City adopts Blight Ordinance
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Unsightly property in the City of Millen continues to be a major concern of Millen City Council. The group adopted a Public Nuisance and Blight Abatement Ordinance during its Tuesday, April 1, meeting that addresses the issue of diplidated buildings and defines "blight". This ordinance will replace the current Public Nuisance Ordinance.

The newly adopted ordinance enables a group of five individuals or the city's Enforcement Officer to identify "blighted" property and file a complaint. Steps that may be taken to rectify the situation include notifying the owner, Municipal Court action and having city employees clean the property up with a lien being placed against the property by the city to cover the expense of doing so.

In other matters, the city adopted an Animal Control Intergovernmental Agreement for consideration by the county. Under terms of the agreement, the county would agree to adopt an Animal Control Ordinance similar to that of the city, and the city agrees to provide Animal Control Services to the county as outlined by a Schedule of Fees.

Mayor King Rocker informed council that an agreement between the city and county continues to be discussed concerning the county depositing contaminated water from its landfill into the city's waste water treatment facility. In return, the county would allow the city to deposit debris from its Cotton Avenue TE-grant project into the county landfill. The debris could then be crushed and used for street and road improvements by both entities..

The May meeting of council was changed to 6 p.m. May 20.