They added two items to the agenda they didn’t even mention in the previous morning’s Work Session: purchase of some real estate on Davidson Road near Moody Air Force Base, and “just compensation” for right of way on Simpson Road.

Wait a minute! For ten years we’ve been told the county no longer buys rights of way: if you want your road paved, you have to donate the right of way. So why this exception? And why sneak it in like this?

Will Kamisha Martin get paid for right of way if the county paves Black Road? Will Rev. Berlinda Hart Love get paid for right of way if the county paves Williams School Road? They were the two citizens who were heard.

Not on the agenda were Chairman’s Comments, in which Bill Slaughter listed the same upcoming events as he mentioned in the previous morning’s Work Session. Just before adjournment, Commissioner Demarcus Marshall thanked everyone for being re-elected for four more years. Maybe Chairman and Commissioners Comments should get agenda items!

At Commissioner Joyce Evans’ request, applicant Aneesha Johnson (Dupont Plant Manager) said a few words before they appointed her to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority; well ratified the appointment the City of Valdosta already made.

See also the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session (with the Chief Ranger’s Forestry report) and the (old) agenda.

• 1. Call to Order 2. Invocation 3. Pledge

  Video.

• Chairman’s Comments

  Video.

• 4. Minutes for Approva

  Video.

• 5. Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority Appointment

  Video.

• 6 a. Abandonment of unopened Right of Way off of Reed Road

  Video. Commissioner Scottie Orenstein wanted to know what happens after such a road abandonment: announcement, what? County Engineer Mike Fletcher said there was already a red gate there. Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker wanted to know if this was a paved road. Answer: no, this is the unpaved section that goes to where the Withlacoochee River Bridge “washed out” many years ago (I thought it burned). Nobody spoke for or against. They voted unanimously to abandon.

• 7 a. Termination of Hay Lease Agreement

  Video. Utility Director Steve Stalvey once again noted the hay lease had been let in March 2013. Here’s the LAKE video of that 11 March 2013 meeting.

• 7 b. Purchase of Davidson Road Real Estate

  Video. A grant from the One Georgia Fund was received to “clean up” and make some green space near the base.

• 7b. Purchase of Davidson Road Real Estate (part 2)

  Video. Chairman Bill Slaughter said it had taken years to get the $850,000 allocated via the state legislative delegation, and the landowner had to be willing to sell.

• 7 c. Simpson Road Right of Way Just Compensation

  Video. Point 222 acres. $1455 life estate interest and $245 for the remainder interest. No recipients of these payments were named in the meeting or in the agenda sheet apparently added along with the 4:30 PM, Monday, January 8, 2019, addition of this item to the agenda. They approved this item unanimously.

  I wonder who lives on Simpson Road? A name that seems familiar is “SLAUGHTER BILL E JR”.

  

• 8. Reports – County Manager (none)

  Video.

• 8. Reports – Chairman – County Clerk Birthday

  Video.

• 9. CWTBH – Kamisha Martin – Paving of Black Road

  Video.

• 9. CWTBH – Rev. Berlinda Hart Love – paving of Williams School Road

  Video.

• 10. Meeting Adjournment

  Video. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall thanked everyone for being elected for four more years. The Chairman said a few more words.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: County paying for road right of way
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, January 8, 2019.

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