Local veterinarian Amanda Hall for the Dangerous Dog Board, a very long weather report, another Hahira annexation request, a bid for an emergency bypass pump (water well? wastewater force main? other?), two Juvenile Justice grant application items, for Continuation and for Enhancement (more about that). Oh, and all four remaining voting Commissioners showed up, unlike either the Work Session or Regular Session two weeks ago.

Here’s the agenda.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street — 2nd Floor

1. Call to Order

   Video.

2. Invocation

   Only in the Regular Session Tuesday evening.

3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

   Only in the Regular Session Tuesday evening.

4. Minutes for Approval
   1. Work Session — April 7, 2014
   2. Regular Session — April 8, 2014
5. Appointments
   1. Dangerous Dog Board

      All I can find is some related Georgia laws.

6. For Consideration
   1. 2014 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Program Application for Continuation Funding

      Video. Emergency Management Director Ashley Tye spoke once again about this long-gestating program.

   2. 2014 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Program Application for Enhancement Funding
   3. Computer Lease Purchase

      Video. ITS Director Aaron Kostyu reminded everyone Microsoft is ending support for XP. The county’s hardware (55 of them, at least) is so old nothing else will run on it, so they have to buy new hardware to run a newer operating system. Plus they’re upgrading their CAD computers. Max cost would be $99,762.04, but they’re getting a lease payment deal that is more like 80% of that, plus after three years they can roll over to still newer hardware if they choose.

      There were some questions from Commissioner Demarcus Marshall, mostly about how new would be the equipment purchased. Answer: typically the county buys the newest and best so they can stretch out ownership longer. But this time they’ve lowered the specs to fit 25 extra machines in the purchase. And yes there will be training for the new OS.

      Commissiner Raines wanted to be assured they’re spread out among numerous departments. Yes, oldest first.

7. Bid
   1. Bid for Emergency By-Pass Pump

      Video. Utilities Director Mike Allen said they’d gotten only one bid for an 8-inch bypass pump, for $37,728. Staff requested Commission approve the purchase.

      Commissioner Crawford Powell wondered whether it should be a capital expense or from SPLOST. Couldn’t hear the answer.

      Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know the location. Answer: it’s a mobile pump that goes on a trailer.

8. Reports-County Manager

   Video.

   1. Annexation and Rezoning Application received by the City of Hahira

      Applicants are Fred Wetherington and Laurence Nelson, for five parcels totaling 66.1 acres between Hagen Bridge Road and Highway 122, so they can get city of Hahira water and sewer services. County Planner Jason Davenport was concerned that if this development were brought to the county instead the county would insist on paving Hagen Bridge Road first, so that could be a point of opposition to the annexation request. County Manager Joe Pritchard said to note that this property is next to the previous Hahira annexation. Commissioners wanted to know who was initiating the annexation. Answer: apparently Laurence Nelson.

   2. Weather

      Some reports on status of roads, bridges, and such after the recent rains. Emergency Management Director Ashley Tye said the Little River and the Withlacoochee River were still high, and the Withlacoochee River was expected to stay high due to water still coming down from Adel. But none of the levels were as high as last year about this time, so there’s no likelihood of housing flooding. Tye mentioned the Army Corps of Engineers flooding study, saying that thus far damming one area would likely contribute to flooding in another area. He also mentioned making sure before someone builds a house where the currently-known flood line might be.

      Chairman Bill Slaughter said he’d been in meetings with the Corps, esp. their Silver Jackets, and much of the issue was water from upstream beyond Lowndes County, which would require funding to study. He said it would require addressing as a region.

      County Engineer Mike Fletcher said the Shiloh Road bridge over Franks Creek was closed, but the Morven Road bridge was open, and they were watching several others.

      Public Works Director Robin Cumbus said they survived, and while all roads were open, it would take about three weeks to completely recover.

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

   Only in the Regular Session Tuesday evening.

Here’s a video playlist:

Videos: Dangerous Dog Board, Juvenile Justice, a pump, Hahira Annexation, and weather
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 21 April 2014.

-jsq

Short Link: