The Milledgeville City Council hosted its first meeting of the year Jan. 13 with the new council fully present, excluding Mayor Mary Paham-Copelan, who was absent due to sickness.
Mayor pro-tem Denese Shinholster began the meeting by reading the Emancipation Proclamation, celebrating the Jan. 1, 1863, anniversary when the proclamation reached the “border states” and was enforced in the state of Georgia and began a “progression of change” and created a “freedom not known while on the shores of the United States” for many former slaves. Thus, Jan. 1, 2026, was named Emancipation Proclamation Day in the city of Milledgeville.
“This was an Independence Day for our entire country,” said Baldwin County Democratic Party Leader Quentin T. Howell, who accepted the proclamation. “It means a tremendous amount to my wife and I who host the Middle Georgia Emancipation Day Program. Our theme this year is Boots on the Ground, which our ancestors prayed for.”
Moving into agenda items, council opened three public hearings for land use, with none having any opposition.
Council unanimously approved the rezoning of property located at 217 Thomas Field Rd. from Office Industrial to Heavy Industrial to allow for the staging area for recycling and crushing concrete, brick, and more. TS Smith Development Company currently owns the 50-acre property for a certified green project with future development in the works.
The project’s goal is to give use to property currently abandoned by the state. In response to concerns from Planning and Zoning and the council, a representative from TS Smith stated dust should not be a worry for residents nearby due to its location and precautionary measures. This project is anticipated to bring at least 25 jobs to Baldwin County.
The council unanimously approved the withdrawal of a rezoning application without prejudice. The request was to rezone 2.23 acres out of 20.02 acres of land located at 841 Dunlap Rd. from Single Family Residential to Community Commercial to construct four large and two small warehouse units for office space to rent out to contractors. Nisa Khan currently owns the property and requested to withdraw to further talk with city staff and take hear more feedback before moving forward with the plans.
Council unanimously approved the rezoning of 1.29 acres of property located 120 Earnest Byner St. from Single Family Residential to Community Commercial for a children’s autism therapy clinic. The property is owned by Christian Church Pathfinders’ Andrew Margow and was formerly Pathfinders Church. The unit will not change structurally.
“My wife and I have served the special needs community in Georgia since October 1998. We currently operate five independent locations that help so many children with autism. We have been part of the Milledgeville community for 15 years and this has been a dream to establish,” said Margow. “This area is underserved, and this project will add roughly 30 jobs to the area. We are a nonprofit and already employ 20 people.”
Closing the meeting, council unanimously authorized a lightning services agreement with Georgia Power to install three LED roadway lights on Old Mill Court and one LED roadway light on Hillandale Drive and authorized an agreement with CKH Consulting, LLC, for CPA services with the Finance Department.
The next city council meeting will be held Jan.
27 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers.