The City Council of Monticello, Arkansas met in the council chambers at City Hall on March 18, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Joe Rogers, who presided over the meeting, called the meeting to order with the following council members present: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. City Attorney Bill Daniels, Finance Director Kimberly Fletcher and City Clerk Andrea Chambers were also present.

Mayor Rogers welcomed the visitors and Councilor Bond gave the invocation.

Finance Report – Finance Director Kimberly Fletcher:

Operating budget:
• Sewer Department had a capital expense for the Mule that was budgeted in 2009
• Streets Department had a capital expense for a trailer that was budgeted in 2009

Sales Tax budget:
• February receipts are down $3,900.00, for year to date down about $9,200.00 compared to the same time last year.
• Other expenses were regular expenditures
• Paid Cornerstone Coalition
• Cablevision has made all payments and is current

Mayor Rogers read a proclamation honoring the Monticello High School Football Team for their victory of having an undefeated season and becoming the 5A State Championships.

Mayor Rogers read a proclamation honoring James T. Jordan for his life’s achievements.

Executive Director Glenda Nichols gave the Chamber of Commerce report.
• Presented the Arkansas Scholarships at the Monticello Middle School
• Conducted a meeting for the improvements to the downtown district, this is not just improving the square but a vision for Monticello to move forward with renovations
• Yard of the Month kicks off in April
• Began Appliance Rebate Program in Monticello
• Notary seminar will be held March 29th with new rules and regulations
• City wide clean-up was a great success and it was terrific to see the community come together

Councilor Chase mentioned that the Mission of Mercy to be held in Monticello on May 22nd thru May 14th at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, still needs volunteers.

Executive Director Truman Hamilton gave the MEDC report.
• Social Security office at the Workforce Training Center is only open two days a week and they see an average of twenty people a day, most are from out of town
• Experience Works is doing well with several seniors in the program
• Farmer’s Market received a small grant to offset some costs and the market is starting up
• F & F Boats is looking to hire welders and work at SEARK is picking up
• Presented presentation depiciting the plans for the Ridgeway Project, the city will haul all of the old brick and blocks away to fill in for the levy and that will save the project around $23,000.00. An asbestos abatement has been done for each building and all asbestos and lead paint will be taken care of.

Councilor Hudson asked Mr. Hamilton to provide an update of the properties that were sent letters to be cleaned up. The house on Oakland Street is down but the debris is still on the ground, the house on Wood Street has had nothing done in two months. Nothing has been done to the house on Hyatt Street and the one on Shelton Street is on the ground. Councilor Hudson asked that Mr. Hamilton follow up on Wood Street and not Hyatt Street since they indicated that the house would be down by the summer of 2010. Councilor Hudson asked if any more lots have been selected and Mr. Hamilton stated that ten more letters have been sent to properties asking the owners to clean up and six have began cleaning up their properties. Councilor Brown asked for the vacant trailers on Scott Street to be on the list. Mr. Hamilton stated that initially, only burned out houses were selected due to limited resources.

The Chair called for any corrections to the minutes from the regular meeting held December 17, 2009. There being no corrections, and upon a motion by Councilor Peer, seconded by Councilor Hudson, and unanimously accepted, the minutes were approved as written.

The Chair called for any corrections to the minutes from the regular meeting held January 21, 2010. There being no corrections, and upon a motion by Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Peer, and unanimously accepted, the minutes were approved as written.

Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Peer, moved to suspend the rules requiring a resolution to be read in full. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. The Chair declared said motion passed unanimously.

Councilor Peer introduced the following proposed resolution which the City Attorney read the title distinctly and aloud in the hearing of the council as follows:

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SUPPORT OF THE
CITY OF MONTICELLO FOR THE EFFORTS OF THE
MONTICELLO-DREW COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ARKANSAS DOWNTOWN NETWORK.

Councilor Brown, seconded by Councilor Hudson, moved to approve said resolution. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. The Chair declared said motion was passed unanimously; the same approved as No.10-9.

Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Hudson, moved to suspend the rules requiring a to be read in full. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown and Claudia Hartness. Clifton Bond and Tim Chase voted “no”. The Chair declared said motion passed by a vote of six to two.

