M A R C H 3 1 , 2 0 2 2 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 1 7 , N o . 1 3
Milton fine tunes plans for parks property Former country club due for formal name, rental arrangements
By JEFFREY ALBERTSON newsroom@appenmedia.com
By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Parks and Recreation Director Tom McKIveen asked the Milton City Council for guidance March 21 to draft an ordinance that would allow the city to rent out the former Milton Country Club clubhouse. The city acquired the property, which was previously a golf course and club, in February 2018 using a portion of the voter-approved $25 million greenspace bond. The property consists of two components –an active component for recreation programs and facilities and a passive area for undeveloped land. The former clubhouse will be home to recreational activities and a community center. Community Development Manager Bob Buscemi said the city is waiting for the furniture to be delivered, and then the city will be ready to host a grand opening for the public in April. In the meantime, McKIveen recommended drafting an ordinance to rent out all three rooms inside the clubhouse for a rate of $150 an hour for Milton residents and $225 an hour for non-residents with a two-hour minimum and $500 security deposit. The total capacity of the building is 216 people. The city already has three rental facilities – Community Place at City Hall, Broadwell Pavilion and Bethwell Community Center. Residents are charged
Police officers hone de-escalation skills
► PAGE 2
Crossover Day sets final roster for ’22 legislation
CHAMIAN CRUZ/APPEN MEDIA
The former Milton Country Club clubhouse is set to reopen in April. The city acquired the property in February 2018 using a portion of the voter-approved $25 million greenspace bond. $50 an hour for a two-hour minimum and non-residents are charged $75 an hour. The security deposit for each varies between $50 and $350. By comparison, McKIveen said the City of Alpharetta rents out its Arts Center for $500 for a three-hour block and $100 for each additional hour. It has a capacity of 200 people, and the security deposit varies on the type of event. McKIveen said the community room at the Pinckneyville Community Center in Gwinnett County is also rented out for $115 an hour with a capacity of up to 180 people. Additionally, half the room is available for $65 an hour with a capacity of about 60 people. McKIveen recommended going through an application process to rent out the former Milton Country club clubhouse rather than having individuals
reserve the property. He added that the space will come with rental tables and chairs, and if a cleaning fee is required, it will be charged to the renter. “It’s a beautiful building, and we want to really encourage our renters to take care of it,” McKIveen said. In other business at the meeting, Communications Director Greg Botelho presented a game plan on naming cityowned properties, beginning with the former Milton Country Club. He said that in recent years the city has purchased and opened several properties that have yet to be named in an effort to lay out a clear, defined use for each. But by naming them, Botelho said he hopes it will help create a sense of place in the community that reflects
City sides with state for opioid settlement
Enrollment increases in Fulton classrooms
► PAGE 3
See COUNTRY CLUB, Page 6
► PAGE 5
ATLANTA — With the passing of “Crossover Day,” the roster of remaining legislation before the 2022 Georgia General Assembly is clear. Crossover Day, the 28th day of the legislative session on March 15, marked the deadline by which legislation can pass between the House and Senate. The bicameral body will adjourn on April 4, called Sine Die. One issue of shared support is H.B. 1013, called “The Mental Health Parity Act,” which would require healthcare plans to treat mental health and substance abuse disorder the same as a broken bone or heart attack. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Todd Jones (R-Cumming) and Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur). A Senate Health and Services subcommittee is reviewing the bill. “Not any one bill is going to fix everything, but in terms of taking a good first bite of the apple, this is an ambitious and laudable piece of legislation,” Sen. Michelle Au (D-Johns Creek) said at a March 20 town hall. The subcommittee is tasked to review the 77-page bill. The budget bill, signed by Gov. Bri-
See CROSSOVER, Page 6