Monticello Live

According to Mayor Jason Akers, the City’s latest vital infrastructure project is nearing completion at the West Sewer Treatment Plant. 

The project consists of the addition of a more efficient bar screen to filter sewage before it enters the treatment plant and adding large screw pumps that are nearly 20 feet in length, which will grind waste more efficiently as it enters into the treatment plant. 

The project cost is $925,818, but the City will receive a reimbursement of $694,364 for the cost of the project.

“Our vital infrastructure repair and modernization projects isn’t pretty, but it has to be a continued priority for our City. We are checking one more project off of our list.” 

According to Monticello Mayor Jason Akers, City Hall will be receiving a makeover starting this week. 

The 90 year old concrete area in front of City Hall has been the scene of many trips and falls during both inclement and dry weather due to the cracks, holes and uneven spots.

The City has removed the old concrete and is working to replace it, while adding new LED lighting and an area to house a granite bench. 

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The City of Monticello wishes to congratulate Zach Frost on recently passing his Level 4 Water Distribution and Treatment testing. Frost now only must complete a predetermined amount of time of field work before operating at the Class 4 level independently. Class 4 is the highest level available through the Arkansas Department of Health. (more…)

According to Monticello Mayor Jason Akers, the City of Monticello will host its 2nd City-Wide Clean Up effort of the year on Friday November 8th & and Saturday November 9th as part of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Campaign.

Supplies such as trash bags, gloves and safety equipment for the clean up will be provided by the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Program.

All city departments will participate in the cleanup effort on Friday and on Saturday any citizens, church or civic groups wishing to participate may do so. Groups may come by City Hall on Friday and pick up clean up supplies.

Some past clean up participants include Immanuel Baptist, the Church of Christ, NAACP Chapter 6042 & Kim’s Dance Factory. The program has collected thousands of pounds of litter and roadside trash in Monticello since being implemented in 2023.

The Municipal League held a Legislative Round Table Meeting at the Sadie Johnson Bldg. on Thursday

30 Mayors, 5 Legislators, including Representative Wardlaw, Representative Beaty, Representative McElroy, Senator Stone, and Senator Gilmore, as well as League staff were present.

The Monticello City Council met in budget committee, Thursday night to discuss the total $7.3 million bids that were received on Tuesday for moving the water and sewer lines out from under Main Street, north and south, and the possible ways to finance the higher than expected costs.

After an hour long meeting, the council agreed to reject both bids, instead of saddling the city with the long-term expense of paying the debt, which was higher than the bids were expected to come in at.

They will likely meet in a special call meeting to pass a resolution to make this official, but they were unanimous in their decision, at this point.

They agreed to have ARDOT mI’ll and pave Main Street, as was previously set out in the  Scogin Drive Extension agreement.

The council agreed that the waterlines do need to be moved out of the street, also that the sewer lines are not a top priority, at this point, and to consider other ways to take care of the waterline relocation, in the near future, just not at the current bid expense.