MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
DECEMBER 11th, 2007
7:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Holmes called the meeting to order with the following Council Members present:
Mayor Pro Tem Gross, Councilor Newsome, and Councilor Standifer. Also present was
Attorney, Roy R. Kelly III, City Manager, Hugh King and City Clerk, Belinda Whirley.
INVOCATION
Better Hometown Director, Sage Edwards gave the invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Gross led in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
AGENDA APPROVAL
Councilor Newsome made a motion to approve the agenda with addition of discussion of library
donation. Councilor Standifer seconded the motion. All were in favor.
MINUTES
Councilor Standifer made a motion seconded by Councilor Newsome to approve the minutes of
November 13th & 16th. All were in favor.
PAYABLES
Mayor Pro Tem Gross made a motion seconded by Councilor Newsome to approve the payables
as presented. All were in favor.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Finance Director, Belinda Whirley gave a financial report for the month ending October 31, 2007.
Councilor Standifer made a motion seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Gross to approve the report as
presented. All were in favor.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Mr. King announced that the swearing-in for the new mayor and council will be on Tuesday, Jan.
8, at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers before the regular council meeting.
He also announced the city Christmas Holidays are Christmas Eve and Christmas day, and that
City Hall will re-open Wednesday, Dec. 26.
Mr. King said that he had been talking to the owner of the building at 346 Forsyth Street (corner
of Washington Street and Forsyth Street) and was confident the building would be properly
stabilized, and said he and Jasper County Building Inspector Ken Baldwin were keeping an eye
on it.
CITIZEN’S INPUT
Merrilyn Elliott appeared before Council to ask that something be done about an old dilapidated
house near her property. Mrs. Elliott believes the house is a fire and possibly a health hazard.
Bobby Jacobs appeared before Council to oppose City funding of the library. Mr. Jacobs
expressed his support for the library but doesn’t agree that the City should donate money to it.
City residents pay twice as much per capita as county residents to use the Jasper County Library.
The County should just step up and do the right thing.
Reverend William Gibson played “Everything to God in Prayer” to celebrate the reason for the
season.
NEW BUSINESS
PRESENTATION OF AUDIT FOR FY 2006-2007
Brian Wright, of Wright & Wright, PC presented the City’s audit report for the year ending June
30, 2007. Councilor Newsome made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to approve the
report as presented. All were in favor.
LIBRARY DONATION
Councilor Newsome updated Council on the latest library meetings, then made a motion
that the city donate $10,000 to assist in operations of the Jasper County Library for the
current fiscal year which goes through next June 30. Councilor Standifer seconded the
motion. All were in favor.
2008 RETAIL LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS
Councilor Newsome made a motion seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Gross to approve the
license renewals for the following:
THE HIDE-A-WAY PACKAGE STORE - 10 TOWHEE STREET
MCMICHAEL’S PACKAGE STORE - 158 FROBEL STREET
T & T PACKAGE STORE - 541 VENTURE COURT
All were in favor.
RESOLUTION ON WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AT
THE INDUSTRIAL PARK
Mr. Frank Sherill appeared before Council to ask for approval of the resolution to support
improvements at the Industrial Park.
Councilor Newsome made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to approve
Resolution on Water Distribution System Improvements at Industrial Park. All were in
favor.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH DAJC FOR BETTER HOMETOWN
SERVICES
Councilor Standifer made a motion seconded by Councilor Newsome to approve a
memorandum of understanding to continue Better Hometown Services through the Development
Authority of Jasper County.
AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR
$25,000 MATCHING FUNDS
Councilor Newsome made a motion seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Gross to approve the
Agreement with the Department of Community Affairs for $25,000.00 Matching Funds.
All were in favor.
RESOLUTION FOR APPROVAL OF WATER/SEWER DRAWDOWN
Councilor Newsome made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to approve the
draw down of funds in the amount of $3,990.00 for payment to Carter & Sloope for
partial design of water treatment plant upgrade. All were in favor.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilman and Mayor-elect Glenn Newsome read a proclamation in honor of Councilor Jackie
Smith who was not present, but received a round of applause anyway. The proclamation stated
the pavilion at Funderburg Park would be named for Mrs. Jacqueline Smith.
Afterwards, Councilor Newsome read a proclamation for Mayor Susan Holmes, who did not seek
re-election after serving three terms. Mrs. Holmes has many accomplishments to list for her
tenure. The proclamation declared that the Council Chambers would be named for Mrs. Susan D.
Holmes.
Councilor Standifer, Newsome, and Mayor Pro Tem Gross commended the mayor and council
members leaving office in January.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Councilor Newsome made a motion seconded by
Councilor Standifer to adjourn at 8:55 PM. All were in favor.
_________________________
MAYOR
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CLERK