Monticello — The Monticello City Council will make a one-time $5,000 donation to the

Monticello-Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, and the money will be

designated for tourism, according to action taken during a meeting on Monday

night.

Representatives from the Chamber had requested the council provide

$20,000 in funding to help them expand their services to the community. But

during a work session held between councilmen and members of the Chamber

last month, the suggestion emerged to provide some immediate funding help so

that the organization can continue to operate until membership dues begin to

come in.

During Monday's meeting, Councilman Jeffrey Edwards made a motion to

donate the $5,000 to provide some immediate help to the Chamber. City

Clerk-Treasurer Greg Latham noted that this money was already in the current

budget and was designated for tourism. The funds will not come from those

set aside as part of the sale of the Monticello Electric Plant Board, as was

originally discussed in the Chamber's proposal to the city.

Edwards also included in his motion that the city move forward with an

effort to set up a committee that would include councilmen, magistrates and

Chamber board members. The six-member committee would decide what projects

might need some additional governmental funding support.

Edwards and Council-man Phillip Duncan will serve on that committee.

Also during Monday night's meeting, the council approved the second

reading of a traffic control ordinance, which includes the placement of a

stop sign at the southbound intersection of Barnes Drive with Rolling Hills

Boulevard and another stop sign at the eastbound intersection of Rolling

Hills Boulevard and Hardwood Drive.

The change will become effective following publication of the ordinance.

In other action, the council:

€ Approved the first reading and emergency adoption of a budget

amendment ordinance to include the $10,000 in matching funds for the

scattered site housing project.

€ Approved the purchase of tax collection software in the next fiscal

year. The new software, which costs approximately $4,750, will help

streamline the tax billing and collection system for the city.

€ Granted the Wayne County High School permission to paint Cardinal

heads on Kenny Davis Boulevard.