Quite a few people showed up at the Lowndes County Commission
public hearing about abandoning part of Bethany Road, speaking pro and con.
We learned many interesting reasons for abandoning that road,
which would apply to many dirt and maybe paved roads in the county,
many of which are on the county’s paving list.
More about that and an interesting view of the press in later posts.
First, here’s what we’re talking about.
Abandonment of a Portion of Bethany Road,
County Engineer, Mike Fletcher, presented a request by citizens for the
abandonment of a portion of Bethany Road. Mr. Fletcher explained that
the Commission was being asked to make an initial determination that
either the section of the county road system has been ceased to be used
by the public to the extent that no substantial purpose is served by it,
or that its removal from the county road system is otherwise in the best
public interest. Mr. Fletcher added that once the initial determination
was made, staff would move forward with the appropriate advertising of
a public hearing at which time the Commission could make a final decision.
Here’s
video
in which County Engineer Mike Fletcher said the part of Bethany Road
to be abandoned runs from Bethany Drive down through the Stith
and Turner family properties towards Old US 41 North
as far as the Rykard property,
and that all residents would still have access out to other roads.
County Manager Joe Pritchard noted that
Continue reading →
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Staff presented the
agenda item
“7.b. Entrance Gate at Davidson and Roberts Roads”:
Lowndes County received
a $2M grant from the Federal Highway Administration
for construction of a new Moody AFB entrance gate,
the gate to be located located at the intersection of
Davidson and Roberts Roads.
$477,991 of this money has already been taken for the
railroad crossing improvements,
leaving a balance of $1.52 million.
The low bid is from Scruggs Company, $1,648,497.05.
Wait, what?
The low bid is for more than the funds available?
Surely somebody will explain that?
Nope, no discussion. Instead, Commissioner Crawford Powell said:
I’ll make a motion we approve the bid as presented by staff.
Commissioner Evans seconded, and they all voted for it.
Hey, what $128,497.05 discrepancy?
Commission voted for $128,497.05 road cost overrun without discussion @ LCC 2012 Jan 10 Part 1 of 2:
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 10 January 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
If we look at the previous morning’s work session (9 January 2012),
we do find a bit more information.
The grant was presented as involving both the Federal Highway Administration
and Homeland Security, and:
Who is on the Tourism Authority Board, and why do they have
such rapid changeover in executive directors?
The Commissioners considered Monday 9 January and made Tuesday 10 January
three appointments to the Tourism Authority:
Commissioner Joyce Evans (reappointment),
Jerome “Andy” Anderson (reappointment),
and Greg Charbeneau apparently to replace
Linda Jenson (who had been appointed to fill a vacancy for ? Montgomery).
5.a. Valdosta/Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority
County Manager Joe Pritchard said at the Tuesday Regular Session that
Greg Charbeneau is a Vice President at Wild Adventures.
Here’s
video of that session:
3 Appointments to VLC Conference Center and Tourism Authority LCC 2012 Jan 10
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 10 January 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
We learned a little more at the Monday Work Session, but not much.
Here’s
video:
3 Appointments to VLC Conference Center and Tourism Authority LCC 2012 Jan 9
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 9 January 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Videos of 10 Jan 2012 LCC Regular Session
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 10 January 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Videos of 9 Jan 2012 LCC Work Session
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 9 January 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
I’ve made these same comments before. It’s just part of the attitude that
is popular with some elected & appointed officials “We’ve been chosen. Now
go away & don’t ask any questions about what we are doing until it’s time
to vote again.” I don’t think all the individuals share the attitude,
but some do & over time it has become standard procedure. Hopefully,
as more citizens pay attention & ask for more insight procedure will
adjust. There is a reason for open meetings & sunshine laws & it’s not
so citizens can listen to or read about decisions based on information
they are not allowed to hear or observe.
Requesting such a hearing before January 24 would give the opportunity
to have all this information presented and for questions to be asked
and answered.
Except that’s not the way it works around here.
Public hearing locally means the chairman or mayor or whoever says
“Who wants to speak for?”
and maybe somebody speaks.
And then “Who wants to speak against?”
and maybe somebody speaks.
It doesn’t mean that the Commission or the Council or the Authority
presents anything for the public to consider.
Witness the
hearing the Lowndes County Commission
held in December on the documents related to the Comprehensive Plan.
The only reason the public knew anything about what was in those documents
was that Gretchen got them from somewhere else after the Commission
refused to supply them in response to an open records request.
The Commission never distributed any of the relevant documents
to the public.
Only one citizen spoke, perhaps because nobody else knew what
to speak about.
Almost none of the local municipalities or boards or authorities
routinely present to the public the information that is in the
packets they see before the discuss or vote.
There are rare exceptions, such as the VLMPO
and other organizations or projects administered by the
Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC).
SGRC is a state agency, not a local agency.
Why does Lowndes County and all its municipalities and boards
avoid transparency?
Why can’t you, the public, see what’s in a rezoning request before
Continue reading →
Another issue here is that there will be no public hearing on this issue
unless someone ASKS for it. Without a hearing, it just goes forward
with no other public information about being presented. Anyone may ask
for a hearing, but I would especially think that there are people who
really need a functional system that is not just focused on people
who have access to Medicaid as a payment source due to illness or
disability. Requesting such a hearing before January 24 would give the
opportunity to have all this information presented and for questions to
be asked and answered.
Lowndes County officials assure citizens who use the county’s
current transit program that they will not be affected if the
proposed Valdosta-Lowndes County Transit Service Plan is implemented
in the area.
The current Lowndes County 5311 Transit Program falls under the
jurisdiction of the Georgia Department of Transportation. Ten
percent of the program is subsidized by the state and 80 percent is
subsidized by federal funds. Lowndes County provides 10 percent of
the cost of each bus.
Lowndes County’s 5311 Transit Program was implemented in December
2001 with only three buses. The program now includes six buses that
provide transportation throughout Lowndes County.
That may make MIDS the biggest bus system in the county.
VSU may have more busses.
Does Moody run busses?
Quite a few people showed up at the Lowndes County Commission
public hearing about abandoning part of Bethany Road, speaking pro and con.
We learned many interesting reasons for abandoning that road,
which would apply to many dirt and maybe paved roads in the county,
many of which are on the county’s paving list.
More about that and an interesting view of the press in later posts.
First, here’s what we’re talking about.
Here’s
video
in which County Engineer Mike Fletcher said the part of Bethany Road
to be abandoned runs from Bethany Drive down through the Stith
and Turner family properties towards Old US 41 North
as far as the Rykard property,
and that all residents would still have access out to other roads.
County Manager Joe Pritchard noted that
Continue reading 
is popular with some elected & appointed officials “We’ve been chosen. Now
go away & don’t ask any questions about what we are doing until it’s time
to vote again.” I don’t think all the individuals share the attitude,
but some do & over time it has become standard procedure. Hopefully,
as more citizens pay attention & ask for more insight procedure will
adjust. There is a reason for open meetings & sunshine laws & it’s not
so citizens can listen to or read about decisions based on information
they are not allowed to hear or observe.
Another issue here is that there will be no public hearing on this issue
unless someone ASKS for it. Without a hearing, it just goes forward
with no other public information about being presented. Anyone may ask
for a hearing, but I would especially think that there are people who
really need a functional system that is not just focused on people
who have access to Medicaid as a payment source due to illness or
disability. Requesting such a hearing before January 24 would give the
opportunity to have all this information presented and for questions to
be asked and answered.
