Category Archives: Elections

A county that eats its own –Gretchen Quarterman @ LCC 2013-05-28


“Stop wasting taxpayer money” said Gretchen Quarterman
in yesterday’s

Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.


Gretchen Quarterman
I sort of wish that I had been able to observe the executive session
where you discussed the pending lawsuit against Deep South
Sanitation. I wonder who asked the question “Is it beneficial to all
concerned?” I wonder which one of you said “This will really attract
people to start or relocate business in our county when we sue one
of our local business owners.”

If I were considering a business move, I wouldn’t move to a county
that eats its own.

I ask that you drop the lawsuit and stop wasting taxpayer money.
Thank you.

[Applause]



Bill Slaughter and Gretchen Quarterman were inducted into Valdosta
Rotary on the same day (12 September 2012); that’s John Page,
already a member, standing behind them.
County Attorney Walter Elliott is also a member.
The Rotary Continue reading →

We like doing business with Deep South Sanitation –Duane Roark @ LCC 2013-05-28



A 47-year local resident got up to say he liked Deep South Sanitation
after he tried the monopoly company, and he likes having a choice.
This was in yesterday’s

Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.

Duane Roark said he was a satisfied customer of the recycling
centers the county closed,
and he didn’t like it when he heard

he had to do business with ADS.
Nonetheless, he signed up, but he wasn’t happy
because of

numerous mistakes
so he switched to Deep South Sanitation, where the CEO answers the phone
and delivered a can that same day.
DSS: a man with one truck: what harm is he doing?


Duane Roark
We like that we have a choice….

And he’s got my vote.

[Applause]

Some of the incumbent Commissioners may find votes hard to come by.

More in

the video:

Continue reading →

Your jaw will drop with astonishment at how fast solar power will beat every other energy source –a stock trader



A stock trader looked for causes of solar stock price rises
and considered the effects of solar PV price drops,
and realized solar power is going to
beat every other energy source so fast that it
“will make your jaw drop with astonishment.”

Michael Sankowski wrote for Business Insider 3 May 2013,

Solar Is Going To Change The World Much Faster Than Anyone Expects,

6% year is a fantastic rate of decreases, but 20% is simply
astonishing. 20% is an impressive number, but putting it into
context will make your jaw drop with astonishment.

My calculations show that if solar maintains 5 more years at current
23% rates per year price drops, solar power will be cheaper than
using existing coal plants. That’s right — it will be cheaper
to build new solar plants than to use existing coal plants. It
sounds absolutely crazy.

First he discovers the effects of no fuel for solar in Continue reading →

Valdosta PR about wastewater issues

The city of Valdosta responds. I have decorated this PR with a few
images with links, and a few comments after it. -jsq


Mayor and Council Address Recent Wastewater Issues,

The Valdosta Mayor and City Council are committed to providing quality
municipal services that meet the expectations of our citizens. In addition
to providing fire and police protection and other beneficial quality of
life services, the city leadership is equally committed to providing
adequate water and wastewater treatment services to its citizens,
maintaining a functioning sewer collection system and discharging treated
water in an environmentally responsible manner.



Recently, citizens have been inundated with information about
the current state of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and sewer
collection system, as well as the decisions made during the recent flood
event. The following information is provided to explain the recent event
and to help citizens better understand these important issues and the
dedicated work of their elected officials and municipal staff.

THE SITUATION

Continue reading →

Spilling Sewage Pictures by Gabe Fisher 3:30 PM 24 March 2013

Received yesterday. -jsq

Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:43:47 -0400


Manhole

All, just so everyone is on the same page- the sewer line is currently
spilling sewage. It just started at mu house but has been going strong
at sugar creek for awhile by the looks of it. Here are some current
pictures as of 3:30 today. It will get worse until the river crests..

Gabe

Continue reading →

Harris resignation letter —Gretchen Quarterman



Some thoughts on the

Kay Harris resignation letter.

  1. If the library building is going to fall down, move the
    library to another available building like the soon to be
    closed federal building downtown.
  2. Has she forgotten that the newspaper brags that SPLOST is paid
    half by people who don't even live in the county?
  3. If Valdosta had gone ahead with the MOST then for sure
    county residents would have been paying for something
    that they wouldn't get to use. How much "shopping" is outside
    the Valdosta city limits? Harvey's in Bemiss, Harvey's in
    Hahira and the stores in Lake Park.

