New councilman named in Monticello

Monte Wells is the newest member of the Monticello City Council after he was appointed to the position on September 23.
Wells fills the position previously held by Scott Shakespeare. Wells will hold the appointed position for 15 months until the next city election in November, 2015.
After Shakespeare resigned in August, three city residents asked to be considered for the open seat. They are Wells, Scott Christensen and Eric George.
After the three candidates answered a series of questions during the September 23 council meeting, the four remaining members of the council were asked to pick a new councilmen.
Wells was the top pick of councilmen George Rice Jr and Rick Clark, while Christensen was the pick of councilmen Scott Frost and Steve Duke.
Because of the tie, it was left to Mayor Tim Young to break the tie. Young expressed his support for Wells.
Monte Wells has run for city council two previous times. In 2013, he received 169 votes while finishing third in a race for two positions. In 2011, he received 185 votes to finish fifth in a race for three positions.
Wells was appointed to the City Council less than one week after he was charged with federal conspiracy charges related to the May 10 ATV ride through closed portions of Recapture Canyon. He faces two misdemeanor charges with penalties up to one year and $100,000 fine for each charge.
In other matters at the September 23 City Council meeting, the Council set priorities for the use of $150,000 remaining from the Community Impact Board funding for water resources. The City has drilled wells witht he funds near the Hideout Golf Club and the city airport north of town.
The remaining funds will be used to purchase filters for the golf course well, replacement meters and water-level transducers, automatic values for the secondary pond and a filter on the main line after the secondary water pond.
Council approved a $150 Christmas bonus for full-time employees and a $75 bonus for part-time employees.
The Council made adjustments to the utility billing policy, effective January 1, 2015. Currently, utility accounts are disconnected after about three months of non-payment. The new policy will implement disconnections in about half that time.