The most interesting items were not on the agenda of the Regular Session two weeks ago of the Lowndes County Commission Work Session. The County Engineer had One more thing: Loch Laurel Bridge Work and Closure 7/16 – 7/23, Commissioner Demarcus Marshall reminded everyone the Georgia hands-free driving law was going into effect, and the Chairman announced swearing in of the newly un-privatized Probation Officers the following morning.

The longest scheduled item at almost 3 minutes was New Consoles For 911 Dispatchers, followed by Contract With Parks And Recreation Authority, because both had questions from Commissioners.

The two grant items added the previous morning, for Accountability Court and DUI Court, sailed through, as did the Francis Lake Lift Station Repair and the LAS Storage Pond Improvements.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes, At the end of this post there is a LAKE video playlist. See also agenda post for background and the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session.

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

  Video.

• Chairman Announcement of Probation Officer Ceremony

  Video. The following morning at 8:45AM Judge Edwards would be swearing in the new probation officers in Courtroom 4A. According to discussions Gretchen had with Commissioners, this is because the former privatized probation company wasn’t providing good service, so the county decided to make probation officers county employees.

• 4. Minutes for Approval

  Video.

• 5a. Adoption Of Fiscal Year 2019 Budget

  Video.

• 5b. Hotel/Motel Tax FY 2019 County Budget

  Video.

• 5c. Lowndes County 911: New Consoles For 911 Dispatchers

  Video. Program Manager Chad McLeod presented, as the VDT reporter wandered in. $183,171 to replace all the consoles, while declaring the old ones surplus. Commissioner Scottie Orenstein wanted to know if there was any audio/video equipment included. Answer: some. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know if Watson Furniture Group was the only provider. Answer: no, but after research Watson had the best price.

• 5d. Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Bond Issue

  Video.

• 5e. Contract With Parks And Recreation Authority

  Video. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know the term of the loan. County Manager Joe Pritchard didn’t know, but said “I’ll get it for you.” Commissioner Scottie Orenstein wanted to know if it was more like a line of credit. Pritchard said VLPRA didn’t expect to need to borrow the full $3 million. They approved the contract unanimously.

• 5f. Contract With Valdosta Continuing Land Bank Authority

  Video. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know if there had been any transactions by the Land Bank Authority. Answer from County Manager Joe Pritchard: “to my knowledge, we have had zero transactions” from the unincorporated area, although there had been some from the city of Valdosta. They approved the contract unanimously.

• 5g. Francis Lake Lift Station Repair

  Video.

• 5h. Lowndes County Accountability Court Grant Approval And Cash Match

  Video.

• 5i. Agreement From Pronto, Inc For Electronic Monitoring- DUI Court

  Video.

• 6a. LAS Storage Pond Improvements

  Video.

• 7. Reports (none) 8. CWTBH (none) Commission Comments

  Video. No County Manager Report and no Citizens Wishing to Be Heard, but County Commissioner Demarcus Marshall noted the Georgia hands-free law was going into effect that weekend; this means you can’t hold your phone while driving a car. Commissioner Joyce Evans pointed out the County Engineer wanted to say something. Maybe they should schedule Commissioner Comments on the agenda like most counties in metropolitan areas do.

• One more thing – Loch Laurel Bridge Work and Closure 7/16 – 7/23

  Video. County Engineer Mike Fletcher said he met with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) that morning, and the overpass of Loch Laurel Road would have to be prepared, with GDOT mobilizing on July 16 and closing Loch Laurel on Friday July 20 at Twin Lakes Road and Frontage Road, with a detour until 6AM Monday morning July 23.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Grants, Budget, Tax, Bonds, Parks, Land, Water, Waste, 911
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, June 26, 2018.

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