Video has appeared on lowndescounty.com of the May 12, 2020 Regular Session, and the minutes. It is 11:48 long, of which 10:48 was actual business. The video reveals there is a new County Planner, J.D. Dillard. We also learn from the video (but not from the minutes) the extent of the Old US 41 widening.

Below are a few notes with timestamp links into the county’s video. See also the agenda and the board packet. Here again is what they said they spent:

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, May 12, 2020, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
*To comply with the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in regard to the Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic and social distancing, face coverings (masks) are required for all meeting participants.

1. Call to Order

   At 0 minutes. Chairman and all five Commissioners were present and sitting up front. Staff, including the County Manager, were sitting in the audience, where they could hardly be heard when they spoke. Portable microphones would be useful for this arrangement.

2. Invocation

   Commissioner Orenstein gave the Invocation.

3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

   Commissioner Orenstein led the Pledge.

4. Minutes for Approval
   1. Regular Session – April 28, 2020

      At one minute actual business starts. Chairman Bill Slaughter introduced their new Planning and Zoning Director J.D. Dillard, who said a few words, although he was invisible because the camera did not pan to him. This introduction is not mentioned in the minutes. The county’s Office of the County Planner web page still lists “Trinni Amiot, County Planner” and has no mention of J.D. Dillard. Leadership Lowndes has a picture of him. Until last year he was Transit and Mobility Coordinator with the South Georgia Regional Commission. That’s what his LinkedIn profile still says, although it also mentions he has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from VSU (2011) and a Bachelor’s in Marketing from VSU (2008).

      

      There were no changes to the minutes, which were approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Orenstein and a second by Commissioner Evans.

5. For Consideration
   1. FY 2021 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Application

      Documents:FY 2021 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Application.pdf

      At 2:15. From the minutes:

      EMA Director, Ashley Tye, presented a request on behalf of Juvenile Court Judge James Council in the amount of $330,854.00, in Criminal Justice Coordinating Council grant funds. Mr. Tye stated that if awarded, Judge Council will use the money to fund evidence based diversion programs for the youth in his court. Chairman Slaughter recognized the presence of Judge Council and thanked him for his attendance. Vice Chairman Marshall made a motion to approve the grant application request, Commissioner Wisenbaker second. All voted in favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.

   2. Georgia Department of Transportation – Transportation Investment Act of 2010 Project Agreement (TIA) for Old US 41 Widening

      Documents:GDOT – Transportation Investment Act of 2010 Project Agreement for Old US 41 Widening.pdf

      At 4:20. This is most of what we learned about what’s in this agreement: Grove Point to North Valdosta Road, and Tillman Crossing to Union Road. Also Clyattstone Road should be finished first so it could be used “to divert traffic out of this area”. From the minutes, which don’t have that much detail:

      County Engineer, Mike Fletcher, presented the item. Mr. Fletcher stated the GDOT has reviewed and approved the Old US 41 widening project. Vice Chairman Marshall questioned the length of the project, to which Mr. Fletcher replied twelve to eighteen months. Commissioner Orenstein asked if the Clyattstone project would be completed prior to the beginning of the project in question, to which Mr. Fletcher replied yes. Commissioner Orenstein made a motion to approve the agreement as presented, Vice Chairman Marshall second. All voted in favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.

   3. Adopt Resolution accepting Infrastructure for Two Oaks at Bemiss

      Documents:Adopt Resolution Accepting Infrastructure for Two Oaks at Bemiss.pdf

      At 7:03. From the minutes:

      County Engineer, Mike Fletcher, presented the item. Mr. Fletcher stated engineering staff have completed the final inspection of the project, adding the work is substantially complete. Commissioner Griner made a motion to approve the resolution as presented, Commissioner Evans second. All voted in favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.

6. Bid
   1. Lowndes County Hazard Mitigation Request for Proposal

      Documents:Lowndes County Hazard Mitigation Request for Proposal.pdf

      At 8:01. Ashley Tye mentioned (but the minutes don’t) that this plan also includes all the cities in Lowndes County. And remember there were bids for this project, but not for the more expensive stream monitoring plan. From the minutes:

      EMA Director, Ashley Tye, presented the item. Mr. Tye stated that Lowndes County was awarded funding from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency in September of 2019 for the purpose of funding the completion of an updated hazard mitigation plan. Mr. Tye further stated staff has reviewed proposals from parties interested in assisting with the development of the plan. Vice Chairman Marshall made a motion to award the project to the Southern Regional Commission in the amount of $20,000.00, Commissioner Orenstein second. All voted in favor, no one opposed. Motion carried.

7. Reports – County Manager

   At 11:02. There was no report.

8. Citizens Wishing to be Heard-Please State Your Name and Address

   At 11:09. No citizens signed up to speak.

9. Adjournment

   At 11:17. From the minutes:

   Commissioner Wisenbaker made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Commissioner Griner second. Chairman Slaughter adjourned the regular meeting at 5:41 p.m.

Here is the county’s video:

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