Sunday morning, around 3:30, while most of the county was sleeping, the Sheriff’s Dept. began a manhunt for a jail escapee from Fordyce, who had been convicted of Murder, in 1998. The search continued until 11 am, Monday, with most offiers only getting around 3-4 hours sleep.

Monticello Police officers joined the search a couple of hours later, and they also were past midnight, working to apprehend the felon, who was a threat to the town they serve and protect. They also put the needs of residents in front of their own.

When Tuesday’s wildfire was reported, our Monticello Fire Dept., along with the Arkansas Forestry Commission, battled the blaze for over 6 hours, as the fire changed directions, as the wind changed several times, in the smoke and fire and fumes.

We need to recognize how valuable our first responders are to our community; keeping us safe, regardless of the threat that they are protecting us from.

Monday night, the City Council, at 6pm, to discuss he proposed  salary scale for city employees..
The Mayor’s request regarding salaries requested a plan to “levelize” the varying salaries among workers, from when there were fewer pay guidelines.

Posted below (from an  earlier article) are the current and proposed salaries for the city employees that will earn over $40,000, and the employees that are scheduled to receive over a $3,000 pay increase, plus a couple of other positions, of public interest.

Position Years Proposed Salary Current Salary
ADMINISTRATION
Administrative Asst—–0—– $25,292.29 $18,720.00
Finance Director —–3 —–$52,956.43 $39,033.80
Asst to the Mayor —–1 —–$37,142.57 $35,006.40
Mayor 1 —–$63,603.80—– $63,603.80
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The Arkansas National Guard has informed Mayor Zack Tucker that it plans to close the Monticello armory in May.

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After city voters rejected the sales tax that would build a commmunity event cener, on Tuesday, the Advertising & Promotion Commission has nearly half a million dollars, and nothing to spend it on.
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City Attorney Agrees, “Mayor’s Special Meeting Vote Was Lawful”

Mayor’s Letter & Apology to Council

Tuesday night’s City Council meeting interaction between Mayor Zack Tucker and Alderman Cedric Leonard was the lead story, Wednesday, with a video that has been viewed 1,700 times. The topic of the heated discusion was whether the mayor was legally allowed to cast a tie-breaking vote in the special called council meeting, which sent the $10 million event center proposal the voters on December 8.

That video, along with updates to the issues involved are linked, above.

The day continued with the campaign kick-off event for Yes for Monticello, which will be posted later today.

After all of the agenda items, at Tuesay night’s City Council meeting, alderman Cedric Leonard began asking questions about the legality of the previous meetings vote to pass on to voters a 1/4 cent sales tax to be used for an event center, specificly, was it legal for the mayor to cast the deciding vote at a special called meeting.

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Several topics and projects were updated at the recent parks committee meeting.

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There will be a special called meeting of the Monticello City Council, tonight at 6 PM,  to consider passing on to city voters, a 1/4 cent sales tax issue, designed to build a 3,000 seat event center, which was declined to be put on the ballot, last Monday, by the DrewCounty Quorum Court.

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Money raised by this project will be given to a city employee, who ,is expcted to be off work for 6 months, for medical  expenses, due to a serious illness.

Tonight’s Target, David Knight, water dept.
Saturday afternoon, Mayor Zack Tucker-1-3;
Laura Barnett-4 pm
Court Clerk Yukiko Bivens-5 pm
Water Dept. Charlie Hammock -6 pm
City Clerk Andrea Chambers- 7 pm