Council Enacts Travel Policy; Votes to Buy Patrol Unit

Within one hour of convening Tuesday, Monticello City Council members approved a travel policy for city personnel, annexed additional acreage into the city limits, and voted to move ahead with the purchase of a new police department patrol unit.

A full council including mayor Susan Holmes, mayor pro tem Russell Gross, Scott Sauls, Bryan Standifer, Jackie Smith, and Glenn Newsome covered a wide range of issues over a relatively brief time period during the first meeting of the new year.

The new travel policy permits daily meal allowances of $35 per day for travel in non-metro areas and $50 per day in metro areas. Mileage reimbursements were increased from .31 cents to .44 cents per mile with lodging allowances ranging from $61 to $115 depending on the city.

Council members approved the annexation of 4.51 acres off Hwy. 11 into the city limits per request of the St. James A.M.E. Church Board of Trustees. During the public hearing preceding the business session no opposing comments were given.

Good news was in store for the police department as it will become the recipients of a new patrol vehicle through the loan with BB&T at 4.51 percent over three years. Along with financing the new purchase, BB&T will also refinance the remaining balance on the 2005 Crown Victoria used by the department, according to Councilman Standifer.

Additionally, city manager Hugh King informed the council that the USDA grant funds for police car purchases could be released by March. To that end, Mr. King sought permission from council members to pursue USDA grant funds, through the Downtown Development Authority, for a sewer relocation project at the Massey Center on Hwy. 16 estimated at $50,000.
{{more}}
While the city manager was cleared to begin the grant process for that project, his request to pursue USDA grant funds for a 10-inch water main connecting the Frobel Street water tank to the Industrial Park was tabled for further review.

Other approvals included a resolution to authorize first amendment to the Municipal Competitive Trust which will allow MEAG cities to secure funds from a trust and approval not to renegotiate an unemployment loan with McIntosh State Bank.

During financial discussions, Mr. King and city clerk Belinda Whirley reported that the 2006 audit was slated for completion by the conclusion of January. December payments totaling more than $985,000 were approved and council members were provided a financial summary of the current fiscal year’s expenditures along with a report of the 12 K electric upgrade costs thus far.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Mr. King’s brief report included an update of the city’s search for a new probation service company. The contract with the current company will terminate next month, meanwhile requests, for proposals have been sent to approximately 43 companies in the state that provide such services.

As of Tuesday, the city had received two proposals. Deadline for submitting propoals is January 15. The city manager said that his recommendation for new services would be made at next month’s meeting.

Councilman Sauls reiterated that he was not pleased with last month’s vote to terminate the current company.

Mr. King informed council that the city’s police department would be seeking state certification from the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency (GIRMA). Such certification would allow for a significant reduction in liability insurance premiums for the police department, according to the city manager.

Relative to the police department, Councilman Standifer asked that everyone keep Chief Dan Norris in mind while he recovers from a minor shooting incident that occurred during the holidays. His recovery could take two to three months during which time the chief will collect workers compensation.

Captain Bobby Norris will act as interim police department chief until Chief Norris returns.
The city manager’s report also included an update of the water system upgrade on Washington Street; a review of the city’s three long term debt issues involving water & sewer bonds, government complex bonds, and electrical upgrade; and an update on Merry Lane progress.

With sparse audience attendance, no citizen input was given.

During council comments, Mr. Newsome suggested staggering the terms for council members in order to prevent the occurrence of all “fresh” members.
Mayor pro tem Gross didn’t favor the term stagger because he felt it would affect the citizens’ right of choice.

Mayor Holmes and Council woman Smith both expressed favor with the idea. The mayor appointed Messrs. Newsome and Standifer to a committee to work on the details.