Category Archives: Transparency

Videos: Leadership Lowndes, VLCIA appointment, Rivers Radio @ LCC 2017-12-12

In an outbreak of transparency and due diligence in the last Lowndes County Commission of 2017, they took ten minutes replacing Mary Goodman on the Industrial Authority, hearing from three nominees, and appointing Brad Folsom. They took three and a half minutes to choose among three nominees to the Tourism Authority to appoint Robert Jefferson. None of those nominees spoke, but the vote was so split they actually had a runoff, which ended in a 3:2 final vote. They also reappointed Joyce Evans by silent “acclamation”.

Leadership Lowndes spoke for 12 minutes (as long as three citizens get), citizen Willie Mae Jones wanted to know what next to get her Black Road paved, and County Engineer Mike Fletcher said the signatures were verified as 84% of the property owners on the road, so it would go on the paving list with the 74 projects already on there. Chairman Bill Slaughter actually asked for Commissioner comments, and each of them said a few words, mostly thanks to the staff and Merry Christmas. Chairman Bill Slaughter even thanked citizens for coming to the meetings. Merry Christmas, Commissioners!

The longest rezoning public hearing was REZ-2017-13 Quattlebaum-Meadors, N Valdosta RD, R-21 to C-H.

Below are Continue reading

Videos: Dasher, Remerton, Valdosta, Lowndes County @ GLPC 2018-01-29

The Planning Commission last month welcomed Ed Hightower, appointed earlier that same month by the Lowndes County Commission. They heard one case each from the seldom seen Cities of Dasher, and Remerton (longest at almost 38 minutes on apartments at the old mill site). plus and three from Lowndes County including REZ-2018-02 CR Ventures – Rocky Ford Rd – 71 acres (third longest at 23 minutes), and five from Valdosta including Deep South Sanitation (second longest at more than 37 minutes), which was also separately heard on a related matter by ZBOA a week later.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each item, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda, and the three Lowndes County cases will be voted on by the county Tuesday evening. Continue reading

Dasher, Remerton, Valdosta, Lowndes County @ GLPC 2018-01-29

One case each from the seldom seen Cities of Dasher and Remerton, plus five from Valdosta and three from Lowndes County, at last week’s Planning Commission meeting; video up shortly.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
Lowndes County City of Valdosta City of Dasher City of Hahira City of Lake Park
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
AGENDA

Monday, January 29, 2018 * 5:30 P.M. * Public Hearing
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue

Continue reading

Turner Center for the Arts presentation @ LCC 2018-02-12

After a decade as Director of the Turner Center for the Arts, Cheryl Oliver announce last month she is resigning, and she is on the agenda for this morning at 8:30 AM at the Lowndes County Commission with "State-of-the-Art Center" Presentation.

Cheryl Oliver

Plus three well and septic public hearings, one road abandonment, subdivision roads, utility relocation for I-75 exits 2 and 11, and an annual judicial grant application.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading

Videos: Approved resolution against state fee diversion, economic strategy, road abandonment @ LCC 2018-01-23

They approved everything in 10 minutes flat, including the Special Asessment Rate for 2018, the Community and Economic Development Strategy, and yes, they added to the agenda and passed the Resolution Supporting HR 158 to Stop Diversion of State Fees.

Below are Continue reading

Videos: Resolution against state fee diversion, economic strategy, road abandonment @ LCC 2018-01-22

1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for Approval, Movies The tire amnesty went well, and added to the agenda: a county resolution in support of HR 158 in the Georgia legislature, to stop state fee diversions.

The County Manager reminded them they had heard about the Community and Economic Development Strategy a few months before (apparently under another name), and there was some confusion about Georgia Power’s continued involvement.

Below are links to each LAKE video with a few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also Continue reading

Economic strategy, road abandonment, alcohol @ LCC 2018-01-22

The big item on the agenda for 8:30 AM Monday morning is an MoU and $25,000 to fund a Community and Economic Development Strategy. Presumably this is the 2013-2018 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that the VDT says the Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC) recently adopted.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading

Videos: Public Works, Development, Planning, Health Board Appointments, budget, qualifying @ LCC 2018-01-09

For two out of three boards, they came up with one name between Monday morning and Tuesday evening. No one applied for the Lowndes County Development Authority; instead they appointed Gary Moser who applied to be on Planning Commission. They reappointed Franklin Bailey, head of homebuilders association, to the Planning Commission, plus they appointed Ed Hightower to finish the unexpired term of Brad Folsom. They appointed Dr. Frances Brown to the Lowndes County Board of Health. And the County Manager recognized Public Works for their good work during the recent storms.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each item, with a few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the Continue reading

Videos: Weather, Development, Planning, Health Board Appointments, budget, qualifying @ LCC 2018-01-08

County Manager Joe Pritchard thanked county staff for their performance during the recent storms and the public for mostly staying off the roads. It will cost $450 to qualify to run for County Commissioner.

No, we don’t know what was wrong with the sound. We will try to get it better tomorrow evening.

No applicants for the Lowndes County Development Authority Board of Health, and many for the Planning Commission.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each item, with a few notes, followed by a video playlist. See also the notes on the agenda. Continue reading

Development, Planning, Health Board Appointments, budget, qualifying @ LCC 2018-01-08

Where did they advertise for applications for the three boards on the agenda for tomorrow morning, voting Tuesday evening? Who was the mysterious term expiration on the Development Authority of Lowndes County (not the same as the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority, VLCIA)? If we assume the county’s web page for the Lowndes County Development Authority is the relevant one, it doesn’t say what term expired nor who was in that slot, it just says “Vacant”. However, we can deduce that the missing board member is Jeff Reames, whose seat expired June 8, 2017. When they appointed six members to that board the next month, they did not appoint anyone to that slot, even though Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker asked about that at the time.

Brad Folsom quit the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission to join VLCIA.

Five people want to be appointed: Keven Bussey, Gary Moser, Ed Hightower, and Bart Davis. Also, Franklin Bailey wants to be reappointed.

“Mr.” Myron Faircloth (I thought he was a doctor) resigned from the Board of Health, and nobody is mentioned as wanting to be appointed.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, JANUARY 8, 2018, MONDAY, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION,JANUARY 9, 2018, TUESDAY, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading