News

City staff provide department updates

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 8:16am

   Several City of Monticello department heads provided updates during the March 17 Monticello City Council meeting.

   Parks and Recreation Director Jacob Oswald noted, again, that the Friends of Parks and Recreation annual meeting would be Friday evening, March 28.

   “We’ll have the bike park concept plan available. Members of our Friends group will be there to answer any questions,” he offered.

   P&R’s adult pickleball league started on March 12. Twenty-two people signed up, with a few more trickling in.

Council seeks additional answers to budget questions

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 8:08am

     Following the regular business of the March 17 Monticello City Council meeting, some members of the council sought some clarifications to questions pertaining to the Fiscal Year 2026 city budget.

   Council member Mary Phelan had some questions regarding the city’s TIF revenue and expenditures. She said on the revenue side, the TIF bond proceeds state $1.5 million, with $1.3 million on the expense side.

   “I don’t recall us talking about a number that high. So I’m trying to understand how that was developed,” she said.

Main Street presents benchmark award to city council

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 8:08am

     “Using urban revitalization, TIF leverage, and working with those businesses to expand in the community helps grow the tax base, helps make the services we want and need in this community available to everybody, and it wouldn’t be possible without a great partnership with you guys.”

   Monticello, IA Main Street Director Brian Wolken shared those sentiments during the March 17 Monticello City Council meeting as he presented the council and Mayor Wayne Peach with the Main Street Iowa benchmark award.

Board hears about Land Use, DNR issues at Montiview Trailer Ct.

Published by admin on Wed, 03/26/2025 - 8:05am

   Land Use Administrator Whitney Amos met with the Jones County Supervisors during their March 18 board meeting to discuss an ongoing nuisance at Montiview Trailer Court, located at 21664 Business Highway 151 in Monticello.

   The deed holders of the property are Kevin and Julie Miller of Monticello; the contract holder is Montipark LLC based in the State of Washington.

   Amos shared that the original nuisance complaint was made in December 2024.

One driver injured in three-vehicle accident

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 9:07am

     A three-vehicle accident took place on Wednesday, March 12, at around 10:52 a.m. near the intersection of S. Cedar Street and E. Grand Street.

County road contract rock letting, March 25

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 9:05am

     During the March 11 Jones County Supervisors meeting, the board approved a request for bids for contract rock. The letting will take place on Tuesday, March 25, at 10 a.m.

   “It’ll be very similar to what last year’s quantities were,” noted County engineer Derek Snead, “a mix again of roadways, either 400 or 800 tons per mile.”

   The 800 tons of rock per mile will predominately be used on those roads that are wider, heavier traveled, and/or had surface stabilization treatment (magnesium chloride) in the past.

Potential government shut-down impacts sewer plant project

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 9:04am

     Due to a potential federal government shut-down and the elimination and reduction of several federal government agencies recently, a payment to the contractors on the Monticello Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project is up in the air.

   The Monticello City Council held a special meeting on Monday, March 10. On the agenda was the 10th pay request from Bill Bruce Builders, Inc. out of Eldridge, Iowa, in the amount of $216,552.06.

Council, supervisors discuss solid waste-related legislation

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 9:03am

     This article pertains to information shared at both the March 10 Monticello City Council meeting and the March 11 Jones County Board of Supervisors meeting.

   The Monticello City Council held a special meeting on March 10. Council member Dave Goedken, who is a liaison to the Jones County Solid Waste Management Commission, updated the council on some recent legislation concerning solid waste collections that made it out of the legislative funnel in Des Moines.

Final defendant sentenced from Anamosa drug investigation

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 8:52am

     On March 10, Matthew Ian Hutchins, Anamosa, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for the offense of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Iowa Code Section 124.401(1)(c). Hutchins is the last defendant to be sentenced for charges stemming from an intensive drug distribution investigation that began at the end of October 2023, and led to arrests on drug-related offenses for all of the residents of 1000 E. First St. in Anamosa, on Aug. 30, 2024.

Soil test, contract amendment approved for Public Safety Facility

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 8:45am

   During the March 11 Jones County Board of Supervisors meeting, the board took action on two agenda items related to the future Public Safety Facility in Anamosa.

   They approved a geotechnical evaluation contract with Chosen Valley Testing, Inc., with operations in Iowa, to perform a soil-boring test on the land that the county purchased for the facility. The cost of the test is $5,625.

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