Monticello plans to refund utility deposits, discusses Big 4 future

by David Boyle
News Director
The Monticello City Council discussed the future of the Big 4 tractor, talked about clean up at the Mill Site, and made plans to return utility deposits to city residents at their latest meeting.
Monticello City Council received a report about refunding the utility account deposits at the June 25 meeting.
City Manager Kaeden Kulow reports the city has hundreds of accounts with deposits in them. Generally a deposit is required when someone opens a new city utility account, with the city holding the deposit for one year to cover possible delinquencies on accounts.
Kulow reports the city has used those deposits in the past but not very often. While typically the city refunds the deposit after one year in good standing, Kulow says those haven’t been processed over the last five years resulting in a good amount of money due back to Monticello citizens, about $56,000.
Refunding that money all at once would require the city to pull from savings accounts to balance the books, so staff recommended starting with refunding the $10,500 owed on accounts five years or older.
After that, plans are to work their way forwards to refund accounts in good standing.
Kulow explained the discovery was made under a new software system for the city.
With the amount of time passed, city council members noted that for some the credit applied to accounts will be a great find for people, while others may not miss the deposit that’s been held by the city for numerous years.
Council recommended staff look into giving citizens the option to donate the deposit to city programs if residents so choose.
One option discussed would have a notice go out to residents who would receive their deposit back, with an option for residents to contact the city within 30 days if they want the deposit to go towards a city program instead. No response would result in a credit being applied to the utility account.
The City Council generally agreed that city staff should start with the oldest accounts and work back to more recently received deposits in the coming quarters and years.
The Monticello city council also received an update on efforts to clean up at the Monticello Mill Site.
Mayor Bayley Hedglin shared that some trees planted at the Mill Site died due to issues with the watering system. The trees were planted in memory of people who passed away as a result of exposure to the mill.
As a result the Victims of Mill Tailings Exposure group has volunteered to cover the cost to fix and replace the water system. A reasonable quote of $600 was given for the water system.
City council member George Rice asked how this could be prevented from happening again without adding undue burden to city staff.
A plan was made to put blowing out of the water system in the fall at the Mill Site part of the annual administrative schedule.
Additionally, it was recommended that as staff take out garbage at the site, they do a quick spot check to make sure the system is working.
Monticello City Council also discussed the future of the Big 4 tractor. Kulow explained city staff and Hedglin have had conversations with parties involved in restoring the tractor.
Kulow shared the city received advice not to run the Big 4 in the parade this year, noting the spokes are breaking while on asphalt.
The city is planning to put together a committee for the Big 4 to oversee maintenance for the machine, with representation from the city as well. Kulow shared the city received a fair amount of interest in serving on the board, including some younger volunteers.
The plan will be to run the machine twice a year and keep it well maintained, but in order to save on maintenance and to increase longevity for the machine, the city will likely be cutting down significantly on how often the tractor rides in the parade down Main Street.