After the Independence Day weekend canceled last week’s county commission meeting, Mayor Lester Miller and the Committee of the Whole met for six hours Tuesday at Macon City Hall.

Two hours of that time was spent in executive session that covered undisclosed topics, although Miller said during open session that they would further discuss commissioners’ concerns about former district attorney David Cooke representing the county in a recent hearing concerning a convenience store closure.The county sought to have Friends Food Mart shut down after two people were shot to death on the property in July. A judge ruled it could reopen under certain conditions, but Miller said it remains closed.

Commissioners also spent some time debating how to make Lake Tobesofkee safer after two recent drownings, discussing how Community Development Block Grant funds are being dispersed and loosening the county nepotism laws to increase hiring potential while maintaining ethical guidelines of the charter.

All items approved in committee will require a final vote during the meeting at 6 p.m. July 19.

The following is a summation of the meeting action and debates through tweets from Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian.

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