Midway water and sewer customers will have 10 days to pay their bills following action by the city council that streamlines procedures in the utility department.

The language of the utility ordinance was updated and a provision was made to notify customers that they will not receive late notices or statements other than their regular monthly bills.

Midway Mayor Dr. Clemontine Washington said the changes would allow customers to pay their current bills before the next billing cycle begins. The utility ordinance revisions had been discussed at the May council meeting.

In other city council news:

• Midway agreed to a request by the Fort Stewart Growth Management Partnership to help pay for a study by the Carl Vinson Institute of the effects of the census undercount believed to be caused by the method of counting the military.

Officials say 16,000 Fort Stewart soldiers were not counted correctly because they were deployed at the time of the census.
Important factors such as representation and revenues are affected by the census count, Washington said.

• Midway decided to join a summer youth program launched by Riceboro. High-school students will be employed to work for the cities during the summer.

• A license to serve beer was granted to the Salty Crab restaurant despite objections from the Midway Presbyterian Church. Elder Willie Washington told the council that the church welcomed the restaurant but opposed the serving of any alcoholic beverages.

Councilman Levern Clancy, a member of the church, excused himself from voting. The license was approved by a 2-1 vote. Councilmembers Melice Hamilton and Terry Doyle were in favor; Mayor Pro Tempore Curtes Roberts opposed.
The Salty Crab is in the former Ida Mae and Joe’s Truckstop building on U.S. Highway 17.

• The council welcomed two new Midway policemen at the Monday meeting. Police Chief Kelli Morningstar introduced Officer Russell Knox and Officer Matthew Ainsworth to the council. Knox formerly was with the Savannah-Chatham force and Ainsworth is fresh out of the academy.