Monticello Live

Monday, representatives of Zilkha Bio-Mass were in Monticello, working to finalize steps leading to the construction of their black pellet biofuel production facility in the industrial complex.

(more…)

Zilka will be in Monticello, nex week, preparing for the upcoming construction of their new Facility at the Industrial Complex.

More topics are included in the video.

A Public Involvement Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 30th from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m at the MEDC office.

The format of the meeting will be come and go. Outcomes from the 2007 Strategic Plan will be shared and participants will be asked to share opinions of the 2007 outcomes as well as give input on goals and objectives for the 2015 plan.

(more…)

UAM – Dr. John Hunt;
DC -Julie Callison;
Monticello – Debra Ashcraft ;
MIS AR Teacher of the Year Candidate – Rachel Beer Withers

In a special called meeting Wednesday evening, January 7, the Monticello City Council passed a resolution to reject the bids submitted for economic development services on November 21, 2014; to declare economic development services as professional services; to authorize the publication of requests for qualifications for economic development; and to extend the current “contract” with Monticello Economic Development Commission to February 28.

(more…)

In a special meeting of the City Council, called by 3 of its members, Monday night, the topic of the “economic development” bid (and how it was handled at last weeks meeting) was discussed in depth.

At one point alderman Cedric Leonars described the groups earlier decision as, “Eight blind people up here that don’t know what’s going on,” referring to the council handling of bid contracts presented by MEDC and Mays & Associates for the city’s economic development.

(more…)

Thursday night the Monticello City Council accepted the bid of the Monticello Economic Development Commission, better known as the MEDC, of $280,617 for economic development services to the city over P.F. Mays & Associates, LLC’s bid of $264,000.

The problem for that decision, (which has no correct answer) comes back to the way the contract was advertised in its legal annoumcement.
(more…)

For the first time in memory, one of the city of Monticello’s “service contract” had to organizations bidding for the same contract.

(more…)

Monticello is the winner of the 2013 Arkansas Business City of Distinction Quality of Life category for cities with a population between 5,000 and 20,000 people, because of the Ridgeway Hotel renovation.

After months of dirt moving by city and county workers, as well as the UAM heavy equipment training class, rails and crossties are now being laid in place for the new rail spur at the Industrial Park, on HWY 35 East.

(more…)

The recent re-application for cities to espresse interest in being home to the state’s new veterans care home is receiving the full attention of Quorum Court, MEDC, City of Monticello, and many other local residents and organizations.

When consttucted, the $22 million dollar facility ex expected to provide over $3 million in yearly payroll.

The deadline is November.

MEDC reported that they have had on-going contact with a prospect, and it is still looking positive. They will be meeting with AEDC next week to negotiate incentives.

(more…)

The industrial “spec” speculative building, which was built as a qualification for the state’s ACE program, seems to have a local industry that will likely use the structure as part of a long term lease, for warehouse space.

(more…)

The groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of a Public Rail Access Facility in the MEDC Industrial Park was held Tuesday afternoon.

When completed the new rail spur will hook to the existing (soon to be improved) spur at Hood Packaging, and switch to a rail that will send freight cars into the Industrial Site for loading and unloading of cargo. This will likely begin with lumber.  Currently Price Lumber and occasionally Maxwell Hardwood load rail freight at the Jackson Street crossing.

(more…)