Author Archives: John S. Quarterman

Soccer, Airport Authority, Probation, Ankle Monitoring, Wetlands, Hay, GEFA, Pump @ LCC 2018-05-07

What was on the agenda for yesterday morning at 8:30 AM and for voting this evening at 5:30 PM.

Parcel 0024-003, Tax Assessors Map They’re going to reappoint Steve Everett to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority. At the end, the thing that will massively change Hahira: 4.c. North Lowndes Park Soccer Complex – Bids: five of them, ranging from $6.5 to $8.3 million dollars. From the Invitation to Bid:

The bid package is for construction of North Lowndes Park Soccer Complex including all work shown on the Bid Set of Plans, issue date February 1, 2018, and Specifications, issue date February 1, 2018, to include but not be limited to the following items: Site clearing and other items as noted on the plans in order to construct and install a new 8 soccer field complex with concession and restroom pavilion, and maintenance building. Additional items to be constructed include, entrance road extension from the existing park, parking lot, signage, concrete pavement, fencing, site and field lighting, utilities, storm drainage structures and basins, irrigation, landscaping, and furnishings.

Detail Map, Tax Assessors Map
Map: Lowndes County Tax Assessors, of Parcel 0024-003, Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MAY 7, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Southern Company Stockholder Meeting 2018-05-23

This year the Southern Company annual report says increased energy revenues were “primarily due to increases in renewable energy sales”, yet Southern Power is selling off a third interest in its solar facilities. Why? To pay off debt from its failed Big Bet on Plant Vogtle nukes, and its new Big Bet on stranded assets in natural gas pipelines. I don’t think the future lies that way, Tom Fanning, abandoning solar power and getting in bed with Sabal Trail.

When: 10AM Wednesday, May 23, 2018
9AM breakfast

Where: The Lodge Conference Center at Callaway Gardens,
4500 Southern Pine Drive, Pine Mountain, Georgia 31822

What: Southern Company Annual Stockholder Meeting

Facilities in Operation or Development as of March 20, 2018, Annual Report
Facilities in Operation or Development as of March 20, 2018, Annual Report

Why would Southern Company sell off the assets that generated the most increase in revenue? On page 46: Continue reading →

Food Trucks on Agenda @ Hahira 2018-05-03

They are also talking about water tanks and treesand the work on I-75 Exit 29, including what the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) hasn’t covered that may have to be picked up in SPLOST VII.


Photo: WTXL ABC 27 News.

But the main topic, with a Public Hearing, is food trucks. That Zoning Text Amendment didn’t fare very well with the Planning Commission Monday. But of course GLPC is only advisory, and Hahira can decide whatever it wants. Expect at least the same speakers tonight as you can see in the LAKE videos of that Planning Commission meeting.

Thanks to Hahira City Clerk Lisa Mashburn for Continue reading →

Videos: Senior living, pool, Hahira food trucks @ GLPC 2018-04-30

Yes, it was food trucks Hahira wants to change in its Zoning Ordinance, and that was the long item, at 42 minutes in Monday’s Planning Commission meeting. Neighbors Barry Robinson and Gretchen Quarterman spoke about it at the Planning Commission, as did the food truck owner, and I bet on all of them being at the Hahira City Council tonight, especially given that the Planning Commission recommendation was not favorable.

The Planning Commission spent less than 18 minutes on the two rezonings for a senior living residential housing complex in Valdosta. The request for a Planned Development on Gornto Road took about as long.

Below are Continue reading →

Signs, frontage, parking, recreation, setbacks, shops, homes @ ZBOA 2018-05-05

Six variances in Lowndes County and a Valdosta LDR change, on the ZBOA agenda for today.

One page, Agenda

Continue reading →

Senior living, pool, food trucks @ GLPC 2018-04-30

Could it be food trucks Hahira wants to change in its Zoning Ordinance? In Valdosta, a request for a Planned Development on Gornto Road, and two rezonings for a senior living residential housing complex which would have access on Ashley Street, Emory Street, and University Drive, based around the site of China Garden.

China Garden, Ashley, Emory, and University
Map: Lowndes County Tax Assessors.
Red outline of affected parcels: drawn by John S. Quarterman for LAKE.

