The Midway City Council learned Monday that the county commissioners are giving final review to the plans for the east end community center this month, and a contract for the new Midway-Riceboro branch library should be finished this summer.

Relocating the library to the county complex on Highway 84 in Midway, which was built as a high school in the 1950s, is part of a plan to expand county services and facilities in the eastern part of Liberty County.

Keep Liberty Beautiful has moved to the site, and plans call for various recreation facilities and satellite government offices for activities like voter registration, buying tags and paying taxes.

Library Coordinator Betsy Stow and Barbara Stimmel, who represents Midway on the county library board, discussed the library project and displayed an architect’s conceptual drawing of the new branch.

Stow said the new library design features many windows and should be a cheerful, inviting place for both patrons and staff. Three main areas are planned for computers, book shelving and reading, and a multipurpose section could hold classes, programs and meetings.

Free, public access to computers now is a major draw for libraries, and the new Midway-Riceboro branch will make more computers available.

The council gave final approval to the streamlining of the utility ordinance, which passed last month. Under the new plan, which takes effect Oct. 1, water or sewer customers who are at least 10 days late with their bills will be subject to having their service cut off. No reminders, warnings, cutoff notices or other statements will be sent. The monthly bill will be the only notice customers receive.

By a 3-1 vote, the council named the Rev. James Shipman, a former Midway mayor, to the advisory committee of the Hinesville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Councilman Terry Doyle voted no.

Licenses were granted to three new businesses in Midway, all located on Butler Avenue: Body Sculpt Fitness Boot Camp, S & S Printing Co. and Special Creations, a sewing and alteration shop.

Another business, Affordable Furniture Mattress Outlet, wants to locate to Midway and has begun the application process, but no spokesperson attended Monday’s council meeting.

Midway has an unwritten policy that applicants for business licenses should make a personal appearance at a council meeting. The mattress outlet license unanimously was voted down.