Here’s an interesting presentation by a group of 4-H people
to the Lowndes County Commission in their Regular Sessino of 11 October 2011.
Hm, first they said the pledge, and what’s that I see?
Why look, it’s a camera!
Here during the 4-H presentation, she’s moved up to the second row from the front, right side:
What seems familiar about that location? Continue reading
this item originating at the County Clerk’s office.
This may or may not be what the Commission voted on Tuesday. It’s not signed by any of the voting Commissioners or the County Clerk.
It says it’s a NOTICE. Is a Notice an ordinance?
It’s still not on the County’s website list of ordinances.
So many questions!
Cynics might have still other questions.
-jsq
Louis XIV handing down an award at Versailles |
It’s now been a week since the Lowndes County Commission passed an ordinance for no stated reason, not on the agenda, and not read to the public. It’s still not on the county’s online list of ordinances. Gretchen was covering an event Friday at which she saw Commissioner Crawford Powell; she asked him to send her a copy of the ordinance. Five days later, nothing has arrived.
So, our only clues are Commissioner Raines’ remarks that it had something to do with videoing and photographing. And his remarks that he believed that the Chairman could do it on his own, but he’d like to make a motion for the Commission to approve it.
So we have to guess it had something to do with
Ashley Paulk’s outburst of the previous morning,
in which he
flattered me
by addressing me and only me by name,
even though there were at least two video cameras recording the meeting.
This is what he was going on about:
The County Commission wishes from this day forward that any filming be done from the media area in the back corner of the room.He didn’t say anything about still photography, or for that matter
about digital videoing, so I don’t know whether what he said
had anything to do with whatever it was that
Commissioner Raines moved Tuesday and the Commission approved.
Nor does anybody else know.
Now a cynic might say, Continue reading
Commissioner Raines wished to recognize some Boy Scouts
who are working on Eagle Scout badges.
Here’s the video:
Working on Eagle Scout badges @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
-jsq
Jane Osborn talked about two health issues:
the downside of coal mining,
and no institutions for mental health.
…also related to the solar discussion that was begun yesterday, I think a piece we don’t talk about very often is the extraordinary negative side of coal mining. We are taking the tops off of mountains in Appalachia, leaving pristine streams clogged with the debris and the toxic waste of that. So coal is not just the price you see that we pay for it. Coal is seen in the price of people still dying of black lung, every time a mine collapses, and every time another mountain is taken down. I would guess if they were taking mountains down in North Georgia, we’d be fussing about it.She said she has been a social worker for 33 years. She said starting June the DBHDD there would be a new service she recommended the county advertise on its website.
As of June 1st no person in the state of Georgia with a developmental disability may be placed in an institution.The new service is a 24/7 toll free number to call for help.
Here’s the video:
The extraordinary negative side of coal mining —Jane Osborn @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
-jsq
The VDT picked up that I referred to Ashley Paulk’s
personal attention of the day before
as flattery.
Sorry, elected officials who can’t even get recognized by the Chairman:
bring a camera next time; then he’ll notice you!
First I pointed out that the Mayor of Hahira was in the room. The Chairman had recognized the new Mayor of Valdosta, his replacement on the Valdosta City Council, and the Chair of the Lake Park Chamber of Commerce, but not the Mayor of Hahira. I didn’t want anyone to think the County Commission doesn’t care about Hahira!
Then I commended the voting Commissioners for their comments
Continue reading
Dr. Noll made the case for the cost-effectiveness of solar energy
through, among other things, an analogy to finaninc buying a car.
First Dr. Noll thanked people who had supported WACE’s anti-biomass work, and hoped people had had time to read his recent LTE in the VDT, Waste Not, Want Not. Then he addressed Commissioner Raines’ comments of the previous day. Dr. Noll pointed out that solar is fast becoming less expensive and with financing costs little more than a car or truck.
Here’s the video:
Solar is cost-effective —Dr. Noll @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
-jsq
Dan Bremer of the
Lake Park Chamber of Commerce talked about their
Exit Strategy, which encourages drives to exit I-75 and spend money
in Lowndes County.
He thanked two Lowndes County employees.
And he asked for some use of a prison detail for cleanup before
events in south Lowndes.
Here’s the video:
The Exit Strategy —Dan Bremer @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
-jsq
This is what the Lowndes County Commission wasted tax dollars on
yesterday evening: an ordinance not on the agenda, not read to the public,
still not
on the county’s online list of ordinances, and for no stated purpose.
We can guess from Commissioner Raines’ remarks that it has something
to do with videoing and photographing.
Maybe it has something to do with the previous day’s
outburst by Ashley Paulk aimed at a specific individual.
Who knows?
None of the public who came to that meeting know.
That’s what passes for transparent government in Lowndes County, Georgia.
Here’s the video:
Ordinance for no reason, not on the agenda, and not read to the public @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
-jsq
Monday morning the County Commission considers and Tuesday evening
it decides three rezonings and an appointment, plus a
Prison Detail Contract.
The appointment is to the Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases Regional Planning Board, and was previously considered a month ago. According to DBHDD:
The Region Four Planning Board represents 24 counties in the region. Members are appointed by their county commissioners; they are business and civic leaders with a strong interest in mental health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases as well as consumers or family members of consumers.The role of the Regional Planning Board is to give a voice to consumers and their families and other citizens in the region in assessing needs and recommending priorities for DBHDD services. The planning board makes recommendations about services and works with the regional office to develop an annual plan. Regional planning board members stay informed about local needs and issues and serve as advocates with public officials. The main objective of the board is to identify community needs and gaps in the current DBHDD service system and to make recommendations based on their findings.
The Georgia Department of Corrections says about Valdosta State Prison work details:
The Annex protects the public by maintaining custody of medium and minimum security offenders while providing outside work details to the community.I don’t quite understand how prisoners are being paid pennies for doing jobs that a lot of local unemployed people might want.…
VSP and Annex Inside details: Orderlies, Grounds Maintenance, Laundry, Trash, and Maintenance. The Annex provides the following outside details: Correctional Industries, Department of Transportation, Georgia State Patrol, City of Valdosta (3 details), Lowndes County (2 details), Cook County, Valdosta State Prison (2 details), Department of Transportation (Weigh Station), Valdosta Police Department, Mobile Construction and Maintenance (Outside Institution).
Here’s the agenda: Continue reading