Milledgeville City Council met Feb. 10 at City Hall to discuss zoning changes and move forward on city business tied to upcoming events and local development.
Pastor Gregory Barnes spoke during public comment about the upcoming Art and Healthy Living Festival in April, which will feature events and workshops all month long.
“We want to really give people the opportunity in physical, emotional, financial health, as well as artistic creativity. I believe that’s our way forward,” Barnes said.
He is looking for connections to make it a great festival. For more information, visit arthealthy.org.
Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan presented a humanitarian award to Cece Sinclair for her work with the Boys and Girls Club of Baldwin and Jones counties. It was an award meant to be given in 2019.
“I am going to take this award as acknowledgement of the hope, dreams and work that we do all the time in helping this community, and to raise another generation and generations to come of productive, educated and responsible young people,” Sinclair said.
During public hearings, the council approved an ordinance expanding the city’s central business commercial district.
“We have a lot of city buildings downtown that don’t have proper parking, and to alleviate that problem, this proposal was brought before the board,” Zoning Administrator Edward Barnwell said.
No one spoke in opposition, and the ordinance passed unanimously.
The council also considered a special-use permit for a used car lot at 195 Roberson Mill Road. The council voted to table the request until the next meeting for the owner to get further information on the roads surrounding the property.
Finally, the council approved rezoning 261 May Road to allow an automotive repair shop and embroidery business in a former Central State Hospital building.
“We plan to renovate the building and operate responsibly,” property owner Elizabeth Martin said. “The business should be quiet because we do fleet vehicles and we only have a few cars on the lot at a time.”
City council member Jeffery Wells ended the meeting with an announcement of city clean up events on Feb. 28 and March 28. He urged the community to join and help move Milledgeville toward a cleaner environment.
“Milledgeville is a beautiful woman,” Wells said. “She’s just scarred in a couple of places,” The council’s next meeting will be Feb. 24. Residents can watch it online at youtube.com/@ MBCTV4.