Half a million dollars for paving without any competitive bid:
it’s the county way!
Only one of three potential board appointees showed up.
Commissioners asked a surprising number of questions,
including about a water system trust indenture,
but not enough.
They vote this evening at 5:30 PM.
Here’s
the agenda
with links to the videos and a few notes.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Brett Huntley responded
to the Commission's mysterious ruling against the public
at the
26 Febuary 2013 Lowndes County Commission meeting,
to close the only public access to the Alapaha River in Lowndes County.
Neither County Manager Joe Pritchard nor County Engineer Mike Fletcher
were paying any attention.
I would like to publicly say that I am shocked with the decision.
I feel the decision was in favor of a sole person, and not in the
interests of the community and the citizens.
We tried to speak and explain our side of the story.
And the county road has not ceased to be used.
It's been being used in our county for over 100 years.
I feel your guys just made a decision that will have an impact
on our culture and heritage in the community that is not good.
It's a bad decision, I feel.
I kind of feel hurt.
I feel it's a personal thing for our community.
That whole road abandonment idea stems from one sole person
April Huntley
responded in shock to the Commission’s mysterious ruling against the public
at the
26 Febuary 2013 Lowndes County Commission meeting,
to close the only public access to the Alapaha River in Lowndes County.
The County Attorney and the County Manager appeared to be busy working
on something else and paying no attention.
I don’t know there’s a whole lot more to say.
Really, really, shocking and surprising that this road would be closed
as much public purpose that it serves.
[long pause]
I’ve done so much research on it and it’s in the best interests
of the public to have this access
that’s been there for over 100 years.
The 2030 plan that the county has, this would cause less destruction
to
that area; less change.
There’s already a road there.
It only needs parking,
and signs,
and rules and regulations that people can abide by.
And the county, after the last time when it was denied,
should have worked with the landowner
to mediate things, to get a decent set in place where
this could kept for hundreds more years for our county.
And I hope there will be a way to open it back up.
Really, really, shocking and surprising that this road would be closed as much public purpose that it serves —April Huntley
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 26 February 2013.
At the
26 Febuary 2013 Lowndes County Commission meeting,
Geraldine Houston wanted to inform the Commission on behalf of
George Page, director of Parks and Rec, that she was back on the job.
She sells cakes, cookies, peanuts, etc. in the parks.
She had previously had a contract to do that, but someone else
had gotten the contract.
The someone else moved to Alabama, and now Geraldine has the contract again.
She also sells at Valdosta Farm Days.
Back on the job in the park —Geraldine Houston
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 26 February 2013.
Emergency Services Director Ashley Tye spoke about Local weather conditions
at the
26 Febuary 2013 Lowndes County Commission meeting.
He said the
Withlacoochee River at Skipper Bridge Road
was expected to crest at 20 feet within hours.
He didn’t expect Valdosta’s Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant to flood.
He said most of the rain fell to the west of Valdosta, so
the Little River actually absorbed more water than the Withlacoochee this time.
Only Shiloh Road and a few other roads were closed.
The boat ramps at Langdale Park were closed in conjunction with Parks and Rec.
A few schools were closed, but all expected to reopen the next day.
Apparently one person with a lawyer can persuade the Lowndes County Commission
that hundreds of people are just
an unruly mass, not the public it’s supposed to represent.
For whatever reason, not clear to the public, the Commission voted
3 to 1 with 1 absent to close the end of Old State Road to Hotchkiss Crossing,
thus barring the only public access to the Alapaha River in Lowndes County.
We shall see whether they will follow through with their
hint that they might make a park on the Alapaha River at another location.
Congratulations to
Commissioner Demarcus Marshall for
speaking up for due process and for voting for the public!
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Received today; he sent it to all the Commissioners. -jsq
To the commission on the proposed idea of road abandonment on County
Rd. #16:
On the morning of 2/25/13 after the county commission’s morning work
session, my wife and I spoke with Joyce Evans and Bill Slaughter on
some of our concerns and new found technical information about road
abandonment, Georgia state waterways, and what the county and state
are expected to protect.
During our conversation we were told that for unexplained legal
reasons the county would have to give the road back to the land
owner. At this time my thoughts and questions come back to: Why if
for legal reasons do we have to give the land back or away, and why
are we even having to have a public hearing on this matter, if the
public has no say?
Tabled! The applicant requested and the Commission unanimously voted
to table
the proposed closing of Old State Road to Hotchkiss Crossing
on the Alapaha River
until their next meeting, which is in two weeks, Tuesday 26 February 2013.
A waste company executive suddenly rescheduled so he could come back
and apologize to the public.
All this and 3 rezonings and 3 contracts at the Lowndes County Commission
Regular Session Tuesday 12 February 2013, plus people haven’t forgotten
about animal shelter issues.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street — 2nd Floor
First the Chairman talked about how many people could speak and
for how long in the public hearing; then
at
Tuesday evening's Regular Session
the Commission tabled it
for two weeks, so closing the only public access to the Alapaha River
in Lowndes County will be up for a vote again Tuesday 26 February 2013.
You can see in the video that the room was packed, which is very unusual.
The great majority were there to oppose closing the road.
As Chairman Bill Slaughter
remarked, about nine people signed up for Citizens Wishing
to Be Heard to speak about this item; as he noted, anyone can speak
in a public hearing without signing up.
To my knowledge, only one person was there to speak for closing the road,
and that was the applicant who had just agreed to ask for it to be tabled.
The Chairman said:
The good news: they didn’t close the road to Hotchkiss Crossing
at the Alapaha River.
They tabled it until their next meeting, which is in two weeks,
26 February 2013. Video will follow tomorrow, in which you will
see the room was packed, mostly with people opposed to the road closing,
some from as far away as Tifton.
All concerned now have two weeks to absorb all the new information
and work out a solution.
Below is what I sent to the Lowndes County Commission at
Commissioner Joyce Evans’ request before the meeting tonight,
followed by a bit more information.
Subject: River Corridor Protection Plan
Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:49:50 -0500
Dear Commissioners and County Planner,
When I was talking to Joyce Evans just now, I mentioned the
100 foot natural vegetative buffer state law requires
local governments to establish next to perennial rivers.
Here is a summary of the state law, the definition it contains,
the GA EPD rules, and some notes on the relevant parts of
the Lowndes County Comprehensive Plan.
Half a million dollars for paving without any competitive bid:
it’s the county way!
Only one of three potential board appointees showed up.
Commissioners asked a surprising number of questions,
including about a water system trust indenture,
but not enough.
They vote this evening at 5:30 PM.