Certainly a SPLOST is better than a MOST.

-gretchen

Kay Harris resigned as Chair and from Library Board

Received today:
PDF, with transcription appended below. -jsq


Kay Harris talking about SPLOST VII
March 15, 2013

Joe Pritchard
County Manager
Lowndes County
327 N. Ashley St.
Valdosta, GA 31601

Dear Mr. Pritchard:

It is with great regret that I find the need to step down from the Lowndes County
and South Georgia Regional Library Board of Trustees. I fear that I am no longer
capable of holding this position in light of the county’s recent actions.

As you are aware,

Continue reading →

More Valdosta wastewater correspondence



Some interesting questions have come up in
Gabe Fisher's continuing correspondence with the City of Valdosta
about

sewage in his back yard
and

under his house,
while

City Council Tim Carroll continues to respond,
both copying a long list of people.

From: Gabe Fisher

Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2013 14:23:12 -0500

All, I appreciate the update on where the city stands on moving the
sewer all together—I just wish we had been kept informed of
the plans over the last 4 years. Living with the *real* threat of
flooding is stressful enough, add in the guaranteed associated
sewage spill is more than I can handle.

I also appreciate the city workers spreading lime and working on the
sewer line behind my house today. But I have questions—What
about the sewage in my yard and under my house? Is this my
responsibility?

Thanks, Gabe

Tim Carroll responded with a couple of suggestions:

Continue reading →

Valdosta Neighborhood Covered In Raw Sewage —WCTV


Valdosta Flooding
As
he indicated yesterday,
Gabe Fisher got his sewage-covered neighborhood on WCTV last night.

Greg Gullberg wrote for WCTV yesterday,

Valdosta Neighborhood Covered In Raw Sewage,


Chad Harrison
After days of torrential rain, the same rain that caused the rivers
to flood, the sewage pump has been overwhelmed in the Meadow Brook
Subdivison just off Gornto Road.

“You know how bad it smells in a bathroom when someone goes in and
uses a public restroom. Multiple that ten times,” said Chad
Harrison, a local resident.


Greg Gullberg
The whole area behind their houses is just covered in raw sewage.
Your boots sink down into it with every step. We’re talking
everything from human waste, to toilet paper, to hygiene products
and a whole other list of things that are just too graphic to
mention.

“Probably about 12 to 14 inches of raw sewage,” said Harrison. “It’s
just everywhere. It’s all up and down the creek. It’s all behind
everybody’s houses.”


House
There’s more in

the WCTV story,
such as that the city has included neighbors in meetings, but has not
yet changed anything.
The city’s PR about the flooding
says:

Continue reading →

Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant Fully Operational

Received today. -jsq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Release #03-13-02

March 3, 2013


Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant Fully Operational


Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant
At approximately 1:30 p.m. today, March 3, the Withlacoochee
Wastewater Treatment Plant was brought online and returned to
normal operation, after a loss of function for only three days
compared to the nine days of complete loss of function experienced
in the flood of 2009. Today, the river receded to the point where
the temporary by-pass pumps could be connected to the existing
valves. The system was turned on, became fully operational and began
full treatment capabilities.




Lessons learned from the 2009 flood resulted in proactive measures
which include the following:

  • The installation of bypass pumps, pipes and valves to utilize in
    the event of an emergency or act of God.
  • In 2009, the berm only protected the pump station, which did not
    prevent flooding of the chemical building, the chlorine contact
    building, the filters and the belt presses. The plant's
    electrical system was destroyed in the flooded area and the filters
    and belt presses were inoperable.


  • In this event, the electric system, chlorine cylinders, de-chlorination
    system and all flooded areas were turned off to avoid the
    damage that was experienced in 2009.
  • In this event, the biological, natural occurring bacteria that
    are used in the treatment process were saved so that the system
    could treat wastewater immediately when it was turned back on. In
    2009, the natural occurring bacteria were washed out of the plant
    as a result of the continuous pumping during the event.
  • In this event, the plant was fully operational in three days.
    In 2009, the plant had a complete loss of function for nine days and
    was not fully operational for over a month.

The city's drinking water supply is in no way

Continue reading →