Not big enough, I guess:

I don’t have any interest at all in this board enforcing covenants like that.

Commissioner Richard Raines said that at yesterday morning’s Work Session about a covenant the neighbors want a rezoning applicant to sign, yet it was Commissioner Raines who made the motion last fall to let an Exclusive Franchise with Advanced Disposal Services; a covenant the county is now trying to enforce by suing local business Deep South Sanitation. They said nothing about that 100 foot wide pipeline barrelling through the county. They vote tonight, 5:30 PM.

County sound still wasn’t working, going on a month now, back in the videoing pen in the back of the room, so what you hear is what we hear back there, as recorded by the LAKE camera.

Here’s the agenda with links to the videos and a few notes.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2^nd Floor

1. Call to Order
2. Invocation

   That’s only in the Regular Session.

3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

   That’s only in the Regular Session.

4. Minutes for Approval

   Once again, Chairman Bill Slaughter directed Commissioners to get any changes to the County Clerk.

   1. Work Session — June 24, 2013
   2. Regular Session — June 25, 2013
5. Public Hearing — REZ-2013-07 Leatherwood, 2402 or 2406 James Rd. R-1 and R-21 to R-10, LC Water and Sewer, ~0.71 acres

   Applicant wants to put existing house on county water and sewer on James Road, and subdivide to build another house on a piece. Some of the neighbors object. County Planner Jason Davenport said the subdivided lot size would be similar to existing lot sizes. A group of neighbors says they won’t object if the applicant signs an agreement they have drafted that apparently says he would abide by the same restrictions they have on their properties. The neighbors ask the county to put a condition in the rezoning about that covenant. County Planner has a concern about the county being in a position of enforcing such a covenant. He asked the Commission for direction.

   Commissioner Joyce Evans asked if this was across the street from where there was a previous issue with rezoning for a Habitat house. Planner said yes. Commissioner said the issue was setback. Planner said this one was different. Planner said this house would be larger. Planner agreed and said that was one of the neighbors’ concerns; also they wanted to make sure whatever he builds is compatible or better than what they have.

   Commissioner Richard Raines asked if the structure the applicant currently proposed addressed those concerns, which were presented by the neighbors at the relevant Planning Commission meeting. Planner said there may need to be some modifications to the roof, which he has agreed to.

   Commissioner Evans asked if that would meet all the neighbors’ concerns. Planner said yes ma’am, but he hadn’t seen the agreement signed by applicant’s attorney.

   Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know the extent of the covenant: just that block, or what?

   Chairman Bill Slaughter said he thought it was just the houses behind. Planner said these covenants were in place for Jeff Place, Jason Circle, and Holland Circle, and other lots across Lynnhaven Road had different covenants.

   Commissioner Raines opined:

   I think if we got into the business of enforcing covenants, I don’t think we could hire enough personnel to make sure everyone’s grass was cut…. I don’t have any interest at all in this board enforcing covenants like that.

   Apparently Commissioner Raines does have an interest in enforcing covenants like the Exclusive Franchise that he moved and the Commissioners approved with Advanced Disposal Services, owned by investors in New York City. which they are now enforcing by suing a local business. I wonder how much the county is paying for that?

6. For Consideration

   County Manager Joe Pritchard said at their last meeting ( 25 June 2013) Commissioners had approved the idea so that staff could come back with a purchase order, statement of work, and contract, which they now have. He quoted the prices as:

   • 6.a. $77,909.72
   • 6.b. $146,117.30

   Commissioners had no questions.

   1. Video Arraignment for Magistrate and Juvenile Court Contract
   2. Enterprise and Backup Storage Solution Scope of Work
7. Reports-County Manager

   There were no reports.

8. Citizens Wishing to be Heard Please State Name And Address

   That’s only in the Regular Session, which is 5:30 PM tonight, Tuesday 8 July 2013.

Here’s a video playlist:

Videos: Water, Sewer, Video Arraignment, and Backups @ LCC 2013-07-08
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 8 July 2013.

-jsq

Short Link: