Three Monticello City council members take oath of office at first meeting of new year

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the Monticello City Council swore in three council members to four-year terms at the January 9 meeting. Council members Ron Skinner, Nathan Chamberlain and Kirk Crowley were all sworn in for four-year terms.
At the meeting, the council also discussed prioritizing an application for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
Council members held a required public hearing to hear various ideas for the grant in November.
Projects to consider for the application of the funds were shared by council, staff, and citizens.
Among the ideas shared included updating city infrastructure including water and sewer lines, addressing housing needs, and making a city playground ADA compliant.
At the January meeting members of the council discussed the priorities of the grant including shovel-ready projects. Members of the council shared thoughts on preferred projects with an informal preference of applying for the grant for water and sewer infrastructure seen as a possible priority for the council.
Members of the council agreed to finalize the priority list at an upcoming council meeting.
In other news, City Manager Kaeden Kulow also spoke with the council about grant opportunities for the city. The city has a request for proposal open for a grant writing position.
Mayor Bayley Hedglin also shared a preference that the city identify projects and then look for grants rather than find grant opportunities and try and fit a project into grant parameters.
At the meeting members of the council also received a preview of the new city website which has been under development since the receipt of covid funds in 2020. 
Kulow showed the council the website with information including the latest news, options to fill out application forms, and a how-to section that should provide answers for commonly asked questions from citizens.
At the meeting council also discussed the need to address compensation for the city fire chief. While the Monticello city fire department is voluntary, council member George Rice noted that the fire chief has a lot of additional responsibilities including building inspections as well as maintenance and inspections of the department equipment and vehicles and other duties.
In informal discussions, thd council seemed to agree that the bi-weekly stipend of $75 ought to be increased.