The KLVB applicant withdrew, none of the Health Board applicants showed up, and none of the Commission or Staff knew what the usual terms are on the Health Board, much less that this slot was because somebody resigned with a year left on her term. Even with that confusion, they took only nine minutes to discuss appointments to two boards and five other items, including a no-bid contract. Ever wonder when your Lowndes County Commission actually talks about the county’s business? They vote tomorrow evening at 5:30 PM, probably with no more public discussion.

Here’s the agenda.

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

Here are links to the videos, followed by a playlist. There are no videos for Invocation, Pledge, or Citizens Wishing to be Heard because those are only in the Regular Session, Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.

• 1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for Approval

  Video.

• a. Appointments – KLVB

  Video. As I predicted, the plan was to reappoint KLVB Board member term expiring 2014 Nick Hinson, but County Manager Joe Pritchard said this morning they received word Hinson was withdrawing his name. So they’ll try again next meeting, presumably in two weeks.

• b. Appointments – Board of Health

  Video. Barbara Tucker (apparently the EMS Program Coordinator at Wiregrass Tech, Dr. John M. Faircloth (apparently the Nurse Practitioner) Dr. Rebecca Green (presumably the VSU Assistant Professor and former Valdosta City School Nurse). I’m guessing, because the public didn’t get to see the “dossier on each of these” that County Manager Joe Pritchard said he gave the Commissioners. None of the applicants showed up to speak.

  Incumbent Mary Margaret Richardson was not on the list; she was recently (27 May 2014) appointed to the Hospital Board.

  Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know “What is the term limit on this appointment?” Pritchard didn’t know, and apparently it wasn’t in those dossiers. Some staff member spoke up from the audience saying three years. Chairman Bill Slaughter said they’d verify that. Marshall wondered if it was four years. Slaughter said the terms of the various boards varied, but they would check. Maybe somebody should check Pritchard’s work before the Work Session….

  According to the Valdosta City Council Minutes of 11 November 2010,

  Mark Barber, Deputy City Manager of Administration, stated that the Lowndes County Board of Health has a member, Dr. Mary Margaret Richardson, whose term will expire on December 31, 2010.

  2014 minus 2010 is 4, so apparently Marshall is right: it’s four years. And apparently this is one of those rotating city-county seats, if Valdosta made the appointment last time and the county is doing it this time. Or maybe I picked the wrong term that is up. If the county posted these things before the meeting, we’d all know.

  Meanwhile, I called the Health Department and asked. No term has expired. Sheila Warren moved out of state and resigned. her term ends in December 2015, so until then is the amount of time the new appointee will serve. The actual length of a term is six (6) years.

• 6.a. Purchase of Alapaha and Spring Creek Equipment

  Video. Followup on no-bid contract approved 13 August 2013 to Lovell Engineering. Lovell now offers a reduced price of $71,000 for Spring Creek if county purchases it right now along with equipment for Alapaha.

  Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked if any of this equipement went out for bids. Answer: no, staff approved it.

  Marshall expressed concern about a GEFA loan and the total amount going up from the budgetted $1 million to $1.6 million. Chairman Slaughter said “We can get you some more information on that, Mr. Marshall.”

• 6.b. Accept Infrastructure for Bemiss Landing Subdivision

  Video. County Engineer Mike Fletcher said it was located off of Knights Academy Road; work was essentially complete; punch list had been supplied to contractor; nothing would be spent until all items were completed and signed off on by county.

• 6.c. FY2014 EMPG Reward and Recovery Award Application

  Video. Emergency Management Director Ashley Tye said it was to replace an ancient generator and for related purposes.

  Commissioner Richard Raines wanted to know if any of the county’s share could be in-kind. Answer: not much, since the cost of the generator was so much of it, and somebody else would have to install the generator.

• 6.d. Contract for Extension agents and staff

  Video. Finance Director Stephanie Black said it was a contract between the University of Georgia and the county for extension agent and staff salaries, benefits, and travel reimbursements for FY 2015.

• 6.e. Road Right of Way for Riverside Road

  Video. County Engineer Mike Fletcher said it was an agreement for right of way signatures and for water and sewer down McCormick whenever the road gets paved.

• 7. Reports – County Manager (none) – Meeting Adjournment

  Video.

Here’s a video playlist:

Videos: Appt to KLVB & Health, County Extension, Alapaha water treatment, Riverside Road, Bemiss Landing Subdivision
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 21 July 2014.

-jsq

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