The Milledgeville City Council met on March 26 and honored Gina Whitaker, the Baldwin Bravettes, and two local Milledgeville families for their accomplishments.
The meeting began with two public comments discussing the disappearance of four banners that were hung downtown to celebrate Black History Month.
The first was Emily Davis from the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners, who discussed the disappearance of her mother’s banner, Geneva Bell Davis. The next is Beverly Hill, who is responsible for the banner project, who also discussed the disappearances of Davis’ banner along with three other banners. Mayor pro tempore Denese Shinholster and City Manager Hank Griffeth reassured them that the banners were not stolen and were in a known location.
Shinholster then presented two proclamations. The first to Gina Whitaker, the executive administrative assistant to the superintendent of the Baldwin County School District. Whitaker was awarded the Georgia Recognizing Inspirational School Employees (RISE) Award. This award is chosen by Governor Brian Kemp and given to a school employee who provides exemplary service to students in pre-kindergarten through high school. She is now one of two chosen from Georgia for the national award. The council then named March 26, 2024, Gina Whitaker Day.
The Baldwin Bravettes were then commended for winning the 2024 Girls GHSA Class AAAA Basketball State Championship. Head coach Kizzi Walker and the team achieved this on March 6. The council then named March 16, 2024, as Baldwin Bravettes Day.
The final presentation was from Treevana Wellness, a medical cannabis business. Treevana Wellness and Sanctuary Cannabis discussed their new facility coming to Milledgeville. This presentation discussed the plans for finishing construction, the production, and the safety of the facility and company.
After this presentation, the first reading of an ordinance occurred for the rezoning of the company's building at 3015 Heritage Place from Community Commercial to Light Industrial. This will be voted upon at a later date Griffeth then addressed five resolutions being voted upon during the meeting, starting with a lease agreement with Verizon Wireless. This agreement is for Verizon to use the Meeks Water Tank on Roberson Mill Road as a cell tower with the addition of their equipment.
The next resolution was to authorize an agreement with Simonton Engineering to improve the water drainage and stormwater flow on Harrington Drive and South Irwin Street.
The third resolution authorized a construction contract with Tecta America. This construction would be to repair the roof of City Hall, as the city has been informed it needs repair.
The final two resolutions were to recognize two families of Milledgeville by dedicating new streets to them in the Industrial Development Authority. The first street was dedicated to Earl Seagle, who worked with the Fall Line Regional Development Authority.
This street will be named Earl Seagle Court and will be located in Land Lot 249 of the first Land District. The next street was dedicated to the late Henry Pope, who served on the Milledgeville/ Baldwin County Development Authority board and the Milledgeville/ Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce. This street will be named Henry Pope Way and will be located in Land Lots 238 and 249 of the first Land District.
All of these resolutions were then unanimously agreed upon by the council before the meeting ended. The City of Milledgeville’s next city council meeting is on April 9.