Again like in the previous morning’s Work Session the lengthiest regular item was the rezoning on Rocky Ford Road for the church-proposed Camp Rock, mostly with attorney Jack Langdale speaking for, including that a “wilderness camp” for unfortunate children doesn’t need a buffer, and any future buyers of neighboring property beware.

The Sharp family said for seven years they have been trying to get somebody to do something about stray dogs, only to discover Animal Control doesn’t work weekends anymore, and the Sheriff’s office won’t do anything, even though one of their family had been killed by the dogs and another bitten, and the dogs are now into their second and third generations running loose.

Third longest was 6.a. REZ-2018-01 Simmons, 3881 Bemiss Rd, R-10 to C-G .89 acres for “redevelopment as a retail store for new [?] and tile location”, for which Jack Langdale spoke much more briefly, and the vote was surprisingly split, with Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker voting against.

Commissioner Clay Griner voted against the county applying for the Solicitor-General’s Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grant.

They meet for their annual retreat this morning.

Below are links to each LAKE video of the 13 February 2018 Regular Session, with a few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda, the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session (including 12 minutes of State of the Arts by Cheryl Oliver, Director, Turner Center of the Arts and introduction of new probation officer) and the LAKE videos of the preceding GLPC meeting.

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

  Video.

• 5. Minutes for Approval

  Video.

• 6a. REZ-2018-01 Simmons, 3881 Bemiss Rd, R-10 to C-G .89 acres

  Video. GLPC Recommendation: Approval
  TRC Recommendation: Approval
  There was one question about the location of the septic tank. Chairman said the health department would have to approve the location. Nobody spoke against. Attorney Jack Langdale spoke for, saying the applicants currently run a retail store in Berrien County and want to open one in Lowndes County. Commissioners approved the rezoning, although Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker voted against.

• 6b. REZ-2018-02, E-A&C-C to E-A&PD-R, 4391 Rocky Ford Rd, 72 acres

  Video. GLPC Recommendation: Approval
  TRC Recommendation: Approval and Approval with Conditions (Buffering)

  Nobody spoke against. Attorney Jack Langdale spoke for Jay “the president of Redlands Baptist Church and also of Camp Rock” and Sandra Watkins and C.R. Ventures, “an LLC that Jay owns and controls”. He said Camp Rock was to help break the cycle of abuse of children, and more about previous activities. With no questions, the Commissioners approved with no conditions, including no vegetative buffer. Future buyers of neighboring property beware.

• 6c. REZ-2018-03 Diana Guy, 2497 Madison HWY, C-G to C-G & C-H, 4.04 acres

  Video.

• 6d. Abandonment of a Portion of Bradford Rd. N.

  Video. Bradford Road North used to run through Hill Duggan’s place. He and Juanita Duggan are gone, but Johnny Edward Duggan is there.

  It’s Bradford Road North because there’s another Bradford Road in the south of the county.

• 7a. Acceptiinfrastructure for Quarterman Estates Subdivision Phase 2

  Video. This subdivision is off of White Water Road, between PCA and I-75. No, it has nothing to do with the Quarterman family. I asked the developer once, and he said it was named after Quarterman Touchton, who was named that because as a child his life was saved by Dr. Clark Quarterman, my father’s first cousin. Why that was relevant to the developers was not clear to me. Of course the Commissioners approved this item. Have they ever rejected adopting subdivision infrastructure for the taxpayers to maintain?

• 7 b. Professional Services for I-75 Exits 2 &11 Utility Relocate

  Video.

• 7c. Solicitor-General’s Violence Against Women Act Grant Application

  Video.

• 8. Reports – County Manager (none)

  Video.

• 9. CWTBH – Sharp Family from Mount Zion Road

  Video. This family has come repeatedly with a problem of unregulated dog packs in their neighborhood. They claim that they are not getting help from neither animal control, nor the sheriff’s office. For example, in March 2016 they spoke with the child who had been bitten. This time Commissioners said they would “look into it”.

• 10. Meeting Adjournment

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Rocky Ford Road, Sharp Family, C-G Bemiss Rd
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, February 13, 2018.

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