Thursday: Milton Fire-Rescue Earns Prestigious Heart Safe Community Award

Top of Mind

Milton Fire-Rescue has been recognized with a prestigious Heart Safe Community Award for its innovative approaches to cardiac emergencies. The department's efforts, including advanced medical protocols and community programs like Fire CARES, have resulted in significantly higher cardiac survivability rates than the national average.

The award, given by the International Association of Fire Chiefs, highlights Milton's commitment to helping patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes and sudden cardiac arrest. With a cardiac survivability rate of 33% in 2024 and 20% in 2025, Milton is outpacing the national norm, and Chief Gabe Benmoussa will officially receive the award later this month.

This recognition is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Fire-Rescue Department, City Council, and the community, and it's likely to further solidify Milton's reputation as a leader in emergency medical services – so expect to see continued investments in tools and training that keep saving lives.

Council Watch

City Council moved forward with defining Milton's project list for a potential third TSPLOST referendum, which could fund transportation-related improvements. The draft project list includes corridor, roundabout, and streetscape improvements, as well as new roadwork in southeast Crabapple. Mayor Peyton Jamison noted that this is just the beginning of the process, and the city will get into the specifics of the projects down the road.

The proposed project list gives the City discretion over specific tasks, with detailed changes included for new roadwork in southeast Crabapple and a new street connecting State Route 9 with Deerfield Parkway. With no suggested revisions from the Council, Milton is on track to meet Fulton County's deadline for project list submission, ahead of a potential November 2026 referendum.

The Drive

Get ready for a summer of detours: the Freemanville Road bridge closure is now set for May 26, and it'll impact traffic patterns until at least the fall. When school starts back up in August, traffic will be detoured from Freemanville to Birmingham Highway, so expect some congestion. The city's Public Works team is preparing residents for the change, and they're also planning to close Landrum Road to prevent cut-through traffic.

In other traffic news, speed limits are dropping on New Providence Road, Bethany Bend, and Thompson Road from 45 to 40 mph. The school zone around Cambridge High and King's Ridge Christian School is also expanding, with a new speed limit of 30 mph. Look for new signs with a 'NEW' add-on to signal the changes. And if you're wondering, the Heritage Walk roundabout will still be a bottleneck – but at least you'll be driving a little slower on some of the surrounding roads.

As you navigate the upcoming road changes, remember that the Freemanville Road bridge closure will likely cause some disruptions, especially during peak commute times. Plan ahead, leave a little early, and be patient – it's going to be a long summer of road work. And who knows, maybe by the time the bridge reopens, we'll have figured out how to tame the Heritage Walk roundabout beast.

On the Farm

The McConnell-Chadwick House, a historic Greek Revival cottage built in 1837, is one step closer to being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City-owned house, located off Arnold Mill Road, was deemed eligible by the State of Georgia's Department of Community Affairs this spring. This milestone paves the way for potential grant funding to restore the property, which could be repurposed as a welcome center, interpretive center, or creative arts space.

Joan Borzilleri, part of the Milton Historical Society's sub-committee that spearheaded the effort, noted that preserving historic places benefits the community by educating citizens about the past and fostering pride in the area. The successful application to the National Register would make the McConnell-Chadwick House the only Milton property on the list, joining other historic sites in neighboring cities like Alpharetta and Roswell.