The Milledgeville City Council, excluding council members Shonya Mapp and Denese Shinholster, met Nov. 18 for its last meeting of November. The council previously passed two resolutions on The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA), the reissuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds for the purpose of improvement of housing authority properties.
According to City Manager Hank Griffeth, the last bond passed was not able to be used and there is additional monies in the Milledgeville Housing Authority Bond Package that need to be reallocated to Fairview Terrace and apartments in Henry County.
“We were before you earlier this year with this same request … A reissuance is refinancing, like when we redo our own mortgages. They are redoing some of the changes to the terms of the loans, none of which the Housing Authority or Milledgeville are obligated on.
We are simply the conduit issuer that facilitates the issuance of these bonds,” said Allison Dyer, partner with Holland & Knight, who spoke on the last TEFRA.
“A hearing was held with proper notice given. The resolution today would approve that the housing authority has properly held that hearing.”
According to City Attorney James Jordan, the city has no exposure, financial liability, or obligation but “because of the way this all began locally, the council’s approval is still required to acknowledge these hearings have been held.”
Council unanimously approved the resolution of the reissuance and extension of the weighted average maturity of tax-exempt revenue bonds for the benefit of Fairview Terrace.
Moving into the city manager’s report, Griffeth noted a need for parking spaces that meet the requirement of the ordinance of loft developments downtown.
One requirement is that parking spaces leased in loft spaces be included in the central business commercial district. Due to this, Griffeth proposed extending the district to accommodate this need as well as accommodating other properties currently “on the edge” of the property that have been inquired about to be developed.
“When I looked at what the areas might need to be, I looked at the current mix of commercial and residential. Quite frankly, I looked at the potential for some of the areas that may serve as expanded parking areas for loft development, and I also looked at the potential for businesses expanding into those areas,” said Griffeth. “This will be a first read and it will go to Planning and Zoning Dec. 1 and will come back to council Jan. 13, if they approve it.
I think this takes care of some issues we have.”
Griffeth also discussed the amendment to the 2025-26 Fiscal Year Annual Operating Budget. The change is taking the water treatment operators and transferring them to the waste water treatment plant. According to Griffeth, there is no money difference, just a transfer of positions. Then, the fog administrator job will be deleted as it is being done by the pretreatment coordinator and that position will become a lab coordinator position at the waste water treatment plan with the same pay scale.
“Moving those positions to the wastewater treatment plan will enable us to move towards having that plant manned 24/7 like the water treatment plan is,” said Griffeth.
“The state does not require that … but we are confident that the state will come back the next 12 to 18 months to mandate it be manned.
This is planning for that and there is no difference in money, just a transfer of departments.”
The council waived the first read of the ordinance and unanimously approved the amendments.
Council then moved into a public hearing for an ordinance to levy and assess taxes for the 2025 Tax Year and to provide collection of the same.
No one spoke against or in approval of the ordinance. It was unanimously approved by the council, setting the millage rate at 11.37 mills.
In other news, council approved:
• Thethirdbatchof alcohol license renewals for the 2026 alcohol license applications.
• Aresolutiontoauthorize a construction contract with Skyline Construction Services, Inc. for roof repairs to the engine bay of Fire Station #1 located at 201 W. Thomas St.
• Aresolutiontoname the City of Milledgeville marshal and deputy marshals, based on City of Milledgeville job titles.
• AcontractwithF.S.
Scarbrough, LLC for the Milledgeville Estates water system improvements as part of Community Development Block Grant Project 19.
• AcontractwithF.S.
Scarbrough, LLC to replace the water line on Montgomery Street from Clark to Jackson Street by removing an eight-inch line out of service and running a new 10-inch line down North Wayne Street from Montgomery Street to Hall Street.
• MelbaA.Hilson-Buttsas the new interim county manager.
Council also approved a resolution to authorize a stormwater drainage easement across portions of property owned by BFLT Properties, LLC located at 140 E. Andrews St. This resolution came about because of the bridge construction on South Wayne Street, according to Griffeth.
“The bridge expansion did not cause the need for easement but when the drainage infrastructure on the city right of way was excavated around, it caused its collapse due to age … While everything was dug up we could not find an easement for the initial drainage infrastructure so we had one surveyed out and this resolution is accepting the permanent easement,” said Griffeth.
“The property owner will assist in replacing the easement that goes across their property.”
The next city council meeting will be held Dec.
9 at 6 p.m. in Milledgeville City Hall.