>> MILLEDGEVILLE
The Milledgeville City Council met Tuesday and approved the new millage rate and several resolutions regarding city projects.
The final public hearing for the ordinance to set the 2023 millage rate at 12.12 took place before the vote. Two citizens who have spoken at previous hearings, per their statements, spoke again in opposition to the rate. However, the council did vote unanimously, excluding council members Jeanette Walden and Steve Chambers who were not present, to set the millage rate at 12.12.
Moving into the new business, the council approved three resolutions, two related to city projects and one related to a contract.
The first resolution approved the authorization of an agreement with Georgia Safe Sidewalks, an affiliate of Precision Concrete Cutting (PCC) that removes hazards from uneven sidewalks.
According to City Manager Hank Griffeth, the council has approved a contract with Georgia Safe Sidewalks since 2018 and the contract is for the $10,000 level. This will include the survey of an area not previously surveyed, the repair of the sidewalks considered hazardous, and the contract will be on a five-year rotation to get around the city.
“I think it’s money well spent,” said Griffeth. “It helps keep our sidewalks safer and helps us in terms of liability.”
The second resolution was approved 3-1, with council member Denese Shinholster voting no, to authorize an agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management, which was previously presented at the Oct. 24 meeting. Shinholster clarified in a discussion during the city manager’s report that she did not feel comfortable voting yes on the agreement when other presentations/options have been given to the council to compare between. Griffeth stated in reply that he had looked at two other possible options but they never got back to him with the information he requested while Enterprise Management had.
“I hate to make a decision based on a presentation and then turn right back around without anything to compare it to,” said Shinholster.
Enterprise Fleet Management will manage Milledgeville’s vehicle fleet, including the police fleet, allowing the city to maintain the vehicles and rotate vehicles into the fleet.
“While the leasing of vehicles is important in this agreement, what’s even more important to me is the maintenance piece of that and the fact that maintenance will be scheduled based on a dashboard they have,” said Griffeth. “We will not have any vehicle costs until after July 1 and we will then lease 29 vehicles at that time and then in 2025 lease at least 25 and so on.”
The last resolution was approved unanimously to authorize an agreement with Play South Playground Creators to purchase and install playground equipment for Central City Park, which included also replacing the chain fence.
The next city council meeting will be Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m.