The City of Millen wants to use the old SOC Station property for additional downtown parking. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) The City of Millen is considering the acquisition of land behind the U.S. Post Office and the site of the old SOC Station on Winthrope Avenue for downtown parking. At the August meeting of Millen City Council, Mayor King Rocker presented council with a map of the area and requested council's approval to negotiate acquisition of property needed to provide the additional downtown parking.

Following a discussion of the matter, council agreed for Mayor Rocker to continue pursuing the acquisition of the property and to search for a grant to create parking facilities in this area of the city.

Mayor Rocker also noted that the title to the SOC Station property needed to be transferred to the city to enable the municipality to apply for grants to proceed with the project. He asked if there were any objections to his proceeding with the transfer of title. No objections were expressed.

In other action, council voted to adopt an amendment to the City Code which pertains to regulating private wells located within the city. The adopted amendment prohibits the drilling of any new wells within the city, but does allow private wells that are currently in working order to be passed from one owner to the next. However, these wells must be used for yards and gardens only.

Other actions taken by Council included the following:

• Approved sewer line upgrade on U.S. Highway 25, under the overpass, in the amount of $8,192 to be paid out of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) V funds;

• Approved the survey of 100 burial plots in the Millen Cemetery at a total cost of $1,500;

• Approved the purchase of a truck for the Streets Department at a cost not to exceed $8,500 with the funding to come from SPLOST V revenue;

• Tabled action on a request form the family of former Mayor Robert Fries to name something in the city in honor of Mr. Fries; and

• Authorized the city manager to use funds from SPLOST IV to pay Parker Engineering for EPD feasibility study concerning an alternate water source at a cost of $3,000 and to reimburse the general fund $1,500 for cost of special coastal water permit obtained by the CSRA Rural Development Center.