They spent the most time discussing the several court funding cash match requests, two weeks ago at the Lowndes County (GA) Commission Work Session. At the end, Project Manager Chad McLeod had updates on the Courthouse renovation and the Commission Chambers audio and video restoration.
Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item,
followed by a LAKE video playlist.
See also
the agenda.
The board packet is on the LAKE website, received in response to a LAKE open records request.
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2021-06-21–lcc-packet
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4. Minutes for Approval
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5.a. Appt – Lowndes County Department of Family and Children Services Board
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5.b. Appointment – South Georgia Regional Library Board
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6.a. Beer License – Quick Stop #1 – 1255 Lakes Blvd., Lake Park, GA
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6.b. Accountability Court Lowndes County DUI Court Grant Award – State Court
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6.c. Echols County 9-1-1 Agreement
Video. Adds Lowndes County handling wireless calls. Echols County will have to send any fees collected to Lowndes County.
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6.d. Whitewater Lift Station Control Panel Emergency Repair
Video. Due to sewer gas damage. Moving control panel farther from the sewer gas.
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6.e. Bemiss Low Pressure Sewer Main Replacement Change Order
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6.f. GEFA Loan – Sewer System Rehabilitation Project
Video. Said County Manager Paige Dukes, “We continue to appreciate Commissioner Orenstein’s support on the GEFA Board.”
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6.g. GEFA Loan – Lake Park Bellville Road Utility Relocation
Video. $1.9 million in GEFA funds to relocate utilities due to GDOT widening Lake Park Belleville Road.
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6.h. Lowndes County Accountability Court Adult Drug Court Grant Cash Match
Video. Two judges presented. Judge Tennison, and another who did not say her name. Judge Tennison later referred to her as “Jennifer.” She is in charge of the adult program, and said it was going well, with some graduating recently, and 45-50 graduated so far.
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6.i. Lowndes County Juvenile Accountability Court Drug Grant Cash Match
Video. Judge Tennison thanked the Commission for funding the program last year when there was no grant. This year they have a grant, and need a cash match of $10,000. Commissioner Joyce Evans said she had attended and though the court was impressive. Chairman Bill Slaughter complimented them, as well, as did Commissioner Scotty Orenstein.
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6.j. Compute and Storage for South Lowndes Data Center
Video. Aaron Kostyu said “in days of old” he would have asked for servers. Now everything is done virtually, so he’s asking for compute and storage. It’s located at the 911 datacenter, and this will “replace” it, presumably meaning update and upgrade. County Manager Paige Dukes said it was “very much a necessary need”.
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7.a. Bid for Pest Control Service
Video. Finance Director Stephanie Black said they got bids from two vendors.
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7.b. Purchase of a Truck for Public Works
Video. Finance Director Stephanie Black said this is to replace one that was totaled last month. Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker wanted to know how that happened. Answer: an employee had a medical issue and temporarily blacked out, hitting a subdivision entrance sign.
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7.c. Purchase of Fire Turnout Gear
Video. Finance Director Stephanie Black said this for coats, pants, and boots for new personnel.
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7.c. Purchase of Fire Turnout Gear (part 2)
Video. Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker wanted to know if this is for one or more fire stations? Answer: for the new station, as well as new batallion chiefs. The new station is? Clyattville.
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7.d. Bid for Grounds Maintenance for County Buildings
Video. More than one bid, but only one met the specifications.
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8. Reports – County Manager
Video. Chad McLeod had updates on the courthouse project: design and development budget $8,934,721, which is in the construction budget. 50% docs by August. Early demolition project inside, bid in July, work in August. Will determine how much more work needs to be done that we can’t see before that demolition. And an update on restoration of audio and visual in the Commission Chambers. All but 4 pieces of equipment had arrived. Problem with those is “the little chips in them.” Substitutes for some by July, but August for total delivery.
Here’s a LAKE video playlist:
Videos: Court * 4, Boards * 2, Sewer * 4, Beer, Computers, Pest, Fire, Grounds, Road truck @ LCC 2021-06-21
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia.
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