Update 2023-09-16: by WWALS, Videos: Quarterman Road rezoning unanimously denied @ LCC 2023-09-12.

After five local residents spoke against and nobody for, the Lowndes County Commission unanimously denied the inappropriate 2.5-acre rezoning REZ-2023-04 on Quarterman Road.

Collage @ LCC 12 September 2023

Then after Roy Copeland spoke for the R-21 rezoning REZ-2023-10 on Mt. Zion Church Road and nobody spoke against, the Commissioners unanimously approved that one.

They unanimously approved almost everything else, including appointing Dr. Anthony Johnson to the Lowndes County Board of Health. The Family Medicine Dr. Johnson; not the eye doctor, although we only know that because LAKE filed an open records request for the board packet and published the results.

The exception was 7.b. Hamilton Green Acceptance of Water – Sewer Infrastructure. Commissioner Clay Griner asked why the lift station would still be private (because it does not meet county specifications), and if it fails, will the county have to take it over (yes).

Then Griner moved to deny the acceptance, and Commissioner Demarcus Marshall seconded. They voted for, and the other two against. Chairman Bill Slaughter broke the tie by voting against denial.

Then Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker moved to accept, Commissioner Joyce Evans seconded, they voted for, and the other two against. The Chairman again broke the tie by voting for acceptance.

See also Gretchen’s longer writeup below the LAKE video of the Hamilton Green item.

County Manager Paige Dukes revealed that the county is working on plans for a wastewater treatment plant to replace the Land Application Site, but she did not say where or near what creek or river.

Early in the meeting, EMA Director Ashley Tye recognized numerous volunteer groups supporting hurricane recovery. At the end, he reported on recovery from Hurricane Idalia.

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

See also the agenda and board packet and the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session.

For REZ-2023-04 on Quarterman Road, see also the Valdosta Daily Times story, the LAKE letter with petition signatures and summary table, the rezoning application and a few more petition signatures against with an updated petition summary, and the WWALS letter.

For the preceding GLPC meeting, where the Planning Commissioners recommended 7:1 to deny the Quarterman Road rezoning, see also the GLPC agenda and board packet and the LAKE videos of that August 28, 2023 GLPC meeting.

Thanks to the County Planner for changing his recommendation. For the Planning Commission he wrote Approve with a condition, but for the County Commission he gave no recommendation.

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

  Video.

• Chairman Slaughter recognizes Leadership Lowndes attendees
  

  Video.

• Ashley Tye recognizes volunteer groups supporting hurricane recovery
  

  Video.

• 4. Minutes for Approval
  

  Video.

• 5.a. Lowndes County Board of Health
  

  Video.

  Dr. Anthony Johnson was appointed.

  There are at least two Dr. Anthony Johnson”s listed in Valdosta. One with SGMC Family Medicine. One with South Georgia North Florida Eye. I do not know which one was appointed.

  Some time back, potential appointees used to come to commission meetings so that the commissioners (and public) could meet them. Apparently that doesn’t happen any more. -gretchen

  According to his application for the position, he is a Family Medicine Physician. But we only know that because LAKE filed and open records request with the county to get the board packet and then LAKE published it. Why the county does not publish its board packets on its own website remains as mysterious as it has been for many years. -jsq

• 6.a. REZ-2023-04 Chase, 6119 Quarterman Rd, ~18 acres, E-A to R-A,
  

  Video.

  Gretchen Quarterman.

  Carolyn Selby.

  Paris Stoeffler.

  Tom Larson.

  John S. Quarterman.

  Speakers for the rezoning: none.

  No rebuttal because nobody for to rebut, on to Commissioner discussion.

  Denied unanimously.

  Thank you.

• 6.b. REZ-2023-10 Copeland, 3728 Mt. Zion Church Rd., ~4ac, E-A to R-21
  

  Video.

  Approved unanimously.

• 7.a. Bevel Creek Lift Station Pump
  

  Video.

• 7.b. Hamilton Green Acceptance of Water – Sewer Infrastructure
  

  Video.

  So the lift station installed by the developer does not meet the specifications of the county, so the developer is going to retain responsibility for the lift station and county will accept all the other infrastructure.

  Commissioner Clay Griner asked what happens when the lift station fails and the developer doesn’t want to fix it. Excellent question. He made a motion to not accept the infrastructure and Commissioner DeMarcus Marshall seconded. The vote was 2-2 to not accept the infrastructure. Chairman Slaughter broke the tie and voted against the motion, so the motion failed.

  A second motion was made to accept the infrastructure. The vote was again 2-2 and Chairman Slaughter voted in the affirmative.

  It will be interesting to see what the future brings. If I were a betting person, I’d say that at some time in the future, the tax payers will be on the hook for this.

  Thank you Commissioners Griner and Marshall.

• 7.c. Meter Backflow Device Purchase
  

  Video.

  Getting a deal by buying someone’s overstock.

• 7.d. Annual Contract Renewal with VSU for Mosquito Identification – Testing
  

  Video.

• 8.a. LAS Expansion Clearing – Grubbing
  

  Video.

  The County Manager let out with the revelation that the county is working on a traditional waste water treatment plan and will present that at the spring retreat.

  I wonder what river or stream will be the recipient of this prize and if it will be funded on the next SPLOST. Stay tuned.

• 9. Reports – County Manager
  

  Video.

• 9. Reports – Ashley Tye on hurricane recovery
  

  Video.

• 10. CWTBH (none) 11. Adjournment
  

  Video.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:

Videos: Quarterman Quarterman Road rezoning unanimously denied; Mt. Zion Church Road rezoning unanimously approved @ LCC Regular 2023-09-12
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, Tusday, September 12, 2023.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).

-jsq

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