City council upholds boot drive ban
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Millen City Council stood behind its previous decision to ban "boot drives" on state highways running through the City of Millen during its Tuesday, May 1, meeting.

Council's previous decision was reconsidered upon request of the North Jenkins County Volunteer Fire Department whose members stated that their boot drives provided needed income for the organization.

City attorney R. Hubert Reeves III stated that investigation of the legality of boot drives revealed that while the Georgia Department of Transportation did not allow them the State Legislature had passed legislation allowing individual communities to enact ordinances that would permit boot drives.

After some discussion of the matter, Councilman Walter Thomas made a motion to adopt an ordinance permitting boot drives but limiting their occurrences to once per year per organization. Councilman James Ford seconded the motion. When the vote was called, however, the motion was defeated 4-2 with Thomas and Ford voting in favor and Councilmen Ivey McMillan, Darrel Clifton and Lee Ward Williams, along with Mayor King Rocker, opposing.

Those who opposed stated that they did so due to liability concerns and numerous citizen complaints.

The Board of Trustees of West Millen Baptist Church met with council members seeking the closure of a section of Gilmer Street than runs from Drexel Avenue to Williams Avenue. The church owns the property on both sides of this section of Gilmer Street.

Larry Adams spoke for the group and stated that the closure was being sought for safety reasons and to plan for the future growth of the church. The closure of the street would allow the church to join the properties it owns.

After some discussion, council agreed to hold a public hearing on the matter 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at the City of Millen Municipal Building.

In other action, council rescinded a previous vote rejecting a bid from Bob Gest for a 30' x 60' section of Gilmer Street that was undeveloped and declared "abandoned." The previous bid was accepted.