Update 2024-10-21: The county is finally generating some income from that half a million dollar subdivision buyout. Agenda: DRC Emergency Services and VSU South Campus Purchase @ LCC 2024-10-21.

At yesterday morning’s Lowndes County Commission Work Session, there was no discussion by the Commissioners about 5.k. Property Purchase – Building Valdosta, LLC, but new wrinkles did come to some small light.

County Manager Paige Dukes said “This is a follow up on the Building Valdosta purchase of property we have discussed with you several times…” In what public meeting did those discussion take place? She also said the county attorney had worked out an agreement with Building Valdosta, yet that agreement was not in the board packet. And she remarked, “Any other claims related to this will continue through, um, any process with ACCG that they may have for lost profits.” She immediately called for an Executive Session for “Client-privileged communication regarding potential or pending litigation and for the purchase of property.”

Sounds like the county got sued by a developer, or was threatened with a lawsuit, and is resolving that by bailing out the developer with half a million of our tax dollars.

How can any developer who did the slightest due diligence not know that the subject property on GA 122 east of Bemiss Road is in the Moody Activity Zone (MAZ)? If that’s not their beef, what is?

Joyce Evans presiding, VOCA/CESF grant, Loch Laurel Road project, Property Purchase — Building Valdosta, LLC

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item with a few notes by Gretchen, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda, the board packet, and Why should Lowndes County spend half a million dollars to subsidize a developer? 2022-01-24.

• 1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for Approval
  

  Video.

  Vice Chair Joyce Evans called the meeting to order and chaired the meeting. Commissioners Scottie Orenstein and Mark Wisenbaker were absent, in addition the Chairman Bill Slaughter.

• 5.a. Set Qualifying Fees
  

  Video.

• 5.b. Criminal Justice Acountibility DUI Court subgrant
  

  Video.

• 5.c. DUI Court – Enhancement and Innovation SubGrant
  

  Video.

  The podium microphone was too high for the speaker, so it’s hard to know what she said.

• 5.d. Nelson Hill Lift Station Pump Upgrade
  

  Video.

• 5.e. Approval of DA’s Federal VOCA/CESF Grant Application Renewal
  

  Video.

  It’s about COVID relief funds. Commissioners had no questions.

• 5.g. AT&T Switched Ethernet Circuit Continuation of Service
  

  Video.

• 5.f. Special Assessment Rate for 2022
  

  Video.

• 5.h. GDOT Safety Action Program Loch Laurel Road Project
  

  Video.

  An item with a question. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wondered if bike lanes could be included in Safety programs. Director of Engineering Services Chad McLeod said he thought not but he would check in to it.

• 5.i. FY 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant
  

  Video.

  Grant would pay for three years of three fire fighters salaries.

• 5.j. Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority Sales Tax Exemption
  

  Video.

  VLPRA is not tax exempt so Representative Corbett will propose legislation to make it that way, if the commission votes to ask it to be.

  Seems a bit odd to me that a taxing authority is not tax exempt, but what do I know.

• 5.k. Property Purchase – Building Valdosta, LLC
  

  Video.

  County Manager Paige Dukes said:

  This is a follow up on the Building Valdosta purchase of property we have discussed with you several times. The attorney has prepared the purchase agreement. We have communicated with representatives of Building Valdosta. They are in agreement with the agreement that has been drafted. So this will be the action to finalize that. You see before you the total purchase price of $568,971. That is the price they purchased the property for, as well as their development costs. Any other claims related to this will continue through, um, any process with ACCG that they may have for lost profits.

• 6. Reports – request executive session
  

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Discussion of court grants and Loch Laurel Road project, little of property subsidy @ LCC 2022-01-24
Lowndes County Commission Work Session, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),

-jsq

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