Macon-Bibb County Commissioners are considering how to spend $7.5 million earmarked for recreation improvements in the 2018 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST.

Mayor Lester Miller said priorities have shifted since the last SPLOST list was compiled, so Parks and Recreation Director Robert Walker presented his wish lists for Memorial Gym, Filmore Thomas Park,  and the Frank Johnson Recreation Center.

The next step is to decide which projects should be funded with $2.7 million earmarked for Filmore Thomas, $2.4 million for Memorial, and $2.3 million for Frank Johnson. Once the list is settled, the county will begin searching next month for contractors to do the work.

During the Tuesday Committee of the Whole meeting, commissioners also approved standardizing fines for Municipal Court to allow violators to pay the fine and avoid coming to court to have the judge arbitrarily set a fine for the violation.

They also made changes to the policies and procedures manual to modernize hiring practices and bring them in line with state practices.

The Commission also denied alcohol licenses for The Cotton Ranch restaurant for non-payment of state taxes and other issues, and Bloomfield Grocery, which is considered a “vice mart” under the local law because the store does not sell enough fresh food or offer fuel to qualify for alcohol sales in Macon-Bibb County.

The Commission is expected to ratify its decisions with a second vote next week.

Here are highlights of the agenda and debate at City Hall.

– Civic Jounalism Senior Fellow Liz Jarvis Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.