Tag Archives: Clyattville

Lowndes County has been talking to Sabal Trail since July 2026-08-10

Is anything sacred to a pipeline company?

Apparently not, since Sabal Trail wants to drill through a cemetery, McIntyre Family Cemetery, aka Old Redland Cemetery, on Knights Ferry Road. See below.

That’s in addition to through the old landfill site on Madison Highway, where Lowndes County granted Sabal Trail an easement for only one pipeline back in 2016; see also below.

What “new high-volume customers” can you think of that would be enough to cause a whole new pipeline? I can’t think of any except hyper-scale AI datacenters.

[Lowndes County has been talking to Sabal Trail since July, about a second pipeline through McIntyre Cemetery on Knights Ferry Road, and the landfill on Madison Highway]
Lowndes County has been talking to Sabal Trail since July, about a second pipeline through McIntyre Cemetery on Knights Ferry Road, and the landfill on Madison Highway

A lobbyist for Sabal Trail met with Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter about “potential expansion of Sabal Trail” on Tuesday, July 21, 2026,

This apparently irritated Lowndes County Manager Paige Dukes, because the lobbyist’s firm apologized to her the next day for “confusion on Monday around our meeting request.”

Sabal Trail Intro from Joel Wiggins to Lowndes County Manager

Belinda Lovern

From: Joel Wiggins <wiggins@thesoutherngroup.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2026 11:24 AM
To: County Manager
Subject: Sabal Trail Intro

Attachments: Sabal Trail Expansion and Extension Initial Project Fact Sheet 07092026.pdf; IMG_1985.jpeg

EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click any links or open any attachments unless you trust the sender and know the content is safe.

Good Morning Paige,

I apologize for the confusion on Monday around our meeting request. Dante on my team is a former ACCG employee and reached out directly to Chairman Slaughter due to his personal relationship. Typically, I would reach out to you directly and I apologize for any confusion.

We were able to meet with the Chairman yesterday and update him on our potential expansion along the Sabal Trail. We are in the early stages of a proposed expansion and are meeting with local leaders in all counties. We anticipate that any improvements would take place within the ROW of the existing pipeline, but we wanted to touch base before landowner notices go out on 8/1.

Please see attached for Continue reading →

Sabal Trail pipeline Easement with Lowndes County Commission 2026-01-26 2016-01-26

Update 2026-08-30: Lowndes County has been talking to Sabal Trail since July 2026-08-10.

This is the easement for a 36-inch fracked methane pipeline that the Lowndes County Commission approved on January 26, 2016, saying it was a good business decision.

Nevermind the letter that the Chairman sent to FERC on April 11, 2014, Sabal Trail will be expected to adhere and honor all Lowndes County Ordinances -Bill E Slaughter, JR to FERC.

Anyway, this easement has a couple of interesting clauses.

On page 2, “4.a. Single Pipeline; Pipeline Depth. This Easement allows a single underground Pipeline with a maximum pipe outer diameter of thirty-six (36) inches, and with the maximum allowable operating pressure” of natural gas transported within the pipeline as permitted by applicable law, rule or regulation.”

Now that Sabal Trail wants a second pipeline, it will have to negotiate with landowners again, including the Lowndes County government. And it is already doing so; see a following post.

[Sabal Trail pipeline Easement with Lowndes County 2016-01-26, Between Railroad Ave. and Madison Highway]
Sabal Trail pipeline Easement with Lowndes County 2016-01-26, Between Railroad Ave. and Madison Highway

Another interesting clause is on page 5, “13. Taxes. Grantee shall assume and pay the amount of any taxes lawfully assessed and applicable to Grantee and due and owing on the Pipeline, Pipeline Facilities or Easement Area.”

Evidently if you have enough leverage, you can get Sabal Trail to agree to things they never would have offered.

The property is between Railroad Avenue and Madison Highway, south of Clyattville. It is near Clyatt Mill Creek, and uphill from the Withlacoochee River. It has an old landfill on one of the parcels; thus the monitoring wells in the easement.

PDF of the easement, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

Images of each page are below.

But first, here is a Sabal Trail alignment map that covers the subject property. For such alignment maps for the entire pipeline in all three states, see LAKE: Sabal Trail Transmission alignment maps 2016-04-07. Continue reading →

Videos: 3 rezonings, 4 road items, 1 beer and wine, VLCIA bonds, servers, debris hauler @ LCC Regular 2026-05-12

Gretchen noted about these LAKE videos of the May 12, 2026, Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission, “Still having camera problems. No audio on two of the bits and agenda items 6e and 6f and the start of 7a did not get recorded at all.”

