Videos: Pipeline, health, insurance, library, and alcohol @ LCC 2013-10-22



The big event was that
citizens speaking about the pipeline got
four of five Commissioners to come down and listen afterwards.
And
in a surprise addition to the agenda
D.A. J. David Miller asked for and got approval for a victim assistance program.
All this and

insurance plan,
health plan,
a

road closing,
a grant proposal to renovate the
Library (did the Commissioners get the whole
board packet this time?)
and let’s not forget a special performance on fire by
Chairman Bill Slaughter,
plus apparently
the County Commission is in charge of rain
like it’s in charge of
alcohol.

Here’s

the agenda with links to the videos, and a few notes.
See also
the previous morning’s Work Session.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

PROPOSED AGENDA

WORK SESSION, MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013, 8:30 a.m.

REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013, 5:30 p.m.

327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor


  1. Call to Order

    Video.
    Audio feed was not working (again) so the first bit of this has no audio.

  2. Invocation

    Video.
    The evening’s Preacher Commissioner was John Page, with his usual “decently and in order”.
    As a farmer, I also like the
    “blessings of rain”, but I’m not sure the Lowndes County Commission
    is in charge of that.

  3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
  1. Minutes for Approval

    Video.
    Unanimously approved with no discussion, as usual.

    1. Work Session — October 7, 2013

    2. Regular Session — October 8, 2013
  2. Special Presentation – Award Presentation for Public Works



    Video.
    Robert Drewry,
    head of the

    Chatham County Public Works Department
    and
    president of the

    Georgia Chapter of the American Public Works Association
    presented an award to

    Lowndes County Public Works Director Robin Cumbus    .

  3. For Consideration

    1. Section 125 Plan Document Renewal for 2014

      Video.

      Section 125 is afeteria or flexible benefit insurance.
      Human Resources Director Kevin Beals said this plan would remove county
      employees’ premiums.
      Commissioner John Page moved, Demarcus Marshall seconded, unanimous approval.
      See the
      Work Session for more discussion.

    2. Health Benefit Vendor and Premium Change for 2014

      Video part 1.
      Human Resources Director Kevin Beals said
      bids came in from Aetna, Coventry BCBSGA, and United Health Care,
      as well as Group Resources.
      Compared to the incumbent for costs and disruptions,
      BCBSGA seemed to be the winner.
      He did put up some tables of comparisons, which maybe you can read on the screen.

      Several Commissioners had questions.
      County Manager Joe Pritchard pitched in to say participants in the
      wellness program would get breaks on their premiums.
      Commissioner Demarcus Marshall said he had not been aware the
      county had no fee for smoking.
      Beals said they still didn’t, but they could examine that for future years.

      Commissioner John Page made a motion to go with Paragon,
      which I don’t understand since that wasn’t one of the bids.
      They approved it anyway.

      Video part 2.
      They approved the premium changes in a separate motion.

      See the
      Work Session for more discussion.

    3. Abandonment of Green Lane

      Video.


      The only family living on Green Lane appears to be

      Alphonso Simmons Jr.
      County Engineer Mike Fletcher said the road would remain open
      to Mr. Simmons’ driveway, and confirmed there were no other driveways
      or houses on Green Lane.
      Apparently the other nearby landowner wants to limit access
      to his private hunting club.
      This was an initial determination by the Commission;
      there will be a public hearing at a later meeting.


    4. South Georgia Regional Library – FY ’13 Georgia Public Library Service Major Repair and Renovation Grant Program Application

      Video.
      It’s a grant application
      to fix up the library with matching funds from SPLOST VII,
      and it’s only valid if SPLOST VII passes (which has happened since then).
      Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know what Plan B was if SPLOST VII
      didn’t pass.
      The answer appeared to be there was no Plan B.
      Approved unanimously.
      Did the Commissioners get the whole
      board packet this time?

    5. Beer & Wine License — Cannon & Lewis Enterprises Inc. — 1177 Lakes Blvd.

      Video.
      Because of a change of ownership, which happens frequently in these cases.
      Approved unanimously.

    6. State of Georgia Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia Agreement for Funding of Prosecution Based VOCA Program State Personnel Program

      Video.
      Lowndes County District Attorney
      J. David Miller presented,
      apparently about

      this U.S. DoJ program      .
      He said there were no new people, pay raises, etc., involved in this,
      and it would be paid for by fines, for the benefit of crimes.

      Commissioner John Page wanted to know if it came out of the District Attorney’s
      budget.
      Miller said yes, but it was completely funded by fines levied on criminals.

      Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know what was a list of attorneys
      in the documents before him.
      Miller said they were attorneys for the victims.

      There was some other discussion, after which they approved it unanimously,
      and Miller said he probably wouldn’t be back for this for another four
      or five years.

      Sheriff Chris Prine was in the audience at the beginning of the meeting,
      I’m guessing for this item, but he left before it was presented.

      In a rare move, the County Clerk updated

      the agenda       to add this item
      between the Work Session and the Regular Session.
      I complimented County Clerk Paige Dukes on that after the meeting.

  4. Reports-County Manager

    Video.

    According to County Manager Joe Pritchard,
    Lowndes County has received an annexation request from the City of Valdosta on behalf of the Valdosta Lowndes County Industrial Authority. The location is off the New Statenville Highway and the county has 30 days to register any objection based up on land use only.
    Is VLCIA planning on making yet another industrial park?
    Commissioner John Page wanted to know if the county had water or sewer
    running to that site.
    Answer: no, the county does not service that site with any utilities.
    More here.



  5. Citizens Wishing to be Heard Please State Name And Address

Here’s

a video playlist:



Videos: Pipeline, health, insurance, library, and alcohol

Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),

Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),

Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 October 2013.

-jsq