Two citizens from Hahira couldn’t speak in Citizens Wishing
to Be Heard, but the Chairman
would go into the private board room out of camera range afterwards
to speak to them.
The Chairman did
describe a statement about the Sabal Trail pipeline.
Veterinarian Amanda Hall didn’t appear but was appointed to the
Dangerous Dog Board.
They objected to the
Hahira annexation request.
They approved
a
bid for an mobile emergency bypass pump on a trailer,
a
computer lease purchase agreement,
and
two
Juvenile Justice grant application items, for
Continuation
and for
Enhancement (more about that).
And all four remaining voting Commissioners showed up.
Here’s
the agenda, with links to the videos and a few notes.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street — 2nd Floor
Call to Order
InvocationReverend Commissioner Richard Raines prayed for unity and peace.
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Minutes for Approval
Appointments
Dangerous Dog Board
Video.
Dr. Amanda Hall of Baytree Animal Hospital could not attend
due to an emergency.
County Manager Joe Pritchard said,“You do have an information sheet on her in your packet.”
No, not you, dear reader. You can file an open records request
and get that sheet after they vote.
They approved Dr. Hall unanimously.All I can find about this board is
some related Georgia laws.
For Consideration
2014 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Program Application for Continuation Funding
Video.
County Manager Joe Pritchard gave a much briefer
summation than
yesterday’s presentation by Emergency Management Director Ashley Tye
Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know whether a new governor
would continue the program.
Answer: probably, because it was funded.
2014 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Program Application for Enhancement Funding
Computer Lease Purchase
Video.
ITS Director Aaron Kostyu gave a much briefer version
of
his description of the previous morning:
Maximum $107,670.96 for eventual purchase after 4 year lease.
He enumerated dollars for each year.
County Manager asked the alleged County Attorney for an opinion,
which was more or less sure, you can do that.
So they did.
Bid
Bid for Emergency By-Pass Pump
Video.
Utilities Director Mike Allen said one bid for $37,728 for an 8-inch bypass pump.
A bit more detail in the previous morning’s Work Session,
in which we learned it’s a mobile pump that goes on a trailer.
Commission approved the pump.
Reports-County Manager
Annexation and Rezoning Application received by the City of Hahira
Applicants are Fred Wetherington and Laurence Nelson,
for five parcels totaling
66.1 acres between
Hagen Bridge Road and Highway 122,
so they can get city of Hahira water and sewer services.
30 days from receipt of request leave no time until the next Regular Session,
so action was required at this meeting.
County Attorney noted Hagen Bridge Road is not paved,
and “it’s the view of Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Davenport”
that that road is not adequate for such a subdivision,
so the county would have to acquire additional right of way,
pave, and potentally relocate utilities,
so that is a proposed basis for county objection to annexation.
Letter already drafted; sending it would trigger arbitration.Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know from
County Planner Jason Davenport whether Fred Wetherington
and Laurence Nelson were aware of this.
Answer: in general, yes; specifically, no,
although he had spoken to the Hahira Planner (Matt Martin)
and to Fred Wetherington’s surveyor.Commissioner Raines said it wasn’t about the subdivision it was about the expsnese for the road.
Commissioner Marshall moved to approve; unanimous approval.
More detail
in the previous morning’s Work Session.
Chairman Slaughter statement on proposed Sabal Trail Pipeline
Video.
He described
the letter he sent to FERC as an e-comment
that says
Sabal Trail will be expected to adhere and honor all Lowndes County ordinances,
and enumerates fourteen points.
There is
more he and the Commission can do,
such as pass a resolution or an ordinance,
but that letter is a good step forward.
Citizens Wishing to be Heard Please State Name And Address
Video.
After prompting by the County Manager,
the Chairman chose to stick to
the Commission’s citizen-suppression ordinance
and refused to let two people speak because they hadn’t filled out a form first.
The two potential speakers were Hahira City Council Mason Barfield
and John Adams.
The Chairman took them into the side room where the public is not permitted,
but others indicated they wanted to say Hahira water and sewer
can’t support as many houses as a 60+ acre subdivision would add.
Here’s
a video playlist:
Videos: No you cannot speak
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 April 2014.
-jsq