News

City plans for one logo on north water tower

Published by admin on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 9:19am

     After receiving seven bids for the city’s north water tower project, with the lowest stemming from Utility Service Co., Inc. out of Georgia, during the Feb. 20 Monticello City Council meeting, the council approved moving forward with one logo painted on the tower. This will come at a cost of $395,400.

     The council also previously approved a logo design. The city’s name, “Monticello,” will be painted in full across the tower, with the “M” larger in size. The image of the clock tower will also appear within the “M.”

Locals start Elderly Consortium in Jones Co.

Published by admin on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 9:19am

     There’s a new group in town, with the intent of caring for the elderly population of Jones County.

     The Jones County Elderly Consortium held its first meeting ever on Feb. 16 at the Anamosa library. The group consists of those who work directly with senior citizens in the county.

     The consortium’s purpose “is to take care of the elderly population through relationships with the community care providers by collaborating to create programs, improve systems, and provide excellent care through ongoing education and networking.”

Supervisors start Community Services job search

Published by admin on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 9:18am

     During the Feb. 14 Jones County Supervisor meeting, the board approved a proposed job description and advertisement for the Community Services director position.

     Current director Deb Schultz plans to retire at the end of the fiscal year, before July 1.

     After working on a new job description to include duties associated with the MH/DS region, Schultz said her job is “really diverse.          

     “There are some things I just have not thought of for a while,” she said of her responsibilities. “But everything is an essential piece of the job.”

Martin returns to MNRC as HR director

Published by admin on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 9:17am

     Laurissa Martin has been with Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for a total of eight years, starting out as a charge nurse and working her way up the ladder. After a brief stint away, Martin realized her heart was in Monticello.

     In January, Martin returned to MNRC, taking on the newly created job of human resources director.

     “I never completely left,” said Martin.

     After taking a job at a doctor’s office in July 2016, she said she returned to MNRC to help out when needed.

Jones Co. youth to attend AC4C at Capitol

Published by admin on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 9:07am

     On Thursday, Feb. 23, youth from around the state will be joining the Alliance of Coalitions for Change (AC4C) to discuss their concerns about youth marijuana use and substance use in Iowa. AC4C is a statewide collaboration to effect positive change in substance abuse. Students and adults are coming together to educate their legislators about the impact marijuana, alcohol, and other substance use has on them, their peers, and their community.

Pate urges voters to respond to change of address

Published by admin on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 8:30am

     Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced the annual National Change of Address process to update and maintain Iowa’s voter registration records is underway. Over the next few weeks, voters who have filed a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service will receive a card in the mail from their county auditor saying the USPS indicates they have moved.

     Voters that receive these cards in the mail should indicate if the new address is incorrect and quickly return the card to the county auditor’s office.

County Board approves salary increases

Published by admin on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 4:22pm

     The Jones County Supervisors had a tough decision to make Feb. 7 during their regular meeting: salary increases.

     There are several different categories of county employees: elected officials (whose salary increase is proposed by the Compensation Board), exempt department heads, exempt supervisory positions, non-exempt supervisory positions responsible for 1-10 employees, and elected officials’ deputies (whose salary is tied to elected officials).

District proposes no base increase

Published by admin on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 4:21pm

     An initial proposal that includes no increase to the base salary was proposed by the Monticello Community School District at the Monticello School Board work session Wednesday, Feb. 8.

     The proposal, presented by Superintendent Brian Jaeger, also contained several areas in which contract language was cleaned up and brought up to date.

County looks to give $560,000 toward lake project

Published by admin on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 4:20pm

     With a major project in the works concerning the future of Central Park Lake, Conservation Director Brad Mormann was at the Feb. 7 Board of Supervisors meeting to discuss the funding of roughly $569,000 toward the project. (The Conservation Board and Department are contributing $20,000 toward the total of $589,000.)

     Mormann prefaced this request by telling the board it would be a one-time consideration.

Council moves forward with FY’18 budget

Published by admin on Fri, 02/17/2017 - 4:19pm

     The Monticello City Council held a budget work session on Saturday afternoon, with the goal of finalizing the city’s departmental appropriations and setting the city tax rate.

     The proposed budget was unanimously approved, with the city appropriating $120,000 to the Monticello Public Library. The tax rate will remain the same as the last fiscal year: $13.86897.

     The city’s tax rate is made up of three separate taxes: General Fund Levy, Debt Service Levy, and Employee Benefits Levy.

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