Tag Archives: REZ-2022-10

Videos: Lowndes County Commission again approved Howell Road Halfway House rezoning 2023-06-12

In Monday night’s kabuki theater, after the usual stylized performances, the Lowndes County Commission once again approved the rezoning. The numerous opposition speakers supplied the broad dramatic gestures, all to no avail.

[Collage @ LCC 12 June 2023]
Collage @ LCC 12 June 2023

On the validity of the previous decision, Commissioner Demarcus Marshall moved to declare invalid the previous decision. Long silence. Eventually Commission Clay Griner asked for clarification from County Attorney G. Walter Elliott to clarify that he thought this was necessary. He said he thought it was. Motion passed 3 to 2. Two of the three were Marshall and Griner; I think the third was Joyce Evans, with Scottie Orenstein and Mark Wisenbaker against. Hard to be sure because they did not raise their hands.

On the actual rezoning case, they did raise their hands, and the vote was also 3 to 2 split the same way as the last time they voted on this rezoning decision: Clay Griner, Mark Wisenbaker, and Scottie Orenstein for, and Demarcus Marshall and Joyce Evans against.

Then they adjourned, after 55 minutes of kabuki theater.

At the beginning, Chairman Bill Slaughter did introduce something I haven’t seen before Continue reading →

Packet: Howell Road Halfway House massive opposition 2023-06-12

Update 2023-06-14: Videos: Lowndes County Commission again approved Howell Road Halfway House rezoning 2023-06-12.

In the packet for the redecision on the Howell Road Halfway House rezoning, there are thirteen letters of opposition and a petition of more than a hundred signatures.

[impacts to the surrounding area, Future Development Map, letter of opposition, Campus Map, REZ-2022-10 The Campus Transitional Facility, 2193 Howell Road]
impacts to the surrounding area, Future Development Map, letter of opposition, Campus Map, REZ-2022-10 The Campus Transitional Facility, 2193 Howell Road

Those would seem relevant to this bit in the agenda sheet: Continue reading →

Howell Road Halfway House rezoning back yet again 2023-06-12

Update 2023-06-14: Packet: Howell Road Halfway House massive opposition 2023-06-12.

Apparently somebody sued and the county is going to tidy up by invalidating its previous decision on the Howell Road Halfway House rezoning and hold yet another Public Hearing before making what will likely be the same decision. That will be this Monday, June 12, 2023, at 5:30 PM.

[Redo rezoning, WRPDO Site Map, REZ-2022-10 The Campus Transitional Facility]
Redo rezoning, WRPDO Site Map, REZ-2022-10 The Campus Transitional Facility

How five days’ notice solves the legal problem of lack of previous notice, I don’t know. Also why they could not wait one day and hold this Public Hearing in their regularly-scheduled Regular Session of this Tuesday is mysterious. Perhaps the County Attorney will explain it all.

Meanwhile, the county’s apparent lack of concern for the Character Areas of the Comprehensive Plan does not bode well for other rezonings elsewhere.

For what they plan to do Monday evening see Continue reading →

Videos: Howell Road Halfway House approved in split vote @ LCC Regular 2023-04-11

Two weeks ago the Lowndes County Commission appointed Brenda Mims to the Board of Health, Victoria Copeland and Marion Ramsey to ZBOA, and Jane Peeples to the Library Board, all unanimously.

Everything else (except one item) also passed unanimously, including 8.b. Amend 2015 Solid Waste Ordinance raising waste collection fees and reducing collection center hours, as requested by the haulers.

[Collage @ LCC Regular 2023-04-11]
Collage @ LCC Regular 2023-04-11

It became even more obvious why they tabled it a month before: All the Lowndes County Commissioners apparently already knew how they were going to vote on the Howell Road halfway house rezoning before they held the Public Hearing.

The vote was the same as Continue reading →

Videos: Recognitions, Extension Office, Raise waste collection rates, Howell Road halfway house rezoning, appointments to 3 boards @ LCC Work 2023-04-10

Update 2023-04-24: Videos: Howell Road Halfway House approved in split vote @ LCC Regular 2023-04-11.

Yesterday the Lowndes County Commissioners had no discussion about what Chairman Bill Slaughter referred to as “One public hearing item that just will not go away.” That’s 7.a. REZ-2022-10 Campus Transitional Care, 2193 Howell Road, E-A to P-D. The Commissioners vote at the Regular Session this evening at 5:30 PM. They can make it go away for at least a year by denying the rezoning.

[Collage @ LCC 10 April 2023]
Collage @ LCC 10 April 2023

On 8.b. Amend 2015 Solid Waste Ordinance, Gretchen remarked: “In my mind, it seems super inconvenient to shorten the hours of the collection sites on Monday and Friday. If someone works 8-5, then getting their recycling there by 6 is not possible.

