Category Archives: Taxes

Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28

Leave a reply

They approved everything unanimously, including
reappointing Suzan Garnett to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) Board.
Herb Reinhard and Broc McDowell were nominated to another seat, and the latter apointed.

Library Board candidates were Sarah Fitzgereald, Kimberly Cliett and Dave DiSalvo.
Ms. Cliett was the only one nominated, and she was appointed “by acclamation.”

Only one person spoke in the Public Hearing about the Comprehensive Plan.


[Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments: VLPRA & Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening, @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28]

Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments: VLPRA & Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening, @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28

Here are LAKE videos of the July 28, 2026, Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.

See also the Continue reading →

Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Work 2026-07-27

Update 2026-08-08:
Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28.

Update 2026-07-28:
Links to three documents cited in the draft Comprehensive Plan.

Update 2026-07-28:
Datacenter meeting after Lowndes County Commission Regular Session 2026-07-28.

The draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update has appeared on the county’s own website, lowndescounty.com.
See below for how that happened.

Below are LAKE videos of the Monday morning Work Session of the Lowndes County Commission, July 27, 2026, with some notes by John S. Quarterman.
They vote at 5:30 PM this evening, Tuesday, in their Regular Session.

Don’t forget the
second page of the agenda says,
“There will be an information sharing session to address data center ordinance considerations following the adjournment of the regular meeting.”http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/2026/07/datacenter-meeting-after-lowndes-county-commission-regular-session-2026-07-28.html”>separate post.
More on that in a
[Comprehensive Plan Update, Appts to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Work Session 2026-07-27]

Comprehensive Plan Update, Appts to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Work Session 2026-07-27

Monday morning I was experimenting with an external microphone, which does seem to work better,
although with quite a bit of hiss.

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

Comprehensive Plan

After the meeting, I mentioned to County Planner JD Dillard and County Attorney
G. Walter Elliott that the draft Comprehensive Plan Update is not on the county website, so how can citizens know what to say in the

Public Hearing 6.a. 2026 Comprehensive Plan Transmittal? Continue reading →

Packet: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC 2026-07-27

Update 2026-07-28:
Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Work 2026-07-27.

According to page 2 of the agenda, “There will be an information sharing session to address data center ordinance
considerations following the adjournment of the regular meeting.”
That’s the 5:30 PM, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission, on the second floor of 327 N. Ashley Street, Valdosta, GA.

The draft Comprehensive Plan Update recommends under Intergovernmental Coordination Needs, “Strengthen transparency and communication between officials,
staff, and the public”

And under Opportunities & Existing Resources, “Most of the local governments already use their websites and
social media platforms to disseminate critical information and
educational content.”

What draft Comprehensive Plan Update?
The 300-page draft in the board packet for this week’s Lowndes County Commission meeting.

The draft that is nowhere on lowndescounty.com that I can find.
So you get to see it only because LAKE got it via an open records request.

The irony.


[Collage, Packet @ LCC 2026-07-28]

Collage, Packet @ LCC 2026-07-28

It’s amusing that LAKE is not mentioned in that draft, but multiple LAKE images are used, at least one of them credited in the image itself.

After their Monday morning Work Session, at their Tuesday Evening voting Regular Session,
the Lowndes County Commission will reappoint Suzan Garnett to the
Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA)
and will appoint to replace
Timothy McCoppin one of these candidates: Mr. Brent Moore, Mr. Herb Reinhard, Mr. Timothy McCoppin, and Mr. Broc McDowell.

Recently they appointed William Booth to the Lowndes County Library System Board of Trustees, but since discovered he does not live in Lowndes County.
Debra Carruth and Sarah FitzGerald are candidates.

The two usual suspects bid for $5,039,798.50 widening of Hickory Grove Road and Skipper Bridge Road, and Scruggs bid below Reames.

Getting into real money, Resurfacing Batch 1 P.I. # 0020532
will include resurfacing 36 county roads, with a budget of $13,134,000.00.

These road projects are apparently all to be paid for by funds from the
Georgia Transportation Investment Act (TIA).

Here is the
agenda:

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

PROPOSED AGENDA

WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JULY 27, 2026, 8:30 a.m.

REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2026, 5:30 p.m.

327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: 3 rezonings, 1 Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Backup Generators for Pruitt Health Facilities @ LCC Regular 2026-02-10

Two weeks ago at their Regular Session, the Lowndes County Commissioners
discussed for nine minutes

5.c. REZ-2026-03 Villanueva Property, 6201 Union Rd, 6ac, E-A to C-G.,
mostly about fence colors.
They ended up approving the rezoning with the staff-recommended conditions,
except not the one about fence color.

They also talked for six and a half minutes about the agenda item they added,

6.b. Temporary Burn Ordinance.

Gretchen Quarterman noted, “There have been over 100 grass
fires so far this year. Lowndes County (and surrounding counties) is
in extreme drought. This temporary ordinance is made in conjunction
with Georgia Forestry to protect property, people, resources, etc.
This burn ban includes “recreational” fired and fires inside of a
burn barrel. It does not ban outdoor grilling of food. (or so I
thought I heard).”

She added, “The text of the
county FB post is as follows:”

“Due to prolonged dry weather and worsening drought conditions,
outdoor burning of yard debris is now restricted in the
unincorporated areas of Lowndes County. To reduce wildfire risks and
protect public safety, property, and natural resources, all open
burning of yard debris, including leaves, limbs, grass, and other
vegetative matter, is prohibited within the unincorporated area of
Lowndes County until drought conditions improve.”

They passed all the agenda items unanimously.


[Collage @ LCC 10 February 2026]

Collage @ LCC 10 February 2026

Three citizens wished to be heard:

Gretchen Quarterman about solid waste and recycling,

Mary Roe about Paving of Green Road,
and

Joel Deon about Data Center concerns.

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: 3 rezonings, 1 Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Backup Generators for Pruitt Health Facilities @ LCC Work 2026-02-09

Update 2026-02-22:
Videos: 3 rezonings, 1 Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Backup Generators for Pruitt Health Facilities @ LCC Regular 2026-02-10.

Two weeks ago at their Work Session, the Lowndes County Commissioners
talked much about the

7.b. Consideration of Bids for Installation of Emergency Backup Generators
for Pruitt Healthcare.
The county is merely passing through that $1,470,216.00.
Chairman Bill Slaughter says the opportunity was offered to all nursing homes
in Lowndes County, but only Pruitt Healthcare took it up.

They also talked about fences for

5.c. REZ-2026-03 Villanueva Property, 6201 Union Rd, 6ac, E-A to C-G.

And they said a few words about the
$477,896.15 to Reames & Son Construction from TSPLOST for

7.a. PI #0016273, Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Orr Road Bids.


[Collage @ LCC 9 February 2026]

Collage @ LCC 9 February 2026

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 →

Packet: 3 rezonings, 1 Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Backup Generators for Pruitt Health Facilities @ LCC 2026-02-09

Update 2026-02-21:
Videos: 3 rezonings, 1 Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Backup Generators for Pruitt Health Facilities @ LCC Work 2026-02-09.

The big-budget item is $477,896.15 to Reames & Son Construction from TSPLOST for
7.a. PI #0016273, Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Orr Road Bids.

The $1,470,216.00 for
7.b. Emergency Backup Generators at Pruitt Health Facilities is to be completely reimbursed by $1,088,903.00 from HMGP Funding, $217,781.00 from GEMA Funding, and $233,126.00 from Pruitt Health.

In July 2019, the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners approved the
submittal of a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) application on
behalf of Pruitt Health Corporation to fund the installation of
emergency backup generators at five skilled nursing facilities
located within Lowndes County. These facilities provide critical
care to vulnerable populations, making continuity of power during
emergencies a key resiliency priority.

In January 2025, Lowndes County was notified that the HMGP
application had been awarded. As part of the grant structure,
Lowndes County will administer the project and pay the selected
contractor, with eligible costs reimbursed through a combination of
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Georgia Emergency
Management Agency (GEMA) funding. Any costs not reimbursed through
FEMA or GEMA will be the responsibility of Pruitt Health. As a
result, Lowndes County will receive 100 percent reimbursement for
the project through the combined participation of FEMA, GEMA, and
Pruitt Health, with no net financial impact to the County.


[Packet: 3 rezonings, Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Pruitt Health Backup Generators, @ LCC 2026-02-09]

Packet: 3 rezonings, Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Pruitt Health Backup Generators, @ LCC 2026-02-09

Here is the
agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request,
is

on the LAKE website.

See also the Continue reading →

Videos: Valdosta downtown multi-family residential development and office and storage in Lowndes County @ GLPC 2026-01-26

Update 2026-02-08:
Packet: 3 rezonings, 1 Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Backup Generators for Pruitt Health Facilities @ LCC 2026-02-09.

They unanimously recommended approval of all items, at
the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC),
at its January 26, 2026, Regular Meeting.


[Collage @ GLPC 26 January 2026]

Collage @ GLPC 26 January 2026

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 the board packet,
received in response to a couple of LAKE open records requests.

Why should a private media firm have to pry these materials out of the county?

I’m not blaming the county staff.
They do what they are told to do by the County Commissioners.

I’m not blaming the Planning Commissioners.
They are merely an advisory body.

So please ask your Lowndes County Commissioners why they do not publish
important materials so the public can see what they the Commissioners are using to make decisions? Continue reading →

Videos: Water treatment upgrade because GA-EPD Consent Order, Lift Station Pump Repair, Condemnation along Twin Lakes Road, VAWA @ LCC Regular 2026-01-27

Congressman Austin Scott, District 8, congratulated Lowndes County on its 200th anniversary.

His appearance was not on the agenda for the Lowndes County Commission Regular Session of January 27, 2026.
This was an unusual opportunity to talk directly to the Congress member for Lowndes County and many surrounding counties.
Which is a reason you may want to attend Lowndes County Commission meetings:
there’s no telling who may show up.

Rep. Scott read what he said was a resolution, but it appears to be a brief speech he made in the U.S. House.

CELEBRATING LOWNDES COUNTY’S 200TH BIRTHDAY; Congressional Record Vol. 171, No. 213
(Extensions of Remarks – December 17, 2025),

CELEBRATING LOWNDES COUNTY’S 200TH BIRTHDAY

HON. AUSTIN SCOTT

of georgia

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate
the 200th anniversary of Lowndes County in Georgia’s 8th
Congressional District. Lowndes County was established by the
Georgia State Assembly on December 23, 1825. Since then, the county
has grown to be home to more than 118,000 people and spans 511
square miles. What was once a railroad town dominated by cotton
sales has grown to serve as home to Valdosta State University, the
Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area, Moody Air Force Base, and many
charming Georgia towns. Lowndes County has served our airmen at
Moody Air Force Base for many years and sets the example for how we
can best support our soldiers and their families. I am honored to
represent this community and look forward to seeing Lowndes County
continue to grow for years to come.


[Collage @ LCC Regular 27 January 2026]

Collage @ LCC Regular 27 January 2026

The

Twin Lakes Road right of way condemnation turned into a

purchase agreement,
resolution having been reached with the landowners.

The Commissioners unanimously approved everything on the agenda,
except the condemnation, which they declared moot.

Three citizens spoke in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard:

Mary Roe about paving of Green Road,

Michael Noll about Citizens against Data Centers,
and

Maria Chung Willoughby about a non profit partnership.

