What was discussed by the Lowndes County Commission regarding the recent changes to the alcohol ordinance came up again in their 28 February 2012 meeting. Relevant to that are these videos of discussion in their 23 May 2011 Work Session.
Sunday Alcohol Sales Work Session, Lowndes County Commission, (LCC), Lowndes County Commission, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 23 May 2011. Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
Not on the agenda, Chairman Ashley Paulk invited Sheila Cook up to introduce herself as an applicant for appointment to the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases Region Four Planning Board.
I currently work in Lowndes County at Pine Grove Middle School as a special education teacher. I’ve been teaching for nine years.
She gave a rather complete resume, including education, professional experience, about her son who is twelve who is autistic, and about a woman who lived with her who has cerebral palsy.
Commissioner Crawford Powell, wanted to know whether travel would be a problem, since the meetings are usually in Thomasville. She answered not as long as the times don’t conflict with school.
I believe I’ve heard Commissioner Joyce Evans say in Commission meetings previously that it would be good for potential appointees to appear in Commission meetings beforehand. Congratulations to Commissioner Evans and the Commission for transparency in appointments.
Introduction of Sheila Cook, Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 28 February 2012. Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
Has this ever happened before?
Both school boards and the Valdosta City Council and Lowndes County Commission
all meeting together?
Maybe this way we can get some actual improvements in education!
The first annual Valdosta-Lowndes Governmental Leadership Meeting
will be held on March 29, 2012 at 6:30 pm in the Lowndes High School
Lecture Hall. Valdosta City and Lowndes County Board of Education
members, Valdosta City Council members, and Lowndes County
Commissioners will be in attendance. Lowndes County Schools will
host a dinner for the leadership at 6:00 pm.
The purpose of the meeting is to promote the enhancement of
communication and allow leaders to share ideas and plans pertinent
to the development and expansion of our local governmental entities.
It will also allow members to discuss long-range strategic plans,
including any special projects, while providing greater insight as
to what will transpire within our community over the next five
years. The meeting is open to the public.
Agenda
Welcome and Introductions
Dr. Steve Smith, Superintendent Lowndes County Schools
Sharing of Long Range Plans and Vision
Lowndes County Board of Education
Lowndes County Board of Commissioners
Valdosta City Board of Education
Valdosta City Council
Questions, Comments, Suggestions
Wrap Up
Wes Taylor, Superintendent-elect,
Lowndes County Schools
A number of years ago, the City of Austin purchased this land
planning to install a new coal-fired power plant. When those plans
fell through, a landfill was proposed for the site that now boasts
280 acres of solar panels with a view of downtown Austin along its
horizon.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be that big, or all in one place.
How about on top of a landfill?
How about on the cotton fields
next to Valdosta’s Sallas Mahone Elementary School?
Energy to air condition the school instead of drifting pesticides,
and profit to the landowner!
How about at the airport?
At the mall parking lot?
On top of the new county palace?
On the warehouses in Hahira?
No injuries or loss of life from the March 3rdtornado, but no disaster declaration
and thus no government financial assistance,
said
Ashley Tye
in a long report to the Lowndes County Commission this morning.
Such reports are not normally repeated at the Tuesday evening
regular sessions, so if you weren’t there, here is the only
place you will see it.
Ashley Tye remarked:
The good news is that there were no reported injuries or no loss of life.
There was a lot of property damage.
He said the National Weather Service
determined it was an F2 tornado,
and once it got to Walker’s Crossing it had winds of about 100 miles an hour.
He said 34 homes were affected, of which 19 were destroyed,
meaning uninhabitable.
He’s checking types of assistance that might be available.
Unfortunately, financial assistance is unavailable;
it requires a federal declaration.
And while the level of damage is obviously devastating to us
in Lowndes County,
it didn’t reach the level that would meet the threshold
that would cause the governor to request a federal declaration.
He said there had been a tremendous outpouring of volunteer support.
And insurance might pay off, although some people may not have enough
insurance.
He added that the county’s code red emergency system worked well,
and probably had something to do with there being no loss of life.
I know I got at least six county code red messages that day before
my message box filled up (I was in a building with no signal).
Commissioner Richard Raines asked if FEMA had to have a declaration for
GEMA to respond.
Ashley Tye answered:
A retiree recognition, an appointment, 2 liquor licenses,
3 rezonings, 3 grant documents, and a beer license,
discussed 8:30 AM Monday morning at the Work Session,
to be voted on 5:30 PM Tuesday evening at the Regular Session
of the Lowndes County Commission.
Before selling it off to a private landowner who
who two years later got a contract with private prison company CCA
to resell it for almost 100% profit,
the Industrial Authority acquired a road easement through county-owned wetlands
from Lowndes County:
Further, Grantor hereby conveys a Non-Exclusive Ingress and Egress Easement
in that certain 0.685 acre tract or parcel of land
situate, lying and being in Land Lot 153 of th 11th
Land District of Lowndes County, Georgia.
Said 0.685 acre tract being designated as “0.685 acres — Ingress/Egress
Easement reserved for future right-of-way extension”
as depicted on that certain map or survey
“Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority” dated
September 8, 2004 and recorded September 9, 2004 in Plat Cabinet A, Page 2659,
Lowndes County records, to which
map and survey is hereby referred in further aid of description.
An easement that a private landowner might have more difficulty getting
from the county.
Isn’t that convenient?
5PM today,
Drive Away CCA, from the prison site at East US 84 and Inner Perimeter Road,
honk at Valdosta City Hall, and march at the Industrial Authority office.
John Quarterman, who is with a group informally called “Drive
Away CCA” visited The Morning Drive to discuss the group’s
displeasure with a possible private prison that is being discussed
in Lowndes County. A possible extension for the company to continue
its plans here is up for renewal and the group feels its location
here would be bad for area businesses and citizens alike.
Today at 5PM, help Drive Away CCA!
Join the motorcade from the private prison site to honk at Valdosta City Hall
and march at the Industrial Authority office.
I’ll be on Chris Beckham’s show on WVGA 105.9 FM this morning at 7:30 AM
to talk about it.
What was discussed by the Lowndes County Commission regarding the recent changes to the alcohol ordinance came up again in their 28 February 2012 meeting. Relevant to that are these videos of discussion in their 23 May 2011 Work Session.
