Category Archives: Law

Videos: DBHDD appointments, VAWA, Juvenile Justice, Naylor Tower Top Amp, LMIG Resurfacing @ LCC Regular 2025-04-22

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It is mysterious why 7.b. Val Del Rd and N. Valdosta Rd. Intersection improvement was only added in this Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission. They’ve been leading up to it for a long time. Apparently the two bids were only opened the previous day; I thought bid openings were scheduled.

[Collage @ LCC 21 April 2025]
Collage @ LCC 21 April 2025

In this meeting, they talked about that intersection for almost seven minutes, which is very long for this body. The intersection will completely close starting May 27, probably for most of the summer. It will end up with two lanes going north, and three lanes going south: one left only, one left or straight, one right only.

The old US 41 North facebook group has renamed itself to follow this development
https://www.facebook.com/LowndesCoHwy41WideningRoadProjectUpdates

Second longest was Continue reading →

One Hahira Case: rezoning and annexation for an access road @ GLPC 2025-04-28

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Update 2025-04-28: The minutes of the previous GLPC meeting were received this morning in reponse to a LAKE open records request reminder, and are now on the LAKE website.

The Planning Commission has only one case in two agenda items: rezoning and annexation into the City of Hahira of a triangular lot on South Hagan Bridge Road, so that a secondary subdivision access road already built can be made legal.

[Collage: GLPC Packet 2025-04-28]
Collage: GLPC Packet 2025-04-28

Here is that agenda for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC), Monday evening at 5:30 PM.

The board packet, received in reponse to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

Except the minutes of the previous meeting are missing, because Lowndes County did not responsd to the LAKE Georgia Open Records Act (GORA) request, which was sent more than the statutory three days ago.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~

Monday, April 21, 2025 5:30 P.M. Work Session – CANCELLED
Monday, April 28, 2025 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading →

Videos: DBHDD appointments, VAWA, Juvenile Justice, Naylor Tower Top Amp, LMIG Resurfacing @ LCC Work 2025-04-21

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Update 2025-04-29: Videos: DBHDD appointments, VAWA, Juvenile Justice, Naylor Tower Top Amp, LMIG Resurfacing @ LCC Regular 2025-04-22.

It took 14 minutes, the Monday morning Work Session. Much of that the Lowndes County Commission spent on the LMIG road resurfacing item and on the two court grant items.

They voted this evening at 5:30 PM: LAKE videos to come.

[Collage @ LCC 21 April 2025]
Collage @ LCC 21 April 2025

At the Work Session, Lowndes County Commissioner Michael Smith volunteered for one of the two posts available on 5.a. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), with Juliana Powell having already applied for one of them.

Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know whether there were any problems with DEI on the 6.a. Acceptance of the VAWA Continuation Grant Award for 2025. Nobody seemed to know, or to address the question.

Commissioner Marshall asked a similar question about 6.b. FY2026 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Application. County Manager Paige Dukes said basically that with things changing daily in the federal goverment, nobody knows. Commissioner Michael Smith had a question about service areas.

There was some chit-chat about 6.c. Emergency Purchase – Naylor Tower Top Amp Replacement.

There was some discussion of districts, specific roads, and state funding, after Commissioner Wisenbaker asked to have the list of roads being repaved read out for 7.a. 2025 LMIG Resurfacing Bids (Project #: ENG 2025-01).

Here are LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few comments by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist. Continue reading →

Videos: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC Regular 2025-04-08

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The Tuesday evening Regular Session two weeks ago took 28 minutes, 5 of which were a Citizen Wishing to be Heard: 10. CWTBH – Brian Cosey – 4881 Newton Circle – dangerous dogs. He was actually speaking for three people.

[Collage @ LCC 8 April 2025]
Collage @ LCC 8 April 2025

The Lowndes County Commissioners did not repeat 4. Georgia 811 Safe Digging Month Proclamation. For that, you’ll need to see the LAKE videos of the preceding Work Session.

There was some Commissioner discussion of the first of the three rezonings, but all three breezed through unanimously, as did everything else.

Once again, the item with the longest discussion, this time 2.5 minutes, was 8.a. Alapaha Plantation Water Treatment Plant New Wells – Water Main Ext.

Commissioner Scottie Orenstein wanted to know when.

Answer from Utilities Director Steve Stalvey: “We’re ready to roll” on approval.

He also wanted to know when it would be finished.

Answer: It’s a 180-day project. Within 3 or 4 months of completion we will know if we need to do a nanocompression or not.

Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked about the Consent Order.

Answer: I couldn’t make out the answer.

Paige Dukes in 9. Reports – County Manager said the county’s hurricane debris collection program is finished.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item of the Regular Session, with a few comments by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the LAKE videos of the preceding Work Session and the agenda and board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request.

See also the board packet and LAKE videos for the preceding GLPC meeting.

Here is the LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiHashqrEifx8y43B9CUY_5-&si=duQqM6Qu3sQv7p75

-jsq

Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/donate

Packet: DBHDD appointments, VAWA, Juvenile Justice, Naylor Tower Top Amp, LMIG Resurfacing @ LCC 2025-04-21

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Update 2025-04-22: Videos: DBHDD appointments, VAWA, Juvenile Justice, Naylor Tower Top Amp, LMIG Resurfacing @ LCC Work 2025-04-21.

