They actually increased the Industrial Authority’s millage to 1.1 mil, above its historic rate of 1 mil. This was not discussed in the preceding Budget Hearings, nor I think even in the previous morning’s Work Session. They unanimously approved that and everything else on the agenda.

Chairman Bill Slaughter added an item to the agenda, for 5.j. Appointment – Community Service Board – must be elected official. They appointed Commissioner Demarcus Marshall. You may recall that on May 27, 2025 they appointed Commissioner Joyce Evans to this board. She was absent at that meeting, and has been absent from every Lowndes County Commission meeting since then. Since she has not made public why, I will not say, other than that her absences are not because she does not want to be there.

County Manager Paige Dukes had three staff give reports at the end of this Regular Session:

• Utilities talked about Lake Alapaha well
• Engineering reported on jail expansion
• PIO gave report on bicentennial activities

Collage @ LCC 26 August 2025

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

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

It is still mysterious why Lowndes County does not publish its board packets on its own website, like many counties larger and smaller have done for years in Georgia and Florida.

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

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/p6JJqkrYQUE

  Lowndes County Board of Commissioners (LCC) Regular Session – 2025-08-26

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

• 4. Minutes for Approval
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/RNUk5e-_UKo

  
  

• 5.a. Adoption Of The 2025 Millage Rate – Stephanie Black gave a presentation
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/EZf_t-iJs_U

  
  

• Chairman Adds Agenda item 5j – Appointment to Community Service Board
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/vbIDzE7SVHU

  
  

• 5.b. Adoption Of Special District Millage For The Industrial Authority 2025
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/jzhSgi0RNW0

  Initial proposal was to bring rate back to 1.0 (it was set down last year) but a second option was to set at 1.1. 1.1 was the rate that was approved. Apparently one doesn’t have to advertise an increase for special district millages.

• 5.c. Adoption Of Special District Millage For The Parks And Recreation
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/KsOZ-K7uklU

  1.25 is the minimum that this millage can be set at. That is what they used.

• 5.d. Adoption Of Special District Millage For Fire Services For 2025
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/5yPhebIrfyM

  
  

• Chairman Comments on budget work
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/lbVa3Ii1T2w

  
  

• 5.e. Opioid Litigation – Purdue Pharma
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/xCesP4txbhA

  
  

• 5.f. Quit-Claim Deed Of Abandoned Section Of Hightower Road
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/rI9FiMWeTsM

  
  

• 5.g. SPLOST IX
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/MwU25E_bbVg

  
  

• 5.h. TREES Act Resolution
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/TY04gq_Crok

  
  

• 5.i. AFFF/PFAS Groundwater Claims
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/ic7n05Eae4U

  
  

• 5.j. Appointment – Community Service Board – must be elected official
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/u63FK6wck14

  I don’t know why this was not on the agenda yesterday and no one said why there was a hurry to fill this position. I could make a guess but will not.

• 6. Reports – County Manager – Utilities to talk about Lake Alapaha well
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/8PvMDXBlxOk

  
  

• 6. Reports – County Manager – Engineering reported on jail expansion
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/zA5FieBoKzc

  
  

• 6. Reports – County Manager – PIO gave report on bicentennial activities
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/izZw0_TzBDY

  
  

• 7. CWTBH – none
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/17PzBcWF7OE

  
  

• Chairman / Commission comments
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/ljlHLIfkCvc

  
  

• 8. Adjournment
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/1n6gmtvIhAs

  
  

Here is the LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiEDeGO-JdYxRqUdMwf5z8Wa&si=nAKFcCI3DLaKvutp

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

-jsq

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