[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6138809,"mediaKeyId","5582030-307322abcb1affa28db01326ea252ec4","parentId",5582030,"title","Police report: investigations, staffing near full and school safety drills planned","audioSeconds",168,"startMs",1986000,"endMs",2154000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582030-307322abcb1affa28db01326ea252ec4&start=1986&end=2154","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582030-307322abcb1affa28db01326ea252ec4/thumbnail_1986000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6138809/Monticello/Piatt-County/Illinois/Police-report-investigations-staffing-near-full-and-school-safety-drills-planned","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138809-50f4bdd0632adee046a8c2574cb0a5ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206967&Signature=cEgXmiSk7yRJQ-nrqFN~Rm4rpqMss8JhyesW1febhOo3df-tsbF7o7ApudRG5L7-sqeB4bKa3G4BDl0LK1zM3k5LQBuJaKBAQ4QDm1MdF5kCj9nfHzBKPx59oM8Y0x7FuH9MLThbl6Zr7ZIOQh-z1kbXUAiK74zBRwvvzoUxpYo5KAs1h0M8RMopv~HNDCSfU8xbMUg7EW-1AwIIiQ1-So4P1Mg~wW7RDHeuHEND5fQQpDNAlj6zf~URwzQqHxPAJvDv1thacDeWeCml2xyFpFZC24D0fdUNVIt3IPuZCm~4nE9CGQZwkZy-zG5qVLgu6vueZ5uke-qGB0y5q46b6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Monticello, IL","date","2025-08-12T13:27:05Z","article","Monticello — The police chief reported to the City Council on Aug. 11 that officers had made arrests connected to repeated burglaries and trespassing at a commercial building and credited proactive enforcement for resolving incidents.
Chief Rob said the department's officers increased patrols and investigated suspicious vehicles; arrests followed and property managers expressed appreciation for the response. He said staffing will be at full strength after a forthcoming appointment except for one officer on military leave.
The chief also described coordinated school-safety drills planned for Sept. 3 with principals at Washington and White Heath schools; the drills will involve the school-resource officer and city staff and will be staged at 9 a.m. (Washington) and 10 a.m. (White Heath).
No formal council action was taken on the report.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Monticello (Illinois) City Council meeting.","oneSentenceSummary","Monticello police reported arrests tied to burglaries at a commercial property, said officers have completed several proactive investigations, and noted staffing will be nearly full after an upcoming appointment; school safety drills are scheduled with local principals.","taxTitle","Monticello, Piatt County, Illinois","taxId",70470,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138813,"Council approves lowering Bridge Street speed limit to 35 mph after debate over study and golf-cart access",257,1127000,1384000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582030-307322abcb1affa28db01326ea252ec4&start=1127&end=1384","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582030-307322abcb1affa28db01326ea252ec4/thumbnail_1127000.jpg","/articles/6138813/Monticello/Piatt-County/Illinois/Council-approves-lowering-Bridge-Street-speed-limit-to-35-mph-after-debate-over-study-and-golf-cart-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138813-05d74c150eb4cc7c512b6261ecbe8a41/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206967&Signature=a5FUCzau~GRSe0R6fyMhSwVfQgE8G6kvnYtS12qhX6MbZhN4NEUfTc8ziDwjLGEVmeGJDr1Wp9ACMzf6D9Az9i5eAQU5sqAnbIp9TF6OZBXMXYeoz-ni2Jhw0gfxruY3NVZL2ZjgdsLQgbTngdoJm6rP7cvMMkfEM9c4jJYJ1xGp~eDl-pvQfzs1GUvNsc36T89BNdaDj1-DKPb1HgWv4BEJUiObJjrH4SJqInhwxAEh9FY~8VBulc-zTCCoXaUOFU~guZJYxr0UJDK0hgBXFlIWsB12TXAdhiTWmfp8SJgxcs4xhfLfkEl8lcD7hZWJe4Bms94qJZ0KHaBzwiznUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Monticello — The City Council voted to lower the posted speed limit along a segment of Bridge Street from 45 mph to 35 mph, approving Ordinance 2025-56 on Aug. 11 after public comment and council debate.
The ordinance amends Chapter 76, Schedule 4 (speed limits other than 30 miles per hour) to reduce the speed from Front Street westerly to 800 feet northwest of the intersection with Old Route 47. The Monticello Police Department recommended the change, citing roadway-safety concerns and anticipated increased traffic from future park development.
A resident, Jerry Schuff, urged the council to ensure the change follow the statutory requirement for an engineering or traffic investigation, citing Illinois law that limits local alteration of speed limits to determinations made ‘‘upon the basis of engineering or traffic investigation.’’ Schuff, who said he previously worked as a county engineer, told the council that without a proper study tickets might be contested in court.
Council members debated safety benefits against residents' opposition. Several members said they had heard public concern — one council member cited a Facebook poll of about 20 respondents in which about 75% opposed the change — and urged a formal traffic study before any change. Others said the police had presented accident data for nearby intersections and argued that lowering the limit ahead of the park opening was prudent.
Council consideration also focused on an operational effect: Illinois rules allow low-speed vehicles such as golf carts on roads posted 35 mph and under. Some council members raised the prospect that setting a 35 mph limit could open Bridge Street to golf-cart traffic, a point city staff said they could address through signage and separate policy if desired.
