They don’t have any wheelchair seating areas, so Jody Hall planted his wheels in front of the front row, to see the county not tell the public who bid what on an almost $4 million item.

By far the longest item at almost seven minutes was North Lowndes Spring Creek Utility Inter-connection Project Phase II, because one bidder objected that the others did not use the correct color paper. They never said who any of the bidders were, nor how much they bid, on this $3,889,825.23 project.

The third longest was 6.f. Water and Sewer Service Areas – Lake Park Area, as the county continues its plan to encircle Valdosta. Yet the county has no plan for additional sewage treatment beyond the Land Application Site (LAS), where Lowndes County sprays sewage onto land near Grassy Pond, close to the state line, and where they’re reducing the Row Crop Lease Agreement by 71 acres for unexplained reasons.

Second longest was 5a. REZ-2019-04 Southeastern Freight, 2120 West Hill Ave. C-H/R-1 To M-2, for which see also the LAKE videos of the preceding Planning Commission.

All but one of the 5 b. Basic Decorative Lighting Districts will probably be approved, even though the county refuses to make a similar special tax district for trash pickup or disposal, even though state law expressly says it can.

The GMASS Rural Land Maintenance Contract is just a renewal, so apparently the Tax Assessors can continue to drive development into places it does not belong.

They’re buying the former office of Coleman-Talley law firm at 910 N. Patterson Street for use by the Public Defender.

And no agenda is complete without a road abandonment.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a very few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda and the LAKE videos of the previous month’s Planning Commission.

• 1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for Approval

  Video.

• 5a. REZ-2019-04 Southeastern Freight, 2120 West Hill Ave. C-H/R-1 To M-2,

  Video. The 30,000 square foot threshold based on the ULDC got quite a bit of discussion. Beyond that threshold, the Unified Land Development Code says the total facility requires M-2 zoning.

• 5 b. Basic Decorative Lighting Districts

  Video. Walker Run was withdrawn at this time. Special lighting districts add about $62 per year to home owner tax bill. Yet the county refuses to make a special trash collection district, even though state law expressly says they can.

• 5c. Abandonment of Doyle Kelly Road

  Video. Doyle Kelly moved; the new owners have other access on a paved road; and they want the county to close what is now essentially their back driveway.

• 6a. GaDoT TSPLOST Clyattstone/Simpson Paving agreement

  Video.

• 6b. GaDoT TSPLOST Hickory Grove Bridge Replacement

  Video. To be closed for a year.

• 6 c. GMASS Rural Land Maintenance Contract

  Video.

• 6 d. Purchase of Real Property at 910 N. Patterson St.

  Video.

• 6 e. First Amendment to the Row Crop Lease Agreement

  Video. Still no explanation about the 71 acres, just the county made the decision.

• 6 f. Water and Sewer Service Areas – Lake Park Area

  Video. They discussed which parcels will be served by Lake Park and which by Lowndes County.

• 7 a. North Lowndes Spring Creek Utility Inter-connection Project Phase II

  Video. One of the bidders objected that the others did not use yellow paper. Attorney Jim Elliott needs to learn to use the microphone, but I think he said the county can decide whether this technicality is relevant or not. County Manager Joe Pritchard seemed to say the yellow sheets were required by Lovell & Associates. Commissioner Scottie Orenstein wanted to know if the yellow paper was a requirement like all the other requirements. The County Manager said it was listed similar to the requirement to put the construction number on the bid, and according to court cases staff reviewed, the board would have to decide whether it is a requirement or not. Chairman Bill Slaughter said there were two options and listed three:

  1. acknowledge the technicality but accept all the bids anyway
  2. reject all but the one bid that was submitted on yellow paper
  3. send it out for rebidding

  Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wondered if all the bidders were local. They discussed a percentage the county allows for local bidders, which is 2.8% in this case. They never did say who the bidders were or what the bid dollar amounts were for this almost $4 million project. The agenda sheet says:

  BUDGET IMPACT: $3,889,825.23

  FUNDING SOURCE:
  () Annual (X) SPLOST VII
  () Capital
  () N/A

  COUNTY ACTION REQUESTED ON: North Lowndes Spring Creek Utility Inter-connection Project Phase II

  HISTORY, FACTS AND ISSUES: The Lowndes County Utilities Department requested bids for the North Lowndes Spring Creek Utility Inter-connection Project phase II. This project will consist of installing a 16” water main to connect the North Lowndes water system to the Spring Creek Water system and will include the relocation of a booster pump station to ensure adequate flow and pressure to the Bemiss area. Attached is a copy of the bid tabulation sheet, notice of award and associated contract.

  OPTIONS: 1. Board’s Pleasure.

  RECOMMENDED ACTION: Board’s Pleasure.

  DEPARTMENT: Utilities Department Head: Steve Stalvey

  We the taxpaying public did not get to see “the bid tabulation sheet, notice of award and associated contract.”

• 8. Reports – County Manager (none) 10. Adjournment

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Taxes, water, sewer, LAS, paving, road abandonment
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, March 11, 2019.

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