Like he might have once heard after a match-winning volley, local tennis coaching legend Terre O’Brien earned vigorous applause Monday night at City Hall – along with a deserved City Council proclamation celebrating his character and many contributions.

The recognition occurred during the Council’s October 20 Regular Meeting, during which City officials have opportunities to discuss important municipal business as well as shine a light on exemplary achievements and people. O’Brien qualifies as the latter, with Council Chambers filling up beforehand with his supporters.

Before reading the proclamation, Mayor Peyton Jamison acknowledged the packed room in noting “what we’re … doing is honoring a great human being” who is also a “cornerstone of our … tennis community.” He lauded the longtime coach’s “unwavering dedication and genuine care he shows to each and every player.”

O’Brien began coaching at courts off Dinsmore Road in the mid-1990s after his nine-year stint on the professional ATP tour ended. He’s been there coaching ever since, including after the City purchased those courts (and surrounding property) in what’s now the Milton Tennis Center at Milton City Park and Preserve.

The coach of more division title winners in the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) than anyone else – a fact that, when announced, led to one of several rounds of applause – O’Brien presently leads 14 ALTA and six USTA teams of various ages, skill, and competitive level through a program coordinated with the Milton Parks and Recreation Department.

After O’Brien posed for a picture with the Council (following yet another ovation), the Mayor said, “As you can see, Terre is very loved.”

AGREEMENT FOR GDOT TO FUND SR9 PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING

The celebration highlighted a night that began with one general public comment from a citizen, followed by the Council’s unanimous approval of the meeting’s Consent Agenda. This included agreements between the City and:

• The Georgia Department of Transportation to provide $3.95 million for preliminary engineering services related to the widening-plus of Highway 9 between Windward Parkway and the Forsyth County line
• CMC to install concrete multi-use trail around Milton’s downtown – specifically between Lecoma Trace and Waterside Drive (which is along parts of Crabapple and Green roads), plus between Parkview Drive and Arbor North Drive (along Crabapple Road) – using TSPLOST funding
• Kimley-Horn to partner with the City and the community in creating the next iteration of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, a guiding document that envisions Milton’s ideal future over the next 20 years as well as programs to help achieve it
• DocuSign to continue the City’s use of its eSignature capabilities for documents such as contracts, employee onboarding, and certain forms
• JustFOIA to renew the City’s contract for its online open records management software services, which is accessible to citizens at www.miltonga.gov/i-want-to/find/public-records/

GO-AHEAD FOR CITY FOR PURSUE GRANT FOR BIRMINGHAM PARK

Two of the most substantive items on Monday night’s agenda involved Birmingham Park.  

The first officially abandoned the City’s right-of-way for part of Old Bullpen Road – the part, specifically, that no vehicles currently traverse.

Public Works Director Sara Leaders explained that the State allows local governments to abandon the right-of-way for road that no longer serves a public purpose. The Old Bullpen Road portion affected by Monday’s vote once connected Hickory Flat Road with a handful of properties; now, though, it does not and is simply part of the park’s trails system.

The Council initiated the right-of-way abandonment process with a first-stage resolution at its October 6 meeting. This occurred as part of a larger discussion to create a conservation easement to permanently protect Birmingham Park from development. This process can now continue moving forward over the coming months.

After this unanimous vote, Parks and Recreation Director Tom McKlveen presented on the City’s potential pursuit of a Recreational Trail Program grant, which is federally funded and administered through Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources.

The Council ultimately approved the City’s “pre-application” for this grant for Birmingham Park. It will seek $200,000 in grant funding, to be paired with around that same amount in City funding from the 200-acre park’s capital project fund.

This project includes adding a permanent restroom facility at Birmingham Park, likely similar to what’s at Providence Park, noted McKlveen. The grant could also help pay for improved trailhead parking and trail improvements such as a rebuilt bridge, trail rerouting, trail clearing, and stream restoration.

The final approved item on Monday’s meeting agenda set the calendar for 2026 Council meetings. Well before then, the Council is next set to convene on November 3 for another Regular Meeting.