Crane appointed Monticello’s interim city manager

Oliver Crane was appointed as the interim Monticello City Manager by the City Council on October 28. Crane moves into the position created after the October 22 resignation of prior City Manager Greg Westfall.
The council discussed their options at length at the meeting. The process discussed was to make Crane the interim manager and to determine a long-term strategy in the coming weeks.
The process will include holding interviews with Crane in a closed session and seeing how things are going. The city may then extend the interim appointment, hire Crane permanently, or open up the position for applicants.
Crane went to work for the City of Monticello in May, 2013, soon after receiving a masters degree from Brigham Young University. He now fills three positions for the city, carrying the responsibilities of the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Recreation Director.
“He is very green and this is going to be a big change for him,” said Mayor Tim Young. “I do have concerns.”
Young added that he had no concerns about Crane’s work ethic, leadership, education or ability.
In other matters at the council meeting, the council tabled a discussion about a possible night-sky ordinance.
A recommended ordinance had been hammered out over several months by the zoning commission. City Council members questioned if it is necessary.
The Council indicated that it may revisit the issue after the new year.
The fear is that in the absence of a city policy, a policy could be forced on the city. Flagstaff, AZ had a similar issue while implementing strict night-sky policies.
The Council approved a water conservation plan which outlines strategies to develop and preserve water resources.
Water rights held by the city include 2.1 cubic feet per second, or 1,520 acre feet of water. The city is rarely able to collect all of the water right because of low flows during much of the year and “equal priority” water rights held by other entities.
In 2013, Monticello residents used an average of 125 gallons of treated water per day and 61 gallons of secondary water. This total of 186 gallons per day compares to a national average of 184 gallons per day and a state average of 260 gallons per day.
The plan outlines three goals to encourage water conservation.
They include:
1) Establish secondary water rates to promote conservation.
2) Upgrade older parts of the culinary distribution system.
3) Add more xeriscape landscaping to city facilities and develop an incentive program to encourage residents to use xeriscape.
Mayor Tim Young praised the Harvest Festival, which was held in Veterans Memorial Park on October 25. A number of organizations partnered for the Festival, including the Monticello Elementary School PTA, Chamber of Commerce, City of Monticello, Four Corners School and more.