Category Archives: Transportation

Conference Center, Branham subdivision, Trash, RR crossing @ LCC 2018-03-12

On the agenda for Monday’s Work Session, the agenda a word from the new-as-of-January CEO (not Executive Director) of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority. On the agenda for both Monday and Tuesday evening’s Regular Session, Bill Branham’s Copeland Road subdivision, back for at least the third time in four calendar years, plus an ordinance that would further favor Advanced Disposal Services (ADS) over Deep South Sanitation (DSS). Better news: bids for a Portable 65 KW Generator to keep lift stations from leaking.

Chris Hamilton
Photo: Chris Hamilton via Valdosta Daily Times.

See also the LAKE videos of the most recent Planning Commission meeting for all three rezoning cases, and that post also has links to videos of most of the previous appearances of the Branham Project.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

  1. Call to Order
  2. Invocation
  3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
  4. Chris Hamilton- CEO, Valdosta- Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority (Work Session)
  5. Minutes for Approval
    1. Work Session- February 26, 2018
    2. Regular Session- February 27, 2018
  6. Public Hearing
    1. REZ-2018-04 Lyons, 1350 Old Clyattville Rd, R-A to C-H, Well and Septic, 8.05 acres
      GLPC Recommendation: Approval
      TRC Recommendation: Various

      Documents:Rezoning Case REZ-2018-04.pdf

    2. REZ-2018-05 Killeen, 1228 S Main St, R-A to M-1, 27.5 acres

      GLPC Recommendation: Approval with 1 Condition (Paving)
      TRC Recommendation: Various


      Documents:Rezoning Case REZ-2018-05.pdf

    3. REZ-2018-07 Branham Project, 2480 Copeland Rd, R-1 to R-10 Water/Sewer, 18.04 acres

      GLPC Recommendation: Approval with 4 Conditions
      TRC Recommendation: Various   


      Documents:Rezoning Case REZ-2018-07.pdf

  7. For Consideration
    1. Transportation Safety Improvements Agreement
      Execute Agreement

      Documents:Transportation Safety Improvements Agreement.pdf

    2. Ordinance Amending 2015 Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance
      Approval of ordinance

      Documents:Ordinance Amending 2015 Solid Waste Disposal Ordinance.pdf

    3. Water Meter and Register Replacement
      Approval of water meter and register replacement

      Documents:Water Meter and Register Replacement.pdf

    4. Beer License- Marilyn Lewis of Palak Corporation DBA Bigfoot #908 – 1255 Lakes Blvd., Lake Park, GA
      Approval of Beer License

      Documents:Beer License- Marilyn Lewis of Palak Corporation DBA Bigfoot 908 Lakes Blvd, Lake Park, GA.pdf

  8. Bid
    1. Portable 65 KW Generator
      Bids solicited for a 65 KW portable generator to service smaller lift stations that do not have backup generators. Staff recommends awarding bid to Cowart Electric for $49,750.00

      Documents:Portable 65 KW Generator.pdf

  9. Reports – County Manager
  10. Citizens Wishing to be Heard-Please State Your Name and Address
  11. Adjournment

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Videos: Day 1, Planning, Lowndes County Commission @ LCC 2018-02-19

The 2018 Lowndes County Commission Retreat was just about the exact opposite of a commission meeting, except that same group of people are present (almost). There was discussion, disagreement, laughing, sighing, interrupting, listening, inside jokes, outside jokes, and general exchange of views. Those things don’t happen in a commission meeting. This year’s retreat was particularly different because there was no time frame attached to any agenda item and they didn’t discuss topics in exact order, and some topics got covered repeatedly. Commissioner Evans said to me during a break that the previous format of having departments just give a report can “get boring” and she had suggested that they have a different format with more discussion about communications.

The agenda was available on-line but was hard to find and the link I followed to find it is gone now. I did manage to download it before it went away. Find it here: 2018 LCC Annual Planning Meeting Agenda (plus searchable text). There were paper copies available at the meeting after the first break.

I sometimes think that the commissioners may be getting used to me but then, no, don’t be silly.

At the lunch hour, the Commissioners stepped outside to take a group picture and as County Clerk Page Dukes suggested that they get closer and not have so much “space” between them, Commissioners Orenstein and Griner (I live in their districts) huddled together.

Commissioners Gather Group Photo Close Group Photo
  Commissioners Orenstein and Griner

Below are links to each LAKE video, with a few notes followed by a LAKE video playlist. Continue reading →

Videos: Rocky Ford Road, Sharp Family, C-G Bemiss Rd @ LCC 2018-02-13

Again like in the previous morning’s Work Session the lengthiest regular item was the rezoning on Rocky Ford Road for the church-proposed Camp Rock, mostly with attorney Jack Langdale speaking for, including that a “wilderness camp” for unfortunate children doesn’t need a buffer, and any future buyers of neighboring property beware.

The Sharp family said for seven years they have been trying to get somebody to do something about stray dogs, only to discover Animal Control doesn’t work weekends anymore, and the Sheriff’s office won’t do anything, even though one of their family had been killed by the dogs and another bitten, and the dogs are now into their second and third generations running loose.

Third longest was Continue reading →

Videos: Turner Center presentation, VAWA, Rocky Ford Road @ LCC 2018-02-12

It was Art (12 minutes of 4. State of the Arts by Cheryl Oliver, Director, Turner Center of the Arts) Law (10:46 of 7.c. Solicitor-General’s Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grant Application and 1:31 of Introduction of new Probation Officer, which was not on the agenda), and Development ( 6.b. REZ-2018-02, E-A and C-C to E-A and PD-R, 4391 Rocky Ford Rd, ~72 acres) this morning at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session. Actually, all of those items were about law enforcement one way or another. The Commissioners vote Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.

Below are Continue reading →

Videos: Leadership Lowndes, VLCIA appointment, Rivers Radio @ LCC 2017-12-12

In an outbreak of transparency and due diligence in the last Lowndes County Commission of 2017, they took ten minutes replacing Mary Goodman on the Industrial Authority, hearing from three nominees, and appointing Brad Folsom. They took three and a half minutes to choose among three nominees to the Tourism Authority to appoint Robert Jefferson. None of those nominees spoke, but the vote was so split they actually had a runoff, which ended in a 3:2 final vote. They also reappointed Joyce Evans by silent “acclamation”.

Leadership Lowndes spoke for 12 minutes (as long as three citizens get), citizen Willie Mae Jones wanted to know what next to get her Black Road paved, and County Engineer Mike Fletcher said the signatures were verified as 84% of the property owners on the road, so it would go on the paving list with the 74 projects already on there. Chairman Bill Slaughter actually asked for Commissioner comments, and each of them said a few words, mostly thanks to the staff and Merry Christmas. Chairman Bill Slaughter even thanked citizens for coming to the meetings. Merry Christmas, Commissioners!

The longest rezoning public hearing was REZ-2017-13 Quattlebaum-Meadors, N Valdosta RD, R-21 to C-H.

Below are Continue reading →

Turner Center for the Arts presentation @ LCC 2018-02-12

After a decade as Director of the Turner Center for the Arts, Cheryl Oliver announce last month she is resigning, and she is on the agenda for this morning at 8:30 AM at the Lowndes County Commission with "State-of-the-Art Center" Presentation.

Cheryl Oliver

Plus three well and septic public hearings, one road abandonment, subdivision roads, utility relocation for I-75 exits 2 and 11, and an annual judicial grant application.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: Approved resolution against state fee diversion, economic strategy, road abandonment @ LCC 2018-01-23

They approved everything in 10 minutes flat, including the Special Asessment Rate for 2018, the Community and Economic Development Strategy, and yes, they added to the agenda and passed the Resolution Supporting HR 158 to Stop Diversion of State Fees.

Below are Continue reading →

Regional T-SPLOST public meetings in Pearson and Valdosta 2018-01-29-30

Update 2018-01-28: LAKE videos of Valdosta Mayor and Council talking about $406 million and 25% discretionary funds which can be used for things like public transportation.

Preparing for a vote on the May 22, 2018, primary election ballot, SGRC is holding two public meetings next week to review what the regional roundtable has come up with for a project list for a regional one-percent sales tax. Most of the projects, ranging from $18 thousand to $26 million dollars, are for roads and bridges, but there are also sidewalks and one airport tower light. There is nothing in the project list for public transportation, but 25% of the funds are not on the project list, and counties or cities could choose to use some of those funds for example for paying for the urban area parts of trips by the Lowndes County MIDS on-call bus service.

When: 4-6PM, Monday, January 29, 2018

Where: Pearson Sports and Civic Complex,
786 Austin Avenue East, Pearson, Georgia

When: 10AM-6PM, Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Where: Southern Georgia Regional Commission Valdosta Office,
327 West Savannah Ave. Valdosta, Georgia

Distribution by Jurisdiction, Revenue
Estimated Revenue Distribution by Jurisdiction, Southern Georgia Regional Transportation Sales Tax

SGRC Press Release, 19 January 2018, Public Meetings Set for Transportation Sales Tax Project List, Continue reading →

Videos: Resolution against state fee diversion, economic strategy, road abandonment @ LCC 2018-01-22

1. Call to Order 4. Minutes for Approval, Movies The tire amnesty went well, and added to the agenda: a county resolution in support of HR 158 in the Georgia legislature, to stop state fee diversions.

The County Manager reminded them they had heard about the Community and Economic Development Strategy a few months before (apparently under another name), and there was some confusion about Georgia Power’s continued involvement.

Below are links to each LAKE video with a few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also Continue reading →

Economic strategy, road abandonment, alcohol @ LCC 2018-01-22

The big item on the agenda for 8:30 AM Monday morning is an MoU and $25,000 to fund a Community and Economic Development Strategy. Presumably this is the 2013-2018 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) that the VDT says the Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC) recently adopted.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →