Tag Archives: Water

Videos: 911 Center Award, Appointment to 7 Rivers RC&D, Network Hardware, and Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC Regular 2025-03-25

Once again the Special Recognition – E911 Center Award, this time up front, added several minutes to an otherwise brief meeting on a light agenda, for the Lowndes County Commission Regular Session Tuesday evening.

[Collage @ LCC 25 March 2025]
Collage @ LCC 25 March 2025

About 5.a. Seven Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc., Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker said he had asked the incumbent, Jake Price, who said Corey Milirons was a good candidate. So the Commissioners appointed him.

They approved everything else unanimously as well.

For the 6.b. Advanced Dispoal Services Residential Solid Waste Franchise Renewal, Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked about price increases.

Answer from Kevin L. Beals: not-to-exceed price is already set to $25 back in 2023. Current cost is $20/month and neither franchisee is asking for any raise.

Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker asked if the two franchisees are aware they are not supposed to start collecting before 7 AM.

Answer: it’s in their agreement, and if they do, contact Mr. Beals to get them to stop.

In 7. Reports – County Manager – Chairman gave comments, County Manager Bill Slaughter said County Manager Paige Dukes was in Atlanta “clearing the path for us” to be recognized in the state House and Senate for the county’s 200th anniversary.

One Citizen was heard, 8. CWTBH – Brittany Bayshore 5630 Emily Lane Home School event invitation.

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

See also the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session and agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request. Continue reading

Videos: 911 Center Award, Appointment to 7 Rivers RC&D, Network Hardware, and Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC Work 2025-03-24

Update 2025-03-29: Videos: 911 Center Award, Appointment to 7 Rivers RC&D, Network Hardware, and Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC Regular 2025-03-25.

An additional item within another, 7. Reports – County Manager – recognition of 911 center award, added 4 minutes to an otherwise brief meeting on a light agenda, for the Lowndes County Commission Work Session yesterday morning.

[Collage @ LCC 24 March 2025]
Collage @ LCC 24 March 2025

They vote this evening at 5:30 PM.

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

See also the agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request. Continue reading

Videos: Opt out of HB 581 and increase local homestead exemptions, Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Regular 2025-02-25

The Lowndes County Commission added two important agenda items early in their February 25, 2025, meeting: 5.b. Vote on opting out of HB-581 and 5.c. Resolution to increase local homestead exemption. They approved both unanimously, although there is more to do at the state level; see below for that.

But why did the Commissioners wait until this meeting to add those items, when they’ve known for many weeks they would have to vote on them?

[Collage @ LCC 25 February 2025]
Collage @ LCC 25 February 2025

They unanimously approved the few other items.

Can somebody explain why the County Manager does not provide a written report? I, for one, cannot remember all the stuff she runs through in a few minutes. She is clearly reading from notes. She could just make at least a bullet list, or have one of her assistants do so.

One citizen spoke: 8. CWTBH – Kelly Saxon – flooding, hurricane recovery, cooperation.

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 Continue reading

Videos: One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-02-24

There was only one case at the February 24, 2025, Planning Commission meeting: 3. CU-2025-03 VLDCA – 1804 Bimbo QSR Blvd Plastics: Manufacturing in M-1. The attending Commissioners unanimously recommended approval.

[Collage @ LCC 24 May 2025]
Collage @ LCC 24 May 2025

The agenda was so light that three Greater Lowndes Planning Commissioners did not show up, including the Chair. Vice-Chair James Miller presided.

Here are LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the agenda and board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request. The Valdosta Mayor and City Council already decided this case at its March 6, 2025, Regular Meeting. The City has not published its minutes of that meeting yet, so we do not know the outcome. But I’m betting they unanimously approved it. Continue reading

Appointment to 7 Rivers RC&D, Network Hardware, and Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC 2025-03-24

It’s a light agenda for the Lowndes County Commission this week, with one board appointment, one request for replacement for various end-of-life network hardware, and renewal of the two solid waste franchises to Advanced Disposal Services and Deep South Sanitation. The only BUDGET IMPACT listed is $79,351.45 for the network hardware.

For the Seven Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. they will consider replacing retiring Jake Price, who is the UGA Extension Service county agent for Lowndes County, with Corey Millirons, who lists his Knowledge & Skills as “Agricultural, common sense & desire to improve community”.

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, MARCH 24, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading

Packet: Utilities in Lowndes County Commission Annual Planning Meeting 2025-03-06

See also 2025-03-26: River water and groundwater interchange interacts with drinking water treatment 2025-03-26.

Update 2025-03-24: Packet: Lowndes County Fire Rescue for Lowndes County Commission Retreat 2025-03-07.

Here is another chunk of the board packet for the March 5-7, 2025, Lowndes County Planning Meeting on Jekyll Island, Georgia. This one is for the Utilities Department, which was on the agenda for March 6.

[Utilities Department, Lowndes County Retreat 2025-03-06, Projects, Floridan Aquifer, River water infiltration & Nanofiltration]
Utilities Department, Lowndes County Retreat 2025-03-06, Projects, Floridan Aquifer, River water infiltration & Nanofiltration

These Utilities materials include an org chart, lists of projects completed during 2024, ongoing, and future, and some details on river water infiltration into the Floridan Aquifer producing a need for improved nanofiltration to get rid of harmful chemicals formed by interaction with chlorine.

Both the lists of projects and the nanofiltration information are pretty clear that they are mostly to support private for-profit subdivisions.

While posting the rest of the board packet I noticed there were pieces missing.

