Contract approved for Phase 2 of old RCA neighborhood

At a recent meeting, the Monticello Board of Public Works and Safety approved a contract with Commonwealth Engineering for Phase 2 at the old RCA neighborhood.

“We received a $2 millionplus grant for this opportunity,” said Mayor Cathy Gross.

Besides replacing about 9,000 feet of the aging fourand six-inch water mains, which are over a century old, the company will also be replacing the lines to individual homes at no cost to the homeowner.

“We are going to replace the service line from the main to the house for everyone who will sign a temporary easement to do so,” said Andrew Robarge, project manager. The line to the home will have a one-year warranty from the contractor, Robarge added.

The old RCA neighborhood is located in the north part of Monticello and involves homes namely on the following streets: Dewey, Turpie, Walnut, Chestnut, First, and Second.

RCA came to the city in 1941 and began making cabinets for televisions. It closed the plant in 1982. Thousands of people worked at the plant over the years.

The Board of Works also approved five invoices by Commonwealth Engineering totaling $40,244.51 and received two bids for the two-year leasing of 49.77 acres of farmland that the City of Monticello owns. Evan Crowel bid $246 per acre, while Pearson Farms bid $15,600, which equals about $313.44 per acre. The Board of Works accepted the Pearson Farms bid.

Also approved were four items for the Monticello Fire Department.

The first was tracking of maintenance of Federal Emergency Management Agency equipment. The standard operating policy for the equipment was approved.

The Board of Works then approved an amendment to change the promotion requirements in the Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG) at the Fire Department. The position of assistant chief will now come from lieutenant or captain rank. The change is “To better utilize the officer corps for promotion,” explained Assistant Chief Craig Green.

The Board of Works also approved a new SOG for ballistic vests and helmets it has received. This equipment is for high-risk situations.

Finally, the Board permitted the Fire Department to hire two more firefighter/paramedic positions conditionally after two candidates fell through for the new positions.

The Board of Works also approved the final payment of $38,210.47 to E&B Paving for their work on West Washington Street.

At the end of the meeting, Veteran Service Officer Nathan Baker asked the board for permission to get one or two parking spaces for veterans in front of his office on 120 North Main Street. He will have the spaces painted by high school students and will have a sign prepared. The Street Department will put in a post for the spaces.