Monticello Council to close pool

by Anna Thayn
Staff writer

After several weeks of discussion, and a successful funding session at the Community Impact Board, the Monticello City Council has decided to permanently close the existing city swimming pool and demolish the structure.

On March 5, the City received a significant portion of the necessary funding from the CIB when they were approved for a $825,000 grant and $1.3 million loan for the new aquatic center.

At their March 10 meeting, the Council made the decision. According to City Manager Myron Lee, it will not be a quick process, as the sprinkling system for the baseball fields is housed in the pool, and will need to be moved prior to demolition. The pool will also be drained, and utilities disconnected. The city intends to salvage anything that is usable from the structure.

The Council has declared April 18 to May 2 as the Monticello City Spring Clean-up. The council approved allowing city residents to use the landfill at no cost during that time. The landfill will open on Tuesday from 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the clean-up. The city crew will also pick up bagged and bundled yard waste during the clean-up. Only yard waste will be picked up if it is placed outside the poly carts.

Arbor Day is April 24, 2009. Assistant City Manager Ruth Skouson is applying for tree grants for the city, and the designation is necessary in order to complete the grants. Skouson reports that two trees near the ball park are diseased or dying and will be replaced if the funding is received.

Skouson also talked about recycling program possibilities in the city. She is investigating if it is something the city can support and afford. Skouson’s initial thoughts are that there could be a central drop off location where people could bring recyclables. She is checking with other cities to see what they are doing and how they started their programs.

Jones and DeMille was selected as the engineer for the city storm drain project. A storm drain study will be done for the entire city. The council plans to determine where water comes and where it goes, and develop a plan to keep water moving smoothly and fix areas where there are problems. They also discussed a possibile ordinance that would require developers to have a plan or a system in place to deal with run-off in future developments.

In other business, the council approved an alcohol license for the MD Ranch Cookhouse and approved a cleaning bid for the city office building.

They also received a report from City Recreation Director Eddie Allred on the Blue Mounmtain Triathlon. Allred said that participation was up with 150 people competing this year, and that contestants liked the new route better than the old route.

The council continues to work on a new ATV/OHV ordinance for the city. There will be an open house at the Welcome Center on March 28.