Councilor Hudson introduced the following proposed ordinance which the City Attorney read the title distinctly and aloud in the hearing of the council as follows:

AN ORDINANCE FURTHER AMENDING SECTION 2 OF
ORDINANCE NO. 493 OF THE CITY OF MONTICELLO, AS
PREVIOUSLY AMENDED, ESTABLISHING SCHEDULES OF
RATES OF CHARGES TO BE PAID FOR WATER SUPPLIED
FROM THE CITY’S WATER SYSTEM; DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY TO EXIST; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Hudson, moved to approve said ordinance. Councilor Chase inquired as to when the rates were last raised. Ms. Chambers responded that the last rate increase went into effect in May of 2009 and that due to the shortage in the water account, a rate increase was asked for again this year. Ms. Chambers further stated that this ordinance includes an increase for the minimum user from $6.50 to $7.00. Kimberly Fletcher stated that with the increase of 2009, the city is able to pay the bills now, however, nothing is set aside for emergencies or problems. Mayor Rogers stated that he felt that inceasing the rates a little each year is easier on the citizens than a huge increase. Councilor Peer asked what would happen if we have an emergency and Mrs. Fletcher responded that sales tax budget would have to be used. Councilor Chase asked about the current state of repainting the water tower, specifically Conrad Water Tower. Mayor Rogers informed the Council that USDA had asked for a third set of paperwork and the City is still waiting. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. Clifton Bond voted “no”. The Chair declared said motion passed by a vote of seven to one.; the same approved as No.757.

Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Hudson, moved to adopt the emergency clause. The following councilors voted “yes”: Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. Clifton Bond voted “no”. The Chair declared said motion passed by a vote of seven to one.

Councilor Hartness asked about the shrubs and sidewalks on the square and Mayor Rogers stated that nothing would be done to the blocks except they would be cleaned. Mayor Rogers also stated that the square belongs to the county and nothing is done without the Judge’s permission. The old shrubs were removed because they had become to big to manage per the master gardners recommendation. Councilor Hartness asked if there was a water system on the square and Mayor Rogers answered that there was. Mayor Rogers also stated that it looks better over there now than before and Councilor Brown agreed.

Mayor’s Report:

Twenty for the Future representatives, Mayor Joe Rogers, Truman Hamilton, Tim Chase, Al Peer, Benji Ryburn, Judge Damon Lampkin and several others from the surrounding communities, traveled to Washington D.C. on February 23rd and met with Congressman Mike Ross, Blanche Lincoln, Mark Pryor and other delegates to discuss community needs. They returned February 25th with good expectations from the meetings for community growth. On March 1st, Mayor Rogers met with FEMA. Mayor Rogers attended the MEDC monthly meeting held at the University of Arkansas at Monticello on March 3rd. On March 4th, Mayor Rogers met with ETC Engineering to discuss progress at the splash pad in Jordan Park.

In addition:
• Repaired water leaks on Jordan Pool Building, East Trotter Street, North Samuel Street and North Oak Street
• Removed stumps along Cooper Street
• Repaired traffic lights on Old Warren Road and at the UAM entrance
• Flushed water lines to Intermodal and on Faye Lane
• Graded levy at Lake Monticello
• Replaced culvert on Tanglewood Drive and on Scogin Drive
• Installed fence on West side of McCloy Park
• Replaced two culverts on Lake Monticello Road (Hwy 35 side)
• Hauled several loads of SB2 from Pine Bluff to Lake Monticello Road to fill in damaged places and for the replacement of culverts
• Helped Health Department take water samples from all wells
• Repaired leak on Well #3
• Repaired side of East Pauline from washout with SB2
• Cleaned ditches on East Pauline, South Dillard and on Cherry Street
• Washed two backhoes and the tri-axle dump truck
• Patched streets throughout the city
• Put bleachers together at Jordan Park
• Picked up trash on Godbold Street, East Oakland Street, South Maple Street, West Shelton Street, South Speer Street, South Gabbert Street, North Samuel Street, East Pope Street, Scott Street, North Cooper Street and East Calhoun Street
• Repaired sewer line on Dearman Drive, Circle Acres, East Oakland Street and on West Gaines

All business having been discussed, and upon a motion by Councilor Bond the meeting was adjourned.

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