By Matt Youngfrau
MONTICELLO — July 25, 2003 – The Monticello Volunteer Ambulance Corps can stay at the Neighborhood Facility after all.
Plus, the Village of Monticello Police Department and all of the village offices will get a new home.
Those were the results of an executive session held at the end of the village’s board meeting on Monday, July 21.
The situation started a few months back when the village evicted the corps from the Neighborhood Facility, with officials saying they needed the building to house their police department, since the current PD facility on Pleasant Street is falling apart. This move angered some residents, who thought the action was unfair and subsequently complained at several village board meetings.
But the village board ultimately decided to allow the corps to stay – at least for the time being. Since it would take three or four months to get the corps out of the building and police need a new place sooner than that, the monthly rent check from the corps was accepted – with the understanding that they will eventually have to find another home.
Meanwhile, the village has been in negotiations with the Rhulen family to purchase their building at the corner of Broadway and St. John Street to house both the police and the village offices.
After an executive session, the board voted 4-0 (Trustee Mary Jo Oppenheim was absent) to do appraisals on both the Rhulen Building and the Village Hall at a cost not to exceed $1,000.
Village officials hope to find a developer to purchase the village hall. The building is valued at $1.9 million.
Also, the roof on the police station is being patched to temporarily repair it until they move out.