Tag Archives: Animals

Videos: Datacenters, Sinkholes, Animals, Emergencies, Disasters, Judges, Drugs, and Wells @ LCC Regular 2026-04-28

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There was some discussion among Lowndes County Commissioners, but their Regular Session on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, as they approved all the voting items unanimously.

In her Reports, County Manager Paige Dukes called on both Utilities Director Steve Stalvy and Fire Chief Billy Young about the current drought and fire situations.

Six Citizens Wished to Be Heard.

George Fisher spoke about his water research, which includes he’s discovered the line of sinkholes running across the county.

Pam Kelly Jarvis and Amanda Hall spoke about animal issues.

Jimmy LeFiles, Michael Noll, and Susan Wehling spoke about datacenters.

[Collage @ LCC 28 April 2026]
Collage @ LCC 28 April 2026

After the meeting adjourned, County Chairman Bill Slaughter came down to talk to several people about datacenters. County Manager Paige Dukes joined in. The Chairman said it was their procedure not to answer Citizens Wishing to Be Heard during the meeting, but he made himself available afterwards.

I mentioned that the Irwin County Commissioners modified their draft datacenter ordinance after three Public Hearings, and passed it on April 6. The Lowndes County Chairman did not say that they would hold public hearings. If they follow their usual methods, a draft ordinance will appear on an agenda and they will vote on it.

[Datacenter discussion after @ LCC, 2026-04-28 --jsq for LAKE]
Datacenter discussion after @ LCC, 2026-04-28 –jsq for LAKE

I mentioned that the Brooks County, GA, datacenter moratorium expires May 2. The Lowndes County Chairman said Lowndes County there is still no datacenter application, and the county would not pass a moratorium.

County Manager Paige Dukes said she was looking at ordinances throughout the country.

Various other people asked questions and got some sort of response. I will not attempt to transcribe those parts.

The Chairman said everyone could go tell people what he said. Above is my attempt to do so.

However, since there is no video nor any other recording that I am aware of, I could be mistaken, and the county has plausible deniability.

Personally, I’d prefer answers during the meeting and on the record.

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

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

And the LAKE videos of the preceding morning’s Work Session.

Here is the LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiE8HhdvSsXXvxBtkPNwDTd0&si=0c5FxGWZDC9mw0pr

-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

Videos: 7 CWTBH, one appointment, two subdivisions, huge and small @ LCC 2026-04-14

At the Lowndes County Commission Regular Session of April 14, 2026, seven citizens spoke in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard (CWTBH):

[Collage @ LCC 13 April 2026]
Collage @ LCC 13 April 2026

CWTBH took about 18 minutes. 4. Purple Up For Military Children Proclamation took 9.5 minutes. The usual preliminaries took 1.5 minutes. So that’s 29 minutes. The whole meeting took 46 minutes.

So that’s 17 minutes the Commissioners took to unanimously approve all the voting items.

Below are Continue reading →

Videos: 2 presentations, 4 CWTBH, Appointment Board of Health, correct Tax Assessor, Qualifying Fees, grants, road widening and paving, Lakes Blvd Water Meter Relocation @ LCC Regular 2026-01-12

They tabled (again) 9.l. Abandonment of Grice Road, this time to no definite date, at the Monday evening Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.

Dr. Lucy Greene is handing over her work as Moody Support. At 23 minutes, that was by far the longest item.

Four citizens spoke at the end.

[Collage @ LCC Regular Session, 12 January 2026]
Collage @ LCC Regular Session, 12 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: 3 rezonings, dogs and cats ordinance, 7 water items, etc. @ VCC 2025-12-11

Update 2025-12-27: According to a usually reliable witness, facebook live had technical difficulties for the December meeting, and wasn’t noticed until just before the meeting started, so there is no video of that meeting. I’m told the dogs and cats ordinance did not pass, but may come back in a later meeting. Everything else did pass, or so I’m told. It appears the City Council needs to get some help for the City Clerk: “2.a) The Minutes from the September, October, and November City Council Meetings are forthcoming.”

Valdosta Mayor and Council had a very busy meeting on Thursday, December 11, 2025.

First, some questions for Valdosta Mayor, Council, and City Manager:

  1. Why does Valdosta not publish its board packets on its own website? Since anyone can get them through an open records request, they are not secret. The board packets could go on the city’s own Agenda & Minutes web page:

    – https://www.valdostacity.com/city-council/agendas-minutes

  2. Speaking of which, where are the minutes since August? They’re not on that web page.
  3. Why did Valdosta not do publicity about the seven (7) drinking water or wastewater improvement items on this December agenda?
  4. Where is Valdosta’s video of this December meeting? If the facebook live video is the official video of the meeting, why is it not linked into the Agendas & Minutes web page?

Valdosta complains people think they’re doing nothing about fixing their wastewater problems.

Maybe that has something to do with the city actively hiding the details in unpublished board packets, as well as doing publicity about such projects.

[Collage of VCC Packet 2025-12-11]
Collage of VCC Packet 2025-12-11

On this agenda was an ordinance copying Lowndes County in prohibiting sale of dogs and cats by retail establishments, a resolution about Valdosta City School System Refunding Bonds, and another resolution about the Georgia Historic Tax Credit Program. Plus various equipment for Engineering, Public Works, and Police.

The agenda also included the three rezonings or conditional use permits heard last month by the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/?p=25373

The seven wastewater improvement items are: Continue reading →

Videos: Rezonings, Dogs, Roads, and Subdivisions @ LCC Work Session 2025-10-14

At this morning’s Work Session, the Lowndes County Commissioners spent the most time on the Telecommunications Tower on Rocky Ford Road (5:38) and on 6.a. Lowndes County Responsible Dog Ownership Ordinance.

They vote this evening at 5:30 PM (same day due to Monday being a holiday). Anyone can speak in the two rezoning Public Hearings,

[Collage @ LCC 14 October 2025]
Collage @ LCC 14 October 2025

Commissioner Mike Smith was absent this morning. Commissioner Joyce Evans is still absent due to illness.

They ended with an Executive Session about a potential real estate purchase and attorney-client privilege about potential litigation.

County Manager Paige Dukes mentioned in her Reports that the James Road water main project came out $800,000 under budget. Those funds can be used for other projects in the vicinity. She recommended a change order to work on a water main on Old Clyattville Road. Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker said to proceed.

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

See also Continue reading →

Packet: Rezonings, Dogs, Roads, and Subdivisions @ LCC 2025-10-13

Update 2025-10-14: Videos: Rezonings, Dogs, Roads, and Subdivisions @ LCC Work Session 2025-10-14.

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval for both rezonings, but the communications tower rezoning on Rocky Ford Road near Watkins Road has acquired a petition and a lengthy letter of opposition as it goes to the Lowndes County Commission.

The commercial rezoning on Stewart Circle does not seem to have any opposition.

[Collage, Packet @ LCC 2025-10-13]
Collage, Packet @ LCC 2025-10-13

The county finally has an agreement to sign with GDOT and CSX about the Old Quitman Highway bridge, which will be paid for and organized by GDOT.

The county thinks it’s ready to sign the Lowndes County Responsible Dog Ownership Ordinance, “Approval of the attached ordinance will eliminate the need for the current citizen review board and move the hearing of these cases to Probate Court.”

There’s a Purchase of Wetland Credits for the Twin Lakes Road Paving Project.

And one of the usual: Acceptance of Infrastructure for The Landings Phase IV, which is 52 lots off of Val Del Road on Landings Circle and Brinlee Way.

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

See also the LAKE videos of the preceding meeting of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: Hurricane Recovery, Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC Regular 2025-06-24

Hurricane preparedness and recovery took most up of the 22-minute Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission Tuesday.

[Collage @ LCC 24 June 2025]
Collage @ LCC 24 June 2025

The Commissioners appointed Sam Clemons to the Lowndes County Library Board. Monday morning at the Work Session, Malcom Warren was the only applicant, but he was not even nominated at the Regular Session.

They approved everything else unanimously, with little discussion.

They did talk about body cameras in 7.c. Axon Renewal Contract for Animal Services. Apparently they’re used to de-escalate tense confrontations, when people see the camera.

County Manager Paige Dukes in her Reports discussed the confusion over tax assessment notices. The Tax Assessors staff sent out Continue reading →

Videos: VSU Tennis Proclamation, Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC Work 2025-06-23

Update 2025-06-27: Videos: Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC Regular 2025-06-24.

In addition to 4. Proclamation Presentation to Mr. John Hansen, the VSU Tennis Coach, the Lowndes County Commissioners were remarkably chatty about several other items this morning at their Work Session.

[Collage @ LCC Work 23 June 2025]
Collage @ LCC Work 23 June 2025

They vote tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 5:30 PM.

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 →

Packet: Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC 2025-06-23

Update 2025-06-23: Videos: VSU Tennis Proclamation, Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC Work 2025-06-23.

On the agenda for the Lowndes County Commission this week, the property and liability insurance is the big dollar item, followed by the proposed million dollar loan to the Valdosta Housing Authority.

[Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-06-23]
Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-06-23

The rest is mostly cash match for grants to various courts, plus a renewal contract for Animal Services, which is things like body cameras for their agents. Continue reading →

Videos: Animals, Library Board, Lighting, Mosquitoes, Prisoners, Stormwater @ LCC Regular 2024-08-27

Citizen Burton Fletcher spoke for five minutes about Animal Control Funding, out of the fourteen minutes of the Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission of August 27, 2024. That leaves 9 minutes, minus 2 minutes for the County Manager Report and a minute for the Call to Order, Invocation, and Pledge, means 7 minutes of actual business. They approved everything unanimously.

[Collage @ LCC 27 August 2024]
Collage @ LCC 27 August 2024

They reappointed Bill Booth and appointed Debra Ruth to the Lowndes County Library Board.

Nobody spoke for or against the 6.a. Basic Decorative Street Lighting Districts.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman (actually none this time), followed by a LAKE video playlist.

County Manager Paige Dukes in her Reports said staff were attending the statewide Homebuilders Association meeting. Homebuilders are “stakeholders” after all.

In Citizens Wishing to Be Heard, Burton Fletcher noted $1.5 million for the Animal Shelter didn’t actually help much, and he wondered what has happened in the year or two since groundbreaking.

See also Continue reading →