Milton’s City Council on Monday approved a partnership so people calling 911 can get prompt, effective telehealth services rather than an ambulance ride to a hospital – saving them money and time, while freeing up first responders to address other emergencies.

As Milton’s Medical Services Officer Mark Haskins explained, a “good portion” of those who dial 911 have relatively mild, treatable conditions that don’t require a hospital visit. Under this new system, Milton firefighters would check on those who make such calls then use technology – connecting them, for instance, to a board-certified Emergency Medical physician – to get them care they need.

The newly approved contract with RightSite Health Physicians does not cost the City of Milton anything. And it could save money for patients who will not have to pay ER or ambulance bills; RightSite can even facilitate free Uber rides to see a doctor or deliveries of pharmaceuticals.

Haskins said RightSite boasts a 9.8 satisfaction rate (on a 10-point scale) and diverts prospective patients from Emergency Rooms about 9 times out of 10. He said this service is now available elsewhere in Georgia including Cobb, Henry, and Chatham counties, as well as Sandy Springs.

Shortly before the vote, Mayor Peyton Jamison told Haskins, “It’s amazing how things are moving along. And you all are doing a great job.”

WATER LINE RELOCATION, DISTRICT AT MAYFIELD ITEMS APPROVED

Earlier in the meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a Consent Agenda that included agreements with:

• Fulton County to allow for the relocation of water lines for two City initiatives -- a TSPLOST-funded project to replace the middle of three bridges along Birmingham Road and the other pertaining to the Big Creek Greenway Connection project
• J.G. Leone Enterprises to enlarge the scope of its work on a roundabout and related improvements at Freemanville and Birmingham roads to cover matters such as pipe relocations as well as extra milling and asphalt
• Relation Insurance Services of Georgia – which manages the City of Milton’s human resources benefits – to ensure compliance with legal and privacy standards related to employees’ healthcare information
• Carahsoft Technology Corporation to provide enhanced protection and faster potential recovery for the City’s critical IT systems and data
• Moffatt & Nichol to complete a 30% conceptual design plan related to the implementation of elements envisioned in the Crabapple area’s District at Mayfield plan (which you can learn more about at www.miltonga.gov/DistrictatMayfield)
• First Arriving to provide crucial, real-time information (including mapping, incident times, and countdown clocks) to Milton firefighters working out of the City’s four fire stations
• A property owner on Balley Forrest Drive to combine two lots into a single 3.49-acre parcel

APRIL RECOGNIZED AS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH

By the time of this Consent Agenda vote, Council Chambers was already packed with individuals in attendance for a series of proclamations – each of them meaningful in their own way.

The first recognized April as Autism Acceptance Month, bringing attention to a condition affecting millions nationwide and celebrating those with autism who positively enrich our society.

Prior to reading a corresponding proclamation, Mayor Jamison pointed to the strengths, talents, and unique perspectives of those with autism as well as Milton’s commitment to being an “inclusive and accepting community for all.”

About 20 people – some with autism, as well as family members and advocates – accepted copies of the proclamation before posing for a picture with the Mayor and Councilmembers.

A different large group – this one consisting of Scouts, Junior Rangers, and Charlie Lancelot, a longtime steward of Providence Park and current Milton Sustainability Advisory Committee member – were on hand to accept the next proclamation recognizing April 22 as Earth Day.

This proclamation noted the City’s hundreds of acres of greenspace and natural parks, as well as its thriving flora and fauna, are among the major reasons people choose to make Milton their home.

911 DISPATCHERS HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE

The 18 members of the 8^th cohort of Milton’s Citizens Government Academy “graduated” at Monday night’s meeting. Community Outreach Manager Emily Salerno, who coordinates this program, described this year’s group as “curious explorers” who “really wanted to understand not just the what, but the why” of City government. (For more information, including how to apply to be part of next year’s class, visit www.miltonga.gov/CGA.)

The 2025 CGA’s class speaker, Patti Swan, followed Salerno to the lectern. She shared highlights of 8 weeks in which participants spent time at various City facilities and engaging with leaders of every City department. Swan called it a “behind-the-scenes experience that was beyond compare.”

“The pleasure to reside here is all ours,” Swan concluded.

Several members of that City of Milton team were then singled out for their own proclamation in recognition of April 21 to 25 being National Community Development Week. The City’s Community Development team consists of inspectors, building officials, code enforcement officers, permit technicians, planners, and others who provide critical services and, as the proclamation pointed out, “routinely go above-and-beyond for our community.”

Mayor Jamison lauded this department’s members for their important work in “managing the sustainability and careful growth of our City.”

The next proclamation celebrated the dedicated 911 dispatchers who serve the people of Milton – exhibiting impressive calm, empathy, and efficiency to get people in crisis the help they need.

“Milton is fortunate to have an outstanding, caring, working team of 911 dispatchers,” read the proclamation that recognized the upcoming National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. “These telecommunicators field calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year as a vital element of First Response operations, helping to protect properties, optimize service and support, and save lives.”

EMERGING LEADERS PROPOSE PLAN FOR HORSE STATUES AROUND CITY

Milton’s Emerging Leaders program “is designed to grow and strengthen” the City’s stable of current and future leaders, Deputy City Manager Stacey Inglis explained Monday night. She introduced the program and the 11 members of its most recent cohort – Jason Baswell, Greg Carter, Lisa Farr, David Little, Tim Murray, Logan Pacheco, Josh Rogers, Emily Salerno, Christy Weeks, Tracie Wildes, and Jen Young.

Over several months, this group learned valuable knowledge and skills that will serve them well in their jobs, did an immersive dive into all aspects of City government, and collaborated on a joint capstone project.

They took turns presenting on that project – a proposal for businesses and other organizations to install and customize horse statues for public viewing – on Monday night. This would be along the lines of bulldog statues found in Athens, turtles in Sandy Springs, and cows in Chicago, but with a uniquely Milton twist.

The “Hues of the Herd” project’s benefits can include unifying different parts of Milton, allowing businesses to showcase their personalities and entice foot traffic, adding eye-catching public art, and giving artists’ opportunities to showcase their talent. The horse statues could be promoted in multiple ways, including through engaging social media and an online map.

NEW REQUIREMENT ON IMPACT FEE COLLECTIONS

Other items on Monday’s agenda include:

• An amendment to City Code to require builders to pay impact fees at the time a building permit is issued. (Before this vote, they could pay it at that time or later when a building’s certificate of occupancy is issued.) This aligns with what’s done elsewhere, including Cherokee County and Roswell. As Interim Community Development Director Diana Wheeler explained, the previous system could lead to problems if builders closed out their project without paying the fee – leaving the property owner and City in a difficult situation. Councilmember Andrea Verhoff was among those who said the change approved Monday “makes sense.”

   

• Changing fee options for Camp Compass, Camp Joyful Soles, or Junior Ranger Academy. For one thing, it would allow the City to charge late fees for those who pick-up their children late (with a 10-minute grace period) from these three programs. In the same vote, a paid aftercare program was created for those same three activities to give busy families greater flexibility. Both added fees will allow the City to cover the cost of staffing after-hours care.

   

• The agenda’s final three items authorized the condemnation of different properties so that different Public Works projects could move forward. (The votes do not preclude the City and other parties from mutually agreeing to a price in the coming days.) One related to what City Attorney Ken Jarrard called a “title issue” for a permanent easement needed for the Bethany Road at Providence Road roundabout project. The other two were because the parties have yet to agree upon a price (in one case for a temporary, five-year easement) tied to the Big Creek Greenway Connection project and Birmingham Road middle bridge (out of three) project.

The Council is next scheduled to convene for a Work Session on April 21.