New community leaders will take oaths of office this week

Municipal governments will take on a new look this week as recently elected officials take the oath of office. Two new members of the Monticello City Council, Scott Shakespeare and Jerry Ward, will be sworn in at the City Council meeting on January 9.

In Blanding, Joe B. Lyman will take the oath of office. In Bluff, a new member of the Bluff Service Area board is Susan DeLorme.

The organizations face a host of challenges, particularly the City of Monticello, which is without the services of four top employees.

The assistant city manager position, previously held by Greg Martin, has been unfilled since November 15. In addition, public works director Nathan Langston has submitted his resignation and Jim Robison will become a full time golf course superintendent, leaving an open position at golf professional.

City manager Trent Schafer is on paid administrative leave pending the results of a financial audit. While Schafer is on leave, it will be difficult for the city to fill the open positions.

Additionally, the City of Monticello will lose an estimated $90,000 in annual sales tax revenue as a result of losing a .5 percent resort community sales tax.