Tag Archives: Valdosta

Lowndes County Sheriff Deputy enforces First Amendment

Lowndes County, an oasis of constitutional rights. Yes, really. Here’s video evidence. This kind of good news could do more to attract businesses here than many things the local powers that be are doing.

Carlos Miller wrote for Photography is Not a Crime 25 June 2014, Georgia Deputy Surprises us all by Respecting Constitution,

It started off with a federal protective service officer pulling up to Jeff Gray in a patrol car for taking pictures from a public sidewalk outside the Moody Air Force Base in Georgia Monday.

Gray told the officer that he was photographing the railroad. But the cop had his doubts and accused him of photographing the entrance to the base — as if it would make any difference within the scopes of the law — and decided to call the local sheriff for backup.

When Gray tried to walk away, the cop informed he was being detained.

When Gray asked for his name and badge number, the cop informed Gray Continue reading →

Cancelled due to lack of quorum @ ZBOA 2014-07-01

Not enough board members available to meet, so today’s meeting is cancelled due to lack of a quorum: Valdosta-Lowndes County Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBOA).

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Agriculture, Tower, and Nelson Hills @ GLPC 2014-06-30

Twelve acres requested to rezone to agricultural and “an amendment to the zoning conditions” for the Nelson Hills Subdivision; the same one that previously got waivers from county staff with no public hearing. People might think that’s why the county didn’t want anybody to see this agenda.

After no electronic copy was available, Gretchen photographed a paper copy of the agenda, which I’ve OCRed. She heard that one item was withdrawn and another was requested to be tabled for 30 days. We’ll see.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission

Lowndes County City of Valdosta City of Dasher City of Hahira City of Lake Park

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING

AGENDA

Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue

Tuesday, June 30, 2014* 5:30 P.M. * Public Hearing

Continue reading →

No agenda and few cases @ GLPC 2014-06-30

The Planning Commission meets tonight, we hear with no cases other than two for Lowndes County, one of which may be tabled. No agenda is available to the public, unless you show up in person 5:30 PM tonight at 325 W savannah Ave., Valdosta, GA.

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Jason Carter to headline LCDP BBQ 1 July 2014

Candidate for Governor of Georgia Jason Carter headlines the program for the annual Lowndes County Democratric Party Barbecue Tuesday.

LCDP wrote yesterday, Georgia: Back on Track –LCDP BBQ 1 July 2014,

Other candidates speaking include Democrats Daniel Blackman for GA PSC, Valerie Wilson for State School Superintendent (runoff), Bikram Mohanty for Georgia State Senate District 8, Dexter Sharper for Georgia House District 177, and Demarcus Marshall for Lowndes County Commission District 4. Plus G. Norman Bennett and Clay Griner in the nonpartisan special election runoff for Lowndes County Commission District 5. All statewide and local candidates are still invited.
When:6 p.m., Tuesday, July 1st, 2014
Where:Mathis Municipal Auditorium
2300 North Ashley Street
Valdosta, Georgia
Price:$25.00

PROGRAM

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More precinct consolidation by Board of Elections 2014-07-22

Again like every year, more precinct consolidation. Why?

Public notice via the VDT, The Lowndes County Board of Elections will hold a Special Called Meeting on 8 July 2014,

The Lowndes County Board of Elections will hold a Special Called Meeting on 8 July 2014, at 5:30 p.m., and a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, 22 July 2014 at 9 a.m., to discuss precinct consolidation. The public is invited to attend.

The meeting will be held at the Lowndes County Board of Elections office at 2808 N Oak St., Valdosta, GA 31602.

For more information call Continue reading →

Open meetings needed for county attorney selection?

Could there be any problem with selecting a county attorney without any open process?

CNHI in VDT today, Officials violate Iowa’s open meeting law,

CENTERVILLE, Iowa. — The Appanoose County Board of Supervisors and County Auditor Linda Demry violated the state open meeting law three times in less than three weeks recently when they interviewed candidates for the vacant county attorney’s position, a state agency has determined.

Well, apparently we don’t have that problem here Continue reading →

Lowndes School Board raises millage, balances budget, publishes summary

Not two, but three public hearings on the LCBOE higher millage rate, 10 AM and 6 PM on July 15, 6 PM on July 22. That rate still puts Lowndes in the middle of school millage for counties statewide. And they published a budget summary before the hearings.

Kristin Finney wrote for the VDT today, Lowndes schools approves budget: System ups millage rate, picked up by AP as Lowndes schools approves budget, Continue reading →

Energy storage technology research at Binghamton U. NY

What would happen if VSU applied for such a research grant?

According to its own PR of 19 June 2014, Binghamton University receives $12.8 million for innovative energy research,

The NorthEast Center for Chemical Energy Storage (NECCES) at Binghamton University has been awarded a $12.8 million, four-year grant, announced Wednesday by U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. One of 32 grants awarded for a total of $100 million to fund Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), it will help accelerate the scientific breakthroughs needed to build a new 21st-century energy economy.

One of 32 grants? Some EFRC partner institutions Continue reading →

Videos: 5 board appointments, budget, and 4 For Approval @ LCC 2014-06-23

The county’s response to the weekend storms (straight-line event, not tornado) was less confused than its proposed board appointments. They vote Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM, including on the budget.

Likely return of Ray Devery to the Library Board as Chairman, and reappointment of Barry Barr. Sheila Wakeley for the South Georgia Community Service Board, but even the Commissioners had no bio for her. John Sineath for Valdosta-Lowndes County Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, even though Valdosta’s web page says he’s a city appointee. None of the applicants spoke.

A grant for help getting a grant, re-evaluation of all rural agricultural tax assessments, the annual mosquito testing contract with VSU, and the landfill public hearing clarification item apparently is about the hearing of the public notice already posted for 17 July 2014.

Here’s the agenda, with some notes, and links to the videos.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street — 2nd Floor
Continue reading →