During the city council meeting on Tuesday, Juneteenth was adopted as an official observed holiday of the city of Milledgeville.
Juneteenth is a historical date that marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrates freedom for everyone. During the meeting, an ordinance for the first meeting was read but the council then made a motion to disregard the second reading and adopt this meeting. It was a unanimous decision to make Juneteenth an observed holiday within the city.
“June 19 has been set aside each year as Juneteenth day to celebrate, educate, and remind the people of our nation the importance of freedom, individual choice and respect for all,” read Bo Danuser from the proclamation. “Juneteenth has become a holiday of notable significance for African Americans across the 50 states and the District of Columbia because it provides an opportunity to reflect on the history and contributions to African Americans who built this nation.”
The proclamation ends with Mayor Parham-Copelan requesting that citizens of Milledgeville reflect on what the holiday represents on a personal level and what it means for the community as a whole.
“It is proper and fitting for the city of Milledgeville to join the celebrations throughout our nation and acknowledge the importance that it has in our history,” read Bo Danuser from the proclamation.
Another proclamation was introduced at the beginning of the meeting to declare June 19, 2022, as Alpha Alpha Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Day in the city of Milledgeville. This sorority began in 1908 but the chapter was only recently established in Milledgeville as of last year. The chapter is made of college educated women who are working towards social change and community betterment in the United States and abroad.
“Alpha Alpha Phi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was chartered in Milledgeville on this historic Juneteenth day in 2021 and whereas it is proper and fitting to highlight the Alpha Alpha Phi Omega Chapters presence in our community and their impact on the lives of the citizens of Milledgeville,” reads Bo Danuser from the proclamation. “As the mayor of Milledgeville, I, Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan… encourage all citizens to reflect on the strength of these women in our community.”
After the proclamations were read, the council moved to accept the second reading and adoption of the 2023 Fiscal Year Annual Operating Budget.
“We have heard from department heads and public safety employees. We have been given presentations from outside agencies and been given figures from the finance director and from the city manager over March, April and May,” said Mayor Parham-Copelan.
This budget has been reviewed in multiple meetings with formal discussion since early March through May. It was unanimously adopted by the council.
After the budget was adopted, the council unanimously adopted a second reading for the resolution to authorize a construction agreement with Dyer Construction, Inc. to make upgrades to the traffic flow and improve the safety of City Hall by building a partition wall in the administration lobby.
The council also unanimously approved a second reading for the resolution to authorize the utilization of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Funds to provide premium pay for certified law enforcement officers and firefighters.