“Oh, but this isn’t for the health, safety and well being of the citizens, Continue reading →

Packet: Raise waste collection rates, appointments to 3 boards, crop sprayer for wastewater sprayfield @ LCC 2023-04-10

It’s back: the Howell Road halfway house rezoning, after being tabled last time, waiting for a full Commission. The Lowndes County Commission will vote on it tomorrow evening at 5:30 PM.

All the same opposition letters and petition signatures are included in the board packet. Staff still recommends approval, although the Planning Commission recommended denial by 7:3.

[Collage, LCC Packet 2023-04-10]
Collage, LCC Packet 2023-04-10

The Letter of Intent from Redeemed Living includes this: “Redeemed Residents are required to maintain full time employment, attend weekly recovery meetings, and become an active member at a Church of their choosing.” Is that establishment of religion? Continue reading →

Packet: Raise waste collection rates, appointments to 3 boards, crop sprayer for wastewater hayfield @ LCC 2023-04-10

It’s back: the Howell Road halfway house rezoning, after being tabled last time, waiting for a full Commission. The Lowndes County Commission will vote on it tomorrow evening at 5:30 PM.

All the same opposition letters and petition signatures are included in the board packet. Staff still recommends approval, although the Planning Commission recommended denial by 7:3.

[Collage, LCC Packet 2023-04-10]
Collage, LCC Packet 2023-04-10

The Letter of Intent from Redeemed Living includes this: “Redeemed Residents are required to maintain full time employment, attend weekly recovery meetings, and become an active member at a Church of their choosing.” Is that establishment of religion? Continue reading →

Videos: Howell Road Halfway House tabled @ LCC Regular 2023-03-28

Update 2023-04-10: Packet: Raise waste collection rates, appointments to 3 boards, crop sprayer for wastewater hayfield @ LCC 2023-04-10.

As suggested by Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker yesterday, the rezoning was tabled until the next Lowndes County Commission meeting: 6.a. REZ-2022-10 The Campus Transitional Care Facility, 2193 Howell Road. It was tabled before the Public Hearing, so I would guess that means they have to send out notice again for a Public Hearing. The motion to table was by Commissioner Wisenbaker, second by Commissioner Scottie Orenstein, and it passed unanimously by the four voting Commissioners present. Commissioner Clay Griner was not there, which was the purpose of tabling: wait until all five Commissioners are there.

Interestingly, most of the people who came for the Howell Road public hearing stayed to the end. They didn’t leave when the item was tabled. This was very unusual.

[Collage @ LCC 28 March 2023]
Collage @ LCC 28 March 2023

The Land Bank Authority appointment was also tabled until the first meeting in April, due to lack of nominations.

Everything else passed unanimously.

On the waste collection franchises by Continue reading →

Packet: Howell Road rezoning, Trash colleciton centers, Windstream Broadband map @ LCC 2023-03-27

Update 2023-03-30: Videos: Howell Road Halfway House tabled @ LCC Regular 2023-03-28.

The Lowndes County Commission board packet for this week’s meetings contains no letters supporting the Howell Road halfway house rezoning. It does contain eleven opposition letters plus 31 pages of opposition petition signatures, which at about a dozen a page comes to somewhere around 372 signatures. Commissioners will decide tomorrow evening at 5:30 PM, after a Public Hearing.

[Howell Road rezoning, Trash colleciton centers, Windstream Broadband map @ LCC Packet 2023-03-27]
Howell Road rezoning, Trash colleciton centers, Windstream Broadband map @ LCC Packet 2023-03-27

The packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

See also the agenda and the LAKE videos of this morning’s Work Session.

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Videos: Howell Road Halfway House @ LCC Work 2023-03-27

Update 2023-03-27: Packet: Howell Road rezoning, Trash colleciton centers, Windstream Broadband map @ LCC 2023-03-27.

Commissioner Wisenbaker asked this morning whether they could table 6.a. REZ-2022-10 Campus Transitional Care Facility 2193 Howell Road, E-A to P-D. He was concerned that Commissioner Clay Griner will not be present, so once again the Chairman may have to break a tie, as happened last year in the vote that they later had to rescind because they did not give proper notice of the Public Hearing.

Answer from Chairman Bill Slaughter and the Attorney: yes, Commissioners can move and vote to table.

Does this mean they’ve all already made up their minds before they even listen to the Public Hearing tomorrow evening?

[Collage @ LCC 27 March 2023]
Collage @ LCC 27 March 2023

Both DSS and ADS asked for a trash pickup fee increase from $20 to $25/month, and deposit center hours changed from 7AM to 7PM to 8AM to 6PM. According to the Chairman, those things will not change yet, rather they will be addressed in the retreat. Also, Deep South Sanitation has 6,900 customers and Advanced Disposal Services has 9,000.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the agenda and agenda sheets. Continue reading →