Milton’s City Council held a moving meeting Monday featuring a heartfelt farewell to one of its own, as well as the celebration of a state championship winning team inspired by a late teammate.

Both came during the Reports and Presentations portion of the December 15 agenda, which is when the Council can showcase impressive people, accomplishments, and causes.

The first to be recognized was Andrea Verhoff during what was not only her last meeting of 2025, but her final one in four years as a City Councilmember.

Verhoff, who did not seek reelection in order to focus more on her family, called “serving the community I love truly … one of the greatest honors of my life.” 

She thanked her husband Jeff, their three daughters, City staff, and the “incredible team” on the City Council.

“I am so thankful for your support, your thoughtful challenges, and your shared commitment,” Verhoff said of her fellow Councilmembers. “These past four years have meant more to me than I can fully express.” 

Mayor Peyton Jamison described Verhoff as an “absolute pleasure” who “always put the citizens first.” One silver lining, he added, is that she plans to very much remain part of the Milton community.

“I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you,” the Mayor said.

JAMES RYAN VAN EPPS INSPIRES STATE CHAMPION EAGLES

After Verhoff accepted a ceremonial key to the City, the focus turned to the Milton Eagles 8^th grade football team – winners of the recent Georgia Middle School Athletic Association (GMSAA) middle school Division A championship by virtue of a decisive 40-21 victory over until-then undefeated Carrollton.

That November 22 contest marked the third straight year this particular group advanced to its state title game, having also prevailed as sixth graders. And it capped a season in which they went 11-0 overall, averaging 40 points while only surrendering 11 points per game.

Referencing those and other statistics, Mayor Jamison said he initially thought “there is no way they’re that good. But they are.”

Coach Frank Tumminia led the Eagles, and they also got inspiration from James Ryan Van Epps. A former member of the squad, James Ryan passed away in a 2024 plane crash. 

Saying James Ryan “cheered from high above,” the Mayor told the Eagles, “He and his entire family will be with you through your entire lives. You all played for him.”

UPDATED LIST OF ELIGIBLE WASTE HAULERS APPROVED

These proclamations came well into a meeting that began with one citizen’s general public comment, followed by the Council’s unanimous approval of the Consent Agenda. The latter included agreements between the City and:

• The Georgia Department of Natural Resources to extend the terms of its grant to the City for ongoing work to enhance passive portions of Milton City Park and Preserve
• Commercial Glass and Mirror to furnish and install new glass at the Community Development and Finance reception windows in the City Hall lobby
• Shane Orfas to lead tai chi classes through Milton’s Parks and Recreation Department and at City facilities as an official City of Milton program provider
• S&ME to provide geotechnical Services related to the planned repair of a box culvert along Providence Lake Drive within the Providence Lake subdivision
• Tyler Technologies to help ensure that City has the time and resources it needs to effectively implement Tyler’s Enterprise ERP system for the management of finance and other functions
• HealthEz, a third-party health plan administrator, to support City employees as they navigate healthcare-related programs, services, and expenses starting next year

The City’s official list of eligible residential and commercial waste haulers for 2026 was approved as part of the same Consent Agenda.

RESOLUTION GIVES CITY SAY IN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACTIONS

Also on Monday evening, the Council approved a resolution stating that the Mayor must agree to actions by the Fulton County Development Authority within city limits.

As City Attorney Ken Jarrard noted, development authorities sometimes use economic inducements to draw businesses to an area. These deals could impact municipalities through property tax collections and other ways.

A bill signed into law by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, after first advancing through the 2025 legislative session, gave municipalities in qualifying counties the opportunity to be involved in this process. The resolution approved Monday by Council specifies that Milton’s Mayor must be consulted and give preliminary agreement to any deals within the city limits offered through the Fulton County Development Authority.

“We’re keeping the decisions here local,” said Mayor Jamison. “That’s important, and why we were founded.”