Monticello recaps 24th celebration

The Monticello City Council looked back on a big weekend and received a report from their recreation department as part of the July 27 meeting.

Much of the council discussion revolved around recapping the Pioneer Day celebration on the weekend of July 24.

The event was viewed as a success, with the city council and staff thanking volunteers and employees for pulling off the event.

One change from previous years was placing vendors near the pavilion at the city ball fields. In years previous, vendors would set-up at Veterans Memorial park. When traffic would slow down in the afternoon, many vendors would close up shop early.

While some city council members reported they heard complaints of crowding at the city ball fields, having booths at the park allowed for a more steady flow of customers for vendors, with some staying open until the fireworks show at dark.

The council and staff also shared praise for the live music at the event, the success of the fast pitch tournament, and the fireworks show.

One unfortunate damper on the celebration was the closure of the city swimming pool which stopped some traditional events, including the children’s diving for dollars. 

The boiler at the pool broke down just ahead of the celebration. As of this report, the city is still working to fix the pool.

At the meeting, the city council heard a recreation report from City Parks and Recreation Director Shayne Christiansen.

One major addition to the department is the Recreation Committee, a newly formed volunteer committee aimed at improving participation in recreation programs.

The committee held a cornhole tournament as a fundraiser during Pioneer day. The event had an estimated 40 participants and raised nearly $400 for the department.

Volunteers have created an informational Facebook page, become familiar with the city software, and even helped advocate for a part-time position within the department.

The new part-time position would likely be a year-round administrative position with flexible hours. The person would help with communication, organization, and possibly grant writing for the Parks and Rec department.

With the start of the school year around the corner, city soccer and flag football leagues will start up soon.

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