Yet another start before the publicly advertised time, followed by a Hospital Authority reappointee and another person answering from the audience. Funding for computers, planning and preparedness, Code Red, and a block grant applicant, mostly with information in board packets that we the citizens paying for them don’t get to see. We did learn that nearly half the county uses Code Red, and at least 11,000 people are already signed up for weather alerts. I know I get them. They meet again to vote 5:30 PM this evening.

• They started four minutes early (8:26 instead of 8:30 AM). No changes to the minutes.
• 5. Appointments: Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County
  The (re)appointees appeared to be E. Cameron Hickman and Lynne Feldman, M.D., MPH. I’m cribbing their names from the hospital authority web page at the hospital, since the Commission provided nothing in writing saying who they were.
• Dr. Lynne Feldman spoke up from the audience, thanking the Commissioners for the opportunity to serve. She wondered if there was anything they’d like to know about the Authority. Commissioners Raines and Paulk complimented the Authority on what it does and how it does it. The hospital authority itself meets next 9:30 AM Wednesday 18 July at the hospital.

• 6.a. GEMA funding for new computers, 6.b. Planning and Preparedness Award Application, 6.c. Code Red Service Agreement.
  Ashley Tye presented three items one after the other. A five year Code Red agreement would reduce costs by $4,000 a year. Commissioner Powell wanted to know how many people use those systems.
  
  • Code Red: over 40,000 telephone numbers.
  • Weather warning: 11,000 people.
  Commissioner Raines wanted to know how people could sign up. Answer: through the link on the lower right of the county’s web page or call the county office.
• 6.d. Cisco Unified Computing System –Aaron Kostyu @ LCC 2012-07-09
  New blade server Cisco UCS “radically simplifies traditional server architectures”: fewer devices, less heating and cooling, costs less. Previous style more numerous devices would cost about $300,000. UCS cost is not to exceed $190,000; actually about $165,000. I hope it doesn’t come with automatic network intrusion like cisco’s Linksys home routers did last week. Commissioners as usual had no questions.
• 6.e. FY 2010 CDBG Deed, Lease, and Promisory Note –Jason Davenport and Tom Gooding
  This was the first of two items about a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that was otherwise undescribed in the agenda. County Planner Jason Davenport talked about some logistics mostly having to do with potential cost savings and transfer of title. Tom Gooding came to the mic to answer questions in his business capacity as an attorney, and blurted out the name nobody was saying: the Haven. The only question from Commissioners was from Crawford Powell about deadlines. It was redirected to Kimberley Hobbs, who answered from the audience. Why the Commission doesn’t have everyone who speaks come forward to the microphone is mysterious….
• 7. Bid – FY 2010 CDBG Construction Contract
  Purchasing Agent Lisa Burton zipped through a description of the new facility: 6,000 square feet, construction time estimated at 180 days, to begin 23 July. Low bid is from Quillian Powell Construction Co. for $635,000. Commissioners had no questions.
• 8. Millage Hearing 5PM 24 July 2012 –Joe Pritchard @ LCC 2012-07-09
  County Manager Joe Pritchard said they were advertising the county’s millage in the VDT starting the next day so they could hold a Millage Hearing at 5PM 24 July 2012, just before the next Regular Session. He did not anticipate any increases in millage.

Here’s the agenda.

Here’s a video playlist:

VLCHA Appointment and a chatty audience: Video Playlist
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 9 July 2012.

-jsq

Short Link: