The Milledgeville City Council met Nov. 12 to hear a recommendation from City Manager Hank Griffeth on the millage rate and approve resolutions and appointments.
Griffeth recommended an 11.37 millage rate, decreasing from the previous 12.12 rate. The rate was increased last year to fund the 2023-24 budget; however, as this budget year progressed, the council recognized opportunities to fund it through increasing user and utility fees.
“The county did a major reevaluation on the tax digest and fortunately the tax digest for the county and city has increased dramatically since the last revaluation,” Griffeth explained. “The five-year history from the 2022-23 tax digest went down, so it’s good that it came back to the level that it did.”
Griffeth stated the council has done “wonderful work” in the budget process over the last two post-pandemic years to make the changes that got the city to this point. The 11.37 millage rate is expected to be approved at the Nov. 26 city council meeting. If the millage rate is approved, tax bills will be issued by Dec. 1, and the deadline to pay will be Jan. 31, 2025, according to Griffeth.
“I feel confident we can remain fiscally sound and continue the good work you (the council) have done on the budget,” said Griffeth.
Following Griffeth’s recommendation, a public hearing was held regarding the rezoning of property at 1012 Fernwood Drive from single-family residential to planned development. On Oct. 27, the Planning and Zoning Community approved the rezoning and proposed on Nov. 12 that the council should approve the request. Woodland Terrace Properties LLC. owns the property and plans to develop the final phase of “The Cottages.”
“The Cottages include 68 patio homes that we built between 2004 and 2011 and an assisted-living residence we built in 2019 and opened in April of 2020,” said Randy Griffin, a representative for Woodland Terrace Properties. “Happy to report the community is doing extremely well, and both are full in capacity.
“This expansion will finish the final phase of eight duplexes for a total of 16 additional patio homes and a clubhouse to serve the community,” Griffin added. “Each of these homes is about 1,450 square feet and has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a built-in one-car garage, a front porch, and a screened porch, which our original homes did not include.”
With the plans unanimously approved, Woodland Terrace Properties can move forward with civil engineering and hopes to break ground in early spring.
The council unanimously approved a resolution to authorize a fifth amendment to the tower attachment lease by New Cingular Wireless PCS to modify the terms and conditions for the placement of equipment and rent on the water tank located at 139 Roberson Mill Road.
The council also approved a resolution to authorize a contract with Reeves Construction Company to resurface and rehabilitate approximately six miles of city streets to be partially Georgia Department of Transportation Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant.
Concluding the meeting, the Milledgeville council approved appointments to the Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority, Milledgeville Housing Authority, City of Milledgeville Ethics Board, and City of Milledgeville Pension Committee. Refer to the meeting agenda to see those approved and their positions.