Valdosta Mayor Gayle attended, apparently because of the SPLOST VII presentation. Emily Golden for DFCS. Prisoners for wastewater, another wastewater problem, insurance for liabilty, and I’m not the only one who makes jokes at Joe Pritchard’s expense. They vote tonight at 5:30 PM, and apparently they’re going to give the SPLOST presentation again, too.

Here’s the agenda, with links to the videos and a few notes.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2^nd Floor

1. Call to Order

   Chairman Bill Slaughter recognized Valdosta Mayor John Gayle, who was sitting in the back.

   
2. Invocation

   Only in the Regular Session.

3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

   Only in the Regular Session.

4. Minutes for Approval
   1. Work Session — July 8, 2013
   2. Regular Session — July 9, 2013

      County Manager Joe Pritchard was also confused as to what did the Commissioners approve regarding the “conjoined” items in the 9 July Regular Session:

      6. For Consideration
         1. Video Arraignment for Magistrate and Juvenile Court Contract
         2. Enterprise and Backup Storage Solution Scope of Work

      Pritchard noted County Attorney Walter Elliott referred to the purchase orders for item 6.a., saying purchase orders item 6.b. were “not present”. Pritchard wanted to know if Commissioners approved both of them.

      Commissioner Crawford Powell said he thought the way “Walter” stated it they didn’t approve either one of them. Little joke. “Walter” got it, and eventually Pritchard did, too, after everyone else laughed. Then Powell clarified that they had approved both items. Which anyone can see in the LAKE video of those items. Hm, if the Commission kept their own videos, Pritchard could have just looked at those and seen.

5. Special Presentation & Consideration — Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax VII

   There was something new in what Joe Pritchard said:

   Commissioners each had an opportunity for independent review and evaluation.

   For that and more, including the slides, see separate post.

6. Appointment – Department of Family & Children’s Services Board

   Emily Golden is the candidate; see separate post for much more.

7. For Consideration
   1. Prison Detail Contracts

      Three details at $39,500 each, no increase from last year, said Public Works Director Robin Cumbus; see other post for what Commissioners Marshall, Slaughter, and Powell had to say.

   2. Letter to Environmental Protection Division concerning Alapaha Water Treatment Plant Upgrade

      It’s because of a notice of violation from GA EPD, said Utilities Director Mike Allen, and he’d been working with Lovell Engineering on a letter to say the problem of disinfection byproducts would be fixed by the end of March 2015.

      Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know if Lovell Engineering would be submitting “on our behalf, or would we be submitting it?” See separate post for more.

   3. Contract with GA Department of Transportation for Off System Safety Action Program

      The county has received a grant from GDOT for striking, signs, and raised pavement markers for 30.79 miles of road, for $142,491.75.

      I will also give you a copy of the roads that will be restruck under this contract. Commissioners had no questions.

      Why wasn’t that copy in the board packet and online with the agenda? How can you find out if your road is on that list? File an open records request.

   4. Adopt Resolution accepting infrastructure for Barrington Subdivision Phase I

      Engineer said it was mostly complete but they were waiting on a punch list from the developer before signing off on it. Commissioners had no questions.

      

   5. ACCG IRMA Liability Program Renewal

      So the county does have liability insurance that covers Commissioners, and all other employees, too. See separate post.

   6. Resolution for ACCG-GEBCorp Retirement Eligibility Amendment

      Couple of new employees missed being in county’s retirement plan, and this deals with that. See separate post.

8. Reports-County Manager

   No report, but he asked for an executive session “for purposes of attorney-client communications”.

   In this video of them returning from that executive session, you can see local attorney Tom Gooding coming out of the side room with them.

   

   Then they adjourned the Work Session.

   

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

   Only in the Regular Session, which is tonight at 5:30 PM.

Here’s a video playlist:

Videos: SPLOST, Children’s Appointment, Prisoners, and Water @ LCC 2013-07-22
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Videos by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 July 2013.

-jsq