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Park Board issues are discussed by City Council Melodie Phelps News Editor Monticello City Council may look at amending the ordinance that created the park, following a lengthy discussion on several Park Board issues during Monday nightıs meeting. Park Board Chairman Fount Blevins presented council members with a letter and several other documents that related to incidents that have occurred during the past several months, since the county has held back funding for the park. Earlier this month, Wayne County Fiscal Court approved a list of conditions that must be met before funding will be restored to the park. These included regular and timely meetings, an annual audit, an inventory of park property, as well as personnel policies and procedures that deal with alcohol or drug abuse. In a letter to the council, Blevins stated that the tactics taken by the county remind him of a "schoolyard bully." "If you donıt play my game I am going to take your lunch money," Blevinsı letter stated. Blevins stated that the Park Board has never had a political agenda and it will not tolerate a political agenda. Monticello City Council looked over the same list of conditions Monday, but did not take any action on them. "It is my opinion that the park has been a valuable asset to this community for many years," stated Monticello Mayor Thurston Frye. Frye said he received many comments about the value of the park and the way it is kept up. "It is my opinion that the Park Board should address this problem," Frye also said. Councilman Jeffrey Edwards, who is a member of the Park Board, said that the group has met only three times this year, and before that he did not know when they had met. Edwards also pointed out that since the park is a joint city and county venture it would take action by both governments to make any changes to the Park Board. Several members of council agreed that there are issues that need to be addressed, but decided instead to direct City Attorney Jay Jones to meet with County Attorney Lee Tobbe to look at amendments that can be made to the original 1982 ordinance to provide more specific guidelines for the Park Board. The council has tentatively scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, September 20 to review recommendations from the two attorneys. In other action Monday night, the council set the tax rates for 2005 by emergency adoption of the ordinance. Property tax rates decreased slightly, from 12.2 cents last year to 12 cents per hundred dollar assessment. Tangible property tax rates increased slightly, from 13.9 cents to 14.3 cents. The tax rate for watercraft and automobiles remained at 22.5 cents per hundred dollar assessment. Frye appointed four people to a Planning and Zoning Committee, as the city continues to explore the discussion it began last month. Frye appointed Ivan Tuggle as chairman of the committee. Also serving will be Ronald Sartin, Gene Jones, and Phillip Duncan. Add a comment |
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