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Milledgeville council adopts amended resolution urging local appointments to Central State redevelopment authority
Summary
After debate about state control and local representation, the Milledgeville City Council adopted an amended resolution asking that local government appointments remain part of the Central State Hospital Redevelopment Authority and adding ‘code enforcement’ to the resolution’s whereas clause.
The Milledgeville City Council on Monday adopted an amended resolution urging state lawmakers to preserve local government appointments to the Central State Hospital Redevelopment Authority and to recognize code enforcement among essential local services.
City Manager Mr. Griffith opened the discussion with a briefing on Senate Bill 260, telling the council the legislation “creates the state of Georgia authority entitled the Central State Hospital Redevelopment Authority,” and that the bill, as he described it, would leave appointment power to state leaders and supply the authority with state legal representation and the ability to accept federal and state grants.
The resolution under consideration was aimed at preserving the city’s ability to recommend or hold appointments. Councilmember Reynolds argued that leaving the city off the appointing authority would “do a disservice” to local redevelopment efforts because Milledgeville will continue to provide planning, water and fire services and should have a seat at the table. The mayor, who joined remotely, said she felt sidelined by incomplete communications from state lawmakers and urged council members to press for changes while the bill is still in House committee.
Councilmembers debated procedure — whether to remove the resolution from the agenda or to keep it and propose edits to send to the House committee. The council ultimately incorporated two edits proposed during discussion: striking the adverb “strongly” from one whereas clause and adding the term “code enforcement” to another whereas clause so the resolution explicitly lists that local code enforcement functions are considered essential services.
The amended measure was then adopted on a roll-call vote. The resolution states the city’s objection to removing or reducing local appointments to the redevelopment authority and asks state officials to consider local recommendations. The adopted resolution will be forwarded to the state legislative contacts named in the document.
The council’s exchange highlighted a broader tension in the redevelopment plan: city officials welcome the prospect of state resources and legal support but said they want formal local representation as the project moves forward.
The meeting continued with other agenda items and adjourned later that night.
