As expected, the longest item was about the 300′ communications tower proposed south of US 84 E. Second was bids for rotary mowers (really). And a Commissioner wanted to know what’s a blade.
Afterwards, at 9AM, was a special appearance by Tax Commissioner Rodney Cain and his staff, which at 16 3/4 minutes, took almost as long as the entire Work Session.
In between, Commissioners answered my question: Continue reading
Most of the time in the relatively short April GLPC meeting was spent on the communications tower request, which see.
Below are links to each LAKE video of each item, with a very few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the GLPC agenda and the agenda for tomorrow’s Lowndes County Commission Meeting.
Appointments to two more Authorities with no prior public notice nor requests for applicants: the Hospital Authority and the Airport Authority.
About the Hospital Authority:
HISTORY, FACTS AND ISSUES: The term of Dr. Mary Richardson on the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County will expire on June 1, 2019. Ms. Shirley Garland, Mrs. Elsie Napier, and Dr. Mary Margaret Richardson’s names have all been submitted for appointment.
For the Airport Authority, Anthony Payton’s term is up and he wants to be reappointed.
Lowndes County Commissioners will be hearing about a bunch of purchases and bids. Two of them are water items: Georgia Department of Transportation – TIA Project Agreement – Hightower Road/Cooper Road NE Paving and Drainage Improvements and Professional Services for Coleman Road Lift Station Force Main Replacement. Look at this about that lift station:
HISTORY, FACTS AND ISSUES: Lowndes County received a Proposal from Lovell Engineering for the engineering and construction plan preparation for Coleman Road lift station force main replacement. Coleman Road force main has experienced repeated failures and is in need of replacement. Coleman Road force main is the beginning of the main trunk line that transports waste water from the north Lowndes region to the LAS. Costs will be 9% of construction.
Lowndes County is replacing a sewer main because it has failed before. Wait, is this the same main from back in October, when Commissioners approved $99,935 to fix “The 16” force main between Coleman Road lift station and James Road”?
Map: VALORGIS.
There are two transportation items: that TIA paving and drainage project, and Professional Engineering and Surveying Services for TIA Projects.
The two rezonings and the communications tower from the recent Planning Commission meeting are on the agenda.
No, we haven’t posted the LAKE videos of that Planning Commission meeting yet. Yes, we will do so soon. Meanwhile, Lowndes County has its own video equipment and editing software and could video Planning Commission meetings, and budget meetings, for that matter.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MAY 13, 2019, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Lowndes County is holding its Budget Meetings this week. Typically Commissioners and staff hear from all departments, agencies, and Authorities that get tax funds collected by the county.
When:
8:30 AM – 4:15 PM
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
8:30 AM – 2:15 PM
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
8:30 AM – 2:45 PM
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Where:
Commission Chambers,
327 N. Ashley Street 2nd Floor,
Valdosta, GA 31601
All three Lowndes County calendar posts note:
Meetings could potentially run longer than the scheduled times.
I would guess one topic that will come up will be the remaining projects in SPLOST VII.
As usual, Continue reading
Update 2019-05-12: LAKE videos.
The 103.45 acre parcel just south across US 84 from Georgia Forestry I’m guessing Richard Shelton wants to put a mobile phone tower on, because it’s listed as TWR-2019-01 on the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission agenda for tomorrow. Much smaller counties manage to post the entire packet with the agenda. At least this time the agenda is posted before the meeting without me having to call and ask where it is.
Parcel 0185 020, Shelton Forest LLC, Lowndes County Tax Assessors Map
Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
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Lowndes County City of Valdosta City of Dasher City of Hahira City of Lake Park
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
AGENDA
Monday, April 29, 2019 * 5:30 P.M. * Public Hearing
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue
With no prior notice to the public, and no invitation for people to apply, the Lowndes County Commission will appoint members to three boards:
Valdosta Daily Times: Sermons named Soror of the Year for 2016.
As usual, the county did not publish the applications the applicants turned in, nor any information about them. You could file an open records request for those, but three days from when the agenda is posted on Friday is after they vote on Tuesday.
You do still have time to turn in your own application if you want to be on one of these boards.
There’s also a Beer, Wine, and Liquor License for a new restaurant and Updated Section 5311 Rural Transportation Program Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.
So the Monday morning Work Session will probably last less than ten minutes.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2019, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Six minutes, almost as long as the preceding Work Session, for this special hurry-up real estate item that couldn’t wait one day for tonight’s Regular Session.
Lowndes County Project Manager Chad McLeod explained the easement. Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker asked wasn’t there an existing implied easement. Real Estate Agent Tom McCall said there wasn’t, although what he described sounded awful like that. However, he pointed out they had no idea Continue reading
About six minutes in yesterday morning’s Lowndes County Commission Work Session, including the office space rezoning recommended last month by the Planning Commission.
They vote tonight at 5:30 PM. Below are Continue reading
The Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend the one case before it last month: rezoning for offices on Old US 41 North.
Lowndes County still does not have a County Planner and now not a Zoner, either, since Carmella Braswell resigned last month. As usual, Molly Stevenson spoke for Planning. I see she is now listed as Department Head on some county documents.
Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda and the more recent Lowndes County Commission meeting.
Video. This is between Old US 41 North and the railroad, between Valwood and Scruggs.
Map: Lowndes County Tax Assessors,
Parcel 0053 112,
4555 Old US 41 North.
Misty Yeargan of 4501 Wellington Woods Drive, across US 41 from the point of the subject property, wanted to know if there was a plan for the subject property. The proponent answered to say that there’s not room for a driveway down there, so any driveway would have to be farther north, about where the current driveway is now. Acting county planner Molly Stevenson added that there would be buffer requirements in place, as well. They voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning with no conditions.
Here’s a LAKE video playlist:
Videos: Office on old US 41 N
Regular Session, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 March 2019.
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Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!
This morning at 8:45 AM, according to their calendar, apparently related to their decision a month ago to buy the former office of Coleman-Talley law firm at 910 N. Patterson Street for use by the Public Defender. It seems there’s a shared driveway with the other half of the property. Why this item couldn’t wait one day for tomorrow evening’s Regular Session is mysterious. One might even say poor planning.
910 N Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31601,
previously listed for rent for $8,206/month by RealLiving Real Estate, as
“Landmark Professional Office Space available on centrally located Patterson Street. This red brick office stands out in terms of craftsmanship, quality, and location. Built-ins throughout with (16) private offices, (10) work stations, multiple conference rooms, break room, mechanical rooms, storage closet, fireproof rooms and over 2,000 SF unfinished 3rd floor open space storage. From the well appointed receptionist area to the functional layout this property was designed with the professional in mind and is sure to impress your clients.”
Special Called Meeting
Monday, April 8, 2019
A special called meeting will be held for consideration of an agreement between Coleman Talley and Lowndes County for a mutual easement. *There could be a slight delay if the work session runs longer than expected.
Date: Continue reading