Regional group eyes McFarland area mobility ► PAGE 8
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City Fire-Rescue toots its horn in ’23 report By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Mayor Peyton Jamison and Milton Fire Chief Gabe Benmoussa hold the city’s international accreditation July 8 from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Milton Fire-Rescue reported a one-minute decrease in response times and updated the community on its programs.
MILTON, Ga. — Better response times, better coverage and international recognition, the Milton FireRescue Department touted recent accomplishments in its an annual report to the City Council July 8. Firefighters work out of four spots in Milton, with construction expected to start later this year on Fire Station 45 at the Providence Road and Birmingham Highway (Ga. 372) roundabout. The 2023 report logs the 69-member department’s completion of 100 percent of its inspections with four fire investigations and dozens of community outreach events. The department calculates its
protection covers more than $82 billion in property values in North Fulton County. Last fiscal year, staff estimated their efforts saved $2 million in property. In February 2024, the Center for Public Safety Excellence recognized Milton Fire-Rescue as an internationally accredited agency for its risk assessments and strategic plan. There are only 324 accredited agencies worldwide. Milton and Atlanta are the only Fulton County cities with an accreditation. Mayor Peyton Jamison and City Manager Steve Krokoff joined department leadership in Orlando to accept the accreditation with the second
See REPORT, Page 4
Milton officials talk 2025 budget, reveal community survey results City appoints Diana Wheeler as interim development chief By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@apenmedia.com MILTON, Ga. — Milton officials jumped into the 2025 budget process July 8 while touting positive community feedback on city services. Communications Director Greg Botelho presented the results of the 2024 National Community Survey,
a scientific study allowing local governments to compare the public opinion of its residents with other jurisdictions. The survey aims to show how residents’ views have changed over time, what residents think about new community initiatives and how the city ranks nationally. There are increases to Milton’s rankings across the board relative to the 2022 results, indicating improved staff performance. The survey shows an increase in
positive responses to questions about Milton’s quality of life, image and reputation and cleanliness. “We’ve gone up in pretty much all those measures, which is really hard to do when you’re already in the 90th percentile,” Botelho said. Milton scores higher than most cities when it comes to residents’ positive impressions of their local government, public safety departments and ability to raise children with good
See BUDGET, Page 4
HAYDEN SUMLIN/APPEN MEDIA
Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill discusses the five-year revenue forecast and previews August hearings for the 2025 property tax rate.
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