Tag Archives: Effingham County

Effingham County YouTubes its Commission meetings

A county half the size of Lowndes videos its own Commission meetings and puts them on YouTube. When will mighty Lowndes County do what smaller Effingham County already does? We already knew Effingham County puts its board packets online. When will Lowndes do that?

On the Effingham County website front page there’s a link under the picture of the Commissioners to Effingham County YouTube Channel. The most recent meeting on there, for 1 April 2014, lasted for three hours and 38 minutes. Real discussion in a Commission meeting!

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Solar Effingham County

Somebody wants to build a solar farm in Effingham County, Georgia, has found a location suitable for Georgia Power’s Advanced Solar Initiative program, and is asking the Effingham County Commission to agree.

HMP Solar This item is on the May 7th and May 21st 2013 agendas for the Effingham County Commission:

VI Appearance 5:30 p.m. HMP Solar
Effingham County also has online Meeting Documents for each meeting. The Meeting Documents for May 21st include this memo from their zoning administrator: Continue reading

History changes the closer you get to Valdosta?

Some people have expressed surprise to learn that Brad Lofton was fired from his previous job in Effingham County. The VLCIA’s own website may be part of the reason why they’re surprised.

According to “In the News” on the the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA) web site:

“Lofton is currently the president and CEO of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority and the executive director of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. Lofton brings a wide range of experience to the position including time served as the executive director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Development Authority.”
You have to search or scroll way down in that page to find that passage, and there’s no date on it.

However, it is almost a word-for-word copy of a paragraph by Kelli Hernandez that appeared in the Moultrie Observer 16 August 2006:

“Lofton’s most recent position was president and CEO of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority and the executive director of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. Lofton brings a wide range of experience to the position including time served as the executive director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Development Authority.”
See the difference? “Lofton’s most recent position was” in the Moultrie article is “Lofton is currently the” on the VLCIA’s own web site. So which was it? Continue reading

More from Myrtle Beach

Lorena Anderson writes in the SunNews more about Brad Lofton’s new job, including a very interesting tidbit about how he left his previous job. Georgia man tapped to bring businesses, jobs to Myrtle Beach area: Lofton gets three-year deal to lead MB agency:
A Georgia native with experience attracting industries and jobs to his home state has signed a three-year contract to lead the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation.

Doug Wendel, EDC board president, said the board voted unanimously Thursday afternoon to offer Brad Lofton the job. He will announce the change to his current employer, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority, on Tuesday, Wendel said.

Lofton will begin work on the Grand Strand on April 15, bringing to an end the EDC’s search for a new chief executive, which began more than a year ago.

The EDC will pay Lofton about $121,000 a year to bring new industry and jobs to Horry County.

Look what else they mentioned: Continue reading