Monticello Council Discusses Sidewalk Project

In a work session Tuesday, members of the Monticello City Council took their first step toward making the Sidewalk Project a reality. The $1 million funding for the project comes from a Federal Earmark, which was awarded to the city by Congressman Jim Marshall some time ago.

Two Landscape Architects from JB+a, Inc., the firm which the project was awarded to, along with Robert Jordan of Jordan Engineering, were on hand to discuss and plan the preliminary steps of the project.

Mayor Glenn Newsome was on vacation and Councilman Bobby Jacobs was also absent, however, Mayor Pro Tem Russell Gross, Councilman Bryan Standifer and Councilwomen Katherine Alexander and Mollie Pompey were on hand, enough for a quorum.

The architects and the council poured over a city map and indicated with colored markers where they wanted Multiple Use Trails, which are 10 to 12 foot wide paved paths that are highly traveled by residents and visitors and used to link hospitals, community centers, the Square and the parks.

They also indicated on the map where they felt Neighborhood Walks, five to eight foot wide sidewalks linking neighborhood streets and schools should go.

Also indicated by the Council was where they felt Connector Trails should be built, which could vary in width, and which would link parks, cemeteries and residential areas in town. This construction could be paved or constructed using mulch, recycled rubber, dirt, grave or stone fines.

The next step in the process is for the consulting firm to return to the regular monthly meeting of the Council in August, with design elements and preliminary costs estimates by section. After this meeting, public hearings will be conducted on the project.

The Council also reviewed the openings on their boards and commissions, including the Better Hometown Program/Downtown Development Authority, Monticello Parks And Recreation Committee, Monticello/Jasper Recreation Committee, the Get Ahead House, the Housing Authority, the Tree Preservation Board, Planning and Zoning Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission.

City Manager Bob Schwartz also presented the council with an Issue Calendar, broken down by month for the next year, and a draft agenda for the July 14 meeting.