After being sworn in by Milton City Clerk Dewitt Nobles, the Milton Youth Council was given a preview of what to expect at their upcoming monthly meetings this week. While no official action was taken on Tuesday night, council members were tasked to elect positions of chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer at the February meeting. The council was also tasked to find additional opportunities for youth activities at the Guy Thompson Community Center.
The community center already provides youth sports programs with football, basketball, baseball, cheerleading and volleyball. However, according to Parks and Recreation Department Director John Norton, there is a void following the end of the school day until the beginning time of those youth sports programs.
“We are looking for things those people can do. Plus, we are looking for activities that can draw in people like you ,” Norton told the youth council.
City Planning Director Randy Jorgenson asked council members, who are not familiar with Milton’s community center, to visit and see what the facility currently has to offer while seeking input from fellow classmates and adults on what they would like to see available for area youth.
As part of the youth council’s homework, the 17 members were asked to further think about the possibilities including conducting some research into how other municipalities have handled such a situation.
Additional homework also included preparing to nominate the various office titles, which are expected to selected at the February 23 meeting. As part of their agenda packet, youth council members were also provided with information regarding the duties of each position and a outline of how future youth council meetings are expected to be conducted.
For the future, the youth council is also tasked with developing a ‘Storm water Education Program for School Aged Children.’ The initiative falls in line with the city’s process in implementing one of several best management practices in order to obtain a annual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in accordance with the Clean Water Act.
Each council member was given an educational flyers to study. In the agenda packet, the flyers are deemed as ‘cumbersome’ and therefore not suitable for youth. The council is tasked to develop a new flyer or another form of outreach instrument which would be better received by youth.
Regardless of the tasks which lay before the council, Several of the city’s elected officials took the time to thank the students for taking action and being involved with the newly reinstated initiative.
Council Member Ashley Lay told the council she has seen other youth councils throughout the state recognized at past Florida League of City events and hopes to see the Milton council recognized in the near future.
Fellow Council Member Jimmy Messick shared some insight with the students about the role each person will play on the council.
“As time goes on you will get more comfortable with it and you will be able to put your ideas out (there),” Messick said. “I encourage you to, as time goes on, to be vocal with your thoughts.”
While a majority of the students represent Milton schools including Milton High School, Hobbs, King and Avalon Middle Schools, several members represent Pace High School. One of those students is Austin Klimek, who also happens to the be the grandson of Messick.
The 16-year-old took comfort in seeing some familiar faces amongst the youth council.
“I see a lot of these people on the council as very smart people,” he said. “The people I have been introduced to, I have high hopes for.”
The 2016 Milton Youth Council:
Milton High School:
- Kate Powers
- Chloe Dawson
- Seth Barlow
- Tre’mon Glass
Pace High School:
- Haley Kummer
- Caroline Murray
- Iliano Borrero
- Austin Klimek
King Middle School:
- Madison Nave
- Megan Gallagher
- Chelsea Plog
Avalon Middle School:
- Raeden Gagliano
- Raquel Borerro
- Morgan Adams
Hobbs Middle School
- Emma Goldberg
- Joshua Pool
- Megan Kirby
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton Youth Council face tasks upon being sworn in