Some actual discussion!
20 minutes of it, on
6.b. REZ-2014-16 Bailey, Madison Hwy/Williams School Ln,
at the 14 October 2014 Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.
With no discussion, they approved
a single-sourced pump replacement
and
the DA’s VOCA grant application.
They
abandoned Water Oak Trail (not Water Oaks Drive),
and they
reappointed Jody Hall to the Planning Commission
with no discussion and no presentation by him.
The county now has a
twitter account,
but the new website still isn’t ready, after how many months?
See the
agenda and videos of the previous morning’s Work Session,
and see the
board packet LAKE acquired through an open records request and scanned
and posted.
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1. Call to Order 2. Invocation 3. Pledge
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Video.
Chairman Bill Slaughter said Commissioner Joyce Evans brought it to their attention. -
4. Minutes for Approval
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5. Appointment Greater Lowndes Planning
Video.
They reappointed Jody Hall.
Previously he was on for the unexpired term of John Page.
This time they appointed him to a five-year term,
with no discussion, unanimously.
He did not speak. -
6.a. Abandonment of Unopened Right of Way off Water Oak Trail
Video.
See
the videos of the previous morning’s Work Session
for it’s Water Oak Trail, not Water Oaks Drive, and for maps.Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know if the motion
needed to include being divided among the neighboring property owners.
County Attorney said that wasn’t necessary, since it was an easement,
and abandonment would mean it would happen as a matter of law. -
6.b. REZ-2014-16 Bailey, Madison Hwy/Williams School Ln
Video.
County Planner Jason Davenport said applicant was willing to consider M1,
and Staff had recommended CC.
Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know what hazardous waste meant.
Commissioner Crawford Powell wanted to confirm that they’d be grandfathered
in for the current business regardless of which rezoning; answer: yes.Nobody spoke in opposition.
Applicant spoke in favor.
She worried that if a tornado tore down the building,
they couldn’t build a new one without rezoning.
Chairman asked if that could be handled through conditional use.
Answer from County Planner, no, due to the ordinance.Gretchen Quarterman
also spoke in favor,
noting that on her appointed board,
the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBOA),
often people wanted a variance to replace a building that
was damaged by a storm, because they were in a non-conforming situation.
She said she admired a person who wanted to get it right for their
existing building.
Also expanding a building often requires a variance.You have the opportunity right now to make their business whole.
Commissioners continued to discuss the issue for another nine minutes.
Griner and Powell were concerned about resale of the property:
what else might go in there, also about population density nearby.
County Planner Jason Davenport recommended looking at the
aerial map, which you can see
in the board packet LAKE requisitioned, scanned, and posted
Davenport also said Commission could put a requirement for rezoning
in case of change of ownership.
Also, in response to a question by Demarcus Marshall,
that the county had no outstanding code enforcement or other issues
with the applicant;
the rezoning was because the applicant wanted to clean up the
grandfathered issue.
Commissioner Powell suggested tabling to consider M-1.
Commissioner Raines want to know the difference between C-C and M-1.
Davenport recommended looking at “the table”,
which you can see
in the board packet LAKE requisitioned, scanned, and posted,
and noted that C-C would be more restrictive in certain ways.Eventually the tabled so county could discuss M-1 and C-C with applicant.
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7.a. Foxbourgh Lift Station Pump Replacement
Video.
Utilities Manager Mike Allen said
cost for repair was 75% of cost of a new pump,
so staff recommends purchasing a new pump.
He didn’t mention
the cost of $30,040.20 or that there was only one bidder,
but you can see that in the board packet WWALS acquired, scanned, and posted.
The Commission approved the purchase unanimously, never mentioning
price or single-sourcing to the public. -
7.b. DA’s Federal VOCA Grant Application Renewal
Video.
Referring to
the previous morning’s presentation by D.A. J. David Miller,
they approved it unanimously. -
8. Reports – County Manager
Video.
County Manager Joe Pritchard said it was Fire Prevention Month,
and he wanted to acknowledge Fire Dept. and 911 for efforts
to educate school children.County Clerk Paige Dukes (hidden behind her monitor)
said the county had a twitter account now,
Lowndes411.
But the website still isn’t ready, after how many months?
Here’s
a video playlist:
Videos: Discussion, GLPC, abandonment, septic, pump, and VOCA
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 14 October 2014.
-jsq