City appoints Planning, Zoning Commission
By Deborah Bennett

At its first meeting of 2007, Millen City Council tackled the task of appointing a Planning and Zoning Commission. The purpose of the commission will be to hear disputes that may arise over zoning within the City of Millen.

After some discussion, council named three persons to serve two-year terms and two persons to serve one-year terms. Carl Barker, Bobbye Cobb and Mike Reese were each appointed for two-year terms. Lamar Dunnum and Robby Golff were appointed to serve one-year terms. The length of the terms for each person was determined by a drawing.

Several possible public nuisance sites were discussed with the owners of the properties to be notified by letter of the city's desire that the locations be made more presentable.

Al Knight, city administrator, reported that efforts to have the site of the old Soc station across from the Jenkins County Courthouse cleaned up were at a stand still due to a dispute of ownership. However, he noted that the site was also one of those targeted in a $200,000 grant the city had received for the purpose of testing properties and converting them into useful locations for parks, garden areas and/or parking areas.

"It is possible it could be done through the grant," Knight said.

Mayor King Rocker noted that 911 equipment used by the city and county would be out of date as of Jan. 31. This meant that maintenance of the equipment would not be guaranteed after that date, he said.

It was agreed that the council would contact the Jenkins County Commissioners to discuss the problem.

In other action, council approved a motion authorizing the mayor and city administrator to execute a contract with Staggs Environmental Inc. in the amount of $355,966 for the purpose of sewer rehabilitation, upon the recommendation of Parker Engineering. The project is being funded through a Community Development Block Grant awarded the city.

Walter Thomas was reappointed as Mayor Pro-tem for the new year, and Hubert Reeves III was reappointed as city attorney. J. Lane Johnston was also reappointed as Municipal Court Judge.