Here are videos of swearing in the new Commissioners, Commissioners, Mark Wisenbaker (District 3) and Scott Orenstein (District 2), and also the re-elected Commissioner, Demarcus Marshall (District 4), by Senior Superior Court Judge, H. Arthur McLane, at 10 AM this morning, 19 December 2014. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Law
Swearing Commissioners this morning
On the county’s website under News Flash aka Spotlight (but not in the county’s calendar), New County Commissioners scheduled for ceremony,
On December 19, at 10:00 a.m., Senior Superior Court Judge, H. Arthur McLane, will swear in newly elected Commissioners, Mark Wisenbaker (District 3) and Scott Orenstein (District 2). The new Commissioners will officially take office effective January 1, 2015. You are invited to attend this event to be held in the Commission Chambers, Lowndes County Administrative Building, 327 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia.
-jsq
Georgia Power can’t get a schedule from its own contractors for Vogtle nuclear project
After two years of no integrated project schedule (IPS), Georgia Power tried to get the the elected Public Service Commissioners to tell it how to enforce a contract for Plant Vogtle that Georgia Power brought to them. This video clip ends with formerly staunch pro-nuclear Commissioner H. Doug Everett saying any company that did that probably would be imprudent. And Everett also said:
We haven’t seen any results.
Georgia Power’s representative, I think Rob Trokey, said:
We have agreed haven’t we that the company does not manage this project. They oversee it, they may report to this commission the status of it, but it does not manage this project.
Answer from the Commission:
It doesn’t.
So who does? According to Georgia Power: Continue reading
Solar bills in the Georgia legislature
Every year since about 2000 one or more solar bills have been before the Georgia legislature to modify the 1973 Territorial Electric Service Act to enable solar financing. 2015 could be the year one of them finally passes, what with influential people finally waking up to the cost-saving and energy-independence power of solar panels. If you want real energy reliability, lower power bills, and local jobs, you can help pass whichever bill gets before the legislature this year, and right now is a good time to help draft that bill.
Here are a few recent bills.
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2013:
SB 51, The Georgia Cogeneration and Distributed Generation Act
That year even the Georgia Municipal Association fell for opposing SB 51, and ALEC and Georgia Power once again smothered it in committee. This year two people in the Valdosta City government have told LAKE of their interest in passing a solar financing bill, so that’s a big change. Continue reading
Rooftop solar catching on; 1973 anti-finance law really needs fixing
People are starting to wake up as the solar sun rises above their horizon. This could be the year the Georgia legislature finally passes a bill to amend the law that inhibits solar financing. Even the City of Valdosta seems suddenly interested in helping with that.
Michael Caputo and Grant Blankenship, GPB, 12 December 2014, (VIDEO) Will Solar Power’s Surge in Georgia Make It To Homeowners?,
Early adopter Creighton Rosental of Macon is what you’d call a solar pioneer. The early adopter said that he had the 4-kilowatt panels installed on the backyard side of his roof about five years ago. Two-thirds of the upfront cost—about $30,000—was covered by a federal tax credit and a Georgia state credit.
“They built a frame and mounted it to the roof, which was a substantial fairly substantial enterprise.” Rosental said.
Continue reading
Valdosta Passes Resolution Against Sabal Trail Pipeline: not in this city, this county, or this state @ VCC 2014-12-11
Go away, Sabal Trail:
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City of Valdosta supports the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners in their opposition to the construction of the Sabal Trail pipeline in any portion of Lowndes County. The City’s support includes concerns with fundamental property rights, the manner in which eminent domain might be utilized, and the lack of demonstrated benefit to the City and County. Furthermore, the City of Valdosta supports the Lowndes County Commission in their formal request to the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC), and to State and Federal Legislators in the effort to have Lowndes County and the State of Georgia bypassed in the construction of the proposed pipeline.
Here is Continue reading
Resolution against Sabal Trail pipeline + 3-1 ordinances @ VCC 2014-12-11
The resolution against the Sabal Trail pipeline, including to be filed with FERC, was passed 6 to 1 by the Valdosta City Council Thursday 11 December 2014, supporting the resolution the Lowndes County Commission passed unanimously Tuesday, plus a clause about protecting our drinking water in the Floridan Aquifer; see separate post. John Robinson thanked the city for a VSEB contract. The personal care home rezoning passed. The taxicab ordinance was deferred (not all cab company owners had been consulted yet), while two others passed. Also some bids rejected while others were approved, a reappointment of Tom Kurrie to the Valdosta Housing Authority, and recognized employee of the month Terrial Small.
Here’s the agenda. For background, see the videos of the Tuesday Work Session, including a bomb report by Police Chief Childress. The videos from the Thursday Regular Session are linked below, followed by a video playlist.
Continue readingAgainst Sabal Trail pipeline + 3 ordinances + bomb report @ VCC 2014-12-09
The Valdosta City Council discussed a resolution against the Sabal Trail pipeline at their Work Session Tuesday, as you can see in these videos. Come see them vote on it tonight at 5:30 PM at City Hall.
They also heard a bomb report at the Work Session, in addition to discussing all the other business, especially the taxicab ordinance.
At the same time Tuesday, the Lowndes County Commission unanimously Continue reading
Thanks for concern about drinking water from the Floridan Aquifer –Don Thieme about Valdosta draft resolution against Sabal Trail pipeline @ VCC 2014-12-09
Water matters, too, said a comment yesterday on We all live in Lowndes County: Valdosta Draft Resolution Against Sabal Trail Pipeline @ VCC 2014-12-09. The Valdosta City Council votes tonight at 5:30 PM on this resolution. And don’t forget to get your comments or motions to intervene to FERC before the deadline of 24 December 2014. -jsq
Many thanks to Tim Carroll for adding the part about this important environmental issue which affects everyone in the city of Valdosta and Lowndes County as well. This is not just about the property rights of a few concerned citizens although those are important as well and demand protection from elected politicians.
–Don Thieme
Probation, Sabal Trail, budget, calendar, appointments, Thomas County Commission @ TCC 2014-12-09
The Sabal Trail pipeline and probation payments were major issues at the Thomas County Commission 9AM Tuesday 9 December 2014. Sheriff R. Carlton Powell noted that private probation company Sentinel, which he said serves Lowndes County, was involved in several lawsuits.
Here’s the agenda, and below are links to the videos, followed by a video playlist.
Continue reading