The added agenda item 6e. Emergency Repairs to Rocky Ford Road got a couple of bids (unusual procedure; different from their usual no-bid emergencies) passed. The Chamber sent Gary Wisenbaker to speak in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard to ask for (after a very long preamble by John Page) apparently money from GDOT for a long list (in a letter the taxpayers did not get to see) of transportation projects to help “the business community”, apparently including the truck bypass.

They only appointed six of the seven members of the Development Authority of Lowndes County, although a Commissioner did ask about that. It’s also curious they said all the terms expired right then, since the Wayback machine has a snapshot of 4 April 2017, which shows three expiring in June 2017 and four already expired in December 2016. Apparently they just didn’t bother to appoint anybody to the four slots that expired in December 2016 until eight months later, and then they didn’t appoint anybody to one of the 2017 slots.

Below are links to each LAKE video of the 22 August 2018 Lowndes County Commission Regular Session 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 with notes about appointments and millage. And see also the 5 PM today Millage Rate Meeting.

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

  Video.

• 4. Minutes for Approval (with recognition of elected officials)

  Video. Tax Commissioner Rodney Cain and Valdosta City Councilwoman Sandra Tooley were in attendance.

• 5a. Lowndes County Library Board

  Video.

• 5b. Development Authority of Lowndes County

  Video. Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker asked if they were going to appoint anybody to the seventh slot. The Chairman answered they could do that at any time. Which turned out to be five months later in January 2018.

• 6a. Adoption of Millage

  Video. Finance Director Stephanie Black said they were going to set the millage to 11.224 mils, of which 8.974 mils go to the county, 1 mil to the Industrial Authority, and 1.25 mils to the Parks and Recreation Authority. They did that unanimously.

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

  Video. Pilot has owned this establishment for some time and now wants to add alcohol sales.

• 6 c. Request to Purchase Thermal Imaging Cameras

  Video. Fire department wanted to upgrade to new models from vendor Bullard; it was a budgeted item. Unanimously approved.

• 6 d. Purchase of 3- 105 lb. Industrial Grade Washer Extractors

  Video.

• 6e. Emergency Repairs to Rocky Ford Road

  Video. Because of logging truck damage. Scruggs was the low bid. Engineer asked for 10% contingency in case more work needed to be done. Commissioner Scottie Orenstein asked if striping was included. Answer: yes. Maybe we won’t see any emergency change orders on this one.

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

  Video.

• 8. Reports – County Manager (none)

  Video.

• 9. CWTBH – Valdosta Chamber – John Page and Gary Wisenbaker

  Video. A truck bypass “possibly within our lifetimes”, some airport improvements, some things related to Moody AFB, Baytree Road, etc., all listed in a letter the public did not get to see, even though all those things involve spending tax money (state or local).

• 10. Meeting Adjournment

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Emergency road repair bids! Appointments: Library Board, Development Authority, millage
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, August 22, 2017.

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