It’s a pretty light agenda for the Lowndes County Commission Work Session Monday morning, April 21, with voting the Regular Session Tuesday evening, April 22.

Two posts are open with only one applicant for appointment to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD).

There is a regular court grant renewal and an application for another.

Lightning caused the Emergency Purchase – Naylor Tower Top Amp Replacement.

And there are road resurfacing projects using state and SPLOST funds.

[Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-04-21]
Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-04-21

Of those projects, two are mostly or completely reimbursed from funds outside the county. So it is hard to add them up in a simple table like this.

Cost What
$-36,776.00Emergency Purchase – Naylor Tower Top Amp Replacement (Capital funding)
$-342,493.00FY2026 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Application (reimbursed by CICC)
$-1,478,673.942025 Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) Resurfacing Bids (Funding: SPLOST/LMIG)
$-1,857,942.94Total

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC Work 2025-04-07

Update 2025-04-21: Videos: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC Regular 2025-04-08.

The Monday morning Work Session took 17 minutes.

Several minutes of that were for 4. Georgia 811 Safe Digging Month Proclamation. Turns out you can call 811 and they will come locate your water, sewer, and electrical lines, even if you put them in.

The county’s visual system was not working for the first two rezonings, but you can see many of the visuals in the board packet as provided by LAKE through open records request.

The longest item at almost 3 minutes was for 8.b. Alapaha Plantation Water Treatment Plant New Wells – Water Main Extension. As Gretchen noted, “To be paid out of SPLOST funds. No guarantee that this will work.
Wells are to be 600 feet deep and further away from the river.
There could still be river water infiltration.”

The Lowndes County Commission voted this evening at 5:30 PM; videos to come.

[Collage @ LCC 7 April 2025]
Collage @ LCC 7 April 2025

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item of the Work Session, with a few comments by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the Continue reading →

Packet: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC 2025-04-07

Update 2025-04-08: Videos: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC Work 2025-04-07.

This week’s agenda for the Lowndes County Commission looks long (and the board packet is 90 pages), but I predict everything will get approved unanimously in little time.

[Collage: LCC Packet 2025-04-07]
Collage: LCC Packet 2025-04-07

The three rezonings had no opposition at the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC), which recommended all three unanimously.

The three tax items are thoroughly supported by evidence.

The county is not going to not pay for the repairs already done to the hurricane damage at the Sheriff’s office.

And the county has to drill two new water wells for Alapaha Plantation because of a Consent Order from GA-EPD.

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

See also the board packet for the preceding GLPC meeting.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: Opt out of HB 581 and increase local homestead exemptions, Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Regular 2025-02-25

The Lowndes County Commission added two important agenda items early in their February 25, 2025, meeting: 5.b. Vote on opting out of HB-581 and 5.c. Resolution to increase local homestead exemption. They approved both unanimously, although there is more to do at the state level; see below for that.

But why did the Commissioners wait until this meeting to add those items, when they’ve known for many weeks they would have to vote on them?

[Collage @ LCC 25 February 2025]
Collage @ LCC 25 February 2025

They unanimously approved the few other items.

Can somebody explain why the County Manager does not provide a written report? I, for one, cannot remember all the stuff she runs through in a few minutes. She is clearly reading from notes. She could just make at least a bullet list, or have one of her assistants do so.

One citizen spoke: 8. CWTBH – Kelly Saxon – flooding, hurricane recovery, cooperation.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the Continue reading →

Videos: Final Public Hearing: Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24

2025-03-25: Videos: Opt out of HB 581 and increase local homestead exemptions, Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Regular 2025-02-25.

Yes, the Lowndes County Commission will vote on the subject today, Tuesday, February 25, although that item is not yet on its agenda.

Yesterday they held the third and final Public Hearing about opting out of the homestead exemption scheme passed by the state legislature as HB 581. No citizens spoke, and very few even attended.

[Collage @ LCC 24 February 2025]
Collage @ LCC 24 February 2025

The county already has better homestead exemptions for both people younger than 65 years and older. Staying in would have no option of opting out later. Opting out leaves the possibility of opting in later.

For the previous Public Hearings, see Continue reading →

Videos: Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Work 2025-02-24

Update 2025-03-25: Videos: Opt out of HB 581 and increase local homestead exemptions, Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Regular 2025-02-25.

Update 2025-02-25: Videos: Final Public Hearing: Intent to Opt Out of Homestead Exemption, HB 581 @ LCC 2025-02-24.

The Work Session yesterday morning took the Lowndes County Commission four minutes. Most of that was two officials explaining the Accountability Court Grant.

[Collage @ LCC 24 February 2025]
Collage @ LCC 24 February 2025

County Manager Paige Dukes asked “for an executive session for attorney client privilege to consult and meet with legal council pertaining to pending claims brought against the county possibly.” Usually we hear “for current or pending litigation”. It must be important, since they had three attorneys in their executive session.

They vote this evening at 5:30 PM.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the agenda and board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request. Continue reading →