Gretchen Quarterman also spoke against the proposition, citing that
extending residential areas further out into undeveloped Lowndes County
would create greater strain on an already tight fiscal operating budget.
John Robinson congratulated Roy Copeland for accepting the position
as chair of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA)
and said:
We’re looking forward to working along with you guys,
because we truly need the help now on
the other side of the railroad track over there.
…
And we do believe that if everyone try to work together
we can get something done.
Received a thank you from John Robinson of the Black Businessmen’s Association during the Citizens to be Heard portion of the meeting for agreeing to work with small and emerging businesses, with the goal of removing the “social divide” in the city;
Small emerging businesses —Mr. Robinson @ VLCIA 19 July 2011
Regular Meeting, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA),
Norman Bennett, Tom Call, Roy Copeland chairman, Mary Gooding, Jerry Jennett,
Andrea Schruijer Executive Director, J. Stephen Gupton attorney, Allan Ricketts Project Manager,
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 19 July 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
When it comes to the proposed biomass facility and maintaining a healthy
relationship with the Georgia Department of Economic Development,
which assisted the Industrial Authority in attracting the project,
Schruijer believes staff and board members will be able to work through
the situation.
“With economic development, it can be difficult to juggle a lot of
different items,” said Schruijer. “It’s a balancing act to make sure
you have all the parties involved and educated on the situation. The
Department of Economic Development was there to help us recruit the
project and they did just what they were supposed to do. In fact, they
went above and beyond their duties by brushing over this project with a
fine tooth comb. We worked with them and they worked with us. It seemed
like a good project, and I think we’ll be able to work through this,
maintain a good relationship with them as long as we keep the avenues
for communication open.”
That sounds like Industrial-speak for they’re going to
“move on to” things that do work.
However she chooses to phrase it, it’s about time.
Neighboring landowner demolishes developers’ arguments; explains agriculture to Lowndes County Comission.
Neighboring landowner Calvin Marshall,
speaking against rezoning for
REZ-2011-10 Nottinghill,
said neighbors,
“We’re not interested in a Bluepool,
We’re not interested in a Chatham Place.
And we’re certainly not interested in what they built out on Val Del Road.
We’ve also looked at what they’ve done with Old Pine,
and we’re definitely not interested in that, either.
Too small lots, small homes.”
That last one is presumably
Glen Laurel,
which had a roomful of neighbors opposing it last year.
Calvin Marshall asked for the Commissioners to deny the Nottinghill
rezoning request.
He also asked:
“The other thing that we asked the developer … what you going to do about
the neighbors that have got a farm on each side?
What kind of buffer are you going to put there?
…
We farm that land, we grow crops,
we run cows,
we run goats,
we run hogs,
and we’re going to continue to do that.
…
We don’t have an answer as to what they’re going to do for a buffer.”
Calvin Marshall continued with the economic argument:
“There’s three or four generations of property owners in this room tonight.
These people go back for three or four generations.
And these people have worked hard.
County Planner Jason Davenport introduced REZ-2011-10 Nottinghill, Cat Creek Rd, 0144 0255-0258, ~15.75 ac., 49 lots, Co W/S, R-1 to R-10.
He said the TRC recommended approval with a condition,
the Planning Commission recommended approval with a different condition,
and now staff preferred requiring a minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet.
Nottinghill, Cat Creek Road, rezoning —Jason Davenport
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 July 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
One of the architects of Portugal’s successful drug decriminalization policy
says,
“to make
demands of addicts who are enslaved by their addiction is senseless.”
Well, it makes sense to those who profit by it, such as private prison
companies.
And Georgia is now proposing
to make field slaves out of them,
for
failing a drug test.
In 1999, Portugal broke new ground by enacting legislation that
decriminalized all drug use. Ten years later, the results are there
for all to see, results of a change that João Goulão, president of
the do Instituto da Droga e Toxicodependência (The Drugs and Chemical
Addiction Institute) IDT, believes show the law has been instrumental in
solving the problem of drug abuse, and crucial for bringing legislation
into harmony with practices and people.
A family doctor, Goulão was condecorated by the president of the
Portuguese Republic, but he says he is always ready for to roll up
his sleeves and get out in the field. At 55, he is a candidate for the
Presidency of the European Drugs Observatory, but that has not clowded
his sobriety about the work at hand.
In an exclusive interview to Comunidad Segura, Goulão discusses the
workings and the structure of the institution that he presides over, that
has set a world-wide example of success. For him, drug use is closely
associated to self-esteem. “If we could restore drug addicts their
human dignity, we would be able to demand something in return. But to make
demands of addicts who are enslaved by their addiction is senseless,”
he said.
Now that makes a lot of sense.
And Portugal demonstrates that it works.
He has more sensible things to say in the interview, including this:
Continue reading →
The industrial authority’s spending of money seems to have no end. They
don’t seem to budget appropriately or have a long range plan for the
land they have acquired. Yet another industrial park when the Hahira
park is still without any leasers.
This looks like gambling with my tax dollars. I don’t gamble with my
own money for the reason that I am likely to loose. The board & staff
feel no responsibility to the taxpayers. so, it is clear that they would
ignore our demand for a no biomass clause and support of clean air for
our families.
with state and local leaders
Monday, August 8, 2011
6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Brooks Hall Conference Center
4089 Val-Tech Road, Valdosta
Give your input on a
soft skills/work ethics curriculum
required by House Bill 186 to help
prepare our future workforce for success and
help our businesses and industries to prosper.
Meeting will be moderated by Melvin Everson,
Executive Director of the Governor’s Office
of Workforce Development.
For directions or information please call 229-333-2121.
David Rodock wrote in the VDT 13 July 2011,
Citizens speak against Cat Creek crowding:
She referred to a report County Planner Jason Davenport
commissioned from
Prof. Jeffrey H. Dorfman of UGA,
Local Government Fiscal Impacts of Land Use in Lowndes County,
December 2007,
in which he recommended development close in to existing services
for the most benefit to all parties.
As
Prof. Dorfman has said,
“Local governments must ensure balanced growth, as sprawling residential growth is a certain ticket to fiscal ruin*
