Chairman Bill Slaughter mentioned the recent death of his predecessor Fred DeLoach. County Manager Joe Pritchard said he tried to talk Carmella Braswell out of retiring, but she has done so.

County Engineer Mike Fletcher clarified that more than one engineering firm was working on professional surveying and engineering for road projects.

Kevin Beals presented the solid waste franchises for annual renewal, and we were reminded he is also Chairman of the Deep South Solid Waste Authority that dispenses funds from their tipping fees, and which the next day announced a special called meeting for Wednesday.

Chad McLeod said the county has successfully cleaned up from a nearby closed gasoline station.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda in the previous post with more context.

• 1. Call to Order / Chairman Comments on death of Fred Deloach

  Video. Chairman Bill Slaughter noted his predecessor held the record of 16 years as Chairman, from 1976 to 1992, and mentioned some of Fred DeLoach’s many other accomplishements.

  Obituary at McLane Funeral & Cremation Services,

  Fred DeLoach Jr., 90, of Valdosta passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2019. He was born May 17, 1928 to Fred DeLoach Sr. and Cobbie Pedrick DeLoach in Valdosta. He attended Central Grammar School on East Central Avenue and the Valdosta High School where he played football for the Wildcats. He graduated from Gordon Military School in 1944 and the University of Georgia in 1947 at the age of 19. In college he joined Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and Alpha Zeta Honorary Fraternity. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture. After College he returned to Valdosta where he taught agriculture to veterans at Pine Grove School 1947-1951. He farmed from 1951 to 1975 and in 1958 he started DeLoach Hardware. In 1976 he was elected Chairman of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners where he served for 16 years. During this time in office, he was elected President of The Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), Chairman of the Board of the Department of Community Affairs for the State of Georgia, and Member of Governor Joe Frank Harris’s Growth Strategies Commission. Locally he served as a member of: Board of Directors for C & S Bank and Nations Bank, Industrial Authority, President of Kiwanis Club which had over 100 members at the time, Zoning Board, Chamber of Commerce, First Baptist Church where he was a Deacon and Sunday School teacher, the Planning Commission, Tax Assessors Board of Appeals, South Georgia Medical Center Board, Lowndes County Board of Health, and Four-H Club. His other actives included Valdosta County Club, Ocean Pond, Elks Club, Sons of the American Revolution, and Historical Society. In 1999, he was presented the Emil Girardin Outstanding Member award by The Chamber of Commerce. In 2008 the Statenville Highway was dedicated to him as The Fred DeLoach Jr. Highway by Governor Sonny Perdue. He loved his family, friends, church and raising Tennessee Walking Horses.

  He is survived by two children Beth DeLoach Meeks, husband Kenny of Valdosta and Fred DeLoach III (Butch), wife Holly of Sandy Springs; one grandchild Emma Jean DeLoach of Sandy Springs; two step grandchildren Kenny and Kyle Meeks; brother-in law and wife Charles and Pauline Farris of Wimberley Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years Jean and a brother Wallace Deloach.

  The family would like to give a great thank you to the Fellowship Home and staff and an additional thank you to Bessie Manning for taking care of the family.

  The services for Mr. DeLoach will be held at the Carson McLane Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Chuck Owens officiating and eulogy by Mr. H. Arthur McLane. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Flowers will be accepted or a donation in memory may be made to the First Baptist Church or The 4H Club. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane.

• 5a. Basic Decorative Street Lighting District – Phase 1 of Kelsee Crossing

  Video.

• 6a. Professional Surveying and Engineering for Improvements to Lester Road

  Video. County Engineer Mike Fletcher said this project was funded by an LMIG Grant from GDOT for improvements near schools. He said Bill Kent of Innovate Engineering was doing another one, off of Howell Lane, while Lovell Engineering would be doing this one on Lester Road. The dollar amount for this single-source no-bid contract is still not given in the agenda sheet, nor did the County Engineer say what it is.

  Was the other project referred to, the one off of Howell Lane, previously approved by the commission?

• 6 b/c. Residential Solid Waste Franchises

  Video. Human Resources Director Kevin L. Beals presented these annual franchise renewals, saying both applicants had met all criteria. County Manager Joe Pritchard mentioned Beals is also Chairman of the Deep South Solid Waste Authority (DSSWA). The next day, DSSWA announced a special called meeting for Wednesday.

  Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wondered about “the recent change in legislation” that will affect Valdosta’s sanitation services starting in June, and whether there would be similar changes in the county. Beals said there was a cap of $20 per residential contract, and they’re currently around $18.50. He said neither franchisee had indicated they would increase their prices this year, but due to the law changes increases could happen, but the Lowndes County cap remains.

• 7. Reports – Chad McLeod reports on adjacent property EPD monitoring

  Video. Project Manager Chad McLeod said the gas extraction from the wells “on the backside of this building” was successful, and GA-EPD has agreed the wells can be abandoned. Presumably this gas is gasoline, as in from an old service station.

  Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked when. Answer: by April 22, 2019. Then the county will start selling off the equipment.

  Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker wanted to know about a previous quote about cleaning the roof, which he said was “ridiculously low”. McLeod said that was still being looked at.

• 7. Reports – retirement of Carmella Braswell

  Video. 25 years. They seemed a bit shell-shocked. Chairman Bill Slaughter clarified that it was resignation pending retirement. County Manager Joe Pritchard said her last work day was last Friday, and she was taking leave for the rest of the time. Also, she asked not to have any sort of leave-taking ceremony.

• 9. Meeting Adjournment

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Lighting, Paving, Trash, retirement, and death
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, March 25, 2019.

-jsq

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!

Short Link: