Stop sign ordinances are passed

   Two ordinances were fully approved, and one was partially approved, during a tidy, 30-minute regular meeting of the Monticello City Council May 19.

   First, the council amended the Code of Ordinances by repealing Section 65.03, subsection 3, pertaining to a four-way stop intersection of East Washington Street and South Maple Street.

   The intersection had a four-way stop largely because of the location of the old middle school, which has since been demolished to make way for the new Theisen’s store.

   The ordinance will remove the stop signs on East Washington Street, allowing Washington Street to be a through street with no stops from Cedar Street. to Main Street. Cross traffic on Maple Street will still have stop signs.

   The second ordinance pertains to two spots where stopping is required for motorists: on East Washington Street at South Locust Street, and on South Maple Street at East Washington Street.

   Both of those ordinances were approved as second and third readings.

   A third ordinance, pertaining to through streets, was approved as both first and second readings. Mayor Wayne Peach asked the council if it wanted to approve the third and final reading as well, but no motion was made.

   “We’ve never done all three before,” council member Dave Goedken said.

In other city business:

   • The council held a public hearing on, and then approved, amendment #2 to the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget.

   The amendment includes revenue increases of $277,333, and expense increases of $272,220.

   • The council approved Change Order #3 for Monticello Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements in the amount of $210,104.27, as submitted by Bill Bruce Builders, Inc..

   • The council approved a Pay Request #12 to Bill Bruce Builders, Inc. in the amount of $1,592,070.13. That amount has been reduced by the contractually agreed-upon 5 percent retainer.

   • The council approved the hiring of Quinn Hansen as Monticello Ambulance part-time paramedic, and Cora Wheeler as Monticello Ambulance part-time EMT.

   • The council approved increases in cemetery niche fees from $1,250 to $2,000. The Cemetery Board recommended the increases at an April 8 meeting. The last time the prices were adjusted was in 2011.

   Goedken asked whether costs are being covered.

   “We’ll keep an eye on that,” City Administrator Russ Farnum said.

   • During his report at the meeting, Police Chief Britt Smith said Dawn Graver’s plans to retire as Monticello Community School District School Resource Officer (SRO) have been delayed.

   Smith said that because the Iowa Legislature did not pass the IPERS equalization bill, Graver, who was to step down at the end of June, will now remain as SRO until Oct. 10, working on conjunction with new SRO Erik Honda.