At 2:35pm today, over 2,000 Monticello residents and businesses received a friendly message: "Hello, this is Floyd Allsop calling with the new community notification system."

The City of Monticello launched the new community notification system this afternoon.  The City hopes to use the system to notify residents of important information regarding their health, safety and welfare.  The system has the capabilities of notifying the entire community, or residents and businesses within a select location.  For example, if there is a water main break, only those directly affected can be notified.  Likewise, if the City wants to remind residents of community-wide alerts, it can be done with a touch of a button.

Monticello residents and businesses with published telephone numbers will automatically be signed up to participate in the program.  Residents will also have the opportunity to add up to two more additional phone lines, as well as add information to receive notifications through email and SNS/text messaging.  Residents can add additional contact information by visiting the City of Monticello website, www.cityofmonticello.net, and clicking on the Blackboard Connect icon on the left-hand side.  Through a secured web portal, information will be requested and automatically entered into the system by the start of the next day.  Residents can also add additional information or "opt out" of the service by contacting the Municipal Building at 217.762.2583.  All information is secure. 

For more information on this program, contact the City of Monticello at 217.762.2583.