Monticello bans fireworks throughout town and open fires at Loyds Lake

The Monticello City Council banned fireworks, discussed water, and worked with the Lions Club for a new sign at Veterans Park at their June 22 meeting.

During this long dry period of time, the council adopted firework restrictions, while administration made plans to ban fires in fire pits at Loyds Lake. 

Monticello Fire Chief Jonathan Nielson made the request for the restrictions, citing dry conditions 

The city council also banned all Class C fireworks, including aerial and ground fireworks.

Aerial fireworks include anything that goes into the air, including skyrockets, missiles and roman candles. Ground fireworks include fountains, butterflies and snakes.

Federal, State, and County fire restrictions outside of incorporated cities have placed a ban on all open flames, which also includes fireworks.

While fireworks in Monticello will be prohibited, Nielson explained the city is still hosting their firework show during Pioneer Day celebrations.

“We have a plan in place for that,” said Nielson. “We are going to have two trucks with four guys monitoring fires.”

The city also administratively banned fires at fire pits at Loyds Lake, with plans made to place signage at the lake.

The city also received a report from the Monticello Lions Club. The club presented a final proposal to replace the city sign at Veterans Memorial park.

The sign will include imagery to honor veterans on one side, and a map of the city on the other. The new images will be covered in acrylic and a solar powered light will be installed as well.

The City and Lions Club will each contribute $500 for the project and the Monticello Foundation contributing $300.

The plan is to replace the sign, located under the awning on the south side of the park, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 1.

The city also approved an application to the Community Impact Board (CIB) for water rights acquisition and infrastructure.

The project will purchase additional water rights from the Spring Creek drainage to provide additional water storage to the city system. 

A new catchment with a wedge wire screen will be installed, along with a pipeline to convey water to tie into the existing North Creek pipeline. The proposed pipeline would be located parallel to county road 101 in order to limit environmental impacts and lessen permitting requirements.

The estimated cost of the project comes in at $3.5 million. Of that, it is estimated that purchasing the water rights will cost $1.258 million, with construction and engineering for the project estimated at $2.242 million.

The city request from the CIB for a grant/loan mix would cover the cost to purchase water rights. Other funding sources will be used to cover the cost to create the infrastructure.

The council also discussed the current state of water in the city. The city has been pumping water from Loyds Lake to keep the culinary ponds full. As of June 22, Loyd’s lake was at 52 percent of capacity.

The city has decreased their water usage, including parks and the golf course, using 72 percent of an average year. They are also in conversations with the cemetery, hospital and school district to ask them to reduce water use as well.

Councilman Ron Skinner reported that he is making progress on work to install flag poles at city properties, including the Visitor Center and Hideout Golf Course. With costs to install lights and other amenities at about $1,000 each, Skinner says they plan to complete one flag pole a year.

Skinner hopes to have a pole up at the Visitor Center by Pioneer Day. Skinner has found volunteers to dig the hole for the pole, with Sondregger Inc. volunteering to donate a culvert and pour cement for the pole.