By BETH ALSTON
beth.alston@americustimesrecorder.com
www.americustimesrecorder.com

AMERICUS — The Americus Mayor and City Council met Sept. 24 for its regular monthly meeting.
Honorary Council member Dorothy McMichael was introduced and presented with a proclamation in recognition of her service.
Americus Fire Chief Allen Erkhart presented a check for $10,069.73 to a representative of MDA for Fill-The-Boot drive collections.
Mayor Barry Blount administered the oath of office to Tom Harrison, Americus-Sumter Land Bank Authority; Dawn Daniels-McNear, Americus Theater and Cultural Center Authority; and Terence Clemons, Lake Blackshear Regional Library Board.
Elaine Larkin, executive director of Sumter County Family Connection, gave a brief presentation to the mayor and council and invited them to a regional luncheon on Nov. 12.
Craig Walker addressed mayor and council, criticizing the work they do, and Thomas Holloway spoke about the funds missing in the city and the state of the memorial park in front of the Russell Thomas Jr. Public Safety Building.
The Council took the following actions.
• Adopted an ordinance to establish the 2015 millage rate. The rate remains the same as the 2014 rate (10.32 mills).
• Approved the bid from Payne’s Roofing to redo a portion of the roof of the Rylander Theatre that overlooks Lamar Street in the amount of $13,500.
• Suspended the rules and adopted the 2015 budget for Revolving Loan Fund and Program Income for the City of Americus.
• Approved improvements at the FInance Building in the amount of $58,750.
• Approved the purchase of property from CSX for the South Jackson Street train depot. The cost of the approximate one-acre plot is $7,200, and will come from SPLOST.
• Approved $5,000 for the Americus-Sumter County Land Bank Authority for start-up funds. This is to be matched by Sumter County.
• Approved an alcoholic beverage license for Circle K Store, 1204 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., for beer and wine off-premise.
• Approved an alcoholic beverage license for Bittersweet Books & Coffee, 111 E. Forsyth St. for beer and wine on-premise.
• Approved accepting a JAG grant in the amount of $18,874, which will go the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office this year.
• Approved City Manager Steve Kennedy to negotiate with two firms  to assist the city with roadway design projects when they re-pave streets and other transportation projects.
• Approved the appointment of Charles Christmas to the Historic Preservation Commission to fill the term of Peggy Minor, who resigned.