Category Archives: Community

5.a. the situation we’ve been placed in —Robert Yost @ VCC 25 August 2011

Council Robert Yost said he didn’t like the position council was in of almost being required to vote one way to cover their rears from litigation.
So of course I’ll be voting exactly how I feel it needs to be tonight, litigation or not.
He also seemed to say that he hadn’t heard anybody say it was about consolidating county and city government.

It’s interesting that Yost seemed to be arguing against the referendum, since he has long been on record as for school system consolidation:

“We need one school system in this city and county,” said Yost. “But sadly that isn’t the case.”
That’s from when he was last running for Valdosta City Council back in 2009; you can watch him say it on video. At the time he also said the city should annex the whole county, but claimed that was just a joke. Has something changed his mind about either of those things?

Here’s the video from Thursday’s council meeting: Continue reading →

5.a. We’re not actually going to deny, are we? —Tim Carroll @ VCC 25 August 2011

Rather heated discussion as Tim Carroll seemed incensed that Sonny Vickers thought consolidation proponents had a hidden agenda. He mentioned Rusty Griffin, Walter Hopgood, and George Bennett.
It just bothers me when I hear “hoodwinked”.
Carroll repeatedly mentioned the number of citizens who had petitioned asking to put the referendum on the ballot. He said there might be issues between CUEE and VBOE, but not with city council.

Here’s the video:


5.a. We’re not actually going to deny, are we? —Tim Carroll @ VCC 25 August 2011
petition, education, referendum,
Regular Session, Valdosta City Council (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 August 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

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5.a. school consolidation not initiated by school system —James Wright @ VCC 25 August 2011

Council James Wright stated concerns that neither citizens nor the city school board had initiated school consolidation, and cited several statutes that he said indicated the local board of education needed first to request a feasibility study from the state and then to approve it, and that has not happened in this case.

Here’s the video:


5.a. school consolidation not initiated by school system —James Wright @ VCC 25 August 2011
petition, education, referendum,
Regular Session, Valdosta City Council (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 August 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

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5.a. motion to deny education referendum —Sonny Vickers @ VCC 25 August 2011

Some backers of school consolidation have a hidden agenda of consolidating the city and county governments, said Council Sonny Vickers.

Council Sonny Vickers made a motion to deny the school consolidation referendum, and then stated a number of reasons, among them that unification would do nothing to improve education, judging by many previous examples. Plus he noted a hidden agenda of some of the backers of consolidation who spent thousands of dollars: consolidation of the city and county governments.

Here’s the video:


5.a. motion to deny education referendum –Sonny Vickers @ VCC 25 August 2011
petition, education, referendum,
Regular Session, Valdosta City Council (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 August 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

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5.a. has common sense prevailed over precedent? —Robert Yost @ VCC 25 August 2011

Council Robert Yost wondered could the council have voted down the city school system’s millage? The City Attorney said they were required to vote on it but could have voted it down (I think that’s what he meant). The mayor noted again that a vote against the petitioned referendum would probably cost the city more money. See for yourself.

Here’s the video:


5.a. has common sense prevailed over precedent? –Robert Yost @ VCC 25 August 2011
Regular Session, Valdosta City Council (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 August 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

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5.a. petition for school referendum —Tim Carroll @ VCC 25 August 2011

Council Tim Carroll noted citizens have a right to petition their government according to the Georgia Constitution, and wondered if it would be “against the Constitution” for the council to deny such a petition. City Attorney Talley noted that the language of a legal precedent says the council shall. The mayor noted there could be frivolous petitions such as to change the name of Friday to Thursday, that wouldn’t require affirmation, but the state has certain guidelines, and school systems especially fall under those guidelines.

Here’s the video:


5.a. petition for school referendum —Tim Carroll @ VCC 25 August 2011
Regular Session, Valdosta City Council (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 August 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

School consolidation ordinance introduction @ VCC 25 August 2011

Valdosta City Council began a protracted debate about a school consolidation referendum, starting with Mayor Fretti, Attorney Talley, and Council Sonny Vickers.

Mayor Fretti introduced the topic.

Here’s Part 1 of 2:


School consolidation ordinance introduction @ VCC 25 August 2011 Part 1 of 2:
Regular Session, Valdosta City Council (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 August 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Attorney Talley announced that enough registered voters petitioned for the referendum. He also read from a Georgia Supreme Court case that indicated that the council more or less had to approve the referendum.

Sonny Vickers asked what would happen if council did not approve it. Continue reading →

Tonight: school consolidation referendum vote at Valdosta City Council

Now that CUEE got its 95 signatures more than 25% for a school consolidation referendum, the Valdosta City Council votes tonight on this item which has been added to their agenda:
5.a) Consideration of an Ordinance for a referendum to allow citizens of the City of Valdosta to vote on whether to annul and repeal the special independent school system so that the City of Valdosta public school system shall become part of the Lowndes County public school system.
This appears to be a pro-forma vote to put the referendum on the ballot. But you never know what might happen, especially in council comments or Citizens to Be Heard. Maybe FVCS will show up.

Thanks to Barbara Stratton for the heads-up.

Here’s the agenda.

AMENDED AGENDA REGULAR MEETING OF THE VALDOSTA CITY COUNCIL
5:30 PM Thursday, August 25, 2011
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
Continue reading →

Qualifying for local city elections is next week

The VDT editorialized yesterday:
On Monday, qualifying week begins for candidates interested in running in the November election for Valdosta Mayor, City Council At Large and Council Districts 1, 3, and 5; Hahira City Council Districts 2 and 3; City of Dasher Post 3 and 4; City of Lake Park Mayor and four council positions; Remerton Mayor and five council seats; Valdosta School Board Districts 4, 5, and 6.
The VDT points out that city elections usually don’t get much turnout, but this year there are two referendum questions on the ballot that may cause record turnout. They are: Continue reading →

Medical issues at McRae warrant closing CCA private prison —ACLU

Azadeh Shahshahani wrote for Huffpost 18 August 2011, License to Abuse? Time for Bureau of Prisons to Sever Ties With CCA
Last week, the ACLU of Georgia submitted comments to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to ask that the agency not renew its contract with Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) for operation of the McRae Correctional Facility.

McRae is located in Telfair County, Georgia. The prison is owned by CCA, which purchased it in 2000. McRae currently houses a population of low security, adult male, primarily non-citizen prisoners. The contract between CCA and the BOP is set to expire in November 2012.

Why? Lack of medical treatment for prisoners, among other reasons. For example: Continue reading →