Monticello City Council unanimously adopts organizational resolutions, budgets and economic development contract

Monticello’s City Council, meeting Jan. 27 at City Hall, voted unanimously to approve a series of organizational resolutions, budget updates and a contract authorization before adjourning.

The council accepted the minutes of its December meeting on a motion by Council Member Mike Wigley, seconded by Craig McRae. Several resolutions were introduced and approved after the City Attorney read each by title: authorizing an architectural services contract for renovation of the old fire station; approving appointments to the Drew County Historical Commission; adopting the council’s 2026 organization and a 2026 Code of Conduct; establishing procedures for continuation of government functions in an emergency; accepting updates to the 2025 operating budget and the 2025 sales and use tax budget; and adopting 2026 budgets for certain funds, including a separate 2026 sales and use tax fund budget. The council also authorized a 2026 contract for economic development services.

All motions were presented, read by City Attorney Whit Barton and approved by voice vote; the minutes record the decisions as passed unanimously. The motions were typically moved and seconded by council members as follows: acceptance of December minutes (mover: Mike Wigley; second: Craig McRae); architectural services resolution (mover: Craig McRae; second: Claudia Hartness); appointments to the Drew County Historical Commission (mover: Craig McRae; second: Michael James); organization resolution for 2026 (mover: Michael James; second: Cedric Leonard); Code of Conduct (mover: Craig McRae; second: Michael James); continuation of government functions (mover: Craig McRae; second: Michael James); updates to the 2025 operating budget (mover: Craig McRae; second: Al Peer); updates to the 2025 sales and use tax budget (mover: Al Peer; second: Craig McRae); adopting 2026 budgets for certain funds (mover: Craig McRae; second: Al Peer); adopting the 2026 sales and use tax fund budget (mover: Al Peer; second: Craig McRae); and authorizing the 2026 economic development services contract (mover: Craig McRae; second: Claudia Hartness).

Vote details: the transcript records a voice vote for each item with the clerk declaring "the aye's had it"; the minutes indicate unanimous approval. Present council members recorded as voting in favor were Cedric Leonard, Michael James, Al Peer, Craig McRae, Mike Wigley and Claudia Hartness; Clarissa Pace and Mark Tiner were noted absent.

What happens next: the ordinance authorizations and budget adoptions will be handled administratively according to the city’s normal implementation processes; specific contract terms and budget line-item details were not read into the minutes and are not specified in the meeting record.

Votes at a glance - Minutes (Dec.): passed (mover: Mike Wigley; second: Craig McRae) - Resolution: Architectural services for Old Fire Station: passed (mover: Craig McRae; second: Claudia Hartness) - Resolution: Appointments to Drew County Historical Commission: passed (mover: Craig McRae; second: Michael James) - Resolution: Organization of City Council for 2026: passed (mover: Michael James; second: Cedric Leonard) - Resolution: 2026 Code of Conduct: passed (mover: Craig McRae; second: Michael James) - Resolution: Continuation of government functions in emergency: passed (mover: Craig McRae; second: Michael James) - Resolution: Updates to 2025 operating budget: passed (mover: Craig McRae; second: Al Peer) - Resolution: Updates to 2025 sales and use tax budget: passed (mover: Al Peer; second: Craig McRae) - Resolution: Adopting 2026 budgets for certain funds: passed (mover: Craig McRae; second: Al Peer) - Resolution: Adopting 2026 sales and use tax fund budget: passed (mover: Al Peer; second: Craig McRae) - Resolution: Authorizing 2026 contract for economic development services: passed (mover: Craig McRae; second: Claudia Hartness)

Reporting notes: the minutes do not include line-item budget details, contract terms, names of appointees to the Drew County Historical Commission, or the architectural contract text; those items were referenced as adopted or authorized but were not read in full in the transcript.