MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL

							                             MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
                                     MINUTES
                                FEBRUARY 10TH, 2009



7:30 PM REGULAR MEETING

Mayor Newsome called the meeting to order with the following Council Members present:
Mayor Pro Tem Gross, Councilors Standifer, Jacobs, Pompey and Alexander. Also present were:
Interim City Manager, Frank Sherrill and Deputy City Clerk, Gail Harris.

INVOCATION

Rev. William Gibson gave the invocation.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Pro Tem Gross led in the pledge of allegiance.

AGENDA APPROVAL

Mayor Pro Tem Gross made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer that the agenda be
approved with the omission of item 20 in the absence of the City Clerk. All were in favor.

PUBLIC HEARING

Councilor Standifer made a motion seconded by Councilor Pompey to approve applying for a
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to be used to benefit low and moderate income
citizens in a four block area around the old Washington Park School such as Funderburg Drive,
Sands Drive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Benton Street and Mason Street. The grant is a
housing component to upgrade or bring owner occupied houses up to standard in a specified
targeted area of low, moderate income. No matching funds are required for a grant up to
$300,000. A five percent matching fund is required for any amount over $300,000 up to
$500,000 and seven percent for any amount over $500,000. All were in favor.

Ms. Juanita Davis, President of the NAACP has applications to be given out.

Councilor Jacobs made a motion seconded by Councilor Pompey to approve the second reading
of the Hotel/Motel Tax Ordinance 09-02-10-1 in which is a technical amendment referencing the
state code section to be used as the city’s ordinance to allow the city to continue to collect this
tax. All were in favor.

MINUTES

Mayor Pro Tem Gross made a motion seconded by Councilor Alexander to approve the minutes
of regular meeting of January 13, 2009 with the necessary corrections on page three under the
Consent Agenda the motion was unanimous and on page four the resolution for DOT parking on
W Washington Street was a unanimous vote and on page five under Council comments there
were three trees planted instead of two one Ms. Wilson’s tree on the square, one at Funderburg
Park and one at Westview Park. All were in favor.

Councilor Standifer made a motion seconded by Councilor Alexander to approve the minutes of
the called meeting of January 22, 2009 as presented. All were in favor.

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PAYABLES

Councilor Jacobs made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to approve the payables as
presented. All were in favor.

FINANCIAL REPORT

In the absence of City Finance Director, Belinda Whirley the Council agreed to table the
preliminary financial report and the report will be put in each Councilor’s box by the end of the
week.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Police Chief Bud Smith reported that the department responded to 547 calls to service, 174
incidents, 166 requests for escorts by citizens of businesses, performed 38 foot patrols, three
burglaries, two counterfeits situations, patrolled 7,170 miles and 102 citations issued for January.
Total fines and forfeitures totaled $11,743 for January court and the total amount for all cases if
they had all appeared would have been $31,368.

City Manger Frank Sherrill gave an update on the water/sewer operation and the upgrades at the
water plant. Also Donnie Cowan informed that they pumped water through the new pump out of
the reservoir for the first time since he has been in Monticello. He also stated that they will need
to do insertion values and do piping changes which will cut one third of the water supply. They
anticipate on doing these changes on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 in which the schools and others
will be notified.

CITIZEN’S INPUT

Bertha Montfort stated that she do not have a leak at her house at 1242 Sands Drive and needed
someone else to check it besides Mr. Betz. Mayor Newsome assured her that someone else
would check it and asked Mr. Sherrill to send someone out this week.

David Damman stated that the City approved the plans from the State and he is on the Downtown
Development Authority Board and knew they knew nothing about the plans. He asked if in the
future if they could let people know what’s going on because it affects the livelihood of people on
the square. Also he exclaimed that parking restrictions are needed on the square and was also
concerned about the safety of the square.

Steve Benton inquired on his suggestion last year about consolidating the Police and Sheriff
Departments that it would save money and he still has had no response. He also expressed that he
would like to see a Huddle House in Monticello and that we needed more industry here. Mayor
Newsome commented that they had a planning session on Saturday and they are willing to work
with the County and looking into consolidating and having sessions with them.

Bob James commented on the parking on the square and getting traffic off the square. He also
felt that the people who are summoned to court should be advised to park at the sewing room
parking lot. Mr. James expressed getting manufacturing and retail businesses in Monticello and
being on the Downtown Development Board will work to try to get some here.. He is also for
having the hotel in Monticello. The motel/hotel tax is good for Monticello.

James Carmichael stated that we need the hotel here especially when the bikers come through
they will not have to go to the next city to find one and we would not loose that revenue. Also he
stated that we needed the jobs here that it would create.


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Devoll Fisher expressed his concerns of the DOT plans for the square and the city not informing
the businesses and citizens the correct plans. Also about moving the park benches and making
people not wanting to come to the businesses because if they wanted to sit on the square they
would have to cross the traffic. He felt the removing of the stop signs will cause accidents and is
very dangerous.

Charles Forsythe commented on the DOT plans and also felt it will be dangerous. He exclaimed
that it will be driving people away when we need to get development on the square. He really felt
whoever thought this plan up didn’t map it out.

Rachel Torrance stated her concerns about changing of the zoning to accommodate for a hotel
when there are other places that are already zoned commercial. The Zoning Committee has
turned down Mr. McGinnis’s proposal because they asked him to make some changes to his plan
to meet the requirements that are written in the zoning ordinance and he came back with not one
change so the Zoning Board turned it down again. She expressed to the Council she wish they
would support their Zoning Board in which they appointed and make him do the adjustments
because he had no intentions of changing it so why should anybody follow the ordinances of the
city if the Zoning Board is not listened to.

Councilor Standifer made a motion seconded by Councilor Alexander to approve the water/sewer
drawdown number forty-two in the amount of $121,070.27 for construction. All were in favor.

Councilor Alexander made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to approve the corrections
to the city charter to abide by the state law to change the legal age to buy alcohol to 21. All were
in favor.

PRESENTATIONS

None.

OLD BUSINESS

Mayor Pro Tem Gross made a motion seconded by Councilor Pompey to approve the
rezoning of Allen McGinnis’ property at the intersection of Highway 16 West and Persons
Street from residential to commercial to accommodate a thirty room hotel, Huddle House
Restaurant, convenience store, retail shops and professional offices with the provisions that
Mr. McGinnis agree to establish a fifty foot planted visual buffer of staggered evergreens
within the next twelve months or rezoning will be revoked. In addition, he must build a
retention pond which should extend into the buffer to comply with whatever the building
requirements are at the time of construction and have no entrance or exit on Persons Street.
Also, when it is time to for the development plan it has to comply with whatever
development ordinance and corridor ordinance is in effect at that point in time before any
permits for construction are issued. Mr. McGinnis agreed. He also presented a petition
signed by between 400 and 500 citizens in favor of the property development. The motion
passed 3-2 with Councilors Jacobs and Alexander opposing.

Councilor Jacobs made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to approve a resolution to
request the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a “no parking” zone on the south
side of East Washington Street across from the Post Office and move the mail box to the left side
of Southern Avenue in which would become a one-way street going south between Greene and
Washington Streets. All were in favor.




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Councilor Jacobs made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to approve a resolution
#02-10-09-01 requiring all council members to sign for draw downs from the Municipal
Competitive Trust. All were in favor.

Mayor Pro Tem Gross made a motion seconded by Councilor Pompey to deny the ordinance to
require background checks and other items for grocery stores for anyone selling alcohol, beer and
wine. The motion passed 4-1 with Councilor Jacobs opposing.

Councilor Jacobs made a motion seconded by Councilor Alexander to approve the resolution for
no new hires, no new spending outside the budget and council approval for any cost exceeding
$250.00. The motion failed 3-2. Mayor Pro Tem Gross and Councilors Pompey and Standifer
opposed.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Councilor Jacobs stated that the council needed to formerly thank Stone Workman for what he
done for the city.

Councilor Pompey stated that the council needed to approve for Roberta Anderson to apply for
$125,000 for the Morehouse Grant for the Get Ahead House.

Mayor Pro Tem stated that the council needed to thank Roger Harrison. He also inquired if the
AARP could be allowed to meet at the Get Ahead House at 10:00 a.m. on fourth Thursdays and
pay the city $25.00 for utilities. All agreed.

Mayor Newsome stated that Mr. Workman and Mr. Harrison should be brought to the next
council meeting.

Mayor Newsome also informed that this Friday was the deadline for city manager applications at
12:00 noon. Copies will be made and distributed to council members to review.

Mayor Newsome stated that the next work session will be March 2, 2009 and the regular meeting
March 10, 2009 in which they need to be acted upon.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Councilor Standifer made a motion seconded by Councilor Pompey to go into executive session
to discuss personnel. All were in favor.

Mayor Pro-Tem Gross made a motion seconded by Councilor Alexander to end executive
session. No action was taken.

ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Jacobs made a motion seconded by Councilor Standifer to adjourn. All were in favor.




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