City Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

dear lord we come to you in prayer saying thank you thank you for everything that you have done for us dear lord we are so great to have you as our master jesus you guide us you give us the man to make right decisions um you are just One powerful person. And God, you are so big. You're so big in our lives. Dear Lord, I would like to thank you for just having the ability to talk, having the ability to walk, having the ability to help others, having the ability to not be selfish towards others. Jesus, please look over our families who are bereaving. We have so many people who have passed on. Jesus, just thank you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands, this evening we have a presentation from mr drew wallston president and ceo of mighty heroes home at this time i recognize mr waltz wallston to come to the podium and make his presentation thank you so very much it's an honor to be here and i want to thank you for that beautiful prayer

You know, public speaking is not something I enjoy. I'm not very good at it. So I was a little anxious, but your prayer just put me at peace. And we want the Lord's work to be done here tonight. So I ask you in advance, look over the fallacies of a human and hear our heart and hear what we've been called to do and what we look forward to accomplishing right here in Milledgeville, Georgia. I'm going to ask some distinguished gentlemen to join me up here. And as they're coming up, Senator Williams, Mr. Benyon, Mr. Cliff. Again, I want to thank you for the opportunity to be here this evening. Tonight, we're not looking for special treatment. We're looking for something that's much more valuable. And that's a partnership, a partnership that has the potential to permanently change the lives of veterans while positioning Milledgeville as a community that chose to lead instead of waiting for someone else to solve one of America's greatest challenges. But before I get into details of the Mighty Hero Home Village for veterans right here in Milledgeville, I want to recognize and introduce three men for whom I have great respect and admiration. Each of these individuals have played an important role in helping us move the vision forward, and each represents the type of leadership and partnership that will be necessary to make this partnership successful. Let me introduce first Chairman Robert Binion. I'll state here, Robert's leadership, commitment to community development, his dedication to making this opportunity possible have been invaluable. His efforts have helped to create a pathway that allows us to pursue bringing the Mighty Hero Homes base to Milledgeville.

I'm wearing my Central State Authority hat today. And I want to tell you all, even before my time on the Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority, the board had already been working with the Mighty Heroes Home Project. This is an absolutely fantastic project. We've probably been working with you all for, what, two years, a little more, trying to find a site on the campus that Because their mission with what they do fits in so well with the redevelopment of the Central State Hospital campus and the mission that we have going on. So it was just sort of a no-brainer that we had this located on the campus. I am just thrilled that we were finally able to find a perfect spot. to me and my board members and I want to thank all of our board members on the Central State Campus for the authority for working so hard to make sure that we were able to get the Mighty Heroes Home project here on the Central State Campus and thank y'all for all that y'all do. We are happy to be your partner in this as well too. Thank you so very much. Thank you.

Next, Amanda needs no introduction in this town for sure, but Senator Williams has been a tremendous advocate for veterans and has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to helping us create a solution to a problem that far too often goes unanswered. His leadership and willingness to champion this effort has meant a great deal to us and certainly to me personally.

Senator Williams.

Good evening, everyone. Thank you for the opportunity to be here. I guess to start, of course, my commitment to veterans goes way back. But this project started about three and a half years ago when the lieutenant governor appointed me and some other senators to look to what we could do for veterans' homelessness and mental illness. As you know, we have Georgia War Veterans Home here in Milledgeville, and they had a Russell building that was completely renovated but sitting empty. We were able to secure $2.5 million to staff that and the transitional center to get those open and operating. The transitional center was a 14-bed brand-new facility for veterans to go to on their way moving back home. So this is something that Lieutenant Governor was very instrumental in saying, let's do all we can for veterans. Let's look into the homelessness and the mental illness, and let's work on that. So that's what we started doing, and we held this hearing in the old Capitol building over at GMC. and we had several people come and make presentations. And that's when Drew came and he made the presentation on hero homes for veterans. First I had ever heard of anything like this for our veterans, but I immediately reached out to them and let's talk about this. We have Georgia War Veterans Home here. This would be an ideal place for it. I have spoken with Secretary Doug Collins' office in Washington, D.C. They're looking to build a veterans clinic somewhere in middle Georgia, and we're hoping on the campus here close to those veteran facilities would absolutely be ideal. And having all of this veterans centralized here close to the fall line freeway and 441 Major Thoroughfare, we feel like this is just a natural. This is what more can we do for our veterans. I know I have carried Senator Isaacson's people through the Culver Kid Hospital when it was sitting there empty, trying to get interest in that. So I'll continue working for the veterans. I thank you. for allowing us to come before you, and I hope that you will be able to endorse this project and help us and see this through. The difference in the lives that it can make for our veterans who have done so much for us, I just feel like this is the least we can do, and I thank you very much. Thank you.

Finally, I'd like to recognize Cliff Harris. Cliff is a West Point graduate, an Army aviator, Cliff's experience, relationships, and passion for bringing people together around meaningful community initiatives has helped strengthen this effort and expand our ability to make this vision a reality. Cliff has been with us for over three years. A lot of people would have given up. You haven't built anything yet. You haven't done anything yet. He's been with us every single step, bringing us to a point where we're about to make some very exciting announcements, and I'd like to introduce Cliff to say a word.

Thank you, Drew, and thank you all for having us here this evening. It's a privilege and an honor to be with you, and what a great opportunity we have here in our state of Georgia and here in Milledgeville to do something that's really earth-shattering and groundbreaking. First of all, I'd like to ask, do we have any veterans here this evening? Will you please stand up and be recognized? Thank you very much for your service. I'm going to share some numbers and a little bit about my history. I'm also a pastor of Old Victory Church in Bowdoin, Georgia. And this is a problem here that we're talking about tonight that is near and dear to my own heart personally. I was a West Point graduate. I was a veteran of the first Gulf War as an Army aviator. My father was a two-tour veteran, Green Beret in Vietnam. And I remember as a six-year-old boy watching the news when they were just like one network on. thinking and hoping that I'd be able to see my father while he was over there and couldn't wait for him to get home and unfortunately he was one of those that made it home physically but emotionally he did not and ultimately was a victim of post-traumatic stress and took his own life and When I talk about numbers, when you look at World War II, we had 14% of our country served in uniform in the military. Vietnam, it was 11%, and today it's .6 of 1%. And that's for our benefit, for our liberty, for our opportunity to be here this evening and even talk with you all. Our ability to worship and to work where we'd like to work and go to school where we want to go to school. is a rate that's protected by 0.6 of 1% of our population. And right now there's a crisis. There's 22 approximate suicides per day in the veteran community. And the veteran suicide rate is twice that of the normal population. The veteran suicide rate for homelessness is twice what it is for veterans. And there are somewhere between 35,000 and 70,000 homeless veterans in the United States today. And to me it's an absurd problem. These are men and women who have given their lives in service for our benefit and I think now it's an opportunity for us to work for their benefit and to find a place for them to live with dignity in a home. And in many instances the fastest growing segment of the veteran population that's homeless today is the pregnant female. Again, it's an absurd problem. It's a solvable problem, and I was fortunate to meet with Drew Austin about three and a half years ago. He shared his vision with me. He's a humble man, and he has stuck to it, and I think we're on the verge of launching something that's very special. And I applaud you all here in Milledgeville for being the kind of point of the spear as a role model for how the country can deal with this problem. And thank you very much. What a privilege it is for me to speak with you tonight.

just add also the cliff is the vice president of railing construction out of Carrollton, Georgia. They make they build schools and hospitals and stadiums and all big things. When we first met with them. We didn't think that they would want to do something a small project like this. But they said we haven't in the past, but we're going to that shows the level of commitment from one of the premier construction organizations in our country.

But thank you all gentlemen.

Thank you. Thank you so very much. I'm going to run through just a couple of things to get us thinking. As Chris mentioned, there are 35,000 to 75,000 homeless veterans in America right now. Traditional solutions are not working. The United States government spent over $10 billion over the past decade to address veteran homelessness. declined. We need a new model. But we are just one entity, and we need partners, and we need municipality partners. So that's what we're here for tonight, is to ask you to partner with us. We believe that our success will breed others' interest to come to Milledgeville to find out what we did, how we did it, speak with you, understand how you partnered with us to make it work in order for them to take it back to their towns as well. Why this matters, as Cliff mentioned, many came home more carrying wounds that we cannot see. Many came home with no place to call home. And every night in America, thousands of veterans are sleeping in their cars, under bridges, in tents, someone else's couch. Beginning tonight, beginning tonight, we can begin to change that. Our vision is to build an 84-home community right here in Milledgeville. This is not simply housing. We can go out and find land and build houses on it and and marketing to people at any time. We're not simply seeking to build housing, but a complete community, a community where the veterans who live there belong. They have camaraderie, they have existence, they have purpose, and they have reason. It's also a place for veterans to heal, a place for veterans to serve, and most importantly, a place for veterans to thrive. So looking at the slide here, this is a copy of a rendering of an 84-home Mighty Hero home base, seven quads, 12 homes per quad, with a 1,600-square-foot quad commons in the middle. All our numbers are biblical, 7, 12, 40, not by accident. On our base, we have 84 affordable homes, our community center, a 6,000-square-foot community center, The Quad Commons, that 1,600 square foot building I spoke about, that serves as an extension of those 12 homes. So those veterans can gather together and enjoy a meal together, watch the Super Bowl, reserve it for a family reunion or a birthday party. They will have a greenhouse. The land that we have right now is a small greenhouse. We're going to build a 3,000 square foot greenhouse where the veterans will be trained to plant, harvest, aquaponics hydroponics be able to consume their yield to have known base farmers market and then take it into the community for community farmers market and we hope even to create relationships with local restaurants where they can market our vegetables are so fresh they came from right down the street also on the old mattress building you might remember the old that mattress building over there in the corner that'll be our canine training facility all our veterans will be given the opportunity to be certified canine trainers so that they can train companion and service dogs that can be exported to other veterans throughout our country that are suffering from PTSD or have physical ailments where they could benefit from a dog. I'll tell you the brief story that always rings when I talk about dogs. We had a veteran share with us that he had a gun in his mouth, he was ready to end his life, and he looked down and saw his dog, and his thought was, if I pull the trigger, who's going to feed my dog? So that dog saved that veteran's life. And those stories are replicated over and over again. So we look forward to seeing. Our partner in this space, Healing for Heroes, feels like she could place 10,000 dogs in our country right now. It's not a matter of not having enough dogs, because we'll clean out every humane society and dog shelter around. We just don't have enough trainers. So we're going to do something about that and provide her all the trainers that she needs. I will have walking trails, employment services, health partnerships, peer support, workforce development, service organization facilities that can come on to our base and provide services where a veteran is not just expected to survive, but but thrive and flourish. So why Milledgeville? Some communities ask when approached with a homelessness solution, why us? We're asking and hope that the Milledgeville community will say, why not us? Milledgeville once again has an opportunity to become a nationally recognized city that decided to do something and solve the veteran homelessness rather than simply manage it. When people think about veteran housing, we want them to ultimately think about Milledgeville. why this matters to the city. The greatest benefit is simple 84 veterans and 84 permanent homes. This alone changes lives forever, but the impact doesn't stop there. millersville becomes a city that can say instead of talking about the problem, we did something about it. And we believe this will be a location a destination location where people will want to come see not only your great city for all the other things that you do well, but to be the