Videos: ULDC amendments, Voting machine security, Library Board, Boat and RV Storage, Alapaha Plantation Water, Purchase houses by Griner Park, Insurance, LMIG @ LCC Regular 2023-07-11

Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked for clarifications on chickens being excluded from conservation in 6.a. TXT-2023-01 ULDC Text Amendments, County Manager Bill Slaughter said there were two kinds of conservation: land use and taxes, and the exclusion only applied to one of them; not clear which one.

Collage @ LCC 11 July 2023

Gretchen Quarterman spoke against the amendments being voted on without more time for the general public to review and comment, as she did at the preceding Planning Commission meeting. She pointed out she still could not find the amendments on the county’s website, there had been only one county announcement of these changes, and no listing of the changes. Nobody spoke for. The Chairman asked for rebuttal, but there was none.

Commissioners had no discussion, and voted unanimously to approve the ULDC text amendments.

They unanimously approved everything else, except 6.b. Purchase of 412-416 North Lee Street Property, which was withdrawn from the agenda because of lack of clear title to the property. “A few more difficulties with the title search,” said the Chairman.

In 5.a. Appointment – South Georgia Regional Library Board, along with the reappointments, on a motion by Valdosta City employee and County Commissioner Demarcus Marshall, they appointed Valdosta Deputy City Manager Catherine Ammons to the seat previously held by Gary Wisenbaker, who was term limited.

In 9. Reports, Gretchen notes, “County Manager Paige Dukes called on Permitting to give an update on how the new office is doing after two weeks in operation.”

Mindy Bates said 44 applications submitted and processed, 26 permits have been issued, 7 have been completely 1 commercial 26 residential, everything else is still in process for inspections to be requested, fees to be paid, and “things like that.” She added that on the very first day of county-handled permitting they had two applications come in, processed through, and two inspections. They’re registered and verified 70 contractor licenses and occupational tax registrations, which “smooths the process”. They’ve assessed about $10,000 in fees, collected about $2,500, and about $7,200 is still outstanding waiting to be paid. Just before 5PM they received their first large application, for a $7,500,000 warehouse coming to town.

So they’re happy to service “the development community” as the County Manager often calls it. And I understand they want to generate economic development.

Maybe they could be as solicitous of the rest of the general public, especially county voters and taxpayers.

Gretchen added, “I’m not sure where I find information about permitting on the lowndescounty.com web site. I don’t find an announcement in the “news flash” area and when I search for “building permit” it gives a list of permits that one could get but nothing about where to go to get a building permit (as a regular person, not a commercial contractor).”

Also, Billy Young is the new Lowndes County Fire Chief. Former Chief Lloyd Green has moved to a senior Fire Marshall position (even though Green is still listed as Fire Chief on lowndescounty.com.

In Citizens Wishing to Be Heard, four citizens voiced concerns about Dominion voting machines and said the county had the power to go to paper ballots: Catherine Reese, Diane Cox, Cheri Whitney, and Mary Gebbia.

Below are links to LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.