Category Archives: VLCIA

VLPRA & DFCS appointments, two rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 million Fire Rescue @ LCC 2025-06-09

Update 2025-06-10: Videos: VLPRA & DFCS appointments, two rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 million Fire Rescue @ LCC Work 2025-06-09.

Vincent Miller wants to be reappointed to the Parks and Rec Board. Lynn Orenstein would like to be reappointed to the board of Lowndes County Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Samuel Clemons has applied to be on each of those boards.

Plus almost $6 million dollars will be decided this week by the Lowndes County Commission, for a pump truck and a station for Fire Rescue.

[VLPRA & DFCS appointments, 2 rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 M Fire Rescue @ LCC 2025-06-09]
VLPRA & DFCS appointments, 2 rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 M Fire Rescue @ LCC 2025-06-09

Cost What
$4,767,660.00A New Facility for Lowndes County Fire Rescue No. 4
$1,063,876.64Purchase of one (1) Sutphen Heavy Duty Custom Pumper
$21,000.00Service Agreement with SGRC to Perform Hazard Mitigation
$5,852,536.64Total

About the Purchase of one (1) Sutphen Heavy Duty Custom Pumper: Continue reading →

Videos: One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-02-24

There was only one case at the February 24, 2025, Planning Commission meeting: 3. CU-2025-03 VLDCA – 1804 Bimbo QSR Blvd Plastics: Manufacturing in M-1. The attending Commissioners unanimously recommended approval.

[Collage @ LCC 24 May 2025]
Collage @ LCC 24 May 2025

The agenda was so light that three Greater Lowndes Planning Commissioners did not show up, including the Chair. Vice-Chair James Miller presided.

Here are LAKE videos 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. The Valdosta Mayor and City Council already decided this case at its March 6, 2025, Regular Meeting. The City has not published its minutes of that meeting yet, so we do not know the outcome. But I’m betting they unanimously approved it. Continue reading →

One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-02-24

Update 2025-03-25: Videos: One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-05-24.

It seems pretty straightforward, the one case on the Monday evening agenda for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

The site is at the top of Dukes Bay Canal, but there’s a detention pond next to it.

[One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-02-24, Bimbo QSR Blvd, Plastics Manufacturing]
One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-02-24, Bimbo QSR Blvd, Plastics Manufacturing

Evidently VALORGIS needs to update their maps, which are old enough to show no buildings on the site. Continue reading →

Videos: Development Authority appointment, VOCA grants, Coleman Road paving, LMIG, Water projects, Windstream @ LCC Regular 2025-01-15

Ms. Terri Lupo was reappointed to the 5.a. Valdosta Lowndes Development Authority.

The Lowndes County Commission at their Regular Session of January 14, 2025, also passed everything else unanimously, with little or no discussion.

[Collage @ LCC 14 January 2025]
Collage @ LCC 14 January 2025

Commissioner Demarcus Marshall did have a question about 7.k. GEFA Loan DWLSL2023097 for Lead Service Line Inventory. He also had a special thanks for Samaritan’s Purse in Commission Comments.

Former Valdosta City Council Alvin Payton, Jr., sat front and center the entire meeting.

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

See also Continue reading →

Packet: Development Authority appointment, VOCA grants, Coleman Road paving, LMIG, Water projects, Windstream @ LCC 2025-01-13

Update 2025-01-16: Videos: Development Authority appointment, VOCA grants, Coleman Road paving, LMIG, Water projects, Windstream @ LCC Regular 2025-01-14

Yesterday morning Commissioner Mark Wisenbarker wanted to know whether the staff had a list of roads needing striping for 7.g. 2025 Georgia DoT Local Maintenance – Improvement Grant (LMIG) Application. Here’s the project list:

[Road paving list and Broadband map @ LCC Packet 2025-01-13]
Road paving list and Broadband map @ LCC Packet 2025-01-13

The map appears to be where Windstream thinks Lowndes County already had broadband in 2021. Continue reading →

Videos: Development Authority appointment, VOCA grants, Coleman Road paving, LMIG, Water projects, Windstream @ LCC Work Session 2025-10-13

The Lowndes County Commission started the Work Session yesterday morning by welcoming new Commissioner Michael Smith. He will vote for the first time at the Regular Session this evening at 5:30 PM.

[Collage @ LCC 13 January 2025]
Collage @ LCC 13 January 2025

Chairman Bill Slaughter praised Terri Lupo, long-time baord member of the 5.a. Valdosta Lowndes Development Authority, although he noted there were two other applicants for her expired term.

There was some discussion on 7.f. Emergency Repair – Lowndes County Fire Station #5. Fire Station #5 is the one on Bemiss Road. Apparently after the November rain, there was a sewage back up in the fire station that was 3″ deep and everything from the floor to 2′ up the wall had to be replaced, including furniture. Insurance covered some of the cost.

Commissioner Mark Wisenbarker wanted to know whether the staff had a list of roads needing striping for 7.g. 2025 Georgia DoT Local Maintenance – Improvement Grant (LMIG) Application. Answer: yes.

They do not yet have a design for the 7.h. Local Bridge Replacement at Jumping Gully Road at Bevel Creek (0019937).

There was Commissioner discussion about the prices for the Continue reading →

Agenda: Development Authority appointment, VOCA grants, Coleman Road paving, LMIG, Water projects, Windstream @ LCC 2025-01-13

It’s a busy first agenda of the year for the Lowndes County Commission, Work Session Monday morning, voting Regular Session Tuesday evening.

[Agenda: VLDA appointment, Coleman Road paving, LMIG, VOCA grants, Water projects, Windstream @ LCC 2025-01-13]
Agenda: VLDA appointment, Coleman Road paving, LMIG, VOCA grants, Water projects, Windstream @ LCC 2025-01-13

Terri Lupo’s term has expired for the Development Authority. Robert Green and Brice Evans also want to be appointed. Usually the Commission reappoints the incumbent.
Cost What
$1,300,000.00Coleman Road NW Paving and Drainage Improvements, P.1.0016279 Supplemental Agreement No. 1
$635,000.00GEFA Loan DWLSL2023097 for Lead Service Line Inventory
$160,122.00Bid for Six Compact SUV Vehicles for Multiple Departments
$79,380.00Emergency Repair – Lowndes County Fire Station #5
$50,000.00Lowndes County Local Bridge Replacement at Jumping Gully Road at Bevel Creek (0019937)
$45,761.60Union Road Lift Station Pump Replacement
$33,232.00Approval of the Solicitor General’s FY25 VOCA Grant Award
$2,303,495.60Total

The above table, generated by LAKE from the agenda items, is hard to add up because of items where the BUDGET IMPACT is actually incoming funds from a new source, such as this one: Continue reading →

Videos: Valdosta annexation and manufacturing; Lowndes County commercial and subdivision rezonings @ GLPC 2024-11-25

The Greater Lowndes Planning Commission recommended approval of a Valdosta annexation and rezoning on Old Statenville Road for the Development Authority, a commerciaal rezoning on Inner Perimeter Road for U-Haul, and a subdivision on Thunderbowl Road.

They voted 7:0 against recommending approval for a commercial rezoning on Old US 41 N.

The VLDA case was already decided Thursday by the Valdosta City Council: they approved it.

The other cases are before the Lowndes County Commission Monday morning to be voted on Tuesday evening.

[Collage @ LCC 25 November 2024]
Collage @ LCC 25 November 2024

Here are LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the agenda and minutes. Continue reading →

Packet: Insurance cancellation, annexation and rezoning for Development Authority, final bond resolution for water and wastewater, and $679,832.40 for tasers @ VCC 2024-12-05

The board packet has a couple of pages on why city staff want to cancel the insurance broker contract, while the broker is posting his version on his ValdostaFirst facebook group.

Valdosta Police Department wants $679,832.40 for Conducted Electrical Weapons (CEW), which say taser on the side.

I’m told this is the final resolution required before issuing the $67 million bonds for water and wastewater projects.

[Packet: Issue water and sewer bonds, cancel insurance contract, $679,832.40 for tasers, VLDA rezoning and annexation, raise wrecker rates @ VCC 2024-12-05]
Packet: Issue water and sewer bonds, cancel insurance contract, $679,832.40 for tasers, VLDA rezoning and annexation, raise wrecker rates @ VCC 2024-12-05

See also the agenda.

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

For the rezoning and annexation, see also the preceding Planning Commission meeting. Continue reading →

Agenda: Annexation and rezoning for Development Authority and final bond resolution for water and wastewater @ VCC 2024-12-05

Update 2024-12-05: Packet: Insurance cancellation, annexation and rezoning for Development Authority, final bond resolution for water and wastewater, and $679,832.40 for tasers @ VCC 2024-12-05.

I’m told this is the final resolution required before issuing the $67 million bonds for water and wastewater projects.

[VLDA Annexation & Rezoning @ VCC 2024-12-05 Final Bond Resolution for water and wastewater]
VLDA Annexation & Rezoning @ VCC 2024-12-05 Final Bond Resolution for water and wastewater

Here is the agenda.

We do not have the board packet yet. However, the Old Clyattville Road annexation materials will probably be similar to those in the preceding Planning Commission meeting.

AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE VALDOSTA CITY COUNCIL
5:30 PM Thursday, December 5, 2024
CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Continue reading →