Despite its myriad challenges, Milner remains attractive to homebuyers and the developers who serve that market which is on fire locally. Adam McGinnis, a realtor from Monticello, addressed the council, noting he is selling the Gresham property, about 26 acres north of town, and talking to developers. ’I’m trying to find the best fit for the city and the property,’ McGinnis said. The long dead Woodall Estates development has been resuscitated and permits have been issued for construction on six lots there. There are issues with a detention pond on the property and the council called a meeting for Aug. 2 for the developers and the city engineers to discuss it. The engineers could not attend last week due to a COVID case. City administrator Tausha Grose said the developers of Vintage Park have hired an engineering firm to plan out Phase II there. That will also be discussed August 2. Three lots in Fieldcrest were okayed for front facing garages and will be built on soon. There was discussion of The Lighthouse restaurant building downtown which is owned by the Milner downtown development authority which no longer exists. An offer is pending on the building and the city has right of first refusal. The sale at the offer price would pay off the note and result in a $32,000 profit for the city. It would also put the property back on the tax rolls. The matter was also placed on the Aug. 2 agenda. The city also gave final approval to creating a code enforcement officer position which will be filled by police officer Mark Evans who is in training. Grose said the city will ‘ease into’ cleaning up unsanitary, hazardous properties. ‘We are going to target overgrown lots, junk cars. We even have one individual who has an old pool he has filled with construction debris,’ she said. Grose also noted the city received $122,000 in CARES Act money which will be spent on water and sewer infrastructure and broad band. She reported Milner had about $80,000 in the water and sewer account, $60,000 in the general fund and about $50,000 in a reserve fund she created. In other action, the council: ’¢Approved routine minutes. ’¢Learned that no one is interested in serving on its committees except the civic committee which now has four members. It will put on Milner Fest Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. at city park. Some 80 vendors have already signed up for the event which will include a car show. ’¢Agreed to work with a woman who wants to put a manufactured home on her property in an R-2 district. The code does not allow it though the previous council allowed the property owner next door to the woman do the same. The general consensus was the woman will be allowed to proceed but it will take some time. Her’s will also be the last variance granted.
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