City Discusses New Speed Guidelines

The Monticello City Council, at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, took up reconsideration of the motion it had previously passed stipulating speeding tickets to be issued for going one mile per hour over the speed limit in the Historic District, about which there was a great deal of discussion.

Monticello Police Chief said, “State law says counties and cities must allow for 10 MPH over the limit and a special limit in a historical district is new to me.”
Councilman Bobby Jacobs said, “The council has already approved this and I don’t know why it hasn’t been posted.”
Mayor Glenn Newsome replied, “We’re still waiting for approval by the DOT.”
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At this point Mr. Jacobs made a motion to instruct the Monticello Police Department (MPD) to issue tickets for anyone going over 10 MPH until word came from DOT. Councilwoman Katherine Alexander seconded the motion. While that motion was on the table, a motion was made to table the motion.

It was here that a discussion broke out over whether making a motion on a motion violated procedure. Mayor Newsome declared it was correct procedure and the motion to table the motion resulted in a tie vote of 2-2.

The motion then went back to Mr. Jacobs’ original motion and it passed with “yes” votes from Mr. Jacobs, Ms. Alexander and Mayor Pro Tem Russell Gross. Councilwoman Molly Pompey abstained. Councilman Bryan Standifer was absent because of work commitments.

Also on the agenda was the selection of a consulting firm for the sidewalk projects. After narrowing the selection down from more than 40 firms to four, then to two, the council voted unanimously to award the one million dollar contract to the Atlanta firm JB+A.

After public hearings at the beginning of the meeting the Council voted unanimously to approve three re-zoning requests which had previously been approved by the City Zoning Authority. They included a request by the Jasper County Economic Development Authority to sub-divide a 15.3 acre tract on Industrial Park Road and develop 3.73 acres with landscaping requirements reduced to a five foot buffer of driveway and parking.

The second approval included a request to rezone 555 Madison Road from residential to community commercial to allow a business office. Variance sought from required 75 foot transitional buffer to 10 feet was also approved.

The third approval was to permit an outreach ministry at 778 Funderburg Drive as a conditional use in the residential zoning district.

Under presentations the Council heard from Steve Edwards of Advanced Disposal who presented a new program for the city and county, which Mr. Edwards called, “a program looking to enhance their current service at no additional cost.”

The new program would offer larger containers to enhance recycling. Mr. Edwards also said he was always available and could be reached by cell phone at 770-560-4025 or at his email sewards@advanceddisposal.com.

Russell Bennett, representing the Chamber of Commerce, indicated the need for better signage at a cost of $2,400 to distinguish the visitors center and also show the availability of public restrooms. Mayor Newsome advised the request would be looked into as the budget progresses.

A resolution was also passed by the council declaring April 19, 2009 as Carrie Goolsby Day. Miss Goolsby will be recognized at Sardis Church Sunday. The mayor went on to praise Miss Goolsby for her many attributes over the years including being educated through the Jasper County School System; continuing to live on the land on which she was raised and continuing to farm that same land.

Under new business the Council approved unanimously the 2009-2010 Budget Policy Resolution, the first reading of the Identity Theft Prevention Program and the Treatment of Address Discrepancies Ordinances.

Towards the end of the meeting, Mayor Newsome asked for Council comments, as he does at each meeting.

Mrs. Alexander thanked everyone for attending the meeting and extended a welcome to new City Manager Bob Schwartz.
Mrs. Pompey said she was disappointed in herself and the entire Council for not doing anything so far to really benefit the community.

Mr. Jacobs thanked everyone for being there and extended a personal thanks to Mr. Gross for the card just received from him to thank him for his many accomplishments on the Council.

Mr. Gross said he was prepared to talk about ethic violations, referring to the recall petition recently filed against Mr. Jacobs, but that a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) lawsuit had been filed, referring to the petition Mr. Jacobs filed in Superior Court for a review of the sufficiency of the grounds for the recall. He went on to say he thought it was regrettable that deception had been used to prevent petitioning, and that he wanted to say to the people who signed the petition that he would be happy to sign another one.

The Council went into closed session to discuss items under attorney-client privilege.