Yes, we know the county videos its own Regular Sessions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PRqnqJwM8k

LAKE continues to video those meetings anyway, for a number of reasons I don’t have time to go into here.

Also, the county does not post videos of its Work Sessions, nor of the Planning Commission, nor of any of the other numerous Boards and Authorities, not to mention School Board meetings. LAKE does post videos of those Work Sessions and Planning Commission meetings. You can help. Volunteer to video some meetings. Or donate to LAKE to buy a better video camera.

Once again, Lowndes County plans to widen Old US 41 North the rest of the way up to the Hahira City Limits: 6.c. TIA – Local Delivery Application for Old US 41 North Widening Phase 4

Other than the Clyattville case was withdrawn by applicant, the Commissioners approved all the agenda items unanimously.

[Collage @ LCC 12 May 2026]
Collage @ LCC 12 May 2026

Two citizens spoke about datacenters: Michael Noll and George Fisher. See also what IT Director Aaron Kostyu said in the Works Session about massive hikes in memory and server prices because the AI industry is sucking up all the inventory even before it is manufactured.

Two citizens spoke about animals: Amie Burnam and Tara Parker.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item for the May 12, 2026, Lowndes County Commission Regular Session, wWork ith a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session and the agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request.

For the rezonings (except Clyattville), see the LAKE videos of the preceding Planning Commission meeting.

Here is the LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiFwlE_EHC-C06NPB_VIXiPc&si=tVArGKPA4yehJA9h

-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: 3 rezonings, 4 road items, 1 beer and wine, VLCIA bonds, servers, debris hauler @ LCC Regular 2026-05-12

Gretchen noted about these LAKE videos of the May 12, 2026, Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission, “Still having camera problems. No audio on two of the bits and agenda items 6e and 6f and the start of 7a did not get recorded at all.”

Yes, we know the county videos its own Regular Sessions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PRqnqJwM8k

LAKE continues to video those meetings anyway, for a number of reasons I don’t have time to go into here.

Also, the county does not post videos of its Work Sessions, nor of the Planning Commission, nor of any of the other numerous Boards and Authorities, not to mention School Board meetings. LAKE does post videos of those Work Sessions and Planning Commission meetings. You can help. Volunteer to video some meetings. Or donate to LAKE to buy a better video camera.

Once again, Lowndes County plans to widen Old US 41 North the rest of the way up to the Hahira City Limits: 6.c. TIA – Local Delivery Application for Old US 41 North Widening Phase 4

Other than the Clyattville case was withdrawn by applicant, the Commissioners approved all the agenda items unanimously.

[Collage @ LCC 12 May 2026]
Collage @ LCC 12 May 2026

Two citizens spoke about datacenters: Continue reading →

Videos: 3 rezonings, 4 road items, 1 beer and wine, VLCIA bonds, servers, debris hauler @ LCC Work 2026-05-11

Update 2026-05-24: Videos: 3 rezonings, 4 road items, 1 beer and wine, VLCIA bonds, servers, debris hauler @ LCC Regular 2026-05-12.

In case you haven’t heard, Lowndes County plans to widen Old US 41 North the rest of the way up to the Hahira City Limits: 6.c. TIA Local Delivery Application for Old US 41 North Widening Phase 4.

[Collage @ LCC 11 May 2026]
Collage @ LCC 11 May 2026

The Clyattville case was withdrawn by applicant: 5.a. REZ-2026-04 Jay Ma Khodiyar 5507 Central St. (Clyattville), R-10 to C-G. This is the same rezoning that was tabled for a month back on March 10, 2026, on a motion by Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker. I wonder how many times it will reapppear?

The Old Bemiss Road Blackwater case had quite a bit of discussion about roads, railroad, and access: 5.b. REZ-2026-11 Blackwater Development 4130 Old Bemiss Rd., (part 1).

Aaron Kostyu, Information Technology Services Director, spelled out a problem with so-called AI: 6.e. Replacement of Three Servers. Commissioner Michael Smith wondered why there was only one quote for the three servers IT requested.

It’s because we can’t find hardware anywhere. They have increased over the last two months by 800 to 1000 percent.

None of the drives are available; none of the memory is available, because the AI industry is sucking it all up. They have done something unprecedented, and the memory industry has allowed them to purchase the next three lots before they are even created. And so we don’t see this ending anytime soon.

We’ve had difficulty getting hardware that normally choose because the prices have gotten out of control. We’re jumping on the right now.

We know already that there’s a hundred and five day time limit on these quotes. They’ve already gone up since we got these quotes, but she agreed to extend it.

This is last month’s quote. It’s already higher.

She’s agreed to hold this pricing, and hopefully we’ll get 105 days. Tomorrow, if we purchase the next day, that will potentially get just in time to pay out of this year’s budget. So it’s a real race to get it done.

