Questions abound: Why is it that Lowndes County residents will not be
voting on the most important issue to face their school system since
its inception in 1950?
If I lived in the county I’d be mad that CUEE and the Chamber of Commerce
chose to leave my vote out of such a very important decision.
Further Query: Why would CUEE and the Chamber of Commerce spend $50
grand to collect the signatures for the petition causing the City of
Valdosta to spend thousands of tax dollars (2 staff dedicated to task &
4 temps hired) to verify the signatures on the petition?
Dr. Noll, president of WACE, welcomed VLCIA’s new executive director Andrea Schruijer, and
then reminded the board that the honking cars outside
indicated an ongoing community assessment of biomass,
and he encouraged them to consider previously presented
materials and to prevent the biomass plant from
finding a back door to come back in.
He remarked that he had visited his mother in Germany:
One and half years ago she was in the intensive care unit for about three weeks
because she had severe lung issues.
She moved away after that
to an area where there isn’t the kind of air pollution she was
exposed to before hand,
and every single day she wakes up she feels like she’s on vacation.
Because of my mother —Dr. Noll @ 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.
Pritchard also said they (the county in its previous investigation,
presumably the one of 2010)
examined the character of those testifying for
the complaints and he said they found biases.
“Whatever problems there are, they’re going to be resolved.”
2011-05-24 The VDT quotes County Manager Joe Pritchard
as saying:
“It’s no longer a case of an individual making a claim, as it will be evident by the physical evidence provided by the security cameras.”
and:
“You take that policy, coupled with the updated standard operating
procedures, added to the technical verification and I think that
addresses the issues. My purpose is to eliminate any problem or potential
problem.”
2011-05-31 statement by Director Linda Patelski saying two people fired for euthanasia violation of 20 May 2011
I really feel like the Lowndes County Commissioners meetings are more
to pacify the community then to actually listen to the concerns of
the citizens which I’m sure most counties are the same. I feel quite
positive matters of concern actually never leave that room, I’m pretty
certain if the room were full and more individuals showing concern for
their community maybe things could change slightly. I have gotten the
impression that they really don’t want to hear people’s opinions. I
was once under the impression that there job of commissioners where
to also hear from the residence of the county. It certainly has shown
me how transparency issues and intimidation also go hand in hand. When
you think of a member of county government it’s a position of power
and power some obviously let go to their head. But after reading the
article it appears no matter where in this country when you oppose them
you obviously could be removed in handcuffs. You’re only allowed to have
your 3 to 4 minutes to speak after interruptions and snide remarks. First
Amendment right allows us to have freedom of speech… but broken down,
it allows us our time at the podium less freedom of speech if Mr. Paulk
decided to stop us. I wonder how the rest of the commissioners feel about
his antics toward people being heard. Maybe they don’t have concerns
in the matter but you have to wonder if they feel intimidated as well
and just choose to say nothing.
One reason LAKE permits anonymous posts is that occasionally
some useful information like this comes in that way;
received yesterday on
Graphic horse case. -jsq
Ga. Ag Equine Division is authorized to impound animals if animal cruelty is suspected.
However, if you take the time to read the state law (Ga. Code Section), you’ll see that local animal control and law enforcement are also authorized to impound horses/equine.
Counties need to understand that Ag is REGULATORY – they are NOT a criminal office. They cannot legally conduct a criminal investigation, nor file criminal charges.
Criminal investigations, and charges, have to be handled by local law enforcement.
The below excerpt is from “The Ga. Animal Protection Act” – which is – a state law.
.
4-11-9.2. Inspection warrant; impounding of animals
(a) At any time there is probable cause to believe that a violation of this article or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this article has occurred, the Commissioner, his or her designated agent, or an animal control officer who is an employee of state or local government may apply to the appropriate court in the county in which the animal is located for an inspection warrant under the provisions of Code Section 2-2-11.
(b) Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other peace officer shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this article and Code Sections 16-12-4 and 16-12-37.
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.
Somebody finally called a developer’s bluff!
Answering Commissioners’ questions about
his opposition to rezoning for Nottinghill on Cat Creek Road,
Calvin Marshall did what I’ve never seen anyone do before in opposing a subdivision:
he upped the ante.
Commissioner Richard Raines said he would require Nottinghill lots to have:
“Not perhaps, but a fence around the edge of the property.
…
Need to make sure that bicycles and fourwheelers, that children are not playing
in a field that is used to grow crops.”
Seems fair, except that he seemed to be talking about each individual
eventual property owner having to put up a fence, and I can tell you by
experience that that won’t happen without the neighboring landowner
personally insisting to each lot owner.
Unless the Commission insists that county code enforcement actually
enforce such a condition, which would be a good thing for a change.
Then Commissioner Raines asked Calvin Marshall:
“Is it still your position that 12-15,000 square foot lots are OK?”
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.
This 18 month old Tenn. Walking Horse was refused vet care or euthensia
not only by its owner but by my Director as well. I was alerted through
911 dispatch on a Saturday while working. I spoke to my director
(Linda) about the colts situation and she advised me she was not going
to WASTE COUNTY FUNDS picking him up, euthenising him or disposing of
him. Five days later with a Lowndes County deputy and Officer Ronnie
Ganas and Dr. Mary Rogers, he was darted (colt was not halter broken)
and euthenised; Tifton Diagnostic Lab found a high utensil wire
embedded in the left hind leg (pastern) which had severed his deep
flexor tendon. PLEASE REMEMBER vet care or euthenising was REFUSED
The governor of Ohio created a budget shortfall, and wants to solve it
by selling off private prisons in “a yard sale” in a recession,
like “a junkie” for “his next fix.”
“The biggest source of Ohio’s budget problem is not overspending or
compenstation for public employees. It is a reduction in revenue.
…
The tax changes also were weighted to high-income Ohioans. More than 40
percent of the income-tax cuts are going to the five percent of families
with income of $135,000 or more a year. Meanwhile, the bottom three-fifths
of Ohio families will receive just 13 percent of the total tax cut.
According to a recent poll,
the people of Ohio think this is unfair and don’t believe the governor
can fix the budget without raising taxes.
There are other reasons selling off prisons to private prison
companies such as CCA is a bad idea.
Still, Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Matt Lundy of
Elyria, question whether Ohio is making a wise move.
“The buyer wins and the taxpayers lose when we sell in the middle of
a recession,” Lundy said during press conference last month, calling
the move “a yard sale.”
Selling assets for “one-time” money is a mistake, Louisiana Treasurer
John Kennedy said. He opposed a plan by Republican Governor Bobby Jindal
to sell three prisons to raise $90 million, a proposal the Legislature
didn’t approve.
“A junkie can sell his TV or his stereo or his iPod and generate money
for his next fix,” Kennedy, also a Republican, said in a telephone
interview from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “But if he’s going to ever
get well, he needs to face his addiction.”
An even better quote in that story comes from CCA’s own Steve Owen:
Continue reading →
Questions abound: Why is it that Lowndes County residents will not be voting on the most important issue to face their school system since its inception in 1950?
Further Query: Why would CUEE and the Chamber of Commerce spend $50 grand to collect the signatures for the petition causing the City of Valdosta to spend thousands of tax dollars (2 staff dedicated to task & 4 temps hired) to verify the signatures on the petition?
