Mayor Allen Maxwell encouraged the City Council to consider changing companies for trash pick-up and haul-off during Thursday night’s regular meeting.

Currently, the City is in contract with Delta Environmental , out of Wynne, AR, but the City has been unimpressed with Delta’s performance.

Mayor Maxwell showed the Council pictures of full bins at the transfer station and said, “this is an example of trash pick-up… ADEQ (Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality) does not like this.”

Mayor Maxwell stated that Delta is bringing in trash from Cleveland, Lincoln, and Bradley counties, all of which are reported to have similar complaints as Monticello. After many complaints are filed, the company was said to take action on the problems, but, “they get you cleaned up, and then they go and clean up somebody else, and in the meantime you get mess up again.” – Mayor Maxwell

“Tell them they’ve got to stop doing it until they get all of our trash out of there.” –Tim Chase

“We’ve told them, we’ve called them monthly, weekly, and daily and we’ve been dealing with it for an entire year.” “Our contractor does not have good equipment; the biggest problem he has is his trucks are always breaking down.” – Mayor Maxwell

Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District also hauls tires for the city, and is contracted with 10 other counties. According to Mayor Maxwell, “They [the other counties] are looking to go to another contractor and the city of Monticello is looking to go to another contractor.”

Mayor Maxwell suggested WCA (Waste Corporation Arkansas) out of Smackover and Eldorado as an option for the City to explore for a new contract, stating that, “they are eager to get our business.”

“Most likely we’ll end up bidding this.” – Mayor

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Judge Damon Lampkin addressed the same concerns with the Quorum Court during their regular meeting and said, “I can break the contract any day because of lack of service…  it will cost the county money.” The county would need to purchase approximately 8 new canisters if they go with another company.

“They keep promising that they’re going to do better, but if they don’t do better, our contract is up in March and we’ll have to do something.” – Lampkin

Drew Memorial Hospital would take over the assisted living facility and oversee its operations.

County Attorney Cliff Gibson told the Court that this is a good way to get revenues to support the project without having to raise taxes. It is the same process in which the Ridgeway project was funded.

Gasps of surprise went around the table as Quorum Court members began reading a sheet of paper Judge Damon Lampkin passed to each of them. It was his letter to the Court expressing his decision to retire after serving this final year as Drew County Judge.

In an emotional statement to the Court, and the public, Judge Lampkin said that he would be 71 years old if he ran again next year, and it was time for him to put his health first. He then read his letter to the audience which said…..

“Since becoming County Judge I have developed diabetes, high blood pressure, and wisdom enough to know my health should be an utmost issue with me, so I have decided to retire from the stress of this office and take better care of myself.”

After reading his letter, he went on to say,

“I’ve never taken a vacation in those ten years. I’ve never taken but one day of sick leave in those ten years. I don’t expect anyone else to do or put in the time that I’ve put in for this job. I love Drew County and the people here, and have enjoyed the members on the Quorum Court. I’m going to work every day until I retire January 1 .I’ve enjoyed working with you and I’m still going to be here for the next eleven months.”

Much praise was given to the Judge on a job well done, and Court member Jimmy Potter thanked him for the work he has done to the roads in the county and said, ““It’s not the same county as it was when you came in.”

The crowd gave Judge Damon Lampkin a standing ovation, and in closing Judge Lampkin said,

“This Quorum Court has paid money out of their pockets to get that road tax passed. I have paid money out of my pocket; I wasn’t reimbursed… to help the people of this county to get their roads paved. I hope whoever is elected County Judge will continue that road work. If they don’t, everything we’ve done will be in vain.”

Judge Lampkin will be County Judge until December 31, 2012, which is his birthday. He will not run for reelection.

Several concerned Drew County citizens attended Monday night’s regular Quorum Court meeting to address concerns over the Court’s recent decision to open Old Dermott Road to truck traffic. Kenny Worbington lives on Old Dermott Rd. and said to the Court, “I’m here as a spokesman for this group of people… We’re just here to voice our opinion on the decision that was made about 3 weeks ago by the Quorum Court to open Old Dermott Road to log truck traffic. We’re opposed to this.”

He went on to say, “We’re not against the log trucks. What we would like for you to do is for you to close traffic to large trucks until the road is widened and fixed.” “It’s one of the most dangerous roads in this county. There’s no shoulder… no room for mistakes, nowhere to go.”

Mr. Worbington said Cherry St. residents were also present, and they have the same concerns. He stated that he had measured Cherry Street and it is 16’3” wide. He said a log truck is 8 feet wide, and its trailer 8’6” wide. A School bus 8’ wide. “If you add that up it’s 16’ of school bus and log truck… not counting the mirrors that stick out from both.” – Worbington

“If you meet a school bus, and a log truck… you can’t pass.” “This is one of the most dangerous situations in Drew County, and I have 65 signatures of people that travel that road, plus written concern from Drew Central School Board.”

Mr. Worbington read a letter from the Drew Central School Board expressing its concerns for the safety of children on its school busses if they were to meet a log truck on the narrow road.

Mr. Worbington then read a letter from logging contractor Mike Pennington (also a Drew Central School Board member) that said he opposes both of the roads opening because the, “road is too narrow, no proper shoulders to meet other vehicles or school busses.” He went on to say it is much safer to route through town.

“I love Drew County and I love my family… and my family has been put in danger.” “We’re not against anybody making a living. We’re concerned for kids on a school bus that have no say in where they ride.” – Kenny Worbington

“All we’re asking is you pass an ordinance and close that road to heavy trucks until it’s fixed. Until it’s widened, until shoulders are put on it, until ditches are dug…” Worbington

Mr. Worbington went on to explain that the road through downtown is a state road so if it gets torn up by big trucks, the state will pay to repair it and Drew County doesn’t have to use tax money to fix it like they do Old Dermott Rd.

“I’m going to make a motion and y’all can vote how you want to.” – Renee Knowles to the Quorum Court

Renee Knowles moved to make an ordinance to close Old Dermott Rd. to big truck traffic until the road is big truck ready, including the possibility of the maximum penalty according to the law for breaking the ordinance.

The motion passed unanimously by the Court.

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Quorum Court Opens Old Dermott Road for Log Truck Traffic; Talk of I-69 Expansion toward Wilmar
Dec 21, 2011

Mayor Allen Maxwell and MEDC Executive Director Nita Mcdaniel presenteda powerpoint presentation to theCourt showing the current traffic congestion problems in the City.

Mayor Maxwell stated that the closure of Old Dermott Road to log trucks has rerouted the trucks to drive through the core of Monticello. 2,800 trucks per year currently into the city via Price Lumber Company. This causes unsafe traffic conditions and congestion.

Price Lumber Company is soon to add a third shift, and 36 employees. This will add an additional 933 trucks per year through downtown Monticello, making the new total 3,733.

To releave the traffic issues, a study by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department suggests that the County open Old Dermott Roard and the City open Cherry Street to truck traffic.

Opening these roads would keep a large portion of truck traffic off of the city streets and alleviate the congestion issues – especially at the HWY 425 and HWY 27 intersection. It would also require loggers to drive fewer miles, saving money on trips.

Court member Rene Knowles stated that it costs approximately $5 a mile to drive their family log trucks.

With the logging industry suffering with the down economy, Mayor Maxwell told the Court, “It costs Price money and it costs loggers money… the price of lumber goes up.”

Mrs. McDaniel said, “The entire community benefits from the mill being here.” “We’ve got to keep what we have.”

Future plans to further help releave traffic issues that were suggested included:
- Connect Jordan Drive to HWY 35
- Connect Scoggin Drive to HWY 278
- Connect Scoggin Drive to Barkada Rd.

Mayor Maxwell explained that much of these plans would depend on the future of I-69 and if the expansion of the interstate through Monticello did happen.

Judge Lampkin stated that he had been studying this issue and, “I cannot find an ordinance saying that road [Old Dermott Rd.] is closed.”

Rene Knowles said, “I’m not for opening it and I’m a log woman.” “I know what it’s going to cost to do the road.” “That road is going to melt!”

“We’ll just have to fix it.” – Carol Bulloch

Discussion began about the safety of having log trucks traveling the narrow road along with school busses and other traffic. The issue of financially being able to make the road safe for such traffic, and keep it repaired resulted in Judge Lampkin saying, “As long as we have the one cent sales tax, we can afford to repair it.”

A motion was made to take the “no trucks” sign off of Old Dermott Road and open it to truck traffic. The motion passed.

2012-2013 college year to three students who are Drew County residents, and who will be attending the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

The scholarships will be available at the rate of $500 per semester and may be applied to tuition, books, room and board.

Payment will be made to the University of Arkansas at Monticello upon proof of registration for each semester.

Application forms are available in the counselors’ offices at Monticello High School, Drew Central High School and the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Forms can also be obtained at the Drew County Extension Office in the Drew County Courthouse.

All prospective and current UAM students are eligible to apply regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. All applications must be received by March 30. For more information, contact Melissia Vincent, Drew County EHC education chairperson, at 367-2796; or Hazelene McCray, Drew County Extension agent, at 460-6270.

Also available is the online personal property assessment website, www.drewcountyassessor, for those who own personal property in Drew County. This tool was introduced in 2011 and allows the public to assess from the convenience of any location with internet access. It is very useful for the taxpayers of the county who cannot make arrangements for assessing between normal business hours – 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Feel free to call the Drew County Assessor’s office at 870-460-6240 with any questions regarding all of its online services available to you.

Their effort is called “Vote for Growth in Drew County,”

New elected officials took office in January, including State Representative Sheilla Lampkin, Mayor Allen Maxwell, JP’s Patty Mitchell and Chris Barnett, and alderman Josh McKiever.

Dr. Steve Morrison was sworn in as the Quorum Court district 2 representative, to take Ron Echols  position, following Ron Echols resignation for business reasons.

Witt Barton was appointed to take the place of Bill Daniels as city attorney

April 1 of 2011 marked the day that the half a cent sales tax for the new library went into effect. What followed shortly after included plans being drawn and ideas being put together for how the new library should look and function.

By November, architects from Meyer Scherer & Rockcastle, LTD architect firm were ready to present the community with its first drawings of the proposed new building. The inside of the library wowed the crowd. The walking path and outdoor reading area were very well received, as well. The outside of the building, however, had the crowd sending the firm back to the drawing board.

One month later, the firm returned, and this time they left everyone in the room speechless from the plans they presented. With rave reviews from the audience, the firm left with plans to move forward with the redrawn library.

Soil testing has been done, and progress is being made for Monticello’s new library to be constructed.