birthplace of the mighty euro home model. But as mentioned, it's not just about housing. In the turn of this year, from 25 to 26, we implemented what we call MHH 360, and that's homes, health, and hiring. For homes, safe, affordable, permanent, health, physical, mental, behavioral, recovery, hiring, employment, purpose, financial independence. We call it MHH 360 because lasting success is going to depend on these three pillars of supporting a veteran, a job alone, doesn't do it, a home alone doesn't do it, and health alone doesn't do it. So we're giving equal attention to all three with great partners that we're going to have on our base. Partnership. Tonight, we're not asking the city to build this project. I know a lot of people come to you and ask you to do things that they're not willing to do or they don't want to do. We're not asking you to do that. We're not asking you to bend the rules. We're not asking you to give us any special consideration or dispensation. or have us allow us to do anything that anyone else is not able to do. We're not asking for shortcuts. In fact, we want to follow every ordinance, we want to be the model, developer to model citizen for others that follow our, our lead. We want to follow every regulation, we want to follow every process. But our request is, is that we walk through it together, that we want to be partners and not opponents. How can you help? The city possesses something that we don't have. You possess relationships. You possess influence. You possess credibility. And we're asking you to help introduce to Mighty Hero Homes those people in our community who can help make this vision possible. Those people that we're speaking about are those who are involved in banking, those who are then involved in philanthropy, foundations, healthcare, education and industry, veteran services, faith communities, civic organizations, people who can help us with funding, financing, construction, employment, healthcare, volunteerism, and community support. The people who are going to be most interested and most vetted into this is going to be the people who are from here. We're not looking to bring a lot of people and that we're bringing the best in the country in. But we're already talking to local contractors, local graders, local builders, local plumbers. We want this to be from within Milledgeville for our veterans in Milledgeville. This sign here, I know it's a little small on the screen. But this sign we look forward to as soon as we follow all the regulations and get our sign approvals. We look forward to erecting this on the corner of our property to do a couple of things. We want to put this up there to let people know that it's coming. But most of all, we want to put it up there. So we let veterans know that there's hope and that somebody is doing something to meet their needs. The legacy. Every generation has its moments that define it years from now. What the work that we do here the work that I do, few people will ever know what we do on a daily basis. No one's going to remember every ordinance that was passed or every budget that was approved, or every routine meeting. But people will remember that the city of Milledgeville was the city who put forth the first step to end veteran homelessness, that you decided to lead, not because it was easy, but because it was the right thing to do and because it was noble. So here's what I'm asking you, a very simple ask tonight. Tonight, we're asking for a partnership. I think I mentioned that the last time I was here. I mentioned it in our town hall meeting. If you see me next week on a podcast or on an interview, you're going to hear me talk about that partnership, partnership. the partnership to help us navigate the process. You know better than we do what needs to be done here. to help us connect with the community. You know the people who are influential. Trust me, there's people right now who are praying, Lord, lead me to do something that's bigger than myself. Lead me to do something with my blessings that I haven't been able to find a resource to do those. Those are the people who are going to step forward and blow our minds. I was sharing with Cliff on the way down here, I got a message here that if it comes to pass, it will be an amazing opportunity for us. But all the things that I believe that are going to happen, I want them to be such that no one else can get the credit other than the good Lord because it's going to be so wild, so amazing, and so over the top that no human could put forth the effort to make it happen. And ultimately, my church's vision statement is to make heaven bigger because we cared better, and that's exactly what I want to do. I want people to ultimately have a saving grace in Jesus Christ because they came to know somebody who cared enough about them on a Mighty Hero Homes base to look not only into their current situation, but their forever. So lastly, you saw me say it all started in Milledgeville. I hope we get to say that over and over again over the years and decades to come.

So I'll leave you with this tonight.

When history tells the story of how veteran homelessness began to end, I hope people will remember these words that started in Milledgeville, Georgia. So I'm asking you tonight, humbly, would you please partner with us? Thank you so much for your time and for this opportunity. I look forward to working with you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Walston.

You have all received a copy of the June 25, 2026 planning meeting minutes. Are there any corrections or amendments that need to be made? Hearing none, is there a motion to adopt the June 25, 2026 planning meeting minutes? Motion to adopt June 25, 2026 planning meeting minutes. So moved. We have a motion and second. I'll ask the clerk to please call the roll.

Dr. Lee? Aye. Ms. Simmons? Aye. Dr. Wills? Aye. Ms. Shanholzer?

Aye. The motion carries and the minutes are approved. You have received a copy of the July 6, 2026 called town hall meeting minutes. Are there any corrections or amendments that need to be made? Hearing none, is there a motion to adopt the July 6, 2026 called town hall meeting?

So moved.

Second. We have a motion and a second. I'll ask the clerk to call the roll, please.

Dr. Lee. Aye. Ms. Simmons. Aye. Dr. Wills. Aye. Ms. Sheehan-Holster.

Aye. The motion carries and the minutes are approved. You have all received a copy of the July 14, 2026 council meeting minutes. Are there any corrections or amendments that need to be made to those? Hearing none, is there a motion to adopt the July 14, 2026 council meeting minutes? So moved.

Second.

We have a motion and a second. I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Dr. Lee? Aye. Ms. Simmons? Aye. Dr. Wells? Aye. Ms. Sheehan-Holster?

Aye. The motion carries, and all minutes are approved. I really don't have any comments tonight. I kind of want to piggyback on, first of all, the mayor is not feeling well tonight and was not able to make the meeting. And I just want to say a couple of comments about what Dr. Lee said in a prayer. There's been so many things that have happened. So many families are grieving. And I think we've been to like four or five funerals in one week for the past two to three weeks. It's been a lot. and it's heavy on my heart and I'm sure the families are having a tough time so I appreciate her remembering them and her prayers and I ask you all to do the same. At this time we'll move to the city manager's report and I recognize Ms. Hilson-Buds.

Good afternoon, everyone. Just have a few things. First of all, I just want to give you an update in regards to Healy Park. If you all recall, you signed a resolution back in the end of June to purchase new playground equipment. so that equipment has been ordered and it's on schedule to be delivered I think around the 1st of September so to get prepared for this nice renovation to our playground we will be closing the playground portion of Hewley Park as of August 10th to allow our public works department to be able to go in and demo the playground equipment and prepare the pad for the new equipment So I just want to let you all know that, that the playground will be closing. And let the public know as well that the playground will be closed as of August 10th. And we anticipate, if everything goes well according to schedule, we're praying for that, that the park playground will be back open around October 2nd.

That's great.

Also, tonight, coming before you all, you will have two ordinances, Ordinance 2607-21 and 2607-22. Both of these are related to fees within the Warden School Department that were approved during the 2027 budget. So this is just formality to have those ordinances in place. I ask you all to consider to... suspend the rules for these two ordinances, and approve them tonight with the first read, if that's your desire. And that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you. So we don't have any old business tonight, so we'll now move into the new business part of the agenda. As the first read.

Ordinance 0 dash 26 0, 7, dash 21 an ordinance to adjust how old waste fees pursuant to section 90 dash 86. The of the code of orders in the city of millersville and to establish an effective date.

okay as reference this is a first read but based on the request made by the city managers report the chair would entertain a motion to suspend the rules to adopt the ordinance with one reading mayor I propose that we suspend the rules and allow this to be voted on even during the first reading second We have a motion in second. I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Dr. Lee. Ms. Simmons. Aye. Dr. Wills. Aye. Ms. Schoenholzer.

Aye. Now that we have suspended the rules, is there a motion to adopt the ordinance as presented?

So moved.

Second. Is there any discussion? I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Dr. Lee?

Aye.

Ms. Simmons? Aye. Dr. Wills? Aye. Ms. Shanholzer?

