Political Notebook: Tillman seeking suggestions Monday for blight projects
Macon-Bibb County Commissioner Al Tillman has rescheduled a blight meeting for Monday at the Macon-Bibb County Government Center, 700 Poplar St., at 6 p.m.
Residents of Tillman’s district are invited to discuss how they’d like to see blight money spent. Tillman has $1 million to spend on projects.
His district includes commercial and residential properties in the Bloomfield, Macon Mall, Greenbriar, Napier Avenue, Log Cabin, Bellevue, Vineville and Ingleside neighborhoods.
For more information, call 803-0365.
MACON-BIBB COUNTY COMMISSION CLERK TO RETIRE
The Macon-Bibb County Commission clerk was among the final people to accept the retirement package offered through July.
Jean Howard will retire Sept. 30 after working in local government since 2000. She previously served as assistant county clerk for Macon-Bibb County as well as city clerk, senior executive officer to the mayor, and Workforce Development coordinator for the former city of Macon.
“Ms. Howard played an integral role in the consolidation of our government, helping to bring together the city and county clerks’ offices,” County Manager Dale Walker said in an email to the County Commission.
Walker announced in the email that E-911 Assistant Director Karen Durham and Lake Tobesofkee Manager Ben Hamrick also will retire at the end of September.
Macon-Bibb County had 235 employees accept retirement packages by the July 31 deadline. Some of those positions will have to be filled in order to have the government run efficiently, county leaders have said.
WATKINS SPEAKS OUT ON BLIGHT
While Macon-Bibb County Commissioner Virgil Watkins left a recent ad hoc blight committee meeting saying he was pleased with the outcome, a few minutes earlier he had voiced his displeasure with several county leaders.
The ad hoc committee agreed in a meeting this week to send a resolution to the full commission that would allow each commissioner to place $50,000 into a pot for tearing down blighted structures.
Throughout the meeting, Watkins pushed for his plan to demolish more than 20 homes in his district to the tune of an estimated $300,000.
He was asked to hold off by some county leaders, including Commissioners Bert Bivins and Elaine Lucas, who said a blight consultant should be hired before taking on any large projects.
Watkins said he thought he was being treated unfairly, and he questioned the need for more delays before he could begin work in his district.
“We’ll be in January before we begin with any brick and mortar at this pace,” he said.
The committee reached a compromise that could allow commissioners to spend some money on demolishing structures before they hire a consultant. The resolution is expected to be voted on by the full commission Tuesday.
PERRY DISCUSSES CHANGING SIGN ORDINANCE
The city of Perry started cracking down on signs, flags and balloons outside of businesses in late April, a move that upset many business owners. However, Monday evening, the City Council will discuss adopting a more lax ordinance.
City Manager Lee Gilmour sent a memo to the council on Aug. 5 proposing the ordinance be changed due to “kickback/feedback” the council has been receiving from small businesses.
The city will permit the use of balloons, banners, signs, etc. for businesses, institutions and industrial facilities, subject to a few rules.
All displays:
Must be permitted by the city.
Must be for activities/promotions of the organization on site.
May be displayed fine-free for up to 20 days of opening a new entity.
Must not last less than one week, if it’s a display event.
Failure to obtain a permit could result in a fine that may be tacked on to an entity’s utility bill.
The cost of a permit is determined by the City Council, and current ordinances vary from district to district. The city exempts itself from such regulations.
The work session will take place Monday at 5 p.m. at City Hall.
Telegraph writers Stanley Dunlap and Laura Corley contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 9:42 PM with the headline "Political Notebook: Tillman seeking suggestions Monday for blight projects ."