So on March 14 I sent a request for the rest: Continue reading

Packet: Lowndes County Commission Annual Planning Meeting 2025-03-05

Update 2025-03-23: Packet: Utilities in Lowndes County Commission Annual Planning Meeting 2025-03-06.

Here is what we got in response to an open records request for the agenda and board packet for the Lowndes County, Georgia, three-day Annual Planning Meeting, which you may recall was held on Jekyll Island with one day’s notice to the public.

There are packet materials for many of the agenda items, including Finance (in some detail), SPLOST VIII, VLPRA (in great detail), TIA I and II, Comprehensive Plan, and E-911.

[Lowndes County Commission, Annual Retreat 2025-03-05-7, Agenda and Board Packet]
Lowndes County Commission, Annual Retreat 2025-03-05-7, Agenda and Board Packet

I don’t seem to see materials for South Health DIstrict, Utilities, Public Works, or Lowndes County Fire Rescue. If any of those are in here, somebody please point them out.

Not listed on the agenda there are long sections by the Engineering Department, and lists of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee staff.

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

Agenda:

Lowndes County Board of Commissioners
2025 Annual Planning Meeting Agenda
March 5 1:00 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.*
March 6 8:30 a.m. — 4:30 p.m.*
March 7 8:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.*
(*times may vary based on length of discussion)
The Westin — Jekyll Island
110 Ocean Way, Jekyll Island, Georgia

Wednesday-
1:00 p.m. Finance
2:30 p.m. SPLOST VIII
3:00 p.m. SPLOST IX
Thursday-
8:30 a.m. VLPRA
10:00 a.m. South Health District
11:00 a.m. TIA I
11:30 a.m. TIA II
12:00 noon Lunch
12:45 p.m. Utilities
2:00 p.m. Public Works
3:00 p.m. Comprehensive Plan Review
Friday-
8:30 a.m. Lowndes County Fire Rescue
9:30 a.m. E-911
Continue reading

One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-02-24

Update 2025-03-25: Videos: One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-05-24.

It seems pretty straightforward, the one case on the Monday evening agenda for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

The site is at the top of Dukes Bay Canal, but there’s a detention pond next to it.

[One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-02-24, Bimbo QSR Blvd, Plastics Manufacturing]
One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-02-24, Bimbo QSR Blvd, Plastics Manufacturing

Evidently VALORGIS needs to update their maps, which are old enough to show no buildings on the site. Continue reading

Videos: Four rezonings, mobile home decals, Lift Station Pump, Tax Refunds @ LCC Regular 2025-02-11

Another meeting so long it had to be interrupted by the second scheduled Public Hearing on opting out of the state homestead exemption law: Tuesday evening’s Lowndes County Commission Regular Session.

[Bethany Drive & River Run Passed over GLPC recommendation, Lowndes County Commission, February 11, 2025]
Bethany Drive & River Run Passed over GLPC recommendation, Lowndes County Commission, February 11, 2025

The longest items Tuesday evening were the same that had had opposition in the Planning Commission.

5.a. REZ-2025-01 Hurtado Property, Bethany Dr., ~6.4ac, R-A to R-1 after much opposition and discussion passed 3:1 with a condition: no more than 5 residences.

5.d. REZ-2025-04 River Run Farm, 6490 River Run, ~27ac., C-C to R-21. passed 3:2 with Chairman Bill Slaughter breaking a tie.

Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker was not present the entire meeting.

Everything else passed unanimously.

For 5.c. REZ-2025-03 Thomas Linville, 4888 Break Thru Rd., ~16.3ac, R-1 to E-A the applicant clarified that he does not use chemicals for fire retardant, only water, most of his work is computer work, and there will be no big light on the property.

Two items passed 3:0 because a Commissioner had stepped out of the room.

Commissioner Smith was out for 6.a. Resolution Authorizing Lowndes Co. Tax Com. to Receive Checks etc..

Commissioner Orenstein was out for 6.h. Rules and Regulations for Claims for Refunds of Taxes

For 6.f. Acceptance of Hazard Mitigation Grant for Generators Commissioner Orenstein noted that when Ashley Tye fixes a problem, it does not cost the county anything. See also 7. County Manager Report about FEMA, GEMA, and water wells.

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

See also Continue reading

Videos: Four rezonings, mobile home decals, Lift Station Pump, Tax Refunds @ LCC Work 2025-02-10

Update 2025-02-13: Videos: Four rezonings, mobile home decals, Lift Station Pump, Tax Refunds @ LCC Regular 2025-02-11.

A meeting so long it had to be interrupted by the scheduled Public Hearing on opting out of the state homestead exemption law: yesterday morning’s Lowndes County Commission Work Session.

They vote on the regular items this evening at 5:30 PM.

The longest items yesterday morning were the same that had had opposition in the Planning Commission:
5.a. REZ-2025-01 Hurtado Property, Bethany Dr., ~6.4ac, R-A to R-1 and
5.d. REZ-2025-04 River Run Farm, 6490 River Run, ~27ac., C-C to R-21.

[Collage @ LCC 10 February 2025]
Collage @ LCC 10 February 2025

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 the Lowndes County Commission board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request:
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/2025/02/four-rezonings-mobile-home-decals-lift-station-pump-tax-refunds-lcc-2025-02-10.html

For the separate homestead exemption opt-out Public Hearing, see:
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/2025/02/lowndes-county-considers-opting-out-of-house-bill-581-lcc-public-hearing-2025-02-10.html

For the rezonings, see also the preceding Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) board packet materials, its agenda, and the LAKE videos of the GLPC meeting. Continue reading