Aye. That ordinance is adopted. I will ask at this time for the clerk to read Ordinance O2607-22 by caption as it first reads.

Ordinance O2607-22, an ordinance to amend chapter 90 article 2 division 3 of the Code of Ordinances city of Millersville Georgia to add a new section 90-63 to establish compliance and testing fees for the municipal drinking water laboratory specifically fixing fees for bacteriological BACT BAC

water ambulance providing for severe ability and establishing an effective date as reference this is a first read but based on the request made by the city managers report the chair will entertain a motion to suspend the rules to adopt the ordinance with one reading so moved second We have a motion and a second. I ask the clerk to call the roll.

Dr. Lee? Aye. Ms. Simmons? Aye. Dr. Wells? Aye. Ms. Sheehan-Holster?

Aye. Now that we have suspended the rules, is there a motion to adopt the ordinance as presented?

Motion to adopt ordinance 02607-22. Second. Is there any discussion?

Hearing none, I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Dr. Lee? Aye. Ms. Simmons? Aye. Dr. Wells? Aye. Ms. Sheehan-Holster?

Aye. I'll now ask the clerk to read Resolution R2607-18 by caption.

Resolution R-2607-18, a resolution of the Mayor and Alderman of the City of Milledgeville to accept the dedication of certain roadways known as the Stage 1 roads from the Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority.

You've heard the resolution. Is there a motion to adopt? So moved.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

hearing none I'll ask the clerk to call the roll I will have to abstain from this vote due to my affiliation with Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority Dr. Wells aye Ms. Shanholster aye that's going to pose a problem because we have to have a majority I don't think it will because abstention would be a yes vote

I don't think it will be because an extent that extension would be a vote for it so I would have to recuse myself well same difference same difference yeah so yeah the motion is for and the resolution is approved and adopted

The final item on the agenda is to make one appointment tonight. I nominate Ronnie Falk to the Planning and Zoning Board. Is there a motion to confirm this nomination?

Motion.

Second. Is there any discussion? I'll ask the clerk to please call the roll.

Dr. Lee? Aye. Ms. Simmons? Aye. Dr. Wills? Aye. Ms. Shanholzer?

Aye. This concludes the items on the agenda. Does anyone on council have any questions or comments?

Madam Mayor Pro Tem, may I update the city and also? I usually have a loud voice, but it didn't work. So the Keep Millersville Baldwin Beautiful Board met today. And I'm not asking for anything specifically, but I wanted to let you all know we do have a potential Adopt-A-Road partner now. Not a potential. We have an Adopt-A-Road partner who's ready to come in in the city. This will be our first city partner. And that is Atrium Navisant. The hospital would actually like to adopt the road frontage that's in front of the hospital and runs down beside it. What that means just for the audience is that they will do quarterly cleanups. But as a partner, we the county has heretofore provided the signs and then the actual the KMVB board pays for the sticker that goes on it that would say adopted by Denise Schoenholzer, so to speak. So I'm excited about that, and I would like to ask the city manager, Ms. Melba Hilson-Butts, if in the next few, I'm going out of town tomorrow, and I won't be back until next week, but I would like to ask that you and I maybe spend a few moments together to talk about that and what that would mean for the city and if the city would be interested in partnering with us to provide the signage. We do have templates from the county that could easily be used. So I think that expense would be wiped away. The signs are not expensive at all. And I don't think that we will get a bum rush of people seeking to be partners. So this probably would be a couple every now and then at the most. But it's very exciting that an employer and a business, a community servant this this large atrium Navison is willing to do this, and they're very excited about it. So thank you for your past and continued support. And I look forward to working with the city on these projects.

Thank you. Is there anyone else? Is there a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

Second.

I'll ask the clerk to call the roll.

Dr. Lee. Aye. Ms. Simmons. Aye. Dr. Wells. Aye. Ms. Shanholzer.

Aye. We stand adjourned.