK Jr. Drive.
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The Council also prioritized Gateway Signage to the city and Pocket Parks. The next step in the project is for the consulting firm is to begin to develop and present concepts and costs, which is tentatively planned for the Council’s regular monthly meeting scheduled for Sept. 8.

Also, Mayor Glenn Newsome made a short presentation of a recycling system for the city which would eliminate sorting of materials and have a drop off center located on Funderburg Drive, just south of South Street. It is expected the full council will vote on this item at the next regular meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 11.

City Manager Bob Schwartz made recommendations for procedures to follow for the Consent Agenda during the regular meeting. These are items on the agenda that do not need any discussion or debate either because they are routine procedures or are already unanimous consent.

A Consent Agenda allows the Council to approve all these items together without discussion or individual motions and can free up time for more substantial discussion. In order to start using a Consent Agenda, the council must first adopt a rule of order allowing for the process.

Also discussed was a review of where the council stood on the request of Ken Smith on behalf of the car wash on North Warren where the Historical Society has demanded the removal of a metal car port used in the business.

Mayor Newsome presented a memo requesting that the Monticello Police Chief be allowed to drive his car home during the week. The memo stated this is a practice followed by most police chiefs in the state and would allow the chief the immediate use of his radio and police vehicle.

Mr. Schwartz announced the city was getting ready to start work on the automated meter reading system, and that he would like to contract with Jordan Engineering to supervise this large and complicated purchase and installation.

Councilwoman Katherine Alexander reported she had met with the Downtown Development Authority and that they were making progress with the loan review committee, and were attempting to list the building, which houses The Red Clay Cafe, to a real estate agent.