A twelve-foot alligator surfaced twice at the briefest Valdosta City Council meeting of recent memory, in Special Recognitions and Citizens to Be Heard, related to the Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle organized by WWALS, with Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman as a speaker.

Valdosta City Council, Staff, and Citizens

Four from Leadership Lowndes where there, and there’s a New Neighborhood Development and Community Protections Manager, Anetra Riley. The Mayor recognized WWALS, which is a first.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda.

• Before
  

  Video.

• 1. Opening Ceremonies
  

  Video.

• Special Rec: Leadership Lowndes, New Comm. Protect. Manager Anetra Riley, WWALS
  

  Video.

  
  Leadership Lowndes

  
  New Neighborhood Development and Community Protections Manager, Anetra Riley

  
  Council applauding WWALS

• 2. Minutes Approval 2022-02-10
  

  Video.

• 3.a. Amendment Contract Lovell Eng. Ass., Old Clyattville Road Widening
  

  Video.

• 3.b. New Vanguard Belt Screen for Mud Creek WTP –David Frost, Utilities
  

  Video.

  
  Poor Screening Systems

  
  Greenery and leaves

  
  Sanitary Products

  
  Types of Screening Products

• 4. CTBH John S. Quarterman, Mayor and Chairman’s Paddle, Trash solutions
  

  Video.

  Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman said WWALS got that 12-foot gator because he heard Council Vivian Miller-Cody likes gators, and he hoped to see all the Council on the paddle next year.

  
  Where is that ARPA-funded new well field?

  
  He noted Valdosta trash was seen even on the Little River, not just the Withlacoochee River, and caused a capsize on the paddle, plus a boat of two guys from another county picked up a big bag. He recommended the Mayor and Council do something. The Mayor said they had been talking about it.

• 4. CTBH Michelle Girtman, Executive Director, The Haven
  

  Video.

  She said the federal government had messed up an algorithm and underpaid, not just in Georgia, but nationwide; it won’t be fixed for at least two years; and then they would not fill in back pay.

• 4. Michael Smith, E.D., Valdosta United Way
  

  Video.

  He said times were tough for all nonprofits during the pandemic, and he recommended Valdosta help if they had any cash for that.

• 5. City Manager’s Report, Mark Barber
  

  Video.

  He talked about what he’d done about the last meeting’s Citizens to Be Heard. Also:

  • the Chamber’s banquet that same evening.
  • March 3 Boy Scout’s Eagle Campaign Dinner at the Conference Center.
  • March 4-6 Sixth Annual Georgia Film Festival at VSU.
  • March 5 Police open testing.
  • Friday-Saturday, March 18-19, Valdosta City Council Strategic Summit.
  • Monday April 11, Thirteenth Annual City 101 in Council Chambers, continuing six weeks.
  • He introduced outgoing Valdosta Main Street Director Ellen Hill, who is going to Georgia Department of Community Affairs. She gave a speech.
• 6. Council Comments: Sandra Tooley, Andy Gibbs, Sonny Vickers
  

  Video.

  
  Sandra J. Tooley talked about black businesses at the courthouse.

  
  Eric Howard wondered if that was the historic courthouse. It was.

  
  Andrew A. Gibbs talked sports.

  
  Joseph Vickers moved to adjourn.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Roads, Wastewater, and Trash @ VCC
Valdosta City Council Regular Session, February 27, 2022, City Hall, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),

Agenda

Here is the agenda:

AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE VALDOSTA CITY COUNCIL
5:30 PM Thursday, February 24, 2022
CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1. Opening Ceremonies
   1. Call to Order
   2. Invocation
   3. Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag
2. Minutes Approval
   1. Valdosta City Council – Regular Meeting – Feb 10, 2022 5:30 PM
3. Bids, Contracts, Agreements and Expenditures
   1. Consideration of an amendment to the Contract with Lovell Engineering Associates for the Old Clyattville Road Widening Project.
   2. Consideration of a request to purchase a new Vanguard Belt Screen for the Mud Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
4. Citizens to be Heard
5. City Manager’s Report
6. Council Comments
7. Adjournment

-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: