Milledgeville City Council hears about housing
By Natalie Ross
Baldwin County Listening Project Protestors urged Milledgeville City Council members to regulate housing cost and safety during the Oct. 28 meeting in City Hall.
“When you live paycheck-to-paycheck, you don’t even see your family because you’re too worried about keeping everyone alive.” Casey Sarrazin, a member of the Listening Project, said as she stood outside City Hall with other protestors trying to gain city council members’ attention.
Another protestor, a mother, also acknowledged the financial hardships of housing in Milledgeville.
“There was a time I couldn't imagine a landlord not upholding a rent agreement,” the mother said on Oct. 28 about the struggle of being evicted from her home, which was deemed unsafe due to the neglect by the landlord.
Inside City Hall, two representatives from the Listening Project spoke directly to council members about housing issues.
“Equal and fair housing is a human right,” Tony Cofield, Jr., a member of the Listening Project, said.
Cofield told council members he was a graduate of Georgia College & State University, and after graduation decided to make Milledegeville his permanent home.
In addition to speaking, Listening Project members presented the city council with the results of their housing survey that featured 300 responses. According to the results, more than 60% of Milledgeville residents say housing is too expensive.
During the presentation, city council members listened. Mayor Mary Copeland Parham thanked the Listening Project members for their work on housing and discussion points during the meeting.
Following the affordable housing comments, Milledgeville residents Virginia Knapp and Richard Knapp addressed the city council with concerns about the Historic Preservation Commission;s approval of a construction project at 540 W. McIntosh St. in downtown Milledgeville. Virginia Knapp said she was concerned about the commission’s process of approval as well as actual construction taking place that doesn’t align with historic guidelines or previously approved plans.
“The public was not given a chance to see the plans and drawings in advance,” Virginia Knapp said. “The board is not suffering the consequences of (construction) and is really out of touch with what our neighbors experience.”
Virginia Knapp also told city council members she experienced unfair treatment from the commissioners.
“We were constantly interrupted and dismissed during the (commission’s) meeting. It was unfair to the concerns that we brought to the table as nearby residents,” Virginia Knapp said.
In response to Virginia Knapp's concerns, the city council unanimously overturned the Historic Preservations Commission’s approval of updates to the property on McIntosh Street. Councilman Steve Chambers noted the significance of the council’s rulings to overturn a board's decision- saying this reversal was only one of two reversals of government decisions in 25 years.
Following a set of lengthy discussions the council also approved an alcohol license application for Jolly Rogers Pub and Song, a bar set to open at 2600 N. Columbia St.
The council also unanimously reappointed Gus Pursley and Ryan Frier to the Landbank Authority Board.
The next Milledgeville City Council meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 25 in City Hall, 119 E. Hancock St. For meeting minutes and agendas, visit