Maybe more will show up at 5:30PM today for the Regular Session than the Chairman and only two Commissioners at yesterday’s Work Session (Joyce Evans and Mark Wisenbaker).

Chairman Bill Slaughter revealed why he had been missing from the meetings two weeks before: he had been attending an America’s Defense Community event in in San Antonio, Texas about Moody AFB. Follow the link for more about this. He complimented Vice-Chair Joyce Evans for running the meeting better than usual in his absence. She did beat his former record of five minutes by holding a three-minute Work Session.

The returning REZ-2017-02 Calles rezoning now wants to split half conservation and half R-A. Apparently the other rezoning, REZ-2017-03 Val North Dr, Stewart Circle, PD Amendment and Conditions Removal, Water & Sewer, ~9 acres had been heard before and was now being reconsidered because a road had been paved. Remember that when they try to claim roads don’t drive development.

Below are links to each LAKE video of the 13 March 2017 Work Session of the Lowndes County Commission, with a few notes, followed by a video playlist. See also the agenda, and the LAKE videos of the 27 February 2017 Greater Planning Commission meeting.

• 1. Call to Order and Chairman Comments

  Video. Apparently the event Chairman Slaughter attended two weeks ago was Installation Innovation 2017:

  “If you have a connection to a military installation and believe innovation matters, Installation Innovation Forum 2017 is your event.”

  He said he was there with Colonel [Susan M.] Riodan-Smith. She is “the commander of the 23d Mission Support Group at Moody AFB”.

  He said he was also there with Michael Lee of the South Georgia Military Affairs Council. According to the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce,

  The South Georgia Military Affairs Council is comprised of four area chambers of commerce, including Adel-Cook, Lakeland-Lanier, Nashville-Berrien, and Valdosta-Lowndes. The primary focus of the group is the protection of and community support for Moody AFB.

  The Chairman said he was there to discuss the county’s Wastewater P4 agreement with Moody AFB. Hm, apparently it took Moody to convince the county to un-privatize something instead of privatizing it like they did with solid waste disposal. Airman 1st Class Janiqua P. Robinson, 23d Wing Public Affairs, 5 October 2016, Moody finalizes DOD initiative,

  VALDOSTA, Ga. — Moody Air Force Base celebrated during a historical ceremony for the transfer of the Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant from a private contractor to Lowndes County, Oct. 3, in Valdosta, Ga.

  It’s taken three and a half years for this project to come to fruition, but Moody is leading from the front by becoming the first base in the Department of Defense to gain approval for an inter-governmental service agreement with a municipality for a utility.

  The DOD selected Moody as one of 13 prototype Air Force installations to take part in the public-public, public-private, or P4 initiative. The P4 initiative is used as a tool for maximizing operational effectiveness and minimizing costs.

  “[The P4 initiative allows] different agencies in the community to work with the DOD to see what we have in common so that we can work together and create win-win situations with the base and community,” said Bill Slaughter, the Lowndes County Commission chairman. “It’s going to help Lowndes County by providing another source of water for citizens in the North Lowndes County communities but all around, it saves money for everyone.”

  Through the P4 initiative, which encourages Air Force installations to partner with local governments, Moody and Lowndes County created the Moody Community Partnership Committee or MCPC. The MCPC creates mutually beneficial partnerships to help Moody and Lowndes County save money.

  Due to MCPC’s planning, Lowndes County will operate Moody’s treatment plant in a way that will benefit both sides.

  “[The project] provides a redundant system to the Air Force,” said John Eunice, 23d Civil Engineer Squadron deputy base civil engineer. “Should something happen to the Air Force water system we now have the capability to tap into the county water system and vice versa.”

  

  The Chairman recommended continual working with Moody AFB, especially with their personnel.

• 5a. REZ-2017-02 Calles, Alexandria St, R-10 and CON to R-A and CON

  Video.

• 5b. REZ-2017-03 Val North Dr, Stewart Circle, PD Amendment

  Video.

• 6a. FY 2017 CDBG Grant, Valdosta- Lowndes County Habitat for Humanity

  Video. The “Conflict of interest certification, resolution, and authorization” actually means no conflict of interest, according to the agenda sheet, which also notes “Lowndes County is currently on course to apply for $750,000.00 in CDBG funds from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for a new public facility for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Habitat for Humanity.” Well, they’re not on course until they stop feuding with the local cities about tax revenue allocation, because they can’t apply for any state or federal grants until that is resolved.

  Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker asked what is the annual funding source. Answer: $750,000 from the Department of Community Affairs, then other costs passed along to Habitat. Wisenbaker noted annual means every year. Answer: state will reimburse.

• 6b. Beer & Wine License – 6685 Bemiss Rd., Valdosta, GA

  Video. Due to change of ownership.

• 6 c. Sheriff’s Office Vehicle Lease Agreement

  Video. Commissioner Wisenbaker wanted to know whether this had happened before. Answer: yes, when Sheriff Paulk went into office the first time.

• 6d. Peterson Road Isolation Valves

  Video. Utilities Director Steve Stalvey “Mr. Brogdon” said that after work started, they discovered the contractor will have to move upstream to another set of valves, install a bypass valve, then move back downstream to replace the subject valves. So it’s a change order for $14,050.

• 6 e. Stone Creek Antenna Space License Agreement

  Video. Utilities Director Steve Stalvey “Mr. Brogdon” said they were approached by the Stone Creek Properties Owner Association, who requested use of the Stone Creek water tower for two antennas. They agreed to pay a startup fee of $1,000 and an annual fee of $1,920.

• 7. Reports – County Manager (none) – 9. Meeting Adjournment

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Calles again, Val North PD Water Sewer, Habitat CDBG, Sewage Valves, Stone Creek Antenna, Sheriff, Alcohol
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, March 13, 2017.

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