Videos of the Lowndes County Commission Work Session two weeks ago. See agenda post for background. The budget got no comments from Commmissioners.

County Manager Joe Pritchard asked for addition of two grant agenda items, for Accountability Court and DUI Court. Proponents of each spoke, and both items were added to the agenda for the next day’s Regular Session.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes, especially about the Hotel/Motel Tax and the still-mysterious Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Bond Issue, a rare verbal appearance by Joyce Evans on the Land Bank Authority, the Francis Lake Lift Station Repair, and the LAS Storage Pond Improvements Bids. At the end of this post there is a LAKE video playlist.

• 1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for approval

  Video.

• 5a. Adoption Of Fiscal Year 2019 Budget

  Video.

• 5b. Hotel/Motel Tax FY 2019 County Budget

  Video. Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker asked, “The tax is seven?” Answer from Finance Director Stephanie Black, “Yessir, seven percent.”

  The Chairman introduced Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority CEO Chris Hamilton as “the Director of the Conference Center”. He said he was “really pleased with this budget” because it would start doing what his board wants to do, including it almost doubled the marketing budget, added some capital projects, and some staff changes. County Manager Joe Pritchard said there had been questions from the Crescent. Answer, instead of making donations to the Crescent, the Authority would be spending money with them by for example renting their hall for the Authority’s board retreat, paying for the Crescent’s marketing materials, etc. Similarly for other organizations, translating a donation to a business transcation, with more active involvement in consultation and marketing to drive bodies to them. For the Sports Commission, the incentives pool will fall under Authority’s group sales department. He thinks this elevates the Sports Commission’s decision making to a higher level.

• 5c. Lowndes County 911: New Consoles For The 911 Dispatchers

  Video.

• 5d. Wisconsin Public Finance Authority Bond Issue

  Video. County Attorney Walter Elliott said the TEFRA hearing was held “last Thursday”. He didn’t say if it was announced to the public.

• 5e. Contract With Parks And Recreation Authority

  Video.

• 5f. Contract With Valdosta Continuing Land Bank Authority

  Video. Commissioner Joyce Evans thanked the County Manager and Chairman for “listening to the board that had concerns”. She didn’t say which board, but one could guess the board of the Land Bank Authority, which includes Joyce Evans. Maybe it’s related to that Authority’s mission:

  The Valdosta/Lowndes County Land Bank Authority’s mission is the conversion of vacant, abandoned, and tax delinquent properties into productive use, with an emphasis on creating and promoting affordable housing and enhancing the appearance of the community.

• 5g. Francis Lake Lift Station Repair

  Video. Utilities Director Steve Stalvey said this lift station sends almost all the capacity to the LAS (spray field).

• 6a. Bids: LAS Storage Pond Improvements

  Video. Utilities Director Steve Stalvey said it’s about algae. He recommends choosing from the two bids Southern Civil LLC for $274,718. Commissioner Mark Stalvey wanted to know where they’re from. Answer: Stalvey couldn’t remember the town, but they’re not local. He said he had checked out some source on them. Wisenbaker wanted to know if this was the first time using them. Answer: yes.

• 7. Reports – County Manager

  Video. County Manager Joe Pritchard asked for two items to be added to the agenda:

  • Acceptance of an FY19 grant award for LCAC by Ms. Jennifer (?), which turns out to be the Lowndes County Accountability Court and Coordinator Jennifer S. Fabbri.
  • An agreement for monitoring services for Lowndes County DUI Court with Pronto Track by Stacey Bass.

  He said both were in the audience. Per request from a Commissioner, both spoke.

• 7. Accountability Court Grant Approval

  Video. Lowndes County Accountability Court Coordinator Jennifer S. Fabbri said this year’s request of $24,228 is a bit more than $8,000 over last year due to higher grant funding, which requires higher match. Added to the agenda as item 5h.

• 7. Agreement From Pronto, Inc For Electronic Monitoring- DUI Court

  Video. DUI Court Coordinator Stacey Bass said this contract basically copies the separate contract with the probation court because the funding is separate. Added to the agenda as item 5i.

• 9. Meeting Adjournment

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Budget, Tax, Bonds, Parks, Land, Water, Waste, 911
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, June 25, 2018.

-jsq

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