A weather-delayed Macon-Bibb County Commission meeting resulted in the allocation of about $11.3 million dollars for projects, intergovernmental agreement obligations and grant allocations.
The largest chunk of the money, $10.6 million from 2018 SPLOST funds, is earmarked for a variety of purposes including $4 million for the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority as part of an intergovernmental agreement for economic development.
The other $6 million will be doled out as $2.4 million for stormwater management under another intergovernmental agreement with the Macon Water Authority, nearly $2.4 million for enhancements at Filmore Thomas park, more than $970K for improvements at the Grand Opera House, and about $865K for the health department for physical and mental health programs.
Mayor Lester Miller said the ordinance moved up projects on the 2018 SPLOST timeline so the money could be appropriated this year.
The county also took steps to reimburse itself from future SPLOST proceeds for up to $2 million it recently allocated from its general fund to purchase and equip vehicles for the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.
The bulk of Tuesday evening’s discussions came during approval for about $274K in federal Community Development Block Grants awarded to the county based on criteria such as the poverty level and amount of affordable housing available.
Commissioner Paul Bronson asked whether the Trump administration’s temporary freeze in federal spending would affect those grants.
Miller said the county received a memo from the White House that morning, and although there was confusion, he did not think there would be immediate disruptions in funding the local agencies who serve low-income people in a variety of targeted areas.
Through the vetting of the annual application process that ensures monies will be spent within the parameters of the grant, the department of Economic and Community Development awarded $53K to Big Brothers Big Sisters to mentor at-risk youth, $10K to Family Advancement Ministries for car seats, nearly $50K for Crisis Line and Safe House to provide shelter for victims of domestic violence, about $43K to the Family Counseling Center to offer counseling and therapy, nearly $85K for Homefirst Housing Resources to promote homeownership and provide homebuyer education, a little more than $20K for Mother’s Nest to provide assistance for new and expecting mothers and $12,400 to the Mentors Project of Bibb County to help with rent, utilities, food and gasoline.
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The county also agreed to spend up to $4,800 in matching funds for a nearly $6K grant from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia to fund the county attorney’s intern program.
At the beginning of the meeting, Senior Assistant County Attorney Michael McNeill introduced Alexis Merritt from Mercer Law School who will be interning in the office this year.
The Commission also agreed to $20,000 in grant funds to assist District Attorney Anita Howard with expenses from the RISE Initiative for youth.
Commissioners also shifted $250K in the engineering budget for roadwork contracts, and agreed to pre-purchase $110K in lumber for the new guitar-shaped private plane terminal at Middle Georgia Regional Airport.
Due to shortages, lumber is taking about four to six months to be delivered, so Miller said he wanted to lock in a good price as the county did when purchasing steel for the amphitheater.
He expects to secure bonds for the $14 million construction project, award bids, demolish the old Lowe Aviation and begin construction in the coming months.
Commissioners also renewed a record-keeping contract with Nationwide Retirement Solutions to provide administrative services for two of the county’s pension plans.
The county denied alcohol license requests for Tienda Bernabe at 4221 Mercer University Drive because it is too close to a church, and Macon C Store at 1471 Rocky Creek Road for not having enough fresh food available for sale.
Commissioners approved alcohol licenses for 777 Vineville Food Mart at 3224 Vineville Ave., Topline Spirits at 3714 Eisenhower Pkwy, Citgo Food Mart at 1681 Rocky Creek Road, Texaco Food Mart at 1212 Eisenhower Pkwy, and G Food Mart at 3598 Williamson Road.
They also gave final approval for alcohol licenses for Exxon Food Mart at 4290 Dellwood Drive, Shan Food Mart at 100 S. Heron St. and QuikTrip at 519 North Ave. Those items were initially passed in a Committee of the Whole meeting on Jan. 14 along with the reappointment of Dr. Y. Monique Davis-Smith to the River Edge Behavioral Health Community Service Board.
Here are highlights from Tuesday’s meetings captured in social media posts.
— Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities for The Macon Newsroom and can be reached at fabian_lj@mercer.edu or 478-301-2976.