Bids for an emergency repair! This could be a first, instead of their usual sole source approve-it-right now method. See the County Manager’s Report, in which County Engineer Mike Fletcher describes bids incoming from both Scruggs and Reames for temporary repair to Rocky Ford Road.

Below are links to each LAKE video of yesterday morning’s Work Session with a few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda with notes about appointments and millage. And see also the 5 PM today Millage Rate Meeting.

• 1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for Approval

  Video.

• 5a. Lowndes County Library Board Appointment – LCC Work – 2017-08-21

  Video. Gene Toffalo was previously submitted for the Library Board, and has been resubmitted, said County Manager Joe Pritchard, still providing no clues to who he is or why he is appropriate. (He may very well be the best possible candidate for all I know; the point is the county is providing the public no clues.)

• 5b. Development Authority of Lowndes County Appointments

  Video. “The other appointments will be forthcoming,” said County Manager Joe Pritchard.

• 6 a. Adoption of Millage

  Video. Finance Director Stephanie Black did say the millage rate would be unchanged. See also the millage rate meeting at 5PM today.

• 6b.Beer & Wine License Pilot Travel Center #4561 – 3640 Madison Hwy

  Video.

• 6 c. Request to Purchase Thermal Imaging Cameras

  Video. Emergency Management Director said the fire department got thermal imaging cameras with a grant, to see through the smoke, for search and rescue, and to identify “the seat of the fire” and hot spots so they can be put out quickly. They can trade in the current cameras to more current models, with color screen and more clarity, for $49.50 each. There are only two vendors in the state for these cameras, and their prices are the same.

  No doubt the Sheriff’s Department could also find uses for thermal imaging cameras; we’ll see if they apply to buy some, as well.

• 6d. Purchase 3- 105 lb. Industrial Grade Washer Extractor’s for Jail

  Video. Jail staff can’t keep up with clothes washing and drying with their current equipment, so they’re asking for some additions.

• 7a.Bids and Contract for the construction of an Addition to the 911 Center

  Video.

• 8. Reports – County Manager – emergency road repair

  Video. County Manager Joe Pritchard asked County Engineer Mike Fletcher to give a report on “a situation”.

  “Due to some recent timber harvesting activities for the past year or 18 months on Rocky Ford Road, the Rocky Ford Road has experienced some significant rutting. We have ruts that are over an inch deep in places on the road, which is causing water to stand on the road.

  In the past two weeks, we’ve had three calls from state patrol or deputies regarding people hydroplaning off the road because of the amount of water that has been standing on the road during some of the rain event.

  So we have acted on it. We have got Reames and Scruggs both giving us an emergency price to leveling on 4.3 miles of the road, which will go from Knight’s Ferry back to Highway 84.

  That will get us taken care of temporarily until next year, when our LMIG money comes in, and we can resurface the entire road. But the leveling will take care of the rutting, will take care of the hydroplaning, and this will get us back where the road is safed up again.

  We will have sealed bids at 4 o’clock this afternoon.”

  There was a question about how. Digging up and patching, plus 1-inch of leveling and 2-inches in the ruts.

• 10. Meeting Adjournment

  Video. They agreed to add the emergency Rocky Ford Road repair to tonight’s agenda, but it’s still not there now at noon before the 5:30 PM Regular Session.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Bids for emergency road repair! Appointments: Library Board, Development Authority, millage
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, August 21, 2017.

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Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!

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