The City of Monticello has been recognized as a smart rural community.  Lightstream, a local company providing fiber-optic broadband services, to our community is our city partner.  Their goal is to bring high speed internet to rural areas.

Lightstream was awarded this honor by the National Broadband Association.  The President and CEO of Lightstream, Brent Gilliam, has worked towards this goal within rural areas during the pandemic.

Gilliam remarked, "To be able to share this with our community and watch it develop and grow and be able to provide that opportunity for many years and decades in the future is very important to us."  Monticello Mayor Cathy Gross said this recognition is part of her mission to move the city forward.  Gross said, "Because of these important partnerships we are able to constantly make a different in our community".

To learn more about this award, visit Lightstream's Smart Rural Community webpage.

Monticello Mayor's Advisory Council for the ADA Distributes Sensory Bags to Twin Lakes Schools & Boys and Girls Club

On Wednesday, February 11 and Thursday, February 12, the Monticello Mayor’s Advisory Council for the ADA distributed sensory bags to the Boys & Girls Club of White County, and to all five schools in the Twin Lakes School Corporation. The sensory bags, which are for use by individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders or Sensory Processing Disorders, include items such as weighted lap pads, stretchy toys and noise-cancelling headphones to provide or reduce various types of sensory input. Funding for these sensory bags was made possible through the generosity of the Community Foundation of White County, which provided a $1,500 grant toward their purchase.

Photos by Lori Cheever, Mayor's Asst. & MPD Patrolman Travis Clark

8:10PM - Monticello, IN  (North-Pole-Imagery 24Dec2020)

This view was just sent from Santa's Sleigh high above the City of Monticello as he prepares to make his annual visit to all the Good Girls & Boys in Monticello. 

The City of Monticello Fire Department in partnership with NIPSCO encourage all citizens to "Know Your Home" and learn about Carbon Monoxide Safety.  We care about your safety, and it's important for you to know the risks of carbon monoxide and how to stay alert.

• Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
• Know what to do if your carbon monoxide detector goes off or if you're experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
• Know how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning - the first step is to buy and install carbon monoxide detectors.

Learn about carbon monoxide safety by visiting NIPSCo's Know Your Home website.

State of Indiana Executive Order 20-46: Stage 5 Continued
Stage 5 Back on Track Graphical Overview: September 26th - November 14th
 State of Indiana Executive Order 20-43: The New Normal During a Global Pandemic with Mask Mandate
State of Indiana Executive Order 20-44:  7th Extension of Public Health Emergency
State of Indiana Executive Order 20-45:  Directives Renewals due to COVID-19

Español

Estado De Indiana Orden Ejecutiva 20-46:  Vuelta a la Normalidad en Indiana: La Etapa Cinco Continuó
ESTADO DE INDIANA Orden Ejecutiva 20-43
ESTADO DE INDIANA Orden Ejecutiva 20-44
ESTADO DE INDIANA Orden Ejecutiva 20-45

Governor Eric Holcomb has announced Indiana will advance to an updated version of the Stage 5 Back On Track Indiana plan and extend the state’s face covering mandate until November 14th.  Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines.

Guidelines for all Hoosiers

• Face coverings are required for all Hoosiers according to Executive Order 20-43
• Maintain social distancing of 6 feet, especially in public spaces and when you are in close contact with others who are not members of your household
• Wash your hands frequently; use hand sanitizer when hand-washing is not available
• Do not go to work or other locations when you feel sick or symptomatic
• Hoosiers 65 and older and those with known high-risk medical conditions should remain vigilant about protecting their exposure to COVID
• Limit gatherings with those outside of your household or regular social bubble
• Hoosiers who will be in contact with individuals 65 and older and those with known high-risk medical conditions should remain vigilant about exposure
• Consider obtaining a COVID test before prolonged exposure to high-risk individuals. A COVID test before visiting may enable you to make an informed decision about contact with other persons. Do not visit if you are positive or symptomatic
• Maintain 6 feet of social distancing indoors and outdoors and wear a mask for the protection of other individuals and yours
• Maintain hygiene standards

Guidelines for Businesses Effected by Stage 4.5

• Restaurants, bars, and nightclubs may operate at full capacity
• Personal services may open at full capacity
• Gyms, fitness centers and workout facilities may operate at full capacity
• Conventions may resume at full capacity Amusement parks, water parks, and like facilities may operate at full capacity
• Social distancing guidelines should be maintained Cultural, entertainment, and tourism sites may open at full capacity. This includes museums, zoos, aquariums, and like facilities
• Pari-mutuel horse racing and county and state fair racing may operate at full spectator capacity
• Raceway events may return to full capacity

NOTE: Although businesses may operate at full capacity, there are still distancing and/or mask requirements. Please review the Stage 5 Back On Track documents for a summary on pages 1 and 2

  Visit the Riverwalk Fundraiser Web Page

About The Riverwalk Fundraiser

Join us by walking/running/biking where you are from Saturday Oct. 17th-Wednesday Oct. 21st. Total distance will be self reported. Each participant will receive a SWAG bag: prizes for longest distances in each category(walk/run/bike)

Registration fee is a suggested donation of $20, but any amount is appreciated. 100% of proceeds go to the Monticello Riverwalk.

