Tag Archives: RPI

Videos: Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift @ LCC Regular 2024-08-13

The County Manager gave an electrical fire report, and said Chairman Slaughter would be sworn in on August 19 to the Georgia state Board of Behaioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. She mentioned 14 Lowndes County animals had been transported to Kentucky by the Humane Society.

EMA Director Ashley Tye gave a weather report about Hurricane or Tropical Storm Debby: it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and not as bad as our Florida neighbors to the south.

Three citizens spoke about a need for improved policies for animal control.

The Lowndes County Commissioners approved all the regular agenda items unanimously, with no discussion about anything but the Utilities Forklift at their Regular Session, August 13, 2024.

They reappointed Lonnie Denton to the Lowndes County Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS).

They reappointed Bubba Highsmith to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA).

Collage @ LCC 13 August 2024

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

Videos: Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift @ LCC Work 2024-08-12

There was some discussion in the 7-minute Monday morning Work Session of the Lowndes County Commission. They vote today (Tuesday) at 5:30 PM.

Collage @ LCC 12 August 2024

Regarding the Love’s Travel Stop Beer and Wine license, no public hearing is necessary if the license is for consumption off premises.

On 7.a. Pump Station Rehab, Chairman Bill Slaughter wanted to know how many lift stations the county has. Continue reading →

Packet: Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift @ LCC 2024-08-12

Update 2024-08-13: Videos: Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift @ LCC Work 2024-08-12.

Update 2024-08-11: Special Called Meeting about Opioids Settlement @ LCC 2024-08-12.

Two appointments, an alcohol license, and almost $2 million in Utilities Department bids are on the agenda for the Lowndes County Commission Work Session Monday morning at 8:30 AM. They vote Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift, Force Main sewer system @ LCC 2024-08-12

Three bids were received for the Utilities Department Forklift, with low bid at $18,100.

Only one bid, for $1.792 million, was received for the repair and rehab at 14 lift stations, out of 4 contractors who attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting. Lift stations affected are Bevel Creek, Whitewater Road, US 84, Francis Lake, Old Pine, Davidson Road, Miller Farms, Moody Family Housing, Skipper Bridge, Union Road, Kinderlou Clubhouse, Griffin, Saddle Bags, and Stone Creek.

Cost	What
$1,792,027.8.00	Pump Station Rehab
$18,100.00	Utilities Forklift
$1,810,127.8.00	Total

VALORGIS shows Lowndes County’s sewer lines if you turn on the Water Sewer Service Areas layer, and within that Lowndes County Sewer Lines Force Main and Gravity. Be sure to turn off Water Lines and Valdosta Sewer Line.

In case anybody doesn’t know, Lowndes County’s sewer system is separate from Valdosta’s sewer system, and has about 10% of the capacity of Valdosta’s.

Also, for some years Lowndes County has been repairing parts of its sewer system before they break. Although I hear persistent rumors that there have been unreported leaks.

Map: Lowndes County sewer system (green lines) –VALORGIS

Lonnie Denton wants to be reappointed to the Lowndes County Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) Board and DFACS County Director Gail Finley recommends that.

Bubba Highsmith wants to be reappointed, and George Foreman also wants to be appointed, to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) Board.

The beer and wine license request is for a new establishment, Love’s Travel Stop #550, 2319 Old Clyattville Road, Valdosta, GA.

Here is the agenda.

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

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Continue reading →

Videos: Trash collection, drainage, reports, candidate @ LCC 2022-03-22

A rare split vote on a bid, in 7.a. ENG 2021-02: Repairing 3 Box Culverts.

ADS wants to raise its trash colleciton rates but can’t do that without an ordinance change, which was not on the table this time.

Ashley Tye gave a weather report as part of the County Manager Reports.

A candidate for Superior Court Judge spoke in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard, which is an interesting change of policy; previously the Commission didn’t allow candidates for office to speak in CWTBH.

Trash, Drainage, Reports, CWTBH

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the Continue reading →

Packet: 0.277 acres for a county detention pond @ LCC 2022-03-21

Update 2022-03-22: Videos: Trash collection, drainage, reports, candidate @ LCC 2022-03-22.

The replacement for the built-on detention pond on Little Viking Road turns out to be 0.277 acres horse-shoed around it. That’s what was quit-claimed to Lowndes County Tuesday.

Waste collection and water retention

EASEMENT

This is at the request of Rubber Tire, LLC, Franklin Bailey, Member/Manager.

Signed, sealed,* and delivered

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website. See also the Continue reading →

Videos: Delinquency, water, roads, and subdivisions @ LCC 2022-03-21

Update 2022-03-22: Packet: 0.277 acres for a county detention pond @ LCC 2022-03-21.

Update 2022-03-23: Three LAKE videos inadvertently omitted are added back to this blog post and the LAKE playlist: 6.d. Advanced Disposal Services Residential Solid Waste Franchise Renewal (9,500 customers), 6.e. Deep South Sanitation, LLC, Residential Solid Waste Franchise Renewal (6,200 customers), and 6.f. Little Viking Road Drainage Easement and Quit Claim Deed.

