City Council approves sidewalk dining resolution

Published 2:16 pm Monday, September 28, 2020

Milledgeville City Council voted last week to extend sidewalk dining at local restaurants and other eateries amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

City officials voted unanimously last Tuesday night to extend the terms and provisions of Resolution R-2005-27 that allows for temporary sidewalk dining and alcohol consumption in designated public areas of the city. 

It also reinforces the application procedure and eligibility criteria.

During a discussion of the proposed resolution concerning an extension of the temporary sidewalk dining, Alderwoman Denese Shinholster, who also serves as mayor pro tem, asked City Manager Hank Griffeth whether or not any of the provisions had changed very much.

Griffeth assured her that none of them had changed.

“We just needed to extend the deadline some more,” Griffeth said.

The extension will allow such sidewalk dining to run through Dec. 30.

Griffeth said between now and then, he plans to talk with officials of the Georgia Department of Transportation about the possibility of making such permanent.

“If y’all want to do that then I’ll bring that information to y’all between now and Dec. 30,” Griffeth said.

Alderman Walter Reynolds made a motion to extend sidewalk dining. The motion received a second from Alderman Steve Chambers.

When Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan called for a vote from the six-member city council, Reynolds and Chambers were supported by the other four members — Jeanette Walden, Dr. Collinda Lee, Richard “Boo” Mullins and Shinholster.

In other business: 

Council members unanimously approved Ordinance 0-2009-05 to amend the city’s 2021 annual operating budget list of authorized positions and public works department line items to eliminate an equipment position and to create a tree surgeon position.

The difference in the salary of the two positions was nearly $6,000.

City council also approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend the city’s land development code which would allow an overlay for a special use of property located at 210 North Jefferson Street.

The property currently is owned by William Randolph and zoned SFR2.

“The applicant desires the overlay that allows a special use for a group residence for this property,” according to the summary of the ordinance. “If approved, the applicant will then request a special use for a group residence.”

Action by city council was not taken on this at Tuesday night’s meeting, since it was only the first reading.

The request goes before the city’s planning and zoning of Ordinance 0-2009-07 that would amend the city’s code of ordinances to establish a work session prior to the second meeting of the month as a regular scheduled meeting of ing commission Monday, Oct. 5.

The proposal will go back to city council for a vote on Nov. 10.

In another matter, city council heard the first reading of a proposed ordinance to amend the city council work session schedule.  

Parham-Copelan said city council will not decide on the proposal until the first meeting in October.