Please email your total distance results by 5pm on Oct. 21st This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Questions? Call Tabby at Thrivent 765-449-8888.

The Riverwalk Project

;Our "Twin Lakes" provide wonderful assets to Greater Monticello! How do we connect our thriving city to the river and our lakes? The Monticello Riverwalk Plaza! The Riverwalk Plaza, will be located next to the Historical Society Museum, and it will be a starting point for recreational opportunities focused on our lakes such as hiking, canoe and kayak rentals, picnics and fishing. The plaza will be a gathering place for Monticello residents, as well as visitors, looking to enjoy the sweeping views of the water in a safe, outdoor space with room to socially distance if needed.

 

 

Center for Disease Control (The CDC) Recommended Guidelines for a Safe Halloween

• A costume mask should not be a substitute for a cloth mask.
• A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
  • It may be a good idea to come up with a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
• If screaming will occur, greater distancing is advised.
  • The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.

The following Halloween Activities have been judged as low, moderate, and high risk for contracting COVID-19:

• Low-risk Activities
  • Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household, or outside, at a safe distance with neighbors or friends
  • Decorating your home
  • Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
  • Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going house to house
• Moderate-risk Activities
  • Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
  • Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced with more than 6 feet apart
  • Attending a costume party outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
• High-risk Activities
  • Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
  • Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
  • Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
  • Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
  • Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household

Face Covering Requirement

• State of Indiana Executive Order 20-43: The New Normal During a Global Pandemic with Mask Mandate
• State of Indiana Executive Order 20-37:  Face Covering Requirement

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb will order a statewide mask requirement through October 17th. The reasons for this requirement:

• To get children back to school
• To keep businesses open
• A statewide increase in COVID-19 positive cases
• A statewide increase in number of Hoosiers hospitalized for COVID-19
• An increase in cases and positivity rate in neighboring states

The mandate will be for anyone 8 years and older in indoor public spaces, commercial entities or transportation services, or in outside public spaces when you cannot social distance.

Updated location on 11 Sept. 2020

Mark your calendar Monticello!  To show our appreciation to our local law enforcement the "Thank A Police Officer" Hog Roast will be held on Saturday, September 19th from 12PM-4PM.  The location of the event will be announced later.   Whiskey & Wine and Chapman’s BBQ will be roasting pulled pork sandwiches, smoked mac and cheese, and baked beans.  We will be serving complimentary meals and bottled water to ALL our law enforcement officers from 12pm Noon till 4pm. The general public can also purchase a meal for a minimum donation of $5.00. All proceeds will go to our local law enforcement programs.

  Click here for more details

State of Indiana Executive Order 20-40:  Child Care Matters and COVID-19
Orden Ejecutiva 20-40, "Asuntos de Cuidado Infantil

Governor Eric Holcomb in response to the COVID-19 Emergency and the opening of public schools has temporarily suspended regulatory statues as they relate to schools and child care programs.

Many school corporations have opted or been ordered to provide remote or e-learning rather than in-person instruction, leaving working parents in the lurch if their children remain at home.

On August 21st, he signed Executive Order 20-40, which allows school corporations to contract with organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club or YMCA, to operate school-age childcare programs in locations in addition to public school buildings to help families who need care while their students engage in e-learning.

Additionally, the order increases the number from six to 10 of school-aged children allowed to gather in one location on school days for e-learning without requiring the childcare setting to be licensed.

Shafer & Freeman Lakes Environmental Conservation Corporation (SFLECC) Issues low water warning

SFLECC Press Release - August 28, 2020

Lake Freeman is under a low water flow warning! If you are boating on the lake be aware of submerged objects that may be dangerously close to the surface of the water. If you have watercraft docked on Lake Freeman be aware of the lower water levels and take appropriate action to protect your watercraft. Low lake levels may make many docks and lifts unusable.

At this time, the SFLECC is in the middle of a lengthy battle in the Federal Court system, with no new information as of now. Our actions, if successful, will benefit you and your family in some way, whether you are an SFLECC licensee, other Lake property owner, Twin Lakes area resident, business owner, or occasional visitor.

Unfortunately, we do not see the current situation improving until there is significant rainfall in our watershed.

What can I do regarding the lake levels?

1.  Be Careful!

• The water levels have dropped significantly, creating many hazards.

2.  Contact Federal Representatives!

• https://www.young.senate.gov/contact
• https://www.braun.senate.gov/contact-mike
• https://baird.house.gov/services/casework/help-with-a-federal-agency.htm
  • Let them know the Endangered Species Act in which US Fish & Wildlife is enforcing is resulting in…in your own words describe how it is affecting your Lake Freeman experience.
  • Explain your damages if you have any to your property and property value concern.

3.  Support SFLECC’s appeal in Federal Court to overturn FERC’s decision to uphold US Fish & Wildlife’s mandate to drain Lake Freeman!


4.  Learn about mussels in Lake Freeman

• US Fish & Wildlife has determined there aren’t mussels in Lake Freeman that are on the endangered species list.

5.  Learn what is the SFLECC doing?

• We have spent over a half million dollars fighting this battle against the US Fish & Wildlife and are now in the Federal Court process. If you would like to contribute, we need your help!
  • https://checkout.square.site/pay/edcd3dc7f1d74c069f7ab44c51f1bdcc

Extension of Back on Track 4.5 and Mask Mandate

• State of Indiana Executive Order 20-42 - Extending Stage 4.5 (Back on Track through Sept. 25th)
• Orden Ejecutiva 20-42 - Vuelta a la Normalidad en Indiana: Tercera Continuación de la Etapa 4.5; Primero Extención al Requisito de Cobertura Facia

Declaration of Emergency (Extension)

• State of Indiana Executive Order 20-41 - Extending Public Health Emergency (through Sept. 25th)
•   Orden Ejecutiva 20-41 - Sexta Renovación de la Declaración de Emergencia de Salud Pública para el Brote de COVID-19

What Can Be Open Right Now?

• Personal services, Gyms, fitness centers, and other workout facilities can continue operations with restrictions.
• Restaurants dining room service may be open at 75% capacity while maintaining social distancing
• Bar Seating in restaurants may operate at 50% capacity while maintaining social distancing.
• Bars and nightclubs will open to 50% capacity while maintaining social distancing
• Retail stores will open at full capacity.
• Cultural, entertainment, and tourism sites (amusement parks/water parks will open at 50% capacity.  Reservations are encouraged to limit number of customers at any one time)
• Movie theaters and bowling alleys will open at 50% capacity while maintaining social distancing.
• Public playgrounds, community tennis and basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, and similar facilities may resume.
• Amusement parks and water parks may open at 50% capacity.  A reservation system is recommended.
• Campgrounds may be open with social distancing limitations.
• Outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, birding, hunting, and bicycle riding are permitted.

What is Open in Stage 4.5?

• Festivals, fairs, and parades may open with restrictions.  See Indiana Guidelines

Guidelines During Stage 4.5

• Outdoor visitation must resume July 4 at assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
• Indoor visitations at assisted living facilities and nursing homes MAY resume on July 4.  Facilities not allowing indoor visits must have a plan for indoor visitation by Stage 5.
• Hospital Visitations encouraged with precautions.
• Social gatherings of 250 people may take place following the CDC social distancing guidelines
• Hoosiers 65 and over with high-risk health conditions should limit exposure in their communities.
• It is HIGHLY recommended that residents wear face coverings in public settings.
• There are no travel restrictions.

"The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority has information available to Hoosiers who are struggling with rent, mortgage, and utility payments due to COVID-19, or may be facing eviction, foreclosure, or utility shut-offs now that moratoriums have expired. Click on the following links to find assistance:

• Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network: 877gethope.org
• Rental and Housing Assistance: IndianaHousingNow.org
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4067.htm
• Coronavirus Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Guide: https://www.in.gov/ihcda/4464.htm
• Additionally, help may be available through Area IV Agency at: https://www.areaivagency.org/Home.aspx

  Download the Guide for Businesses:  Masks (Face Coverings), COVID-19, and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC and other reputable, scientific sources strongly recommend that in places where people will come into contact with individuals from outside their own household and social distancing cannot be consistently maintained, individuals should wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Additionally, because confirmed positive cases are on the rise in Indiana, on July 24, 2020, Governor Eric J. Holcomb issued Executive Order 20-37, mandating masks that cover the nose and mouth be worn inside businesses and other indoor spaces in Indiana that are open to the public.