During roll call the ordinance passed 4-3. Votes recorded in the transcript were: Ms. Lively, yes; Ms. Hume, yes; Mr. Burrows, yes; Mr. Broderick, yes; Mr. Reid, no (gave \"mixed emotions\"); Mr. Carey, no; and one council member listed in the minutes as \"Mr. ****,\" no. After the vote, staff noted signage and education would be required before enforcement and that there is a statutory enforcement buffer (the police noted they do not use speed-detecting devices within 500 feet, described in the meeting as 504 feet, of a sign change).
The ordinance will take effect after necessary signage is installed and any education period required by city practice; the council recorded no formal direction in the meeting transcript to commission a new engineering study prior to posting the signs.
","The Monticello City Council approved Ordinance 2025-56 to reduce the posted speed limit on a section of Bridge Street from 45 mph to 35 mph. Discussion centered on whether an engineering traffic study is required, safety at intersections and implications for golf-cart use; the measure passed 4-3 after public comment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6138818,"City auditor reports clean opinion; notes pension and revenue trends",715,445000,1160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5582030-307322abcb1affa28db01326ea252ec4&start=445&end=1160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5582030-307322abcb1affa28db01326ea252ec4/thumbnail_445000.jpg","/articles/6138818/Monticello/Piatt-County/Illinois/City-auditor-reports-clean-opinion-notes-pension-and-revenue-trends","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6138818-576dcb6b583de6caf882be31fab219ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206967&Signature=BSF63uBdLxUBSAoHPG9Vo7y86H7nOp7Z3JrEKv1b33R2fGZ7wYUuVYfcHhSnnfOx5DyYoKkhAa8vDc4Bo~5Q79-CJXArVY2imUIhwvPvnaJRJPm-ebcNv9k0UZnPOcp4OnjGJJK0aSMdH05j6pgcOkfqa8Dusb8~RuV6s9uMm~Nx-l4Inz1DYLHE77XObWiLGQOxsdy~lXPWJ5DR4N0yaebkGxfku4Hb10REQeQFXzyXb8bibGIqcGFYMVn~7L-3~6-9W-Mpk7MRi0lE6MFPU8I~ecWeENsuUbyiZMXh-hRi6074T2vjjyF-4mpTpxjGziGSKtmRWQtKHh2tZw8AHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Monticello — The city’s outside auditor, Steve Groening of MCK CPAs, told the City Council on Aug. 11 that the annual financial statements earned a clean opinion but included a routine qualification tied to other post-employment benefit (OPEB) calculations.
Groening, presenting the audit, said total city assets rose to nearly $52 million from about $46 million a year earlier and total net position increased to about $33.8 million, up from $31.5 million. He said the asset increase reflected bond and debt-certificate proceeds and associated capital projects.
The audit showed governmental fund revenues of about $9 million for the year, down from $9.8 million the prior year. Groening attributed much of the decline to a drop in the state’s personal property replacement tax (PPRT), which fell from roughly $3.7 million in 2024 to about $2.2 million in the current year. Business-type (water and sewer) revenues rose roughly $200,000 year over year, leaving an excess of operating revenues over expenses of just under $600,000 and an overall positive change in those fund positions of about $400,000.
Groening described one qualification on the audit related to the city not contracting with an outside actuary to compute OPEB liabilities; he called it a common practice for similar governments and said it does not affect the core audit opinion. He also noted one recurring report item: the city relies on the auditor to prepare full financial statements and disclosures rather than employing a full-time preparer, a practice he said is common for many clients.
On pension funding, Groening pointed to the city’s Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) plan funded at about 97 percent and the public-safety (SLEP) plan at about 103 percent. He said the police pension fund had improved substantially from earlier years and was nearly 75 percent funded as of the 2023 actuarial report. He noted the council made extra contributions in recent years and cited an actuary-recommended 2024 contribution that the city exceeded.
Groening also summarized recent debt: approximately $745,000 in general-obligation bonds issued for street work and about $3.79 million in general-obligation debt certificates for park projects, which increased liabilities but were matched to capital spending.
No formal council action on the audit was recorded during the presentation.
","MCK CPAs presented Monticello’s annual audit, reporting a clean opinion with a qualification related to other post-employment benefits. Auditors cited stronger net position, falling state replacement tax revenue and recent debt issuances; police pension and IMRF funding levels improved.","actionData","errors"]

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Police report: investigations, staffing near full and school safety drills planned

Council approves lowering Bridge Street speed limit to 35 mph after debate over study and golf-cart access

City auditor reports clean opinion; notes pension and revenue trends