City Council Squares Off Over Sales 2010 Tax Budget
January 6th, 2010 by Joe BurgessThe Monticello City Council met Tuesday night to approve the final sales tax budget for 2010, and a heated discussion soon followed. The budget had been tentatively approved by the same group before Christmas, when the Chamber of Commerce, MEDC, and Boys & Girls Club presented their operating budget requests.
Tuesday’s comments began with Claudia Hartness-White’s motion to move another $100,000 into the “war chest” (to be used for economic development, in case negotiations are taking place with a tentative employer. Alderman Tim Chase has been the most supportive member of a strong ”war chest” in the past.), and another $100,000 into the street fund. Hartness-White wanted to move the money out of the City Hall fund (a “set aside for the future” fund, such as has been used for expensive trash trucks, fire trucks, and the future fire department).
Alderman Beverly Hudson asked Hartness-White if there were many streets that needed to be paved, that didn’t get on the list to be paved this year. Hartness-White said that she would have to go back through her files to find out.
Mayor Joe Rogers asked for input from maintenance superintendent L. M. Wood and city engineer Tony Beard.
She added “I’m totally opposed to building a new city hall, I think we need to renovate this one”, and pointed out streets in Spring Branch and the Tanglewood areas that need repair. When council member Al Peer pointed out that the street superintendent and city engineer oversee the streets, Hartness-White responded, “I don’t care what they say; they’re unsightly;” then told Peer, “your streets, you’ve had some good paving over there.”
Peer responded to her, “you don’t care that they say but I do. I respect their opinion.”
Hartness-White told Peer that she wanted him to drive through Spring Branch and Tanglewood I & II. Peer answered, “That’s in you ward,” which received a “yes”, followed by Peer asking here, “How long have you been on the council?”, ”How long have you been doing street overlay?”, and “Why haven’t you taken care of that?”
Hartness-White answered, “We’ve served the worst streets first,” followed by Peer’s agreement, “Exactly.”
She told the group that her main objection was that there hadn’t been enough discussion about a city hall, and where it would be located.
Her motion was seconded by Tim Chase, but only received those two votes.
Council member Sherrie Gillespie then made a motion that the city move the $100,000 into the “war chest”, leave the other $100,000 in the city hall fund, and approve the budget. Tim Chase seconded that motion, and it passed with all in favor, except for Hartness-White’s “no” vote.
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It’s quite clear Ms. White is out off touch with the people she represents. It is time we start voting them out and voting people that will represent us. I’ll definetly monitor this more closely. Thank You Joe for keeping the people in touch.
The city has already paved and fixed a few of the major potholes and craters in Spring Branch, on Spring Branch Dr. As a resident, I have been grateful for the changes. Now we don’t have to drive one mile an hour to go down the main driveway to our homes. There are still some other streets within the subdivision that need repair as well, but the main bad spots have been fixed. Good job guys!
Spring Branch? What about the hole in th bridge on Conley Str? What about the street the Roadway is on? There are alot of streets that are in dire need of repair. The hole on Conley has been their for going on a year now. There is a bill pile of dirt. There are elderly and sick people on that street and it needs to be repaired ASAP!!!!
I have attended several city council meetings and I know that the bridge on Conley Street is in the process of being repaired. The City has put out an advertisement for different companies to submit bids to replace the bridge and then the City will decide which company will get the contract. Instead of just patching something that will incur damage again in the future, a new bridge will be constructed that will be safe to travel on for the residents of the area. The old bridge is not safe and I would not want my family to cross that bridge with just a patch job. I know that it is difficult to be patient and wait on the new bridge, however, it will be a nice one and the residents will know that they can safely walk and drive over without fear of it collapsing and causing injuries and damages.
If they are going to fix roads in Spring Branch at least do it right. The roads are currently made of concrete and if you are going to repair them, then do it right not half way. Then our neighborhood will look tacky and trashy like some of the rest of town, that ya’ll have voted to repair. It should be up to the owner of homes in the neighborhood which to use concrete or asphalt. Be ashamed, all of you don’t have to live there so whats it to you. Just trash it up. Now I hear you are only going to do part of the roads, just great. STUPID COME TO MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!