City needs access to meters
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

A fence and a locked gate will no longer deter City of Millen employees from cutting off services to customers who do not pay their utility bills. Millen City Council approved the adoption of an ordinance to deal with the matter during its Tuesday, Feb. 5, meeting.

City residents whose meters are located in fenced-in areas with a locked gate must provide a key to the city or the municipality will estimate the meter reading. In the event of nonpayment of a utility bill, the city will cut the lock on the gate in order to gain entrance to the meter for cut off.

It was noted that there are approximately 25 residents within the city whose meters are located in a fenced area with a locked gate. Of those 25, the city does not have keys for approximately six to eight locations.

A motion was approved to limit the spending authority of the city administrator to $1,000 unless the expenditure is a budgeted item or there is approval from Mayor and Council. The previous limit was $10,000.

During a discussion concerning the purchase of 1,300 truckloads of dirt for the city's waste water treatment expansion project, Mayor King Rocker informed council that he had been in contact with two possible providers. Both were located within a mile of the site, he said. The providers are to be contacted to discuss finances.

OTHER ACTION TAKEN

• Agreed by common consent to obtain timber appraisal for trees located on site of waste water treatment expansion project and to consider selling through the bidding process;

• Authorized the mayor to sign a Consent Agreement with the Georgia Public Service Commission pertaining to developing "written procedures" for jobs performed by city employees;

• Approved the declaration of two vehicles as surplus and their advertisement for sale;

• Tabled the appointment of two members to the Housing Authority;

• Authorized the city attorney to negotiate an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Jenkins County Commissioners concerning animal control services;

• Approved the appointment of Rodney Collins to the Downtown Development Authority;

• Approved the purchase of new lights and a new amplifier for the Millen Community House with Special Purpose Local Option (SPLOST) revenue;

• Authorized city attorney to prepare ordinance outlining procedure and permitting process for utility installation on city right-of-way;

• Approved adoption of a resolution allowing the city to require the payment of franchise fees in the amount of 5 percent from any cable provider operating in the city limits;

• Agreed to grant permission for use of Council Chamber on March 15 for Jenkins County Republican Party, provided compliance with fee requirement is met; and

• Agreed to proceed with development of Water Master Plan in connection with the construction of a new well, funded with SPLOST revenues.