By far the most time, almost eight minutes, on 6b. Abandonment of Portions of Old Lake Park Road and Hickory Grove Road SE, the Lowndes County Commissioners spent two weeks ago, involving reference to minutes they approved in that meeting but that still aren’t on the county’s website two weeks later, and resulting in a split vote.

More interesting: the county is finally starting construction on the Naylor Boat Ramp.

By their customary silent “acclamation” they appointed people to the Lowndes County Public Facilities Authority.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s WOrk Session and the agenda.

• 1. Call to Order 2. Invocation 3. Pledge

  Video.

• 4. Minutes for Approval

  Video. Since they approved them two weeks ago, shouldn’t those September minutes be on the county’s website?

• 5a. Lowndes County Public Facilities Authority Appointment

  Video. They reappointed former Commissioner Crawford Powell for another three years and appointed Scott Purvis to replace Steve Gupton expiring 2020 and Michael Walker replacing Antonio Henderson expiring 2019. See previous post for background on this bond-issuing board, and the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session for the Chairman first bringing up Walker’s name then. The taxpaying and bond-paying-off public did not get to see the applications from any of these appointees.

• 6a. REZ-2017-10 Laurel Run C-G/R-A/R-21 to R-10/R-21/R-A

  Video. Nobody spoke for or against. Commissioners unanimously approved it. See the LAKE videos of last month’s Planning Commission meeting for background on this case.

• 6b. Abandonment of Portions of Old Lake Park Road and Hickory Grove Road SE

  Video. County Engineer Mike Fletcher said two people who lived on the paved road had called in favor, one against, and another “sent email”; he didn’t say for or against. There was discussion about somebody who has a driveway on an easement that is not on the part of the road to be closed.

  Howard Lane of Long Pond Road, Lake Park, spoke against, saying he’d lived there all his life, is 71 years old, and he sees people using that road most any time he goes down it. He said people throwing out garbage on the road is a law problem, not a reason to close the road, since that would be reason to close US 41. He summarized that closing the road would be taking from the many to give to the few.

  Nobody spoke for.

  Commissioner Clay Griner asked for the traffic count. The County Engineer said he didn’t bring that, but he recited what he said he remembered, which numbers were not zero. The County Manager said those numbers were in the minutes from the last meeting, bottom of page two. That would be the minutes they had just voted on earlier in this meeting, for the Work Session of 25 Sept. 2017 and the Regular Session of 26 Sept. 2017, but that are not yet on the county’s website two weeks after that 10 Oct 2017 meeting, and almost a month after those September meetings. Fortunately, you can view those September meetings in LAKE videos for the Work Session and the Regular Session.

  The traffic counts were not zero (41 Lake Park Road and 17 Hickory Grove Road). Nonetheless Commissioner Clay Griner moved to approve, Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker seconded, and Commissioner Scottie Orenstein also voted aye. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall voted against. The motion carried 3 to 1.

• 7 a. Abandonment of a Portion of Morning Bird Drive

  Video.

• 7 b. Adopt Resolution accepting infrastructure for Laura Avenue

  Video. You thought they might not approve this?

• 7 c. Trust Deed for New Statenville Highway Dollar General – withdrawn

  Video. As discussed in the previous morning’s Work Session, due to recent change in state law no trust deed is required for commercial establishments, unlike for subdivisions.

• 7 d. Backup Appliance for South Lowndes Data Center

  Video. Assistant Systems/Database Administrator Clay VanArsdale presented, and they rapidly approved unanimously.

• 7 e. Surplus Computers, Cellular phones, Vehicles and other items

  Video. Finance Director Stephanie Black presented, and they rapidly approved unanimously.

• 7 f. Employee Health Benefit Administrator Change for 2018

  Video. See LAKE video of previous morning’s Work Session for what this is about. They approved unanimously.

• 8. Reports – County Manager – Naylor Boat Ramp update

  Video. County Manager Joe Pritchard said he had met with Chad McCleod and “I believe it is anticipated” that in two weeks clearing would start, that would take about a week, and they’d also be staking. County Engineer Mike Fletcher said they’d have the boat ramp ready “as soon as the river gets to that optimal level”.

• 9. CWTBH (none) , Chairman recognitions, 10. Meeting Adjournment

  Video. No citizens to be heard.
  Chairman recognizes Leadership Lowndes Attendees.
  Meeting Adjournment.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Naylor Boat Ramp and Appointments to Public Facilities Authority
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, October 10, 2017.

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