The Lowndes County Commission added two important agenda items early in their February 25, 2025, meeting: 5.b. Vote on opting out of HB-581 and 5.c. Resolution to increase local homestead exemption. They approved both unanimously, although there is more to do at the state level; see below for that.

But why did the Commissioners wait until this meeting to add those items, when they’ve known for many weeks they would have to vote on them?

Collage @ LCC 25 February 2025

They unanimously approved the few other items.

Can somebody explain why the County Manager does not provide a written report? I, for one, cannot remember all the stuff she runs through in a few minutes. She is clearly reading from notes. She could just make at least a bullet list, or have one of her assistants do so.

One citizen spoke: 8. CWTBH – Kelly Saxon – flooding, hurricane recovery, cooperation.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the LAKE videos of the preceding morning’s Work Session, and the agenda and board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request.

• 1. Call to Order 2. Invocation 3. Pledge
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/-CWUqqC-rNw

  Lowndes County Board of Commissioners (LCC) – Regular Session – 2025-02-25

  Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).

• Chairman’s Recognitions – Leadership Lowndes
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/HYwZu8WZOfM

  It’s interesting that often when the LL people come, it’s for a meeting with a light agenda.

• 4. Minutes for Approval
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/WZoK9Up5ptM

  The agenda said:

  Work Session and Public Hearing – February 10, 2025 & Regular Session and Public Hearing – February 11, 2025

  But they also included the minutes of the Public Hearing from February 24, 2025.

  
  

• Addition of two items to the agenda
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/Rx4AwbFiO9w

  5b. One item to vote on opting out of HB-581
  5c. One item to increase the local homestead exemptions

• 5.a. Lowndes County Accountability Court Grant Approval
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/EvrGCrJo_rQ

• 5.b. Vote on opting out of HB-581
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/W2mBzaJyj6w

  Approved unanimously.

• 5.c. Resolution to increase local homestead exemption
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/qBycm1NeFCg

  County Manager Paige Dukes gave an overview of the proposed changes.
  They changes must be given to the local state delegation and voted on by the legislature, before it can be added to the local ballot as a referendum item.

• 6.a. Bid for One Truck for Magistrate Court
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/JXSrOdJneF4

• 7. Reports – County Manager
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/6n2_PetkoX4

  In just 2:43 the County Manager let out with quite a bit of stuff. Some of it very time sensitive.

• 8. CWTBH – Kelly Saxon – flooding, hurricane recovery, cooperation
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/3tBdsW22AG8

• 9. Meeting Adjournment
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/M3ApDrC4vus

Here is the LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiHLwnMcopY5ObZYVnWaA4lB&si=RJhxknEo-SfGswRU

-jsq

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