The new Sadie Johnson Community Center is coming closer to being turned over to the city, with a contract completion date of late December.
The Parks Commission and City Council are currently deciding how to pay for the facility’s furnishings.
The front entrance, shown here, will have a circle drive, according to ETC Engineers.

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The Amphitheater at McCloy Park is still under construction because of unexpected architectural challenges. Rickey Calhoun gave a statement on the progress of the project and stated there was not a tentative completion date at this time.

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At Thursday night’s Parks & Recreation Committee meeting, a local lady asked the Parks Committee about local residents and businesses being asked to “make donations” to furnish the soon-to-be-completed Sadie Johnson Community Center.

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The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission has dropped it’s pending charges against former Drew County District Judge Ken Harper, after Harper, who recently resigned as District Judge, also resigned from his upcoming term, and promised never to serve in the Arkansas judiciary in the future.

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Re-allocation of Funds to Park Projects from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

This week; painted parking lines on one-lane East Gaines St.

Last week; no lines painted on ?-lane East Gaines St.

East Gaines, from it’s intersection with Main St. to it’s intersection with Gabbert St., was re-painted with parallel parking spaces on both sides of the street, late this week.

Although it never ceased to be a “one lane” street, with no center line and no (clear) parking lines, most drivers have used it as a two lane roadway.

Please note the new markings, and be aware of the change in driving habits of other drivers.

The City of Monticello allows residents to keep dogs, cats, chickens, horses and any other pet or farm animal; except for pigs and hogs.

However, there is a resident who owns hogs.  The city has recently spoken with him several times, and he has promised to have them removed this weekend.

So today we can say “Go, Hogs, Go”, and not just because the Razorbacks are playing football.

The Monticello Parks and Recreation Committee came together Sept. 13 to discuss a variety of old business regarding infrastructure, monuments and more.

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Ongoing issues with the city’s water system led to an indepth discussion at the August City Council meeting.

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Merlin Taking Off from Monticello, AR Airport from MonticelloLive .

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The Monticello parks commission met Thursday night at City Hall.

Among several items on the agenda, the monument honoring Albert William for his work on the early baseball fields and other features of Jordan Park were discussed. 

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For the second year, the Monticello Parks and Recreation Committee will soon be asking for information from the leagues and organizations that use Monticello parks and facilities.

The questionnaires asks for information about the season, boards, participants, needs, and goals.

The parks committee appointed some liaisons to work with leagues, and will conclude the liaison process at next month meeting.

Construction has begun on the new amphitheater at City Park.

The stage will be build on the side near the gate, with seating being on the side towards the creek and sidewalk.

At Wednesday’s meeting, board members of the Intermodal Authority agreed to set up a $1,000,000 revolving line of credit, to pay contractors for work already performed (or nearing completion) as governmental grants and funding are being recieved.  (more…)

The City Council voted unanimously to amend Ordinance 756 of the City of Monticello to assess fines associated with repeat nuisance property owners.

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During the airport report to the City Council, Benji Ryburn told the Council that people landing in heavy and fast moving aircraft are complaining of a dip and a hump on the runway. He stated that he “made some calls and asked for additional funds…and got confirmation that FAA will provide additional funds, up to $141,794, to do work to the runway.”

The money comes from a 100% grant so the City will not be required to provide any funding. The Council voted to apply for the grant and bid out the project.

The Monticello City Council passed a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a bid by Toter, Inc for the purchase of 3,000 rollout trash carts. The bid by Toter was the low bid and came in at $134,700.00.

The City will purchase one can per residence, and a second can may be purchased by an individual for $55-$60.

Trash pickups will be moved to once a week, per ward, once the new cans are in place.

UAM Chancellor Jack Lassiter gave an updated Community Center Planning Committee status to the Advertising and Promotion Commission, Monday night.

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There is a regularly scheduled Advertising and Promotion Commission meeting was held Monday night  at the MEDC building.

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According to Mayor Allen Maxwell, he received a letter, Monday, confirming the city’s effort to acheive a better ISO rating has been a success.

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The Monticello Boys & Girls Club recently set up a 160 ft. long “home made” water slide for the youngsters to enjoy.

The Monticello Fire Dept. helped get it off to a good wet start, and MPD officer Chris Owen, a regular volunteer at B&GC also helped out with the project.

Parks Committee Report to City Council from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

MEDC Report to City Council from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

District Court Report to City Council from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

This statement is from a source that wished to remain anonymous, and their sentiment has been shared by many MLive readers over the past several months.

Mayor Maxwell presented these failing water pipes to the City Council, last October.

Add to this the report from last September’s City Council meeting where Mayor Maxwell said, “The water line problems below Maple and Speer Streets, where galvanized water lines run under the street, and constantly have to be repaired. Overlaying these two streets will soon have to be patched, whenever the next leak occurs…” Mayor Maxwell told the council that these lines need to be replaced, instead of making repairs to the lines and the streets, over and over. “The water lines need to be moved to the side of the streets, then do the overlay.”

The city has recently received easements from the property owners, and ordered pipe to begin this project. This means we’ve got “shovel ready” needs, and money being spent elsewhere.

Questions have been raised concerning all aspects of the water fund budget, including where the money is going that’s transferred from it, if it is legal for it to be transferred at all, and if replacing water pipes is just a falsely given reason to raise rates further.

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The Monticello City Council voted unanimously to grant Monticello School’s Superintendent Bobby Harper’s request for $25,000 of additional funding towards the boot camp program, which is a punitive program for students that serves as an alternative for expulsion.

Superintendent Harper told the Council that when the program began it was a joint effort between the County, City, Drew Central School District, and Monticello School District. The County quickly withdrew from helping with funding, and now Drew Central District has had to withdraw as well due to their fiscal distress status. This leaves only Monticello District and the City left to provide money to keep the program going.

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