Yesterday morning they read out the items with almost no discussion, at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session, which lasted 13 minutes. They vote this evening at 5:30 PM.

The only item to get more than one question was 6.c. FY2022 Delinquency Prevention Grant.

The audio feed in the room is still not working, thus the second or so of no sound at the start. For the thousands of dollars they have spent on the system, it would be nice if the sound in the room worked.

Lighting, TIA, Juvenile delinquency, box culverts

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda.

1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for Approval Continue reading →

Road paving TIA agreements, ADS ands DSS waste renewawals, 3 water items, street lighting @ LCC 2022-03-21

Update 2022-03-22: Videos: Delinquency, water, roads, and subdivisions @ LCC 2022-03-21.

More road building TIA projects to promote more sprawl, a redot to let a developer off the hook for not doing drainage as required, a subdivision special tax lighting district, several water projects in already-developed areas, a grant to prevent juvenile delinquency, and the annual renewal of permits for both waste collection companies, all on the agenda for this morning’s Lowndes County Work Session, for voting Tuesday evening.

Funny how they never count the later cost of box culverts and water main extensions when they approve rezonings for subdivisions, but here some of those are later.

Cost	What
$448,621.14	Exit 22 Water Main Extension
$296,726.73	ENG 2021-02: Repairing 3 Box Culverts
$0.00	Deep South Sanitation, LLC, Residential Solid Waste Franchise Renewal, March 31, 2023
$0.00	Advanced Disposal Services Residential Solid Waste Franchise Renewal
$-41,500.00	FY2022 Delinquency Prevention Grant
$703,847.87	Total

That former detention pond site is actually parcel 0144 205A now, and it’s at 4115 Little Viking Road. They also don’t tell we the taxpayers and voters where the new detention area is.

HISTORY, FACTS AND ISSUES: Map 0144 Parcel 205 owned by Rubber Tire, LLC was originally designed for the entire lot to be one of the detention areas for Roswell Place Subdivision and has been the detention area since the subdivision was built. Rubber Tire, LLC had the detention area redesigned, approved, and constructed so the lot could become a buildable lot. Lowndes County will need to Quit Claim the existing detention area back to Rubber Tire, LLC and accept a drainage easement for the new detention area from Rubber Tire, LLC.

The agenda is below. The board packet will follow when LAKE gets it. My fault this time: I didn’t send the open records request. Although it is still mysterious why Lowndes County doesn’t put the board packet on its own website like many counties larger and smaller have been doing for years in Georgia and Florida. The rudimentary expanded agenda with one-sheet agenda items is on the LAKE website.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Continue reading →

Videos: Court * 4, Boards * 2, Sewer * 4, Beer, Computers, Pest, Fire, Grounds, Road truck @ LCC 2021-06-21

They spent the most time discussing the several court funding cash match requests, two weeks ago at the Lowndes County (GA) Commission Work Session. At the end, Project Manager Chad McLeod had updates on the Courthouse renovation and the Commission Chambers audio and video restoration.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda. The board packet is on the LAKE website, received in response to a LAKE open records request.
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2021-06-21–lcc-packet Continue reading →

Boards * 2, Sewer * 4, Court * 4, Beer, Computers, Pest, Fire, Grounds, Road truck @ LCC 2021-06-21

The biggest item on this week’s Lowndes County Commission agenda, for voting this eventing, is Grounds Maintenance. Planting some native shrubbery, flowers, and trees instead of all that lawn would reduce that cost.

Three sewage system items add up, for Whitewater Lift Station Control Panel Emergency Repair, Bemiss Low Pressure Sewer Main Replacement Change Order, and the $2,500,000.00 GEFA Loan for the Sewer System Rehabilitation Project. That last does not show up in the agenda sheet as BUDGET IMPACT, but county taxpayers will pay for it over time. However, proactive sewer system fixes are lot better than reactive sewage spill repairs.

Four courts in three agenda items require cash match. Plus a road work truck and pest control round out the dollar figures.

Cost	What
$158,140.00	Bid for Grounds Maintenance for County Buildings
$53,140.00	Whitewater Lift Station Control Panel Emergency Repair
$48,307.21	Compute and Storage for South Lowndes Data Center
$46,777.50	Purchase of Fire Turnout Gear
$39,135.00	Office of the Governor Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Accountability Court Lowndes County DUI Court Grant Award – State Court
$33,989.00	Bemiss Low Pressure Sewer Main Replacement Change Order
$28,074.84	Purchase of a Truck for Public Works
$23,557.16	Lowndes County Accountability Court Adult Drug Court Program – Grant (Cash Match)
$10,000.00	Lowndes County Juvenile Accountability Court – Drug Court Program – Grant (Cash Match)
$6,734.40	Bid for Pest Control Service
$447,855.11	Total

There’s a reappointment to Children’s Services and a new appointment to the Library Board.

And there’s a beer license, which brings in fees of $250 Off Premises + $150 Administration = $400.

Beer, Lawns

Here is the agenda. The board packet is on the LAKE website, received in response to a LAKE open records request.
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2021-06-21–lcc-packet

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2021, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2021, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Continue reading →

On the LAKE front

Citizen dialog for transparent process by the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange