Tom Yeoman, Council Ward 4

     Address: Shomont Drive

     Why did you want to run for city council? I am running because I want to continue to help improve the community for everyone. I enjoy the challenges in developing creative solutions to assist the city moving forward.

     What are some challenges/issues the city will face in the near future? The most expensive challenge we currently have is updating our water treatment facility. The DNR has been pressuring the city to upgrade our treatment facility to treat nitrates. This requires extensive planning, design, and total reconstruction of our existing facility. We have been working with our engineering firm for over a year to develop a design acceptable to the DNR. Bidding and construction follows, which will be taking place over the next several months.

     In addition, we are in the process of surveying the community to qualify for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to assist in funding.

     Monticello has a lot of good things going for it. What would you like to improve on or change? I would like to see store fronts on First Street upgraded to help attract more business to our major shopping area. Anamosa received a CDBG DTR (Downtown Revitalization) grant to revitalize some of their existing store fronts. That may be an alternative for Monticello to consider.

     I would also like us to continue to upgrade our streets. We have several brick streets in an area called “Gill Hill” that need our attention. Most are rough and uneven, which will require reconstruction. I like the brick streets and would like to maintain them to add to the character and atmosphere of the area.

     What goals do you have for Monticello as a city council member? The most important thing for council members is to manage the budget to keep taxes manageable for community members, particularly those on fixed incomes. We have had a history in the past 10 or more years of not increasing our tax rate while still being able to grow. We don’t have ultimate control over what occurs in Des Moines or Washington, D.C., but we do in Monticello.

     There is a shortage of decent, affordable housing in Monticello. This impacts attracting new residents, which increases the city’s tax base. What could be done to bring new people to town? Since breaking the 4,000-population barrier in the latest Census, Monticello is no different than any other community in the country, i.e., struggling with residential real estate. Fortunately, we have some forward-thinking developers that have residential subdivisions planned for construction in the near future. As of this writing, we have a developer planning a residential subdivision of approximately 80 lots starting in the fall of 2021 and continuing into the spring of 2022. In addition, we have a few small condominiums in the community that will be available shortly after this printing.

     To compliment residential expansion, we need to continue to solicit business expansion. We have been fortunate to have Karde’s 151, Cobblestone Inn & Suites, MercyCare, as well as the new truck wash open in the community. These expansions add to the tax base and make Monticello an attractive alternative for new residents.

     In addition to housing and commercial development, we need to continue to develop soft attractions in the community. We have a great opportunity to expand our trail system with the advent of the Dollar Fresh Hy-Vee store opening in the spring of 2022. The developer is gifting approximately 11 acres to the city, which gives us the opportunity to expand our trail and park system as well as possibly establish a new trail head, parking, and restrooms along N. Main Street.

     We have a thriving community free of major crime, and that makes Monticello an attractive alternative.