I recommend people go to
tonight’s budget “hearing”
and see what’s said, and maybe even try to ask some questions.
I’m staying home; here’s why.
Since
Ashley Paulk is apparently still running the County Commission,
I’m going by
Ashley Paulk’s stated theory
that citizens provide input to the budget process at every meeting.
I already provided mine
14 May 2013: Continue reading
Tonight you can go be told what the county’s budget will be,
5PM at the county palace.
If you want to see the proposed budget,
you’ll have to go their beforehand and view the one paper
copy they are
required by law to show you.
They say they’re short of money,
so why are they
wasting taxpayer funds suing a legitimate business?
On the county’s online calendar: Budget Public Hearing (6/18/2013)
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing for the purpose of considering
the Fiscal Year 2014 proposed budget on the following dates:
June 18, 2013 at 5:30 p.m.
June 25, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Location:
Lowndes County Commission Chambers
327 N. Ashley St.
Valdosta, GA
A copy of the proposed budget is available for public review in the office of the County Clerk.
For questions please call 671-2400.
Kay Harris wrote for the VDT 19 June 2013, Lowndes County facing budget woes,
Continue reading
Audio feed was still not available so what you hear, is what I hear at the back of the room… -gretchen
Here’s the agenda, with links to the videos and a few notes by Gretchen.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSContinue reading
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Commissioners had trouble figuring out which road the County Engineer
wanted to rename, and which roads had already been closed, at
this morning’s Lowndes County Commission Regular Session.
|
View Larger Map |
6.a. Renaming George Road (CR #105)
There are two George Roads in the county and residents want to change the name of this one to Caney(?) Branch Road. There were some questions from Commissioners, mostly about where that road is. Commissioner Crawford Powell kept asking if it was a continuation of Corbett Road. County Engineer Mike Fletcher said no, and the part of Corbett Road Powell was thinking of was closed. Apparently the Commission has closed so many roads even the Commissioners can’t keep track of which they are.
If the Commissioners, with their packets in front of them, were confused, Continue reading
I guess some things are just not to be questioned, at least at this morning’s Lowndes County Commission Regular Session. However, although Commissioners did not, I do have a question.
5.b. Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority
County Chairman Slaughter:
“Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority Appointment.”County Manager Pritchard:
“The term currently held by Ashley Paulk will expire June 30th. Mr. Paulk has expressed an interest in being reappointed if the board so chooses.”
County Chairman Slaughter:
“Any questions?
OK, hearing none, let’s move on to agenda item number 6.”
I have a question. Why isn’t it Continue reading
Once again the big topic was trash, and it wasn’t on the agenda.
The Chairman made up a rule to limit citizen speakers to
15 minutes total.
After five citizens managed to speak anyway, all to applause, and
the owner of Deep South Sanitation
got a standing ovation,
the Commissioners offered
nothing but excuses.
Here’s the agenda, plus links to the videos and a few notes. See also the videos of the previous morning’s Work Session.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSContinue reading
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Another board, another incumbent reappointed. 
Now
I’m not saying that’s a bad thing: experience and continuity can be
useful. But I do think applicants could say more about why they
want the job and Commissioners could ask a few questions about
their experience on the board. At least applicants are mostly
showing up to speak; that’s an improvement.
5.c. Valdosta/Lowndes County Zoning Board of Appeals
At the
10 June 2013 Work Session, Zoning
Administrator Carmella Braswell introduced applicant Paul
Alvarado. He said he had been serving since 2007, and was not only
a voting member of ZBOA, but also had been providing legal
advice.
Now I have used Alvarado as an attorney, and have Continue reading
Three unscheduled candidates for the Lowndes County Library Board set examples for informative applications to an appointed board.
At the
10 June 2013 Work Session
the Chairman did clearly say library board appointments were not on the agenda
but would be at their next meeting.
He didn’t define “next meeting”, but he meant two weeks later,
when it is indeed
on the agenda for this morning and tomorrow evening.
Back two weeks ago,
South Georgia Regional Library Director Kelly Lenz
said two nominees were present for two vacant positions.
Then she named three people: Jack Hartley, Linda Most, and Matt Lawrence.
Jack Hartley’s LinkedIn profile says he is “Franchsie Owner of Home Instead Senior Care, Valdosta, Georgia”. He said: Continue reading
As usual, an incumbent on an appointed board asked to be reappointed and was.
She did show up and speak, although she said more when she was first appointed.
5.b. Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful Board
At the
10 June 2013 Work Session,
County Manager Joe Pritchard noted Continue reading
Do we have designated positions for specific local businesses on our appointed boards?
It sure looks like it, at least for Wild Adventures.
5.a. Valdosta/Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority
At the Work Session 10 June 2013
County Manager Joe Pritchard said Commissioners had a letter of resignation
from Bob Montgomery from VLCCCTA,
and a letter (he didn’t say from whom)
recommending Molly Deese to replace Montgomery.
Pritchard said Deese had been “filling in” for Montgomery at VLCCCTA.
Interesting. So Wild Adventures can send someone unappointed to fill in
on an appointed board?
He didn’t say who Deese is, but she is Continue reading