Car speed concerns in Monticello

MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
by Anna Thayne

Beverly Rowley appeared before the Monticello City Council in the public comments portion of the July 25 meeting, asking that the city to consider lowering the speed limit near the San Juan County Fairgrounds.

Rowley told the council that there is virtually no shoulder near the Fairgrounds, therefore not enough room for kids on horses to stay far enough off the road. Rowley asked the council to consider lowering the speed limit until people get past the Fairgrounds and look into signage in the area to let drivers know that there is horse traffic in the area.

The council talked about upgrades that will be made to the road in the next few years, including widening shoulders, turn lanes and the possibility of a gravel trail for horse traffic.

Kathy Hurst approached the council representing the Blanding Rotary Club asking for a $1,000 donation. Hurst told the council that the Rotary is a service club and they plan to serve the entire county with their programs.

Two areas they want to focus on are literacy and autism. Hurst pointed out that many children have no books in their homes, and many come to school unprepared in reading and literacy. The program would give two quality children’s board books to every child born in San Juan County and a refrigerator magnet that lists tips about reading to children. Families who are served by the early intervention program will receive a total of five books. The council approved the donation.

The council appointed Pete Darlington to the airport committee.

Councilman Brad Randall reported problems with the Hideout Golf Club website, saying the site is slow, has no pictures, and is not linked to the City of Monticello site.

He also told the council that Monticello Home and Auto, along with Young’s Machine, will host a benefit golf tournament at The Hideout for the Victims of Mill Tailings Exposure committee in September. He asked that the city consider giving more of a price break on the cost of golf, as the VTME committee is a City committee.

Councilwoman Cassie Boyle expressed concern about the structural conditions at the Monticello Swimming Pool. She questioned how many more years the facility will last.

Mayor Doug Allen asked about an ad running in the San Juan Record regarding the pool. City Manager Trent Schafer said that there had been some rumors about kids getting sick at the pool.

Councilman Blen Freestone said that if kids were getting sick at the pool, they would be seeing a large number of kids at the hospital, which they are not.

Boyle said she was concerned about rust falling from the ceiling beams into the pool. She asked that the city “make some headway on that before we get to the point that the health people shut us down and we have ten years with no swimming pool because nobody made the effort to get moving,” said Boyle. Mayor Allen asked that Schafer update the council on the pool during their next meeting.

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