MOULTRIE — The Moultrie City Council held a public hearing regarding a revolving loan fund application but chose not to act on the request at its Tuesday meeting.

City of Moultrie Human Resources Director Dale Williams came before the council to discuss the application and the revolving loan fund itself. Autrey Furniture Manufacturing, Inc., located at 795 Highway 33 S., requested up to $91,500 to expand its current facilities.

As part of the application process, Williams said the city must hold a public hearing to discuss the funding available. The revolving loan fund currently has 10 outstanding loans for a total of about $741,710 and has about $175,904 available, leaving a total liability of about $917,984. The outstanding loans have helped to create 261 jobs in Moultrie with 87 percent of those going to low- or moderate-income applicants, city officials said.

This is the second request from Autrey Furniture for a loan, and Williams said the company has had some problems paying the previous loan. The previous loan, for $120,000 approved in April 2007, has been about $18,000 in arrears for about a year, but the company has been able to secure other funds to help keep it afloat.

After some discussion, the council voted to table the request from Autrey Furniture to discuss its options in committee.

Other issues brought before the council included:

• Holding a first and second reading to set the 2008 millage rate at 10.902 mills;

• Awarding a bid for on-going beautification improvements to Westview Cemetery;

• Approving the architect's recommendations for interior color selections for the tile, carpet, hallways, cabinets and doors at the new Department of Labor building, and

• Approving a measure to sign a change order to allow for soil removal at the Department of Labor site.