Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan began the monthly city council meeting by reading a proclamation naming Aug. 4 Jeremy “JD” Hill Day. Hill was born and raised in Milledgeville and described by the proclamation as a “visionary entertainment businessman” that took a leap of faith and “continues to inspire.” He is a United States Army veteran with 20 years of service and works in the live entertainment industry as the founder and owner of JD Entertainment Inc. and co-owner of Royal Entertainment. Hill has curated live music shows for 15 years in these roles and has produced over 100 shows across the country.
Outside of his business, Hill is a resolute philanthropist, actively supporting initiatives for education, youth development, veterans, and community uplifting. He has earned accolades from multiple organizations including Rolling Stones Magazine, Get Up! Mornings with Eric Campbell, Fox 5 Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, and more.
“Jeremy has such a long biography. He has done so much for the city of Milledgeville and surrounding communities that I could not list it all,” said Parham-Copelan. “His quiet strength, determined heart, and enduring service are shaping a legacy that will last beyond this day.”
Hill says he is most proud of the millions of dollars that he and his partner put back into the African American community each year.
Parham-Copelan then read a proclamation naming September National Recovery Month. This proclamation was presented by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Georgia Council for Recovery, and the Georgia General Assembly Working Group on Addiction and Recovery. Milledgeville’s local support group, the Oconee Recovery Coalition, stood with the mayor as the proclamation was read.
“This program changes lives and changes people.
I was floored at the last graduation,” said Parham-Copelan, referring to the local group’s work.
In City Manager Hank Griffeth’s report, he went over the amendment for Code Chapter 6 in the governing of alcoholic beverages ordinance. It is an amendment to provide an article to create microbreweries, brew pubs, and wine shops in the central business district.
“This is new ground for the city of Milledgeville,” said Griffeth. “It came about because we had a developer ask to open these types of businesses in the central business district.”
For all three types of businesses there is a requirement for the number of days and minimum number of hours for when they will be open to prohibit them from opening only on the weekends, since the city had “dealt with a density issue on distilled spirits package-to-go a couple of years ago.”
There is also a limit to three microbrewries, including brew pubs, and two wine shops allowed in the district at a time.
No gambling or gaming is allowed in these establishments. None of these shops can sell alternative nicotine products.
“There is also no requirement to maintain a commercial kitchen for microbreweries or wine shops as it would be difficult for them to ensure 40% of revenue was provided by food,” said Griffeth. “Pubs still have this requirement as they are considered a restaurant with a microbrewery addition.”
The council will vote on the ordinance at the Sept.
23 council meeting.
Council, excluding Jeanette Walden who was not present at the meeting, then approved an intergovernmental agreement for the provision of election services between Baldwin County and the City of Milledgeville.
“This is not unlike what we have done in the past,” said Griffeth. “Our Probate Judge Todd Blackwell has stepped out of the voting world for the county, so we are contracting with the county. Election Supervisor Eric Unold of the Board of Elections will be responsible for the voting machines for the city elections.”
At the end of the meeting, City Clerk Courtney Chavers was approved to be the City of Milledgeville election superintendent.