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: Water treatment upgrade because GA-EPD Consent Order, Lift Station Pump Repair, Condemnation along Twin Lakes Road, VAWA, Extension Office, Red Cross @ LCC Work 2026-01-26

Update 2026-02-06:
Videos: Water treatment upgrade because GA-EPD Consent Order, Lift Station Pump Repair, Condemnation along Twin Lakes Road, VAWA @ LCC Regular 2026-01-27 2026-01-27.

The longest items at the Work Session this morning were
11 minutes of

6.a. Extension Office Update By Joshua Dawson
and 8 minutes of

6.b. American Red Cross Update By Jacqueline Shoemaker.

If you weren’t there, you can only see them here in these LAKE videos,
since the Lowndes County Commission does not publish videos of its Work Sessions.

They vote tomorrow evening at 5:30 PM,
on spending $214,412.00 on the Spring Creek plant
and $24,400.00 on a sewage pump repair at the Peterson Road Lift Station.

If they don’t make a deal before then, they’ll vote on paying
$12,400.00 as a condemnation price to get some
road and drainage right of way along Twin Lakes Road.

Plus there’s $26,371.00 cash match for a VAWA grant.

Other items include a resolution to sell surplus water meters
and a Special Assessment Rate for 2026.


[Collage @ LCC Work 26 January 2026]

Collage @ LCC Work 26 January 2026

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 →

Packet: Water treatment upgrade because GA-EPD Consent Order, Lift Station Pump Repair, Condemnation along Twin Lakes Road, VAWA, Extension Office, Red Cross @ LCC 2026-01-26

Update 2026-01-26: Videos: Water treatment upgrade because GA-EPD Consent Order, Lift Station Pump Repair, Condemnation along Twin Lakes Road, VAWA, Extension Office, Red Cross @ LCC Work 2026-01-26.

No rezonings this week, but plenty of purchases, resolutions, and a grant,
on the agenda for the Lowndes County Commission.

Their Work Session is Monday morning, and they vote Tuesday evening in their Regular Session.

The county is under a GA-EPD Consent Order about drinking water.
This is revealed by the agenda packet page for
5.a. Spring Creek Water Treatment Plant Design Build Project.
Neither the board packet materials nor the ad for bids mentions where this is.
However, previous research indicates it’s the well with water tower at
4245 Hattie Pl, Valdosta, GA 31605,
near a creek that runs west by Pine Grove Middle School to the Withlacoochee River.

They will vote on spending $214,412.00 on the Spring Creek plant
and $24,400.00 on a sewage pump repair at the Peterson Road Lift Station.

The packet materials don’t say where the Peterson Road Lift Station is, either,
but it appears to be in the southeast corner of 6201 Peterson Road, east of the I-75 Georgia Visitor Center.
The sign on the fence says Roadway Lift Station.

And the county thinks $12,400.00 is a fair condemnation price to get some
road and drainage right of way along Twin Lakes Road.

That’s about a quarter million dollars they may approve Tuesday,
before even adding in the $26,371.00 cash match for a VAWA grant.


[Packet: Water treatment upgrade because GA-EPD Consent Order, Lift Station Pump Repair, VAWA, Twin Lakes Road Condemnation @ LCC 2026-01-26]

Packet: Water treatment upgrade because GA-EPD Consent Order, Lift Station Pump Repair, VAWA, Twin Lakes Road Condemnation @ LCC 2026-01-26

Cost What
$214,412.00 Spring Creek Water Treatment Plant Design Build Project
$26,371.00 Approval of the Solicitor General's FY26 VAWA Continuation Grant Application
$24,400.00 Peterson Road Lift Station Pump Repair
$12,400.00 Condemning Right of Way and Drainage Easement for Twin Lakes Road TSPLOST Paving Project; Parcel 3
$277,583.00 Total

Here is the
agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is

on the LAKE website.

You may wonder, as I do, why doesn’t the county put its board packets on its own website?

Maybe you’d like to ask your County Commissioners that question.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

PROPOSED AGENDA

WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2026, 8:30 a.m.

REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026, 5:30 p.m.

327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →