The county’s
response to the weekend storms (straight-line event, not tornado)
was less confused than its proposed board appointments.
They vote Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM, including on the
budget.
Likely return of Ray Devery to the Library Board as Chairman, and reappointment of Barry Barr. Sheila Wakeley for the South Georgia Community Service Board, but even the Commissioners had no bio for her. John Sineath for Valdosta-Lowndes County Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, even though Valdosta’s web page says he’s a city appointee. None of the applicants spoke.
A grant for help getting a grant, re-evaluation of all rural agricultural tax assessments, the annual mosquito testing contract with VSU, and the landfill public hearing clarification item apparently is about the hearing of the public notice already posted for 17 July 2014.
Here’s the agenda, with some notes, and links to the videos.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street — 2nd Floor
- Call to Order
- Invocation
Only in the Regular Session, Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.
- Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Only in the Regular Session, Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.
- Minutes for Approval
- Appointments
- Lowndes Library Board (2)
Video. County Manager Joe Pritchard said the term of Barry Barr expires 30 June 2014, 4 year term, reappointment. And “to fill a vacancy” the applicant is former Library Board member Raymond Devery of VSU. Pritchard said both applicants would be present at the next evening’s Regular Session.
Commissioner Raines asked whether Devery was seeking appointment as Library Board Chairman. Answer: he is a past Chairman of that board, and the appointment would be to the board; then the board elects its Chairman. So, does this mean Devery is being appointed to resurrect the Five Points library building? See below.
This apparently is not the vacancy left by Kay Harris resigning more than a year ago, since they filled that one 25 June 2013 and Devery’s previous slot with librarian Linda Most and marketing person Jack Hartley.
When Devery was on there before, he made the motion 17 July 2012 to select the Florida architect for the proposed Five Points building. He asked whether Gretchen could stay with the LAKE video camera during the Library Board meeting 8 September 2012. And I think it was him who asked whether 20 November 2012 the Southside Library Boosters had donated anything to the library and whether they had lost their 501(c)(3) status. At VSU Devery back in 1998 was appointed vice president for institutional advancement, which seems to mean chief fundraiser.
- South Georgia Community Service Board
Video. Sheila Wakeley wants to be reappointed, but she wasn’t there, and even the Commissioners had no bio sheet on her.
Commissioner Joyce Evans wanted to know if Sheila would be there tomorrow. County Manager Joe Pritchard found that a difficult question to understand, but on second try said he thought so.
- Valdosta-Lowndes County Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals
Video. Pritchard said John Sineath wanted to be reappointed for a three-year term. Yet Valdosta’s web page on that board says John Sineath is a city appointee. Also what about Tommy Radney, whom the city lists as a county appointee whose term expires in June 2014?
According to John Sineath Construction,
In 2004, John graduated from the University of Georgia. He immediately began his real estate career by developing retail shopping centers and industrial space. He has managed projects in various fields of construction including multi-family, student housing, retail, warehouse/industrial, and residential. John has a solid construction background and has been instrumental in all phases, from loan procurement to owner turnover, of various projects. He is a licensed Realtor and General Contractor in the State of Georgia.
- For Consideration
- FY 2015 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Application
Video. Required every five years. Takes two years to have all the meetings and get approval, so starting again even though just got last grant in 2012. This is for a $28,000 grant for assistance in applying for another grant. 25% match, which is staff time in meetings and such.
- Rural Land & Agricultural Improvement Schedules
Video. Board of Assessors has approved for 2015 reevaluating all rural land and agricultural improvement schedules. Seeking the Commissioners’ approval of the contract with the Board of Assessors and GMASS[?]. This was budgetted for this fiscal year. County Attorney said state law requires Commission approval of any contract between Board of Assessors and a third party.
- Mosquito Contract
Video. Public Works Director Robin Cumbus said this was an annual renewal of a mosquito testing contract with VSU.
- Authorization and Direction to Conduct Public Hearing Regarding Evergreen Landfill
Video. Yes, this is apparently about that public hearing already posted. County Planner Jason Davenport said they wanted confirmation about the direction of the hearing and who should run it. He said he had run two; this would be the third; and he wanted to know who should run this one. Presumably they Commissioners had some sort of proposal in front of them, but he didn’t say what it was or who he was proposing to run it.
- Budget
Video. Chairman Bill Slaughter reminded everyone the second and last Budget Hearing is 5PM Tuesday 24 June 2014, just before the Regular Session.
- Reports-County Manager
Video. County Manager Joe Pritchard asked Fire Chief Guyton and Emergency Director Ashley Tye to talk about weather of the previous day.
Tye said there were two pretty strong storms Saturday and Sunday. There was damage to homes on Statenville Highway. It wasn’t a tornado; rather a straight-line wind event. No injuries were reported.
Guyton said the Fire Dept. got 20 calls. The Dairy Queen roof was damaged, and there was some other roof damage, including a roof blown onto a vehicle in a parking lot, plus trees down, and some power lines down.
- Citizens Wishing to be Heard Please State Name And Address
Only in the Regular Session, Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.
Here’s a video playlist:
Videos: 5 board appointments, budget, and 4 For Approval
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 23 June 2014.
-jsq
Short Link:
Is the $ 28,000 grant to help write the grant awarded after bids? That is a huge amount of money…