A million dollar loan wasn’t worth scheduling on the regular agenda for the May 9, 2023, Lowndes County Commission Regular Session?
Apparently not, since Chairman Bill Slaughter added it after the previous morning’s Work Session. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know Continue reading
Big news: One Valdosta-Lowndes has hired an Executive Director, Mary Beth Brownlee, previously with ACCG. See 8. Reports.
Almost three minutes on 5.c. REZ-2023-06 Wild Adventures, 3766 Old Clyattville Road, P-D amendment was the longest at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session yesterday morning. They vote tonight at 5:30 PM.
In her 8. Reports, County Manager Paige Dukes said for the tire amnesty starting that day (yesterday), people could take tires to either the county or city locations. Ordinary vehicle tires, not for tractors or semi-trucks.
She said the tax assessment notices will go out mid-May. There will be some increases, since Continue reading
The Lowndes County Commission breezed through approving everything unanimously two weeks ago.
There was some further discussion in Reports about the county taking over management of the Moody AFB golf course and some other items.
Then in Citizens Willing to Be Heard, Veterinarian Dr. Amanda Hall spoke about changes in state law regarding animal control, including about what counts as a breeder. And it is now unlawful to tether animals during inclement weather or mental distress, but that is not being enforced. She recommended Lowndes County revise its local animal control ordinance to be in line with the noise ordinance.
She recently learned the county was budgeting $7 million for a new animal shelter. She said there was much lower hanging fruit than that, such as updating the ordinance to use ideas that work elsewhere.
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 Continue reading
Update 2023-05-08: Videos: Animals, Juveniles, Golf Course, Subdivision infrastructure, solid waste, and alcohol @ LCC Regular 2023-04-25 2023-04-25.
Surprise housing!
Two weeks ago, the longest regular business item at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session was 6.a. FY2024 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant, mostly because Judge Council wanted to mention a first quarter success rate of 86%, and a second quarter success rate of 79%.
Also taking more than a minute were 6.b. Quiet Pines Golf Course Agreement for Lowndes County to operate that course for Moody AFB, and the alcohol license for Twin Lakes Club & Grill, for which they went through various scenarios requiring a new license.
Unscheduled under 7. Reports was a seven-minute surprise report on affordable housing. Mark Stalvey from the Housing Authority and Rhett Holmes from IDP Properties (the low income housing tax credit developer) gave a presentation on a new development at the corner of South Troupe Street and Griffin Ave. They are working on a phase two and asked for financial support in the form of $1,000,000 low interest loans. Similar to Freedom Heights on Bemiss Road which is both market rate and rent controlled units.
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 Continue reading
Update 2023-05-09: Videos: Wild Adventures glamping, AB Motorsports withdrawn, a road abandonment and RoW purchase, Clyattville Community Center, plus alcohol @ LCC 2023-05-08.
Update 2023-05-09: Videos: ULDC Updates, AB Motorsports withdrawn, Wild Adventures glamping @ GLPC 2023-04-24.
A Wild Adventures rezoning for glamping will be at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session Monday morning at 8:30 AM and at the voting Regular Session Tuesdahy 5:30 PM. Plus a $50,000 road project to Wild Adventures’ front door is on the agenda.
![[Collage @ LCC Packet 2023-05-08]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-05-08--lcc-packet/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC Packet 2023-05-08
The AB Motorsports rezoning was “withdrawn by Continue reading
Update 2023-05-08: Videos: Juveniles, Golf Course, Subdivision infrastructure, solid waste, and alcohol @ LCC Work 2023-04-24.
Just after I posted the agenda and mentioned that Lowndes County was past the three days limit state law requires for a response (and I also sent them an email reminder), the county sent the board packet.
The board packet is on the LAKE website.
![[Packet Collage @ LCC 2023-04-24]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-04-24--lcc-packet/many.jpg)
Packet Collage @ LCC 2023-04-24
-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
Update 2023-04-23: Packet: Alcohol, Juveniles, Golf Course, Subdivision infrastructure, and solid waste @ LCC 2023-04-24.
Here’s a rare Lowndes County Commission session where the total amount of taxpayers dollars being considered to spend is zero.
| Cost | What |
|---|---|
| $368,179.20 | FY2024 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant |
| -$368,179.20 | Reimbursed 100% by CJCC |
| $0.00 | Total |
That of course ignores future road and utility maintenance costs for Quarterman Estates Subdivision Phase 4, Section 1 and Grove Pointe Subdivision Phase 5, Section 3, plus whatever it will cost for the county to run the Quiet Pines Golf Course for Moody AFB. Lowndes County already operates Moody AFB’s wastewater treatment plant.
Here is the agenda. We have no board packet to show you, because there has been no response to the LAKE open records request of 8:00 AM Tuesday, four working days ago, even though the Georgia Open Records Act (GORA) requires a response within three days.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Continue reading
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2023, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Update 2023-01-10: Public Notice: Rezoning REZ-2022-20, GA 122 @ Skipper Bridge Road for a Dollar General 2023-01-08.
Update 2022-12-22: Videos: Lowndes County buys land from Helen Tapp for Troupville Nature Park and River Camp 2022-12-13.
The Lowndes County Commission tabled the rezoning for a Dollar General on GA 122 at Skipper Bridge Road until January 24, 2023, because they were a day short on required notice.
A dozen or more people in opposition were visible.
Turns out the county did send the correspondence about that before I asked for it in this meeting, and within the statutory three days for answering a Georgia open records request. All the letters returned were in opposition.
![[Collage @ LCC 13 December 2022]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2022-12-13--lcc-videos/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC 13 December 2022
They made the historic purchase for Troupville Nature Camp and River Park, of Land Between the Rivers at the Little River Confluence with the Withlacoochee River. And Chairman Bill Slaughter called seller Helen Tapp up to say a few words.
Apparently they are also modest, since some of them did not seem to like compliments about that purchase.
They reappointed Franklin Bailey to the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).
Everything else passed unanimously.
In Citizens Wishing to be Heard, Kelly Saxon asked for assistance for the homeless, John S. Quarterman complimented the Commission on purchasing the Troupville land, and Blake Robinson said there may not be many young people who come to these meetings, but they do appreciate the local government work the Commissioners are doing.
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
Update 2022-12-18: Correspondence: Proposed Rezoning on GA 122 at Skipper Bridge Road 2022-12-12.
County Manager Paige Dukes said they are legally required to table the rezoning for a Dollar General, because they were a day late on getting notices out, although she twice blamed that on the Valdosta Daily Times.
![[Collage @ LCC 12 December 2022]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2022-12-12--lcc-videos/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC 12 December 2022
County Chairman Bill Slaughter said the applicant had requested tabling, and he recommended the second meeting in January (January 24, 2023). Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know why. The Chairman said, “It works out for two of the parties involved, the county and the developer.” (Nevermind the people.) Commissioner Scottie Orenstein said “I’m not in favor of tabling something only to give the developer more time… If he has true intentions on meeting with the community and having a meeting with them, a town hall, something a little more official, then I’m OK with that. But not to just give them more time.” The Chairman disagreed, “Well, I don’t think time is going to resolve anything in this particular situation.” Plus regarding the applicant, “We’re here to give them the courtesy if they make a request through that application process.”
Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker wanted clarified that the main issue was the date issue. Alleged County Attorney G. Walter Elliott reminded them they have to vote to table (the Chairman cannot just unilaterally table).
Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know if the Planning Commission knew about the timing issue. Continue reading
Update 2022-12-12: Videos: Dollar General rezoning legally must be tabled, Troupville land purchase is for a park @ LCC 2022-12-12.
Update 2022-12-12: Lowndes County to purchase land for Troupville Nature Park and River Camp @ LCC 2022-12-13.
Update 2022-12-10: Fixed my number dyslexia in the dates.
Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter tells me the applicant for the Dollar General
at GA 122 & Skipper Bridge Road (REZ-2022-20 Teramore Development)
has requested tabling until a later meeting.
Bill says he intends to table it until the second January 2023 meeting.
So that’s January 25 24, 2023.
He asked me to tell people that.
If I were you, I would show up this Tuesday, December 12 13th, anyway,
so they see you are watching.
Also, the agenda has not yet changed, and the item has not yet been tabled.
![[Second meeting in January 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2022-12-12--lcc-packet/many.jpg)
Second meeting in January 2023
In any case, keep them letters, telephone calls, and petition signatures going in. Ask them to hold the public hearing and then just vote to deny it instead of tabling it.
For anyone tuning in late, here’s why: https://wwals.net/?p=60348
The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website. The county did not send letters from citizens to Commissioners or staff about the Dollar General rezoning, even though those were specifically part of the request.
See also the agenda.
-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!
![[Hightower Road, Wild Adventures, Briggston Road, $1 million housing loan, @ LCC Regular Session, 9 May 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-05-09--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 8 May 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-05-08--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 25 April 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-04-25--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 24 April 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-04-24--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
![[Agenda @ LCC 2023-04-24]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-04-24--lcc-agenda/many.jpg)