Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 106, NO. 8, SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY MILLEN, GEORGIA • 75 CENTS
The City of Millen wants to use the old SOC Station property for additional downtown parking. (Staff photo by
Deborah Bennett)
City wants more downtown parking
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
The City of Millen is consid
ering the acquisition of land be
hind the U.S. Post Office and the
site of the old SOC Station on
Winthrope Avenue for down
town 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 prop
erty needed to provide the addi
tional 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 prop
erty needed to be transferred to
the city to enable the municipal
ity 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 ex
pressed.
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 drill
ing of any new wells within the
city, but does allow private wells
that are currently in working or
der to be passed from one owner
to the next. However, these wells
must be used for yards and gar
dens only.
Other actions taken by Coun
cil 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 Cem
etery 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 ob
tained by the CSRA Rural De
velopment Center.
Four qualify in
city election
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
Qualifying as a candidate in the City of Millen Nonpar
tisan General Election to be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, has
ended.
Candidates who qualified by the 4:30 p.m. Sept. 4, dead
line are as follows: Ward # 1, incumbent Walter Thomas
and Walter Herrington; Ward #2, Jane Daniel Johnson; and
Ward #3, incumbent James Ford.
Ivey McMillan, Ward No. #2 incumbent, did not seek
re-election.
Due to the fact that the candidates in Wards #2 and #3
face no opposition, it will not be necessary to hold an elec
tion in those wards, unless a write-in candidate qualifies.
The last day to register to vote in this election is Mon
day, Oct. 5. Those who are not already registered may do
so at the office of the Jenkins County Registrar, Jenkins
County Courthouse.
NOTICE:
Fair-on-the-Square
to be held Oct. 3
Plans are underway for the annual Fair-on-the-Square
which will be held 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.
Anyone interested in participating should call 982-
5595.
Final plans and location will be announced at a later
date.
County Commissioners consider leasing ball fields
By Deborah Bennett
Millen News Editor
The Jenkins County Recre
ation Department has asked the
county to lease the ball fields
just across the railroad tracks on
the west end of Cotton Avenue.
The request was brought before
the Jenkins County Commis
sioners by Chairman James
Henry during the group’s Aug.
18 meeting.
Chairman Henry explained
that the property is owned by
Norfolk Southern Railroad and
has been leased by the City of
Millen in previous years for rec
reation department use. How
ever, the city will not continue
to lease the property.
After some discussion of the
matter, it was agreed that Chair
man Henry would gather the
necessary information and
bring the matter back before the
board for a decision at a later
date.
Jenkins County Sheriff Rob
ert Oglesby addressed the com
missioners on several topics
that included: cutting of the
grass along state highways that
run through the county, sugges
tions on how to keep the local
Cavalier Home Builders plant
open; needed repairs to
Sheriff’s Department cars, the
purchase of a Chevrolet SUV
for his department, grant appli
cations; and Sheriff’s Depart
ment employee salaries.
Chairman Henry discussed
the county’s audit report, point
ing out that the audit calls at
tention to the fact that the
county does not have an inven
tory program. It was noted that
some departments had over
spent their budget, and the com
missioners agreed to impress
upon departments the impor
tance of controlling their fiscal
year budgets in the coming year.
Other actions taken by the
commissioners included the fol
lowing:
• Authorized the field direc
tor to have the courthouse alarm
system checked and certified;
• Instructed county adminis
trator to request that insurance
agent Michael Jackson attend
the group’s Sept. 1 meeting to
discuss increased cost of health
The Jenkins County Commissioners are considering the lease of these ball fields, located Norfolk Southern property,
for use by the Jenkins County Recreation Department (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett)
insurance and to bring addi- Jenkins County Hospital Au- tal; and cedures based upon Commis-
tional plans for consideration; thority to issue an early pay- • Discussed possible changes sioner Domingo Green’s obser-
• Agreed to a request from the ment of $ 100,000 to the hospi- to the county’s hiring/firing pro- vations at a previous meeting.
2009 Lady Eagles
Softball is underway at Jenkins County High School. Members of the Lady Eagles varsity
team are, from left, first row: Chelsea Taylor, Whitley Clark, Tonya Lane, Mackenzie
Walker, Heather Johnson, Krista Gay and Amanda Mays; and second row: Coach Bill
Smith, Zandra Lake, Deondra Lewis, Cortnei Earls, Callie Dailey, Ayana Walker, Coach
Krystal Chance and Coach Pam Luke. Not pictured: Managers: Shiamante Grimes and
Amber Cosby (Photo contributed)
2009 JCHS Cheerleaders
Members Jenkins County High School cheerleading squad are, from left, first row: Ginny
Taylor, Voshti Sheppard, Jessica Head, Shelby Burke, Amber Womack, Breanna Adams,
Rhonda Lovett and Mikesha Williams; and second row: Morgan Royal, Sharante Grimes,
Kristin Fail, Tionna Taylor, Mackenzie Walker, Ayana Walker and Sarah Jenkins; and
third row: Tiffany Wasden, Kayla Kirkland, Tonya Lane, Madison Allen, Shae Burke,
Abby Whitt, Sara Burke and Cassie Bragg. (Photo contributed)