Executive Order 20-37 does provide, in Section 4, subsection c of Executive Order 20-37, that “any person with a medical condition, mental health condition or disability which prevents wearing a face covering” is exempt from the state’s mask mandate. However, it is not always readily apparent that a person has a disability, and stores—particularly national chains and smaller businesses in areas where surges are occurring—may have mask policies in place that are more stringent than those detailed in Executive Order 20-37.

The following guide has been created with the goal of clearing up confusion for businesses as they navigate compliance with the mask mandate, protecting themselves, their businesses, their customers and their employees, and applying CDC and Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) best practices guidelines, all while not running afoul of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

  Learn More - Download the Guide

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs awarded the City of Monticello and 23 rural Hoosier communities $15.3 million in federal grant funding to improve water infrastructure.  The City of Monticello was awarded $600,000 for water and sewer improvements. This project will

• upgrade 4,000 lineal feet of four-inch and six-inch water mains
• replace seven fire hydrants
• add eight new six-inch water valves.

"By investing in our state's water infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for regional growth and prosperity,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch. "These grants are supporting projects that are crucial to rural communities' continual economic development and improving the quality of life for its residents.”

Monticello Mayor Cathy Gross said, "The City of Monticello is excited to share this news. City leadership past and present worked together with our Water Superintendent, Rod Pool, KIRPC, Jason Miller of RMA, and Commonwealth Engineers to make this possible. We are looking forward to improving the water infrastructure in the NW quadrant of the city, with this grant we can leverage our own funds to provide better services for our community. Thank you to Lt Gov Crouch, and OCRA for providing this opportunity."

The State of Indiana distributes Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities, which assist units of local government with various community projects such as: infrastructure improvement, downtown revitalization, public facilities and economic development.

The Governor has mandated the wearing of masks beginning Monday, July 27th. As White County is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, it is important that we all work together to get our schools open and our businesses back on track. I support the Governor in taking this step and am urging residents of Monticello, White County and Indiana to comply with the Governor’s order to "Mask Up".

Take a look back to our April 3rd "Be A Hero" video:



ASL Video of the 'Be A Hero' message (Katherine Tardiff, ADA/Title IV Coordinator)

The City of Monticello is asking our residents for assistance to complete this survey as we apply for an OCRA (Office of Community and Rural Affairs) grant that could provide over $240,000.00 in small business grant relief for businesses in Monticello with 20 or less employees.

The link to the survey is:  https://forms.gle/XdWa7uqoqqmM4kjB6

The City of Monticello will delay the re-opening of city offices for at least one week. This delay is part of our continuing effort to insure the safety of our employees and community as we see increased numbers in social gatherings and positive COVID-19 cases. City offices will continue to provide city services with essential personnel and through remote and virtual meetings.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation and remind you to "mask up" to keep yourself and others safe.

City leaders are re-opening city hall on Monday, July 13, 2020 at 8:00 am, with mitigation protocols in place. Visitors to city hall are required to wear face coverings if attending a meeting or plan to spend time in department offices.

White County is seeing confirmed cases increase, but not at an alarming rate so far. Of course, this is a very fluid situation and could change at any time.

We thank you for your cooperation as we all adjust to a new way of safely providing services to our residents. We will get through this together!

The City of Monticello is proud to announce $55,000.00 of loans assisting Monticello small businesses.  The monies, established by the 'Economic Development Income Tax Fund' (EDIT Fund), were earmarked to:

• promote employment opportunities
• and/or retain/expanding current businesses

The list of businesses receiving loans are:

• Alex's Apparel - Jeff Alexander
• Ashley's Massage & Yoga - Ashley Tincher
• Best's Bowling Center - Ryan and Melissa Best
• BJ's Nails - BJ Wray
• Buschman's Service Center - Paul and Shirley Buschman
• Day & Knight Fitness - Robert Phillips
• Down the Street Bar - Alex and Michelle Hughes
• Frankie Rupe School of Guitar - Frankie Rupe
• It's Just a Flesh Wound - Buddy Wicker
• Maximum Tan - Heather Crowe
• Monticello Community Radio, Inc. - Laura Page
• Necessities - Ingrid Landis
• New Directions Salon & Spa - Susan Alpha
• Pins & Needles on Main - Karen Tiede
• Reclaim Dames & An Udder Sensation - Sharon McKinley
• Rugies Dugout - Salina Vargus
• Skipper's Frozen Yogurt - Skip and Amy Sturgeon
• Slot Farms - Tracy Davidson
• Twin Lakes Cinema - Timothy Luby