All on the agenda for 5:30 PM tonight at the Planning Commission.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
Lowndes County City of Valdosta City of Dasher City of Hahira City of Lake Park
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
AGENDA
Monday, April 30, 2018 * 5:30 P.M. * Public Hearing Continue reading →

Videos: No Opioid No Probation Military Utility @ LCC 2018-04-24

They would have managed less than four minutes, even with chatting with Leadership Lowndes in the audience, including 45 seconds on the only substantial agenda item, 6 a. Grant Of Easement for Utility Right of Way Moody-Azalea Commons (aka Moody Family Housing).

2013-07-29 GLPC Packet-007 REZ-2013-09 Moody Family Housing
2013-07-29 GLPC Packet-007 REZ-2013-09 Moody Family Housing
Note the big sinkhole in Phase 2.

But citizen Jacinta Howell talked about traffic safety. Let’s remember the immortal words of former Chairman Ashley Paulk during a rezoning near Bemiss Road:

I’m not going to argue Bemiss Highway, it’s not a pertinent fact.

Below are Continue reading →

Nuke downtimes, decade and year 2018-04-29

Here’s graphic evidence of the unreliability of nuclear power.

Recent 12 months, Southern Nuclear

See for yourself on LAKE Nuclear Power Status, which daily draws graphs from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) data.

Recent 12 months, Southern Nuclear

These examples are for reactors run by Southern Nuclear, which is the nuclear unit of Southern Company, which has only six units operational. About every other month one or another of them is down. Continue reading →

Videos: Opioid Vaginal Mesh, Military Utility, No Probation @ LCC 2018-04-23

Yesterday morning Chairman Bill Slaughter looked straight at the LAKE video camera and said: “We’ll have a record-setting short meeting tomorrow, with one agenda item.” Then he chuckled.

The Work Session was 17 minutes and 35 seconds, because of 12 minutes on the Special Presentation by Andrew Hill on Opioid Litigation (Work Session).

The longest other item was 3 minutes on 6 b. Lowndes County Government Probation Plan and Resolution, which wasn’t ready yet, and is what the Chairman removed from the agenda for tonight.

Indeed it didn’t take five minutes, not even half a minute, for them not to discuss 6 a. Grant Of Easement for Utility Right of Way Moody-Azalea Commons.

Below are Continue reading →

Opioid Military Utility Probation @ LCC 2018-04-23

Maybe 15 minutes because of the Special Presentation by Andrew Hill on Opioid Litigation (Work Session).

It won’t take them five minutes to discuss a water and sewer easement for the sinkhole-prone recently-renamed Moody Family Housing Housing, now called Azalea Commons, which is in a recharge zone for the Floridan Aquifer from which we all drink. That subdivision only has water and sewer lines running by it up Val Del Road because the county ran those lines to enable the Nelson Hill subdivision, for which the county permitted razing wetlands, and which then mysteriously got staff variances to avoid building condominiums, mixed elevations, or becoming a gated community.

WRPDO Site Map, Moody Family Housing, REZ-2013-09
WRPDO Site Map, Moody Family Housing, REZ-2013-09.

It’s unlikely to take longer for them to discuss the Lowndes County Government Probation Plan and Resolution.

Here’s the agenda. Gretchen is on her way there with the LAKE video camera.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

  1. Call to Order
  2. Invocation
  3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
  4. Special Presentation by Andrew Hill on Opioid Litigation (Work Session)
  5. Minutes for Approval
    1. Work Session- April 9, 2018
    2. Regular Session- April 10, 2018
  6. For Consideration
    1. Grant Of Easement for Utility Right of Way Moody-Azalea Commons
      ACC Group Housing, LLC desires to Grant Lowndes county an easement and right of way to provide access to service and maintain the water and sewer lines serving the Azalea Commons residential area.

      Documents:Grant of Easement for Utility Right of Way Moody-Azalea Commons.pdf

    2. Lowndes County Government Probation Plan and Resolution
      Approval of probation plan and resolution

      Documents:Lowndes County Government Probation Plan and Resolution.pdf

  7. Reports – County Manager
  8. Citizens Wishing to be Heard-Please State Your Name and Address
  9. Adjournment

-jsq

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