Category Archives: VLPRA

Videos: Rascal’s, VLPRA & DFCS appointments, two rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 million Fire Rescue @ LCC Regular 2025-06-10

Update 2025-06-11: Half a million or zero dollars for the bar Lowndes County bought with no agenda item? 2024-07-09.

In Citizens Wishing to be Heard, Gretchen Quarterman spoke about Transparency and the purchase of Rascals, wondering why Lowndes County Commission approval of that purchase was not a lot more visible, instead of being recorded only in Minutes as a vote that took place after an Executive Session and everybody else had left. See below for more detail.

Kelly Saxon spoke about affordable housing, including asking for a town hall and a telephone contact.

The Lowndes County Commissioners at their Regular Session last night added an item, Chairman – Add agenda item to repair Hahira Health Dept (8b). That’s more than they did for the Rascal’s purchase back in July 2024. More on that in a later post.

Collage @ LCC 10 June 2025

Last night, they unanimously approved all the agenda items, including reappointing the incumbents to the two boards.

Nobody spoke against either of the two rezonings.

For 7.b. Purchase of one (1) Sutphen Heavy Duty Custom Pumper, they mentioned that prices had doubled, and locking in a price now would avoid further price increases.

In her Reports, County Manager Paige Dukes recognized Kellerman Construction and Jimmy Cone for their work on 8.a. Bid – A New Facility for Lowndes County Fire Rescue No. 4.

Earlier, Chairman Bill Slaughter called for Leadership Lowndes to be recognized, but, maybe for the first time ever, there were none present.

Commissioner Demarcus Marshall was absent from this meeting.

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

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

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Update 2025-06-11: Videos: Rascal’s, VLPRA & DFCS appointments, two rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 million Fire Rescue @ LCC Regular 2025-06-10.

The Lowndes County Commissioners didn’t have much to say at their Work Session yesterday morning. They did discuss potential paving of dirt roads under 6.b. REZ-2025-09 All Metal Buildings, 2515 Madison Hwy, ~2 acres, C-G to C-H.

They vote this evening at their Regular Session at 5:30 PM.

Collage @ LCC 9 June 2025

This Fire Station #9 is on James Road: 7.b. Purchase of one (1) Sutphen Heavy Duty Custom Pumper.

Station Locations

This one is in Minneola, near the Stone Creek subdivision: 8.a. A New Facility for Lowndes County Fire Rescue No. 4. In which County Manager Paige Dukes revealed that the county had obtained the old Rascal’s building. That’s at 4875 US 41 South in Lake Park. More later in another post about the somewhat irregular conveyance of that former Rascal’s location to the county.

Here are LAKE videos of each Work Session 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 LAKE open records request. Continue reading →

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

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

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

Cancelled: Millage and Special Called Meetings because Hurricane Helene @ LCC 2024-09-26

A lowndescounty.com news item yesterday says:

Millage Public Hearing Meeting and Adoption Meeting / September 26, 2024 / CANCELLED

The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners is postponing the Millage Public Hearing scheduled for Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. as well as the Special Called Meeting for the Adoption of the Millage Rate which was scheduled for Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. due to Hurricane Helene.

These meetings will be rescheduled at a later date.

Also yesterday they posted that, “Lowndes County Offices will be closed Thursday, September 26, 2024, and Friday, September 27, 2024 due to Tropical Storm Helene.”

Cancelled: Millage Public Hearing and Special Called Adoption Meeting @ LCC 2024-09-26 County Offices closed Thursday and Friday

That all seems sensible.

And that cancellation announcement resolves the question we posed of how was the Commission to approve the budget, given there was no meeting scheduled for that?

I don’t see a Public Notice anywhere for that Special Called Meeting. Of course, state law merely requires the notice to be sent to the local legal organ of record (The Valdosta Daily Times). The law does not require that the notice actually get posted.

So apparently they cancelled a Special Called Meeting without the public having seen a notice that it had been called.

-jsq

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Final Millage Public Hearing and Vote to Approve @ LCC 2024-09-26

Update 2024-09-26: Cancelled: Millage and Special Called Meetings because Hurricane Helene @ LCC 2024-09-26.

5 PM, Thursday, September 26, will be the third and last public hearing opportunity for the millage rate. The first two were both on September 19, at 8:30 AM and 6:00 PM.

Third and Final Public Hearing 2024-09-26, Lowndes County, Georgia, Millage Rate + Decision

In the second hearing, Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter said, “And then we will adopt the millage, setting the rate, on September 26, as well.”

How does that work? There is no Regular Session nor Special Called Meeting scheduled for September 26. Will they just vote after the Public Hearing, since presumably a quorum of Commissioners will be in the room? Or will they announce a Special Called Meeting, with at least 24 hours notice, as state law requires?

We don’t know, because no agenda is posted for this third meetings, just as no agenda was posted for the first two.

As usual, the presentation is not on the lowndescounty.com Finance Department web page.

-jsq

Videos: Millage Public Hearing @ LCC 2024-09-19

This was the second public hearing opportunity, said Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter, after the first one was 8:30 AM the same day. The third and last one will be on September 26.

He added, “And then we will adopt the millage, setting the rate, on September 26, as well.”

The only Lowndes County Commission meeting scheduled for September 26 is that Millage Rate Public Hearing. Does this mean they will vote in that meeting?

Collage @ LCC Millage 19 September 2024

In this September 19 meeting, Finance Director Stephanie Black explained the millage, including state requirements for announcements of tax increases or rollbacks. She included the usual reminder that two Authorites get their own millage: Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) and Lowndes County Development Authority (VLDA). FYI, the county Tax Digest is $5.1 billion.

One citizen stood up in the Public Hearing. Alan Watson spoke against. Unlike their usual custom, Continue reading →

Videos: Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift @ LCC Regular 2024-08-13

The County Manager gave an electrical fire report, and said Chairman Slaughter would be sworn in on August 19 to the Georgia state Board of Behaioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. She mentioned 14 Lowndes County animals had been transported to Kentucky by the Humane Society.

EMA Director Ashley Tye gave a weather report about Hurricane or Tropical Storm Debby: it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and not as bad as our Florida neighbors to the south.

Three citizens spoke about a need for improved policies for animal control.

The Lowndes County Commissioners approved all the regular agenda items unanimously, with no discussion about anything but the Utilities Forklift at their Regular Session, August 13, 2024.

They reappointed Lonnie Denton to the Lowndes County Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS).

They reappointed Bubba Highsmith to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA).

Collage @ LCC 13 August 2024

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

Videos: Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift @ LCC Work 2024-08-12

There was some discussion in the 7-minute Monday morning Work Session of the Lowndes County Commission. They vote today (Tuesday) at 5:30 PM.

Collage @ LCC 12 August 2024

Regarding the Love’s Travel Stop Beer and Wine license, no public hearing is necessary if the license is for consumption off premises.

On 7.a. Pump Station Rehab, Chairman Bill Slaughter wanted to know how many lift stations the county has. Continue reading →

Packet: Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift @ LCC 2024-08-12

Update 2024-08-13: Videos: Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift @ LCC Work 2024-08-12.

Update 2024-08-11: Special Called Meeting about Opioids Settlement @ LCC 2024-08-12.

Two appointments, an alcohol license, and almost $2 million in Utilities Department bids are on the agenda for the Lowndes County Commission Work Session Monday morning at 8:30 AM. They vote Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

Appointments to DFACS & VLPRA, Beer and Wine, Pump Station and Forklift, Force Main sewer system @ LCC 2024-08-12

Three bids were received for the Utilities Department Forklift, with low bid at $18,100.

Only one bid, for $1.792 million, was received for the repair and rehab at 14 lift stations, out of 4 contractors who attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting. Lift stations affected are Bevel Creek, Whitewater Road, US 84, Francis Lake, Old Pine, Davidson Road, Miller Farms, Moody Family Housing, Skipper Bridge, Union Road, Kinderlou Clubhouse, Griffin, Saddle Bags, and Stone Creek.

Cost	What
$1,792,027.8.00	Pump Station Rehab
$18,100.00	Utilities Forklift
$1,810,127.8.00	Total

VALORGIS shows Lowndes County’s sewer lines if you turn on the Water Sewer Service Areas layer, and within that Lowndes County Sewer Lines Force Main and Gravity. Be sure to turn off Water Lines and Valdosta Sewer Line.

In case anybody doesn’t know, Lowndes County’s sewer system is separate from Valdosta’s sewer system, and has about 10% of the capacity of Valdosta’s.

Also, for some years Lowndes County has been repairing parts of its sewer system before they break. Although I hear persistent rumors that there have been unreported leaks.

Map: Lowndes County sewer system (green lines) –VALORGIS

Lonnie Denton wants to be reappointed to the Lowndes County Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) Board and DFACS County Director Gail Finley recommends that.

Bubba Highsmith wants to be reappointed, and George Foreman also wants to be appointed, to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) Board.

The beer and wine license request is for a new establishment, Love’s Travel Stop #550, 2319 Old Clyattville Road, Valdosta, GA.

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, AUGUST 12, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Continue reading →

Videos: Danny Weeks, Millage Rate, 3 Alcohol, Animals, Paper Ballots @ LCC Regular 2023-08-22

$4.2 million per mill times 2.5 mills is $10.5 million dollars a year that the county fire department is to get with no budget.

That’s up from last year’s $3.2 million per mill for $8 million, so the county fire department is to get an extra $2.5 million. Yet they never advertised it as a tax increase.

For what, and with what accounting, was not explained. Chairman Bill Slaughter said it was to maintain a “healthy fund balance” for five years since they established the fire department. Where can citizens see this fund balance, and what it is being spent on?

Collage @ LCC 22 August 2023

Both millage rate votes passed only by 3:2. If all three of the Lowndes County Commissioners who voted against on one or the other had voted against both, or if one of the other two had joined against on those votes, the county would have had to think again.

However, for the main millage, they approved 8.778 mills, which the Chairman said is a rollback of 1.434 (from last year). This is noticeably less than the Department of Revenue recommendation of 8.896 mills. Less as in 0.118 mills or $283,200. Until Commissioner Clay Griner the previous day asked what millage would actually match the projected budget, they seemed to be heading for the larger figure.

Still no explanation of why only one of the three beer and wine licenses got a Public Hearing.

They added an item for a change order on a Val Del Road water main for “about $180,000”. That reminds me that in July they approved almost $10 million for another water main in advance of development. Got to have sprawl.

More questions about the condition of the old dog box. Continue reading →

On the LAKE front

Citizen dialog for transparent process by the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange