Vice Chair Richard Raines ran the work session, calling the meeting to order and moving briskly through the first item (minutes for approval). Commissioners asked questions on most of the other items. -gretchen

In the Library item Commissioners discovered even they didn’t get the whole board packet. After the meeting, Gretchen filed an open records request for the agenda packet, but if the county runs true to form she won’t get it until after they vote in the Regular Session tomorrow evening at 5:30 PM. Insurance plan and health plan took more than 20 minutes, with many questions from Commissioners.

Here’s the agenda.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2^nd Floor

1. Call to Order
2. Invocation

   Only in the Regular Session, Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

   Only in the Regular Session, Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

4. Minutes for Approval
   1. Work Session — October 7, 2013
   2. Regular Session — October 8, 2013
5. Special Presentation – Award Presentation for Public Works
6. For Consideration
   1. Section 125 Plan Document Renewal for 2014

      Section 125 is cafeteria or flexible benefit insurance. Human Resources Director, Kevin Beals said this plan would remove county employees’ premiums. Several Commissioners asked questions, which he answered.

   2. Health Benefit Vendor and Premium Change for 2014

      Human Resources Director Kevin Beals said Group Resources had administrated since 14 December 2004, but they were now putting that “out on the market”. Bids came in from Aetna, Coventry BCBSGA, and United Health Care. Compared to the incumbent for costs and disruptions, BCBSGA seemed to be the winner. “Miss Laurie from McCart” (the county’s insurance broker) came up to further explain. Several Commissioners grilled her. She had call somebody else up for reinforcement. This went on for almost 18 minutes.

      Then there’s Part 2 (still processing in YouTube as I write).

   3. Abandonment of Green Lane

      The only family living on Green Lane appears to be Alphonso Simmons Jr.

   4. South Georgia Regional Library – FY ’13 Georgia Public Library Service Major Repair and Renovation Grant Program Application

      In which we discover even the Commissioners didn’t get the whole board packet.

   5. Beer & Wine License — Cannon & Lewis Enterprises Inc. — 1177 Lakes Blvd.
7. Reports-County Manager

   According to County Manager Joe Pritchard, Lowndes County has received an annexation request from the City of Valdosta on behalf of the Valdosta Lowndes County Industrial Authority. The location is off the New Statenville Highway and the county has 30 days to register any objection based up on land use only. Is VLCIA planning on making yet another industrial park?

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

   Only in the Regular Session, Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

• Adjourn

  They could put this on the written agenda.

Immediately after the work session, a group photo has been scheduled with Second Harvest Director, Frank Richards, on the front steps of the building. Mr. Richards will be bringing the CDBG “big check” he was presented in Savannah as a result of the county’s support of the Second Harvest expansion.

That photo-op that was supposed to happen after the previous Work Session did finally happen. Richard Raines had to leave before the pictures were taken. Could that be because it was a grant?

Here’s a video playlist:

Videos: Health, insurance, library, and alcohol
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 21 October 2013.

-jsq

Short Link: