The Monticello Express Online: In the News

By Kim Brooks
Express Editor

    The Monticello City Council met on March 8 to hear public comment on the FY2010-11 City Budget and to approve a resolution adopting the annual budget.

    No public comment was received. Councilman Gregg Merfeld said he felt the only way the Council made the budget work “was greatly in part due to the police department having a person go overseas.

    “I will do everything I can for next year’s budget to make sure that guy has a job so he doesn’t have to go looking for one,” said Merfeld. “I don’t want to see us lose a good officer because of the budget.”

    The budget was completed and reviewed at a special budget meeting of the Council. The tax rate to be adopted is roughly $13.95103, slightly less last year’s rate. The proposed budget also takes into account the desire to maintain a strong general fund cash balance. The city general fund is proposed to increase from $320,355.55 to $329,344.55.

    • Total budgeted expenditures for coming year: $7,374,254

    • Total budgeted revenues for coming year: $6,659,808

    • Total general fund budgeted expenditures for coming year: $1,399,613

    • Total general fund budgeted revenues for coming year: $1,408,602

    The Council approved the FY 2010-11 budget.

    During the open forum, Councilman Tom Yeoman read a statement he prepared regarding the Open Meetings Law violations. His statement is seen next to this article.

    After Yeoman spoke, Cindy Kramer told the Council that Yeoman does not represent the opinion of “a good number of people” in his ward, Ward 4. She said it has been embarrassing watching the Council meetings “as people attack each other.

    “It’s always been my belief that if you disagree with politics, you at least respectfully disagree,” said Kramer, “and I haven’t seen that from our Council members.”

    She thought that Doug Herman, city administrator, would work to unite Monticello and the Council and “move on with issues that are ahead of us.”

    Kramer said there have been previous issues with Open Meetings violations during the day care discussions. She said the providers involved opted to not make an issue out of it and focus on the true concerns.

    “I think the Council needs to focus on what counts and stop bickering,” said Kramer. “It’s something we should see on the playground, not in our Council Chambers.”