Tag Archives: 28 May 2013

Exclusive franchise on photographing County Commission? @ LCC 2013-05-28

Does the county ordinance that adversely affects Deep South Sanitation and no other company follow a pattern already set by the county? The VDT posted pictures clearly taken not from the media box during last night’s Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission: this one shows Gretchen videoing for LAKE from that media box. Has the Lowndes County Commission granted an exclusive franchise to the VDT for photographing, like the one it granted to ADS for trash collection? Or has the Commission admitted its anti-videoing ordinance was actually an illegal bill of attainder directed at LAKE alone? If so, why is it still posted on the door? And why is the county still planning to sue Deep South Sanitation on account of an ordinance and contract that directly adversely affects no other business? Hm, could that also be an illegal bill of attainder?

In case you had any doubt the VDT’s pictures were taken during the actual Commission meeting in session, this one is of Steve Parker speaking in Citizens Wishing to be Heard.

Even the Cumming City Council, which illegally ejected Nydia Tysdale for videoing an open meeting, realized its error and she now videos from the front row. Only Lowndes County, Georgia continues to post a sign on the door saying all videoing and photographing must be from the back of the room. And then it lets one news organization violate its own ordinance, but not another.

To quote former Chairman Ashley Paulk: Continue reading →

Videos: trash, appointment, GEMA, juveniles, mowing, and wellness @ LCC 2013-05-28

Trash wasn’t on the agenda, but it was the biggest issue. Like last Regular Session a Commissioner who happens to be a Christian minister prayed for one thing while the Commission does the opposite. Commissioners and staff also seemed confused about a mowing contract but we don’t know why, since none of us have seen what they were looking at. A Board incumbent was reappointed without discussion. In good news, county employees have lost 600 pounds.

Here’s the agenda, with a few notes and links to the videos. See also the Work Session of the same morning.

Lowndes County Commission LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Continue reading →

Losing our individual freedom of choosing –Carl Johnson Jr. @ LCC 2013-05-28

A veteran said he was concerned about losing our freedoms right here in Lowndes County because of the Commissions’ recent trash collection decisions, in yesterday’s Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.

Excerpts from what Carl Johnson Jr. said:

Carl Johnson Jr. As I drove into town today I drove by… Brown’s produce. Right across the way was Mr. Carter’s produce. Both of them same business. Why not just take Mr. Carter’s business, and say, well, we’re going to give it all to Mr. Brown…. We think it’s in the best interests of the county. That’s not the American way of life. Competition in everything is the strength of America….

[Applause]

Walter Elliott, Attorney for Lowndes County He said he didn’t know the intricacies of the law, but he asked the Commission to reconsider. Attorney for Lowndes County Walter Elliott looked on stone-faced. County Manager Joe Pritchard, as usual, paid no attention to citizen speakers.

There’s more in the video: Continue reading →

A county that eats its own –Gretchen Quarterman @ LCC 2013-05-28

“Stop wasting taxpayer money” said Gretchen Quarterman in yesterday’s Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.

Gretchen Quarterman I sort of wish that I had been able to observe the executive session where you discussed the pending lawsuit against Deep South Sanitation. I wonder who asked the question “Is it beneficial to all concerned?” I wonder which one of you said “This will really attract people to start or relocate business in our county when we sue one of our local business owners.”

If I were considering a business move, I wouldn’t move to a county that eats its own.

I ask that you drop the lawsuit and stop wasting taxpayer money. Thank you.

[Applause]

Bill Slaughter and Gretchen Quarterman were inducted into Valdosta Rotary on the same day (12 September 2012); that’s John Page, already a member, standing behind them. County Attorney Walter Elliott is also a member. The Rotary Continue reading →

We like doing business with Deep South Sanitation –Duane Roark @ LCC 2013-05-28

A 47-year local resident got up to say he liked Deep South Sanitation after he tried the monopoly company, and he likes having a choice. This was in yesterday’s Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.

Duane Roark said he was a satisfied customer of the recycling centers the county closed, and he didn’t like it when he heard he had to do business with ADS. Nonetheless, he signed up, but he wasn’t happy because of numerous mistakes so he switched to Deep South Sanitation, where the CEO answers the phone and delivered a can that same day. DSS: a man with one truck: what harm is he doing?

Duane Roark We like that we have a choice….

And he’s got my vote.
[Applause]

Some of the incumbent Commissioners may find votes hard to come by.

More in the video:

Continue reading →

Why are we running a family owned business out of business? –Steve Parker @ LCC 2013-05-28

Private citizen Steve Parker spoke up as a satisfied customer of Deep South Sanitation, and a dissatisfied former customer of the other trash company, wondering “What’s wrong with competition?” in yesterday’s Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.

Steve Parker Mr. Raines said it beautifully, wanting freedom in his prayer. I agree with him, wanting the freedom to make a choice, so I hired Deep South. Now I’m told that it’s been the position of the board to dismantle Deep South, to tell him to cease and desist, and to take away his business license which he got from the previous board. I know a lot of you inherited this issue, by the way. But at the same time, what is the greater good being served to the county? Why are we taking a family owned business and running them out of business in effect?

What’s wrong with competition? I’m in the financial business and if somebody would give me an exclusive to every client in Lowndes County that would be a pretty good day for me.

He continued Continue reading →

Judging appointments, grants, and bids @ LCC 2013-05-28

Fast as a speeding “next” until the juvenile court judge showed up and asked for help getting a grant to save money by putting fewer children in jail. One candidate for a board showed up (late) to speak, and I continue to predict he’ll be reappointed tonight: that’s when they vote: tonight at 5:30PM in the Regular Session. Meanwhile, here are videos of this morning’s Lowndes County Commission Work Session.

Here’s the agenda, with a few notes and links to the videos.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Continue reading →

Juvenile Justice grant would reduce costs more than the grant –Judge Council @ LCC 2013-05-28

Would you rather spend upwards of $91,000 a year to lock up a juvenile offender or spend less money to prevent that? Juvenile Court Judge Council advocated the former at this morning’s Lowndes County Commission Work Session.

6.a. 2013 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Program Application

This is about a potential new grant Emergency Director Ashley Tye said he had been working on with Judge Council, applying to the Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Program which was approved by the legislator and governor this year. (Governor’s Executive Order of 16 April 2013 directing the assembly of the Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Funding Committee to allocate to counties the funding of $5 million approved by the legislature.) Lowndes County would act as the applicant agent or grant administrator on behalf of the juvenile justice department, and Judge Council would serve as the implementing agency, working with several groups such as LODAC ( Lowndes Drug Action Council, Inc.). If the grant is accepted, it will be awarded quickly, running from June to June. It’s a reimbursement grant: make the expenses, submit a report, and get reimbursed from the grant.

Judge James F. Council, Jr. (who Continue reading →

Who is the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals? @ LCC 2013-05-28

Who will be appointed tomorrow to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals (VLCCBAA), who’s on it, and what do they do? Randall Crews, Crews Engineering Let’s look back a few years. Continue reading →

Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals appointment @ LCC 2013-05-28

GEMA, juvenile justice, mowing, and an appointment to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals at Tuesday morning’s Work Session, with voting at 5:30PM that same evening (tomorrow) in the Regular Session. Who might they appoint? Who knows? They don’t tell the public until they meet. But I’ll guess they’ll reappoint Randy Crews; see other post for why.

Here’s the agenda.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Continue reading →