MONROE — On March 18, Monroe Common Council: 

●   Held a public hearing on rezoning property no. 161 from TR-10, one- and two-family residential, to DR-8, or duplex residential, with no discussion by the public. Council approved rezoning the vacant lot at the intersection of 22nd Avenue and 2nd Street unanimously.

●   Agreed on a split vote to make numerical adjustments between departments and categories to reflect accurate areas of spending within the 2018 budget. In discussion, council member Chris Beer said the city “came in under budget,” and added that “making these adjustments really doesn’t accomplish anything other than taking a line item and making it closer than it was.” In addition to considering the utilization of resources like taking time away from staff, Beer said council members “really don’t need to make an adjustment.” Aldermen Brooke Bauman, Jeff Newcomer, Ron Marsh, Rob Schilt, Donna Douglas and Mickey Beam voted in favor of the transfers. Michael Boyce, Richard Thoman and Beer voted against.

●   Closed Tax Increment District No. 4 to ensure use of funding for the affordable housing program to be overseen by the Redevelopment Authority.

●   Agreed to keep TID 5 open until April 2020.

●   Authorized the use of capital funds to purchase vehicles for the Department of Public Works totaling nearly $521,000, with $55,000 from the engineering capital fund to replace a 1998 Dodge truck and a 2008 Ford Ranger; roughly $282,000 from the streets capital fund to replace two plow trucks with plows and sanders, a three-quarter-ton truck and two one-ton mini dump trucks with over $133,000 from the vehicle capital fund and nearly $51,000 from the equipment capital fund to replace a 1998 Smithco turf sweeper, a utility trailer and purchase of a zero turn lawnmower. Aldermen also agreed to have existing equipment disposed of following the best practices with least expense