It is mysterious why 7.b. Val Del Rd and N. Valdosta Rd. Intersection improvement was only added in this Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission. They’ve been leading up to it for a long time. Apparently the two bids were only opened the previous day; I thought bid openings were scheduled.

Collage @ LCC 21 April 2025

In this meeting, they talked about that intersection for almost seven minutes, which is very long for this body. The intersection will completely close starting May 27, probably for most of the summer. It will end up with two lanes going north, and three lanes going south: one left only, one left or straight, one right only.

The old US 41 North facebook group has renamed itself to follow this development
https://www.facebook.com/LowndesCoHwy41WideningRoadProjectUpdates

Second longest was 7.a. 2025 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) Resurfacing Bids. Commissioner Michael Smith (newly elected) wanted clarification that this was the big LMIG item for the year.

Lawanna Barron and Julie Powell were appointed to the 5.a. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Commissioner Michael Smith was not needed as an appointee.

County Manager Paige Dukes had several people talk about their topics in 8. Reports – County Manager. She also introduced Garry Dodard, the Community Initiatives Office from Moody AFB.

In Citizens Wishing to be Heard, Kelly Saxon talked about Second Chance Month.

Here are LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few comments by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the LAKE videos of the preceding Work Session and the agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request.

And see the board packet for the preceding GLPC meeting.

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

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/RW2zvxEDGKM

  Lowndes County Board of Commissioners (LCC) – Regular Session – 2025-04-22

  Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).

• Chairman Recognitions – Leadership Lowndes (none)
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/RtWXZKkkPfc

• 4. Minutes for Approval
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/-NVeXjm9xdI

• Addition to Agenda (Bid Item – 7b. )
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/bnV4-nzcJb8

• 5.a. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/xa_zjDaYV8o

  Since yesterday, another candidate was found so Commissioner Michael Smith was not needed as a candidate.

  Lawanna Barron and Julie Powell were appointed.

• 6.a. Acceptance of the VAWA Continuation Grant Award for 2025
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/hgHJa-n36bg

• 6.b. FY2026 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Application
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/vMnNq_SQuEs

• 6.c. Emergency Purchase – Naylor Tower Top Amp Replacement
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/4Dm2_ZHZklg

• 7.a. 2025 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) Resurfacing Bids
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/wpIYMHr-1Zw

  7a. 2025 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) Resurfacing Bids (Project #: ENG 2025-01)

• 7.b. Val Del Rd and N. Valdosta Rd. Intersection improvement
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/3QfhrHMVPao

  Two lanes going north.
  Three lanes going south – one left only, one left or straight, one right only.

  Intersection to be completely closed starting May 27.

  The Facebook group that was for old US41 north had been repurposed for this project.
  https://www.facebook.com/LowndesCoHwy41WideningRoadProjectUpdates

• 8. Reports – County Manager
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/VR625TAl6hE

  County manager called on staff to give reports.
  She also introduced Garry Dodard, the Community Initiatives Office from Moody AFB.

• 9. CWTBH – Kelly Saxon – Second Chance Month
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/fWm-dsdEHyQ

• 10. Adjournment
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/K9qeYO5A9k0

Here is the LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiHNyBKrr_Z30UQgFNWGQSi1&si=-0HDk9dmewbJE46X

Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/donate

Short Link: