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VOL. 117 NO. 25 Millen, Ga. 30442 LEGAL ORGAN OF JENKINS COUNTY SINCE 1903 Wednesday, December 20, 2023 • 750
Secretary Buttigieg visits Millen to announce $ 12 million grant
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
For years blocked rail crossings
in the City of Millen and on the
Millen By-Pass have created havoc
for local citizens, truckers, and those
traveling through the community.
The City of Millen, Jenkins County
Commissioners, and Jenkins County
Development Authority (JCDA)
have worked diligently to find solu
tions to resolve the problem with
disappointing results.
A federal grant application filed
in September, 2022 by the Georgia
Department of Transportation for
construction of an overpass on the
Millen By-Pass was denied in June
of this year.
On Tuesday, however, the tide of re
jection turned. An announcement was
made by U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and
Rev. Raphael Wamock, a member of
the Senate Commerce and Transporta
tion Committee, that Jenkins County
will receive $12 million in federal
funding that can be used to begin a
project that will help eliminate the
blockage of highways/rail crossings
when completed.
A press release from the Senators’
offices states, “This latest grant will
help alleviate stalled trains that hinder
mobility for families and students and
emergency services, promoting great
er accessibility for all. The project will
implement three grade-separated rail
crossings in Millen, one just north of
the rail yard on SR21/Millen By-pass
and two on SR67/East Winthrope
Avenue.”
The $12 million in grant funds are
being provided through the Depart
ment of Transportation’s g ^ ^
Rural Surface Transpor- GRANT
tation Grant program
made possible by the ^
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg is shown flanked by, from
left, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, and GDOT Deputy Commissioner Brad Saxon
during a program held Dec. 15th on the Millen Bi-Pass to announce a $12
million grant award.
The best way to see Christmas is through the eyes of a child
Sarah Grace Gay, 2 months, and Olivia Claire Gay, 3, visit with Santa. Olivia makes sure that Santa knows she and her sister have been extra good
this yearThey are the children of Will and Amanda Gay of Millen.
Commissioners deal with illegal dumping of tires
DEBORAH BENNETT
Millen News Editor
The problem of illegal dumping
and burning of tires alongside county
roads was a topic of discussion during
the Dec. 12th meeting of the Jenkins
County Commissioners.
Jenkins County Field Director Jason
Oglesby reported that county road
crews have picked up approximately
200 tires which have been dumped
along roads in recent weeks.
“They are dumping them in piles of
10-15 tires, and some piles are being
set on fire,” Mr. Oglesby said.
It was also noted that some of the
tires had markings that may be traced,
and law enforcement is investigating
the matter. The commissioners urged
a continued effort to apprehend those
responsible.
In other business, County
Administrator Grady Saxon reported
on the bid opening for the county’s
LMIG project for the resurfacing
of L.B. Hall Road and Lane Road.
He stated that only two bids were
submitted when normally three bids
are received. Those submitting bids
were Reeves Construction with a bid
of $979,161.50 and Sikes Brothers
with a bid of $1,156,762.
The commissioners decided to
reject the bids received and rebid the
project. The re-bidding process will
delay the project by 28 days.
Jenkins County Tax Commissioners
Tina Burke presented plans for
remodeling a portion of her office.
The cost of the project was reported
to be $14,518. The project was
approved.
Mr. Saxon reported that the county
had refunded $3,800 to parents of
participants in the Jenkins County
Recreation Department’s All-Star
program, as per the agreement at that
time. The commissioners previously
changed the policy deleting the All-
Star refund moving forward.
Other actions taken by the
commissioners include the renewal of
the county’s workman’s compensation
insurance with the Association County
Commissioners of Georgia in the
amount of $77,658 with the county to
receive a dividend back in the spring.
He also noted there had not been any
major claims.
County Attorney George Rountree
reported he is finalizing the draft of
the county’s Solid Waste Management
Plan and will be submitting it to the
commissioners for their input and
review.
During financial discussions, it
was noted that county revenues
are $300,000 ahead of budget and
expenses are $193,484 over budget.