Continue reading →

Packet: 3 rezonings, 4 road items, 1 beer and wine, VLCIA bonds, servers, debris hauler @ LCC 2026-05-11

Update 2026-05-24: Videos: 3 rezonings, 4 road items, 1 beer and wine, VLCIA bonds, servers, debris hauler @ LCC Work 2026-05-11.

Yes, you can speak about datacenters, animals, water, or whatever else in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard at the voting Regular Session, 5:30 PM, Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

The Lowndes County Commissioners will notice if you show up for the Work Session, 8:30 AM, Monday, May 11, 2026.

The board packet doesn’t mention that 5.a. REZ-2026-04 Jay Ma Khodiyar, ~1ac, 5507 Central St. (Clyattville) was tabled for a month back on March 10, 2026, on a motion by Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker.

[Collage @ LCC Packet 2026-05-11 --LAKE]
Collage @ LCC Packet 2026-05-11 –LAKE

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website, with images of each page below.

For the other two rezonings, see also Continue reading →

Videos: 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC Regular 2026-03-10

The Lowndes County Commissioners voted to table 5.a. REZ-2026-04 Jay Ma Khodiyar, 5507 Central St. Clyattville, R-10 To C-G until their first meeting in May.

They unanimously approved the other two rezonings, and all the other agenda items, at the Regular Session of Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

However, they spent almost 20 minutes on 5.c. REZ-2026-06 Val Del Mobile Home Park, 3910 Val Way, R-A – P-D To P-D. One speaker got tired of them being called trailers and said they called them manufactured homes.

[Collage @ LCC 10 March 2026]
Collage @ LCC 10 March 2026

There were five Citizens Wishing to Be Heard, all against datacenters. One thought datacenters should go out in the woods in the country. I beg to differ.

They went into an executive session, but it’s not clear they said what for.

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 →

Videos: 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC Work 2026-03-09

Update 2026-03-12: Videos: 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC Regular 2026-03-10.

Mary Beth Brownlee did not appear to report on One Valdosta-Lowndes (OVL). We don’t know why. They didn’t say.

At their Monday morning Work Session, the Lowndes County Commission heard the three rezoning requests. They had the most discussion about the third one, 5.c. REZ-2026-06 Val Del Mobile Home Park, ~34ac, 3910 Val Way R-A – P-D To P-D. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall seemed concerned that it’s about mobile homes. That is affordable housing these days.

They had less to say about the other items.

They voted Tuesday evening; LAKE videos of that to come.

[Collage @ LCC 9 March 2026]
Collage @ LCC 9 March 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: One-Valdosta Lowndes Report, 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC 2026-03-09

Update 2026-03-12: Videos: 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC Work 2026-03-09.

In the Work Session Monday morning, Mary Beth Brownlee will report on One Valdosta-Lowndes (OVL). Be there or watch it in the forthcoming LAKE video, because the Lowndes County Commission does not post videos of its work sessions.

The rezoning the Planning Commission recommended against last month because of inadequate site plan now has an updated plan. That’s REZ-2026-06 Val Del Mobile Home Park, ~34ac, 3910 Val Way, R-A & P-D to P-D, County Utilities. The other two rezonings look much the same.

Also on the agenda is $1,491,023.01 more from GDOT for resurfacing Radar Site Road, Coffee Road, Hamby Lane, and Webb Road North. And another $1,100,000.00 from TIA for Kinderlou-Clyattville Road Paving and Drainage Improvements. Plus acceptance of a subdivision’s infrastructure, a beer and wine license, and a half-million dollar housing loan.

[Packet: One-Valdosta Lowndes, 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing, LMIG @ LCC 2026-03-09]
Packet: One-Valdosta Lowndes, 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing, LMIG @ LCC 2026-03-09

The Lowndes County Commissioners vote Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website. Images of each page are below.

See also the Continue reading →

Videos: 3 Lowndes County rezonings, one recommended against @ GLPC 2026-02-23

Two new Commissioners joined the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) this year: John “Mac” McCall joined in January for the first time. This February meeting was the first for Brian Touchton.

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial because of inadequate site plan for 3. REZ-2026-04 VII7B, 5507 Central Street (Clyattville), 0095-022, R-10 to C-G.

GLPC recommended approval for the other two, with an added condition for 4. REZ-2026-05: 1925 Davis@84, U S Highway 84 West, 0059-090, ~21.7 acres.

[Collage @ LCC 23 February 2026]
Collage @ LCC 23 February 2026

GLPC recommends. The Lowndes County Commission will decide these three rezonings on March 10, 2026.

Here 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 →