NEW CHAMBERS • Mona City council members held their first meeting in the new community center. Pictured are left, Lyla Spencer, clerk, Jeff Smith, Mayor Greg Newton, Jonathan Jones, Jeff Hearty, and Katrina Long. Not present was Molli Graham.
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
It was an historic day for Mona City Council members because they met for the first time in a council meeting in their new city center. “We have completed the engineering and construction phases of the building,” said Greg Newton, mayor. “We have an occupancy permit.” The building is also mostly paid off, he said. There were a few more bills that would come in. Landscaping needs to be completed but the big hold up is the telephone service and the internet, he said. “It is actually worse than ridiculous,” he said. The company providing the service had failed to meet expectations and Newton was having to nag them. The microphone system in the council room was in good working condition and Newton said that, in the future, all residents addressing the council will be asked to step forward to the mike so that they can be heard and recorded. As for planning a ribbon-cutting or other dedication event, there was still a lot of work to be done prior to that. “We have a lot of work to do before we can move in—especially to move the office here,” he said. Newton said that the city had $300,000 in the capital improvements fund, owned the property where the building was constructed which amounted to a $90,000 value, received a loan from CIB for $180,000 at 2 percent interest and was given a grant of $178,000 which will never require repayment. He said that it was a good deal for the city and allowed them to have a center that residents could be proud of. The recent open house, held at the time of the city pioneer celebration, was well-attended and received many glowing comments of approval. “The building was estimated at a cost of approximately $685,000,” said Newton. “But because it is being done by the local building authority, there will not be an increase in taxes since the money being used by the building authority does not need to come from a dedicated revenue stream.” “The new city center is beautiful but is also conservative,” said Newton. “There is a 2,600-foot open area and the folding doors between that area and the council room can be opened.” There is a full service kitchen which will allow the area to be rented out for family reunions, wedding receptions and community events. The former council room at the old city hall had 18 chairs and was crowded to standing room only when more than that show up. In addition, the overflow extended to the office area where the public can neither be seen or heard. “There is room for a justice court to be held in the building,” said Newton. He said that a ribbon-cutting ceremony was still being planned and would be the topic of a future council meeting.> | 