2019 Milledgeville State of the City

Mary Parham-Copelan, Mayor

2018 Highlights

1. Utilized an aggregate total of funds equaled to $2,000,000 to pave approximately 12 miles of

streets, with one approximately 2-mile stretch being a full-depth and reclamation of Ivey Weaver
Road. As well as approximately 3 miles of streets inside the Central State Hospital Campus. So far
in 2019 we have received $207,278 in additional Local Maintenance and Improvement funds that
will be combined with additional local funds for the programming of future paving projects.
2. Finalized the bidding and awarding process for Streetscape 4 which will complete street and
sidewalk improvements along the 100 blocks of West Greene Street, South Wilkinson Street, and
West McIntosh Streets. Total cost of this project will equal $1,200,000. In addition to street and
sidewalk improvements along those streets, the city will be installing LED street light fixtures along
with the new construction. Additionally, all Milledgeville owned street lights in the other areas of
downtown will be upgraded to LED fixtures
3. In partnership with Georgia Power Company, converted all street lights throughout the city limits
to LED fixtures. The conversion of these fixtures along with the 39 current ones and the 20 in
Streetscape 4 will have upgraded approximately 1460 fixtures.
4. Continued infrastructure improvements in the Riverview neighborhood using $678,277 in
Community Development Block Grant funds. This work will ultimately replace and improve the
sewer infrastructure in that area of the city.
5. Utilized a $530,000 Georgia Environmental Finance Authority loan to replace a high service line
delivery pump at the Lamar Hamm water treatment plant.
6. Water system also secured a Georgia Environmental Finance Authority loan in the amount of
$3,000,000 for the completion of the engineering study and development of plans for the
construction of a new water treatment plant.
7. Water Pollution Control Plant also sometimes called the sewer treatment plant treated 1,067
million gallons of sewage and disposed of 2,490,850 gallons of sewage brought in by septic haulers
from other areas of the county and the region.
8. The Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance program inspected 96,679 feet, or a
little over 18 miles, of sewage lines that also included inspection of 438 manholes.
9. The Milledgeville Police Department received a $9,900 grant from the Georgia Governor’s Office of
Highway Safety to be used for the Highway Safety High Visibility Enforcement program.
10. The Police Department received a $4,600 award from the Washington EMC’s Operation Round
Up program
11. The Milledgeville Fire Department completed a comprehensive hydrant inspection program
that will be utilized for the internal and external audit for completion of the Department’s ISO
rating evaluation.
12. Created an office of Geographic Information Systems to provide cataloging of data on the City’s
infrastructure through efforts using GPS equipment.
13. In partnership with the Georgia Department of Corrections, $39,484, of local source funds, was
used to complete two new pavilions at Huley Park and one new pavilion at Central City Park.
Additionally, 2019 will see the completion of the design and construction of new monument
identification signs at both parks.

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14. Received $20,000 Knight Cities Fund for Milledgeville grant that from the Central Georgia
Community Foundation to new gateway signage that will greet those entering the city limits via
the city’s streets, as well as wayfinding signage will be installed throughout the city.
15. Two BOOST Grants totaling $2000 were awarded to Milledgeville businesses.
16. Milledgeville Main Street/Downtown Development Authority approved four 50/50 façade
match grants throughout the year, generating $10,304 in downtown improvements.
17. City budgets for all funds (local, state, and federal) were prepared, adopted and submitted to
the appropriate authorities before the state’s mandated deadline.
18. City's pension fund maintains a level of funding that surpasses state funding averages for
municipalities with defined benefits pension programs.
19. The City received an $8000 Employee Health and Well-being Incentive Grant from the Georgia
Municipal Association
20. Worked with the Middle Georgia Regional Commission on development of a new city-wide
website. It is anticipated the new site will go live during the first quarter of 2019.

Partner Agencies

1. Allied Arts
• Saw over 3000 audience members for their concert performances,
• Over 700 students attending Allen’s Market art workshops and classes
• Over 4000 visitors to Marlor House Gallery art exhibitions and house tours.
• 40% of the performances in the Allen’s Market and Black Heritage Plaza during 2018 were in
partnership with Milledgeville Main Street and First Friday events.
2. Twin Lakes Library System
• Partnered with City to renovate the City Hall Annex, East (the old Fowler or Boyer Motors
building
• Partnered with the Baldwin County School District, Georgia College, and Communities in
Schools, among others, a $2.5 million Wraparound Baldwin grant to provide summer literacy
programs in disadvantaged communities for the next 5 years.
• Welcomed over 120,000 visitors and circulated over 150,000 books, audiobooks, and DVDs as
well as having over 1,100 participants in our Summer Reading Club.
3. Central State Hospital Redevelopment Authority
• Received approval of a USDA Building & Industry Loan for $10 million to be coupled with $6.1
million in private funding to fund the Georgia International Food Center (Parham Kitchen)
project
• Over 15 private partners are either currently on campus or have purchased property and plan
to provide capital investments to create over 375 new jobs

Projects for 2019

1. Fishing Creek Community Trail will be expanded and extended from South Elbert Street to Central
City Park
2. Planning and design for a new water treatment plant will continue
3. Completion of the housing study and examination of needed changes in the planning and
approving process for housing additions and changes

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4. Downtown improvements to include new businesses as well as placemaking additions and
improvements
5. Working with GDOT during the coming year to improve some areas of the city regarding vehicular
traffic flow
6. Working to decrease blighted property
7. Completion of a storm water audit and evaluation of the current infrastructure
8. Completion of the application for new CDBG funding request.