City to organize Department of Public Safety
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Millen City Council recently approved the development of a Department of Public Safety that would merge the Millen Police Department and Millen Fire Department. During the Tuesday, Oct. 2, meeting of the group it was noted that employment of a Public Safety Director would be done "in-house."

City Administrator Al Knight commented that city employees interested in the position had until Oct. 12 to submit their resumes for consideration. It was also noted that the Public Safety Department would not become active until a director was hired.

City attorney Hubert Reeves III informed council that it would not be necessary to instigate the bidding process on a section of Gilmer Street that the city had previously declared abandoned and approved for purchase, upon request of West Millen Baptist Church. He commented that after additional review of the law, he had determined that it was not necessary to offer the property at auction since the church owned both sides of the street adjacent to the property.

Knight was instructed to determine a fair price for the property, based on current property values and inform council and the church at a later date. It was noted that the city would retain an easement on the property.

OTHER ACTION TAKEN

• Action on proposed changes to the Historic Preservation Ordinance was tabled until attorney Reeves had the opportunity to review the ordinance as it relates to zoning;

• No action was taken on an expense request from Millen Better Hometown with the group being instructed to bring the matter back before council during the city's budget process in April 2008;

• Approved the purchase of accounting software from Computer Software Innovations;

• Approved a change in the November meeting of council from Tuesday, Nov. 6, to Monday, Nov. 5, due to the city election being held on Tuesday; and

• Agreed to meet with the Jenkins County Commissioners every Tuesday night until negotiations for the renewal of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax had been resolved.