The Sabal Trail fracked methane pipeline and others already in the county came up in the Comprehensive Plan approval discussion, as you can see in these LAKE Videos from Monday morning; they vote tonight 5:30 PM.

Stephen Spradley and Georgia Forestry were still helping after Hurricane Matthew, but Ashley Tye reported on evacuees, Chad McLeod reported on engineering projects including the Naylor Boat Ramp at the Alapaha River, and Angela Crance reported on an art district; actually Buddy Boswell did that.

They also heard about a self storage rezoning, three road abandonments, a road widening, the annual MIDS bus service renewal, and a county resolution about bonds for another private LLC by the South Regional Joint Development Authority (SRJDA), different from the one with the public hearing October 21st at a private law firm. What does the resolution say? It’s not in the documents with the agenda.

Below are links to each LAKE video with a few notes, followed by a video playlist.

• 1. Call to Order 4.Minutes for Approval

  Video.

• 5a. REZ-2016-18 Mineola Self Storage,

  Video.

• 5 b. 2016 Greater Lowndes Comprehensive Plan

  Video. There will be a public hearing. I didn’t catch when.

  Commissioner Clay Griner wanted to know what the language about natural gas pipelines was trying to do. County Planner Jason Davenport pointed out there were already pipelines in the county other than Sabal Trail, and there was need to make it safer around them, including what can be built around them.

  Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker wanted to know what the setback distance would be. Davenport said it depended on the pipeline pressure.

• 5 c. Abandonment of Unopened Right of Way off Pikes Pond Road

  Video.

• 6a. Abandonment of Excess Right of Way Off of Payton Place

  Video.

• 6b. Quit Claim Deed for Abandoned Right of Way on Walker Ave

  Video. County Engineer told a Commissioner he could get them a map, which would seem to indicate even the Commissioners didn’t get one in their board packets.

• 6 c. Section 5311 Rural Transportation Program Operating Contracts

  Video.

• 6d. Approve the Issuance of Refunding Revenue Bonds by the SRJDA

  Video.

• 7 a. Loch Laurel Road Widening

  Video. Will widen to 12-foot wide travel lane. There will be resurfacing later.

• 8a. Art District Presentation- Angela Crance (Buddy Boswell)

  Video. Buddy Boswell actually did the presentation, saying he’s a citizen member of the Valdosta Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC), as is Angela Crance (she’s the Treasurer), whom Boswell said owns Art and Soul downtown. PAAC is about a creative economy encompassing visual, performing, and literary arts, as well as architecture, advertising, marketing, and software development. He thinks of all this as linking culture with the economy. He said the proposed central art district would intersect with the existing mainstreet and downtown development districts, which would help getting grants. Plus it might move northward to reach VSU, including Brookwood. Eventually there would need to be a separate entity to manage marketing, etc., and it would probably be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, as is the custom for such things. PAAC wants partnerships with government and business and community involvement. He presented many ideas, inluding art at bridges and parking places, student involvement, street festivals expanding on the brown bag lunch, etc. Hm, if they added music and arts, maybe that would help resurrect Valdosta Farm Days.

• 8. Reports – Ashley Tye gives report on Hurricane Matthew Evacuees

  Video. All local hotels were full, so county had to open shelters, starting with a nursing home at south Lowndes rec. center. They activated EOC (presumably Emergency Operations Center) and had ten shelters at peak, including the Georgia Sheriff’s Boys Ranch, providing food and shelter in conjunction with agencies and local businesses. “The community did a great job,” said Ashley Tye. He was impressed with how cooperative people providing resources were; they mostly called his office and he opened new shelters as needed. He spoke for six minutes, followed by questions from the Commissioners. In his answers he mentioned Dr. Grow and the Health Department supplied the most cots. They did not use the civic center on US 84 this time because it’s being remodeled right now. Mathis Auditorium was rented during that time, so they didn’t use that this time, either. They could have pre-empted, but it never became necessary. They did send people to Tifton, Douglas, and Thomasville, especially people seeking pet-friendly facilities.

• 8. Reports – Chad McLeod gives engineering Project Update

  Video. County Manager Joe Pritchard asked Chad McLeod to report on SPLOST projects. The Freedom Park Basketball court is completed, except for painting delayed by hurricane.

  Lowndes County civic center renovations are complete.

  They’ve bid the Naylor Boat Ramp twice, and both times bids were well over the county’s budget. Staff is working with DNR and others to see if county’s construction staff can do some of the work so they can hire in contractors to do the rest, staying under budget.

  Naylor community center is architected except for health department sizing the septic tank; then they will go out for bids by December.

  Library selected Celine Gladwin for design; she’s 50% complete. Alan Sanderson is leading that project.

  Soccer complex had meeting in August; 70% complete with plans. Wetlands on project. Environmental engineer is delineating; takes 9 months to get permit. Expect to break ground in July 2017.

  Children’s Advocacy Center on CDBG grant will bid November 15th; has already been advertised in newspaper.

  Fire station improvements: completed renovations south side; 80% completed north side; architect completing plans for classroom buildout at warehouse.

  He said that was all the current active projects.

• 10. Meeting Adjournment

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Art, hurricane, engineering reports, VSU bonds, 3 road abandonments, 1 widening, MIDS bus, Comprehensive Plan
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, October 10, 2016.

-jsq

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