Tag Archives: Hahira

Council Comments @ Hahira 2012-08-02

Here are the rest of the videos from the Hahira City Council meeting of 2 August 2012, including the very interesting scheduled agenda items in which each Council member, the City Manager, and the Mayor give their thoughts on issues relevant to the City of Hahira.

Here’s a video playlist of the entire meeting:

Regular Session, Hahira City Council (Hahira),
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Hahira, Lowndes County, Georgia, 2 August 2012.

Other city employees present included Continue reading →

Video Playlist Hahira City Council @ Hahira 2012-08-02

Here’s a video playlist of most of the Hahira City Council Regular Session of Thursday 2 August 2012. Hahira City Council (population about 2,800) spent more time in open public discussion about each of several individual agenda items than the Lowndes County Commission (population 111,000+) typically spends on an entire “open meeting”.

They held a millage hearing and lowered the milage. They discussed developer tap fees (nay), discussed the now-ritual topic of bidding for waste disposal ( nay), and approved a GEFA loan for a new water well (yea). A surprise vote on fixing a tractor (yea) was not on the agenda.

Near the beginning they still have Citizens to Be Heard. Maybe they’re not afraid of their citizens? Citizens mostly wanted to talk about the police chief’s proposal to fine people who didn’t mow their lawns.

A few more videos will be added, probably today, (now available as Council Comments) of the votes on cost of living increases (yea), SPLOST VII (yea), the consent agenda (yea), and council comments at the end of the session.

The agenda is below after the videos; thanks to City Manager Jonathan Sumner for sending it. Here’s the video playlist:

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Video Playlist Hahira City Council
Regular Session, Hahira City Council (Hahira),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Hahira, Lowndes County, Georgia, 2 August 2012.

Agenda

Continue reading →

Well loan and tap fees —Barbara Stratton @ Hahira 2012-08-02

Received yesterday on Hahira approved for water well loan by state. -jsq

It’s nice to know Hahira will get a break in interest, but tax payers will still have to pay back the loan. I missed the council meeting which is unusual for me. Does the video show anything about the fact some council members voted not to raise the tap fees for new construction which would certainly help pay back the loan instead of depending so much on tax monies? Developers should not be allowed to come in and make huge profits from new construction, then take their profits and let the citizens pay the price for increased water demands. Raising the one time tap fees would have distributed some of the costs to the developers who enjoy the profits from increased demands on the infrastructure and water usage.

-Barbara Stratton

Yes, we have video of the entire Hahira City Council meeting, which will be posted soon. LAKE is always happy to accept help in taking or labeling videos.

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Fire on U.S. 122, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 August 2012

Deputy watching fire A house burned down this morning on US 122 east of the Boys Ranch. Multiple Lowndes County Fire and Rescue trucks were there, one from as far away as Shiloh, plus Moody Fire Emergency Services, an SGMC Paramedic Unit, and a Sheriff’s deputy directing traffic. The location was 5522 E Highway 122.

Here’s Part 1 of 3:

Fire on U.S. 122, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 August 2012 Part 1 of 3:
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Hahira, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 August 2012.

The SGMC unit appeared to have nothing to do, Continue reading →

Hahira approved for water well loan by state

Parker Wallace wrote for GPB 1 August 2012, Water Program Awards Loans,

The Governor’s water supply program awarded funding to eight water supply projects across the state.

The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority and the Georgia Department of Community affairs announced more than 90 million dollars in loans.

They’re aimed at helping finance water supply infrastructure.

The cities of Hahira and Vienna were approved for loans to construct new water supply wells. Newton, Oconee and Walton counties were all awarded 40 year loans to construct new reservoirs.

A bit more detail in the Montgomery Advertiser 2 August 2012, Funding flows to Georgia reservoir, water projects,

Continue reading →

Hahira Polling Place

The Hahira Historical Society’s parking lot was full at 6:30, with people parking in front of the building to vote. I found some last-minute campaigners, as well.

Election Polling Place: Hahira Historical Society Full parking lot in Hahira

The two sign wavers were the mother of Sandra K. Guest for State Court Judge and John Page, running for Lowndes County Commission District 5 (west). In the video you can hear Page say he hopes to be in a runoff. The election results so far look like it may indeed be Jody Hall and John Page in a runoff.

Movie: Mother of Sandra Guest for State Court Judge, Hahira, 2012-07-31 (18M) Movie: Working for every vote --John Page for LCC District 5, Hahira, 2012-07-31 (32M)

Pictures and videos by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Hahira, Lowndes County, Georgia, 31 July 2012.

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Results so far in contested Lowndes County Commission primaries, 7:45 PM 2012–07-31

It’s not over ’till it’s over, but so far, here’s what the Secretary of State election results page shows 45 minutes after poll closing time on this primary election day:

Results from GA Secretary of State

Results from GA Secretary of State
Screenshot by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Lowndes County, Georgia, 31 July 2012.

Allen Lane and Demarcus Marshall are neck and neck for District 4 (East) for Lowndes County Commission in the Democratic primary, while John Gates is ahead of Jamew Warren III in the Republican primary.

For District 5 (West), Jody Hall is ahead, followed by John Page in the Republican primary, and it looks like they’ll be in a runoff.

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My Voter Page by GA Sec. State

Still confused after seeing the list of polling places? Want to know which precinct you're in? My Voter Page provided by the Georgia Secretary of State can tell you, along with a map and directions. It can also provide you with a sample ballot.

Hm, here's the T-SPLOST referendum wording:

SPECIAL ELECTION Referendum 1

Southern Georgia District T-SPLOST

(Vote for One)

Provides for local transportation projects to create jobs, improve roads and safety with citizen oversight.
Shall Lowndes County's transportation system and the transportation network in this region be improved by providing for a 1 percent special district transportation sales and use tax for the purpose of transportation projects and programs for a period of ten years?
  • YES
  • NO

Well, now that they mention it, I'd say T-SPLOST shall not improve the transportation system in this county or region, and that's why I'm voting against it.

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Precincts for 2012 elections

Polling Places, Lowndes County, Georgia, 2012 According to the Lowndes County Board of Elections, the current voting precincts for Tuesday’s 31 July 2012 Primary Election, including the T-SPLOST referendum, are as listed below.

These are not the same as the precincts for last year’s elections.

Precinct 1 Hahira Historical Society, 116 E. Lawson St., Hahira
Precinct 2 Old Pine Grove Elementary School Gym, 4023 Pine Grove Road, Valdosta
Precinct 3 Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3501 Bemiss Road Valdosta
Precinct 4 Northside Baptist Church Gym, 200 E. Park Avenue, Valdosta
Precinct 5 Jaycee Park Activities Building, 2306 Jaycee Shack Road, Valdosta
Precinct 6 Naylor City Hall, 8753 Georgia Highway 135, Naylor
Precinct 7 Wood Valley Community Center, 1907 Gornto Road, Valdosta
Precinct 8 Rainwater Conference Center, One Meeting Place, Valdosta
Precinct 9 New Clyattville Fire Station, 5080 Madison Highway, Clyattville
Precinct 10 Mildred Hunter Community Center, 509 S. Fry St., Valdosta
Precinct 11 Dasher City Hall, 3686 US Hwy 41 S. Dasher
Precinct 12 South Lowndes Recreation Center, 6440 Ocean Pond Ave, Lake Park


View Lowndes County Polling Places 2012 in a larger map

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Cancelled! Hahira Third Thursday 19 July 2012

Hahira Third Thursday has been cancelled for today! Hahira City Manager Jonathan Sumner tells me rain is coming, and they have cancelled the whole thing: movie, farmers' market, etc.

Here's the contact web page for Hahira. City Hall is 229-794-2330.

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