MonticelloLive

 I hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July.  Please remember the courthouse and road department will be closed on Friday the 4th.  Trash pickup will not be run Friday.  However, Thursday AND Friday routes will be run on Thursday.  Bulk pick-up regularly scheduled for Saturday the 5th will be postponed until the next Saturday, July 12th.
     Last Monday began at the courthouse and shop as usual.  Then I traveled to Hill Community Road to mark for a culvert installation.  Next I took fuel to a grader on N. Garnett Road, checking roads as I went. 
     Work at the courthouse filled the rest of the morning.
     Monday afternoon I went to check chip and seal on Sanderlin Road and looked over the project on Old Warren Road with the mayor.  At last the power company had a chance to move some poles.
     Office work completed the day.
     Tuesday began as usual.  Then I helped move a truck from Dickson Road to Ladelle looking at roads in the area while there before returning to the office. 
     Later I attended the Mississippi River Parkway Commission meeting in town which proved to be very interesting.  I found the discussion about geo-caching to be quite informative in relation to GPS projects. 
     The Twenty for the Future group met at noon.  The 2009 trip to Washington was discussed among other topics.
     Leaving there, I went back to Old Warren Road to look at shoulder work being done to get it ready for resurfacing. 
     Office chores completed the day.
     Wednesday I helped move a truck from the Collins-Cominto area to S. 16th Section Road checking roads as I went along.
     Returning to the courthouse, I completed paperwork for the purchase of the property on the east side of the library where we will expand the parking area.  The house will be sold to be removed and is advertised in the paper this week.   Office tasks and calls completed the rest of the morning. 
     After lunch I hurried to the meeting in Crossett on the proposed extension of the I-530 connector from its location near Wilmar to meet with I-10 in Louisiana.
     There was a good attendance from the surrounding areas.  The meeting assured the group that it is an economically feasible project for the future, but pointed out that it is entirely dependent upon the completion of I-69.
     Courthouse chores finished the day.  
     Some areas had lots of rain, hail and wind Wednesday evening.  It seems that Monticello got the “worst” of it.  We received 2.4 inches of rain at my house north of town and it was needed.  I’m grateful that’s all we received.  Some areas reported up to 7 inches of rain. 
     Thursday morning I checked roads in several areas for damage.  I also helped move a truck from S. 16th Section Road to the shop. 
     Courthouse chores finished the morning. 
     That afternoon I was back out on Old Warren Road where signs were being out up to warn drivers about fresh oil on the shoulders.  Courthouse work and calls finished the afternoon. 
     Thursday evening we attended the reception for the new and prospective doctors and spouses.  Physicians attending were Dr. Sidney Collins, Dr. Trace Garner, Dr. Lisa Holaday and prospective doctor Shannon Nick. 
     Friday I again went to check progress on Old Warren Road and then checked several other roads in the county in regard to bushhogging.  Office work filled the rest of the morning. 
     That afternoon I checked a pipe on Grace Loop Road before returning to the courthouse for the rest of the day.   
     Saturday afternoon I held a wedding ceremony in the courtroom.  With several family members in attendance, Ms. Christy Saunders became the bride of Mr. William Adair.  Congratulations and best wishes to the newlyweds!
     Later I again checked flooded areas on North Grace Loop Road.
     Sunday evening we received another .05 inches of rain. 
     Last Monday grader operators graded Selma Collins Road and Rabb Road.  Gravel was hauled and spread on Dickson Road.
     Four Mile Creek Road and Collins Line Road were bushhogged.
     Work was done on the Old Warren Road project.
     Barkada Road, Sanderlin Road, South Wilmar Road, Pumpkin Center Road and Lambert Road were patched. 
     On Tuesday Four Mile Creek Road was graded and ditched.  Gravel was spread on Bowden Loop and it was ditched.
     Lindsey Lane was bushhogged.
     Work continued on the Old Warren Road widening project.
     Lacey New Hope Road, Beulah Road, Lacey School Road, Valley Junction Road and Goose Hollow Road were patched.  
     Wednesday saw roads checked on grader routes.  Bowden Loop was ditched and gravel spread. 
     Gravel was hauled for pipes on Bowser Road and Sandy Creek Road.  A pipe was welded on Florence Road.  
     Selma Collins Road and Darnell Lane were bushhogged.
     Work continued on Old Warren Road.
     Thursday Florence Road, Brixie Road, Mount Tabor Road and Shultz Lane were graded. Gravel was spread and ditching continued on Bowden Loop. Work continued on widening Old Warren Road.
     South 16th Section Road, Loafers Lane, Bordeaux Road and State School Road were bushhogged.
     On Friday gravel was spread and washouts fixed on Piney Creek Lane and 4 Mile Creek Road.  S. Grace Loop was graded.  Ditching on Bowden Loop continued.
     Work continued on widening and shoulders of Old Warren Road.
     Some maintenance work was done at the shop.
     That concludes this week’s report.  Enjoy a safe, fun 4th of July!
     Have a great week!!