City seeks easement for TE grant project
By Deborah Bennett

Lack of a right-of-way easement from Norfolk Southern Railroad to the City of Millen could be a problem for an approximate $1 million TE grant project planned for Cotton Avenue. Norfolk Southern Railroad owns most of Cotton Avenue with the City of Millen leasing the property.

During the Tuesday, Feb. 6, meeting of Millen City Council, city attorney Hubert Reeves III advised council of the situation, stating that the Department of Transportation (DOT) contract for the project required an established easement. A "letter of permission" which the city had obtained from the railroad during the TE grant application process would not suffice, he said.

Reeves was instructed to contact Norfolk Southern Railroad officials concerning the matter.

The city was awarded a $500,000 TE grant from the DOT in 2004 for the purpose of renovating and promoting economic development on Cotton Avenue in downtown Millen. An additional $350,000 TE grant was awarded at a later date for Phase II of the project, and the city is preparing to apply for a third TE grant that would complete funding of the work.

Jesse Myers spoke with city council concerning complaints of loud music and fighting on the premises of the Millen Community House, stating the occurrences were disturbing the surrounding neighborhood.

After some discussion, council instructed attorney Reeves to draw up a contract that users of the facility would be required to sign. In the interim, it was agreed by common consent that those renting the property would not be allowed to play music after 10 p.m.

Council agreed to offer for sale to the highest bidder a section of Gilmer Street that appeared on the city map but was not actually developed.

Al Knight reported that work was progressing on the farmers/ flea market site on Cotton Avenue, a project of the Millen Rotary Club. When completed, the city's Street Vendor Ordinance will be enforced. The ordinance requires that all street vendors conduct business at a central location, which will be the farmers/flea market site.

Other action taken by council included the following:

+ Awarded Brownfields Assessment engineering contract to the lowest bidder, Hart and Hickman of Charlotte, N.C.; and

+ Approved the expenditure of up to $6,500 for needed work to prepare for Community Development Block Grant application.