Monticello council prepares for possible sewer rate increase

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Monticello City Council prepared for a possible 10-percent increase in sewer rates to cover infrastructure upgrades, moved closer on a golf cart ordinance and heard from the Utah Manufacturing Association at their latest meeting.
At the February 11 meeting members of the city council moved forward on a rate increase to cover the sewer bond.
The sewer project will include upgrades and replacement of sewer lines with an expected price tag of $1.5 million with a 2.5-percent interest rate.
To cover the debt of the project rates for sewer services could be raised by 10-percent. City staff reports that translates to about $2.66 a month for a household that uses 5,000 gallons of water.
The new rate increase will go into effect at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. Council also considered a 15-percent rate increase which is what was bonded for but council and staff agreed to start with 10-percent before considering an additional rate change. A public hearing will be held for the rate change at the next city council meeting, giving the public the opportunity to weigh in on the change.
The city is working with Jones and DeMille Engineering to get the project out for bid by the end of February or early March.
Members of the city council also reviewed another proposal of a golf cart ordinance for the city. The ordinance is modeled in part after the city’s ATV code with input from other small town’s codes related to golf carts.
During public comment the city heard from resident Jeff Mcyntire on the proposed code.
“My hope is that deliberation is such that it doesn't take away any liberties from responsible adult drivers of golf carts. Monticello City has very wide streets. It's very safe, risk-free, I think.The attraction for out of towners to come visit a friend, motel, relative and bring their cart with them and go to the golf course from there, I think is another attraction that makes Monticello really great and will hel highlight our wonderful golf course.”
Key portions of the proposed ordinance include a requirement of a valid driver’s license to operate a golf cart on city street. A top speed limit of 25 miles per hour, and that carts cannot carry more passengers than the vehicle was manufactured for.
The code would also not be allowed on sidewalks, handicap parking area, fire lanes and other restricted zones. Golf carts would also not be allowed on 200 West from 200 South to 400 North colloquially referred to as the school zone. Carts are also not allowed to travel along highways 491 or 191 but can cross at designated intersections, excluding the main intersection at Center and Main. Carts are also allowed to travel to and from the course as well as to and from gas stations.
With an agreed upon draft in place council decided to send the ordinance to the city attorney and sheriff's office for review.
Members of the city council also heard a brief presentation from Todd Bingham President and CEO of the Utah Manufacturing Association. Bingham explained their organization represents thousands of manufacturing companies in the state. Bingham explained they were there on a tour of facilities in the city at an invite from Mayor Bayley Hedglin.
“We just want to be at your disposal as a community as you look at manufacturing options, which companies fit well into rural Utah,” said Bingham. “How we can help you with some incentives with the state opportunities to look at that from both a city and from an economic development standpoint,workforce discussion and helping you look at supply chain gaps and things that might fit well into your community.”
Members of the city council also did a review of enterprise funds, specifically sewer and sanitation. The review was part of a line by line review for the city as they prepare for the upcoming budget season with the fiscal year end in June, including preparations and conversations for larger expenses and consideration about putting funds away for future use.
Hedglin explained, “So that everybody kind of has a good idea of where we are so when we purchase things or something breaks and we need to replace it. Everybody has a good idea in the budget of where we're at.”
The city plans to review water and municipal building authority budgets at their next session.
At the meeting council also received an update on the anticipated electrical grid analysis. Staff reported they are aiming to have the study by April, but delays could put that release out to May.
Council approved the analysis at their January 14 meeting.
The city lease with Empire Electric is coming up for review in July of 2025. City staff recommended a professional analysis to explore the city’s options related to the future of electric services to the City of Monticello.
The request for proposal would ask for a company to analyze options for the city, including continuing services received from Empire Electric, purchasing local infrastructure and operating it as a city or purchasing the infrastructure and hiring a company, such as Rocky Mountain Power, Empire Electric or others to operate it.
The analysis would likely spell out the benefits and drawbacks of the different options, as well as the costs associated with them.