Update 2022-09-26: Videos: Redo rezonings and a citizen paving request @ LCC 2022-09-13.

Update 2022-09-21: Videos: 6 Remerton, 4 Valdosta, 1 Hahira, 1 Lowndes County cases @ GLPC 2022-08-29.

Other than the seven-minute not-on-the-agenda Georgia Forestry presentation by Lowndes County Chief Ranger Mike Williford, the highest-dollar item got the most discussion: Griner Park, at the corner of Webster and Ashley Street.

There was no discussion of the items about redoing their botched rezoning decision.

They did kvetch about each of the extraterritorial jurisdiction items for water and sewer, alleging it was all somebody else’s fault. But why did the county not catch these earlier?

That was at the Work Session yesterday morning. The Lowndes County Commission voted this evening at their Regular Session.

Videos and a picture

Some Commissioners seemed unclear on why they were spending so much on Griner Park. Here’s Gretchen’s take:

Ok, so I get that water on a property has to be held on the property (thus the underground drainage, etc). However, how is it that the county needs to develop a piece of property with tax dollars that could be developed with private money. The current proposal is to put a park there. The city of Valdosta just made a park at the corner of Lee and Central, just two blocks away. I get that it was in the county’s best interest to buy the old Griner car dealership property, spend the time to monitor the potential for underground contamination, but why now spend tax dollars to develop it into yet another park. Isn’t that what free enterprise is all about? And why now? There are three “private” properties that abut this property on the back that could use some serious re-development. Couldn’t the money be better spent to make those houses presentable (at least one has boarded up windows).

Webster St. @ Ashley St., with the county palace and the Chamber of Commerce office in the background. Photo: John S. Quarterman 2022-09-12.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with some notes by Gretchen, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda with links to previous posts on the two rezoning redos, the board packet (received in response to a LAKE open records request), a VDT article about the botched rezoning decision, and the LAKE video of the preceding millage rate hearing.

• 1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for Approval
  

  Video.

• Georgia Forestry Presentation (it wasn’t on the agenda)
  

  Video.

  Not on the agenda.

  County Chief Ranger Mike Williford presented for seven minutes.

• 5.a. REZ-2022-15 , 2547 US HWY 84 West, R-21 to C-H, 4.53ac
  

  Video.

  This was denied a year ago. The applicant has waited the requisite year and applied again.

• 5. b/c . REZ-2022-10 Validity of June 16, 2022 Vote
  

  Video.

  Apparently the commission didn’t follow the rules about transitional care facilities so they need to invalidate their previous vote.

  Then they need to have a public hearing on the transitional care facility.

• 6.a. Accept Infrastructure for The North Acres Subdivision Phase 1
  

  Video.

• 6.b. Briggston Road Paving Project Agreement with Valdosta Railway
  

  Video.

• 6.c. Extraterritorial Extension of Water and Sewer Services – Hahira
  

  Video.

  Spray fields for waste water facility. Apparently the facility is in the county but owned by the city of Hahira.

  Commissioner Scottie Orenstein asked why this wasn’t done “way back when”.

  Chairman Bill Slaughter asked someone else to answer.

  County Manager Paige Dukes said they were cleaning up from Valdosta not previously having made this request.

  Utilities Director Steve Stalvey said this case (Monster Storage) was unusual in that they hadn’t wanted to be annexed into the city of Valdosta but wants to get water from the city of Valdosta at Inner Perimeter and Forrest Street Extension.

• 6.d. Extraterritorial Extension Water and Sewer Services – Monster
  

  Video.

• 6.e. Extraterritorial Extension of Water and Sewer Parcel No. 132D 001
  

  Video.

  More of the same. This all has to do with SDS and some other business nonsense. Apparently entities want city water but don’t want to pay city taxes. — at least that’s how it looks to me. –gretchen

  County Manager Paige Dukes said the county did try to contact all three extraterritorial requesters, but this one did not respond. Commissioner Scottie Orenstein expressed frustration.

• 7.a. Griner Lot Improvements
  

  Video.

  Ok, so I get that water on a property has to be held on the property (thus the underground drainage, etc). However, how is it that the county needs to develop a piece of property with tax dollars that could be developed with private money. The current proposal is to put a park there. The city of Valdosta just made a park at the corner of Lee and Central, just two blocks away. I get that it was in the county’s best interest to buy the old Griner car dealership property, spend the time to monitor the potential for underground contamination, but why now spend tax dollars to develop it into yet another park. Isn’t that what free enterprise is all about? And why now? There are three “private” properties that abut this property on the back that could use some serious re-development. Couldn’t the money be better spent to make those houses presentable (at least one has boarded up windows).

• 8. Reports – County Manager (none)
  

  Video.

• 10. Meeting Adjournment
  

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

GA Forestry, $3 million, redoing 2 rezonings, 3 extraterritorial water and sewer @ LCC 2022-09-12 Lowndes County Commission Work Session, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia,
Monday, September 12, 2022
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),

-jsq

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