MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
JULY 11TH, 2006
7:25 PM PUBLIC HEARING FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO OPERATE AN AMUSEMENT OR
RECREATION CENTER AT 397 FUNDERBURG DRIVE
Mayor Holmes called the meeting to order with the following Council Members present:
Jackie Smith, Glenn Newsome, Bryan Standifer and Scott Sauls. Also present were City
Manager, Hugh King and City Clerk, Belinda Whirley.
Guests present were: Sage Edwards, Gene and Mable Mathis, Rev. William Gibson, Bonnie
Walsh, Ronald James, Robert James, Al Frost, Charles Davis, Sonny Clemons, Frank Sherrill,
Linda Jordan and Tracy Trovillo.
Bonnie Walsh of the Monticello Housing Authority appeared before Council to express her
concern about noise from the new recreation center that could possibly disturb her tenants.
Ronald James appeared before Council to assure Mrs. Walsh that he would make sure that noise
would not be a problem. He informed Council that the hours for the recreation center would not
exceed 11:00 PM during week days and 12:00 PM on weekends.
7:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Holmes called the meeting to order with the following Council Members present: Jackie
Smith, Glenn Newsome, Bryan Standifer and Scott Sauls. Also present were City Manager,
Hugh King and City Clerk, Belinda Whirley.
Guests present were: Sage Edwards, Gene and Mable Mathis, Rev. William Gibson, Bonnie
Walsh, Ronald James, Robert James, Al Frost, Charles Davis, Sonny Clemons, Frank Sherrill,
Linda Jordan and Tracy Trovillo.
INVOCATION
Rev. William Gibson gave the invocation.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mayor Holmes requested the addition of an executive session to discuss personnel and real estate
and an item 18a for Selling/Transfer of Property Known as “Old Sewing Factory”. Councilor
Standifer made a motion, seconded by Councilor Sauls to approve the agenda with these
additions. All were in favor.
MINUTES
Councilor Newsome made a motion, seconded by Councilor Smith to approve the minutes of
regular meeting June 13th, 2006. All were in favor.
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PAYABLES
Councilor Sauls made a motion, seconded by Councilor Smith to approve the payables as
presented. All were in favor.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager, Hugh King gave Council an update on the High School Water/Sewer Project. A
pre-construction meeting was held at City Hall on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 1:00 P.M. with Keck
& Wood, project engineers, Pyles Plumbing & Utility Contractors, Inc., low bidders for the
project and Jay Brinson of the High School. The City was represented by City Manager, Hugh
King; Public Works Director, Monte Roper; Richard Martin and Roger Minter of the Water
Sewer Department. All performance bonds and workers comp insurance are in order. A Notice
to Proceed was issued to the contractor with a project start date of July 17th, 2006. The 4,620 feet
of 10 inch ductile iron pipe will be completed with 45 days and 3,800 feet of 6 inch PVC sewer
will be completed within 90 days.
Mr. King informed Council that the City received a letter Department of Natural Resources that
closes the Consent Order that was issued to the City in July of 2005 for numerous sewer spills in
our sewer collection system. Receipt of this letter is a very positive step for the City and reflects
our continuing effort to maintain the infrastructure in compliance with regulatory agencies.
In other business, Mr. King informed Council that Reggie Grant of Trinity Financial Services and
City Financial Officer, Belinda Whirley are currently working on trial balances for the 2005 audit
and should be sending all pertinent material to City Auditor, Mark Hardison later this week.
DISCUSSION OF MAYOR PRO TEM ELECTION
Councilor Newsome made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to adopt a Resolution for
Special Election to Fill Vacancy of Mayor Pro Tem. All were in favor.
COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY
Councilor Smith made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to approve addition of July 3rd,
2006 as an employee holiday. All were in favor.
DISCUSSION OF TREE TRIMMING CONTRACT
City Manager, King gave an update on the current tree trimming contract with Henderson and
Son Tree Service. Mr. Henderson has not completed project in a timely manner and continues to
work very sporadically. Recommendations were made to have City Attorney, Kelly mail a
certified letter to Henderson and Son Tree Services for failure to complete tree trimming project.
APPOINTMENT TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Councilor Newsome made a motion seconded by Councilor Sauls to approve the
recommendations of the Historic Preservation Commission to appointment Gordon Plummer and
reappoint Tom Shekita, and Jenny Segal to the Historic Preservation Commission. All were in
favor.
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APPOINTMENT TO ZONING COMMISSION
Councilor Smith made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to approve the appointment of
Otis Goolsby to the Zoning Commission. All were in favor.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO OPERATE AN AMUSEMENT OR RECREATION CENTER AT 397
FUNDERBURG DRIVE
Councilor Standifer made a motion seconded by Councilor Smith to approve a special exception
to operate an amusement or recreation center at 397 Funderburg Drive.
DISCUSSION OF WATER RESTRICTIONS
City Manger, Hugh King informed Council that the Governor declared level one drought
conditions on June 22nd that set up the odd-even address water schedule. Odd number addresses
may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Even number addresses may water on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
The City will continue to emphasize the current level one drought regulations passed at the state
level, with particular attention to the 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM restrictions.
DISCUSSION OF TAP FEES
Councilor Smith made a motion seconded by Councilor Newsome to approve the
recommendation for an increase in tap fees. An Ordinance to Increase Tap Fees will be presented
at the next regular Council meeting.
DISCUSSION ABOUT CEDAR CREEK WELL PROJECT WITH JASPER COUNTY WATER
SEWER AUTHORITY
Frank Sherill, Consulting Engineer for the Jasper County Water & Sewer Authority, informed
Council about their plans for preserving future water resources particularly the Cedar Creek well
source.
Mr. Sherill encouraged Council to plan now for future water growth. The City is presently at
750,000 gallons per day and the JCWSA at 300,000 gallons per day. With consumption over one
million gallons per day, a plan for growth needs to be assessed.
Mr. Sherill is seeking a GEFA loan for the Cedar Creek well project and asked Council to partner
with JCWSA on this project. The Council’s consensus was to research the alternative with the
water authority.
MEAG RESOLUTION FOR MUNICIPAL COMPETITIVE TRUST FUND
Councilor Sauls made a motion seconded by Councilor Newsome to approve the MEAG
Resolution to place city year end settlement into the flexible account and place $800.00 in our
Economic Development Fund and change of signatory certificate to remove Otis Clark and
replace with Mayor Holmes.
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CITIZEN INPUT
Rev. Charles Davis of Righteous Temple appeared before Council to request feedback on how to
go about starting the process for a road name change of Culver Street to Righteous Temple Drive.
Mayor Holmes advised him to being with a petition of name change from the residents on Culver
Street.
Al Frost appeared before Council to present a new theme for the City of Monticello as “True
Home of the South”.
Sonny Clemons of 214 Mason Street appeared before Council to request that the City trim back
the red tip plants on the right-of-way because they prevent the view of oncoming traffic. In
addition, Mr. Clemons requested that the City consider installing speed breakers on that street.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilor Sauls expressed his concerns about the new recreation facility being open until 11:00
PM during the school year. In addition, Councilor Sauls inquired about the progress of West
View Park.
Councilor Standifer reported that he would not be able to attend the Public Safety meeting
scheduled for Friday.
Councilor Newsome commended the staff on financial reports.
Councilor Smith reported that the grand opening for Funderburg Park is scheduled for July 15th.
Also, she informed everyone that T-shirts for the occasion are available for a cost of $10.00. In
other business she commended Zoning Director, Gene Mathis for investigating dilapidated Lodge
Hall on Funderburg Drive. The building needs to either be renovation or condemned.
Mayor Holmes expressed her appreciation for the job City Manager, Hugh King is doing at City
Hall and the job administration is doing with financial reports.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PERSONNEL AND REAL ESTATE
Councilor Sauls made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to go into executive session to
discuss personnel and real estate. All were in favor.
Councilor Standifer made a motion seconded by Councilor Sauls to end executive session. All
were in favor.
SELLING/TRANSFER OF PROPERTY KNOWN AS “OLD SEWING FACTORY”
Councilor Newsome made a motion to sell City property known as “Old Sewing Factory” to the
Downtown Development Authority for $169,000 plus appraisal, attorney fees, survey for deed,
Phase I Environmental Audit, and closing cost. Proceeds from the sell will be applied to the
Water Sewer Bond of 1998. Councilor Smith seconded the motion. All were in favor.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm on a motion made by Councilor Smith and seconded by Councilor
Standifer. All were in favor.
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