In an effort to increase pedestrian safety, Macon-Bibb County Commissioners agreed to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph on Mumford Road from Napier Avenue to near Hollingsworth Road.

The change will go into effect with the mayor’s approval and once new signage is erected on the two-lane road that serves as a residential collector street for neighborhoods.

Also during Tuesday evening’s meetings, commissioners earmarked $785,500 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the Otis Redding Foundation that is building the Otis Redding Center for the Arts at the corner of Cherry Street and Cotton Avenue. The ARPA funding is to compensate for the nonprofit’s losses due to the coronavirus.

An additional $625,000 will cover solid waste contractor cost increases for landfill tipping fees in Houston County, and the county also agreed to spend more than $160,000 for IT licensing expenses.

Bibb County Sheriff David Davis secured $30,000 to cover operational costs for the new Animal Welfare Surgery Center at the shelter, and an additional $200,000 for new carpet and consoles at the E-911 Center.

Commissioners also agreed to spend $50,000 to hire a consultant to look into stormwater issues and flooding that has plagued residents of Lake Wildwood. Homeowners have complained that creeks continually deposit silt in the lake as a result of nearby development in recent decades.

Macon-Bibb also provided a variance to allow for wetland restoration work at the Lamar Mounds of the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.

Here is a synopsis of the meeting through social media posts.

– Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and can be reached at [email protected].