Valdosta Offers 5th Annual Government 101 for Citizens

Received today, with this note.

FYI—this is now open to any residents of Lowndes County, not just City of Valdosta. Please spread the word. It is a great way to learn a LOT more about your local government.

Tim Carroll
Councilman District 5
City of Valdosta

Here’s the application.

Here’s the Valdosta PR of today, City Offers 5th Annual Government 101 for Citizens:

For Immediate Release
January 3, 2014
Release #01-14-01

Valdosta and other local citizens who want an inside look at their local government are urged to sign up for the 5th annual Government 101 Citizens Orientation Program, which begins April 7, 2014. Applications are being accepted by the City of Valdosta through the March 14 deadline.

The program will meet on six consecutive Mondays, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and is designed to expose participants to the services of all city departments according to the following itinerary:

April 7 Introduction to Class
April 14 Public Safety and Municipal Court
April 21 Engineering, Public Works and Utilities
April 28 Financial Administration, Industrial and Economic Develop ment
May 5 Community Building and Neighborhood Development
May 12 Facility Tour and Graduation

Citizens may download the form at www.valdostacity.com/publicinformation. An application is also available in the most recent issue of the CityBeat newsletter, accessible online. Completed applications should be returned to the Public Information Office, Valdosta City Hall Annex, 300 N. Lee Street, Room 102, by the March 14 deadline.

Applicants will undergo a background investigation as part of the application process and must also complete a separate criminal history form that may be obtained upon submission of the completed application. Citizens should be aware that a felony conviction or recent serious misdemeanor conviction may result in an applicant’s exclusion from participation. Personal information given will be kept strictly confidential.

A maximum of 25 people will be selected for the class from citizens who submit a completed application by the deadline and pass the required backgroun d checks. If more than 25 people apply, the city will give preference to the applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Government 101 Citizens Orientation Program is an initiative of the Valdosta Mayor and City Council. For additional information, citizens may call the Public Information Office at (229) 259-3548.

-end-

Sementha Mathews
Public Information Officer
City of Valdosta
P.O. Box 1125
Valdosta, GA 31603
(229) 259-3548

This is particularly useful since Lowndes County apparently gave up on its local government lunch and learn series after the 13 October 2011 “Your Top 50 Answered” session.

-jsq