The Lowndes County Commission passed everything unanimously. Plus they had a proclamation about 811, two citizens spoke about datacenters, one about an alleged sinkhole, one invitation to a fair, and one talked about Southern Georgia Black Chambers.
Vice-Chair Mark Wisenbaker again presided, this time over the Regular Session.
Here are the LAKE videos of this Regular Session, with a few notes by John S. Quarterman.
See also Continue reading
Vice-Chair Mark Wisenbaker presided over the Lowndes County Commission Work Session this morning. They vote Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.
Commissioners spent almost six minutes on 6.a. REZ-2026-15 Mardun Ventures, 6434 Lake Alapaha Blvd ~10.7ac, R-21 To E-A.
Lowndes County Commissioner Michael Smith
wondered about possible blueberries instead of pine trees.
County Planner JD Dillard said it could happen.
https://youtu.be/AqAR2FViiMY?si=tvRo3DgMwlG2h9sF
David Crawford took about five minutes to talk about Partnership Health Center as part of 9. County Manager Report.
https://youtu.be/oFi7tV2aWV8?si=5g95qOAmPo6xhGns
He talked about the number of people that they have provided services to this year. He emphasized that people come from all county commission districts. The people that they help have no insurance and are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid or any other private insurance.
![[Partnership Health Center, 2026-08-10]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-08-10--lcc-work-videos/2026-08-10--partnership-health-center.jpg)
Partnership Health Center, 2026-08-10
Since Lowndes County does not post video of its Work Sessions, if you weren’t there this morning at 8:30 AM, you can watch it in these LAKE videos, which are followed by a LAKE video playlist.
See also Continue reading
In the County Manager Report there is this item: David Crawford – Partnership Health Center (Work Session).
Since Lowndes County does not post video of its Work Sessions, you’ll either need to be there Monday morning at 8:30 AM, or watch it later in the LAKE videos.
This contentious rezoning will be decided after a Public Hearing: REZ-2026-15 Mardun Ventures, LLC, 6434 Lake Alapaha Blvd, ~10.7ac, R-21 to E-A, County Water & Septic.
The big dollar item I believe comes from state money, i.e., your state taxes, or is it T-SPLOST, also your taxes?
| Cost | What |
|---|---|
| $1,808,850.75 | 2026 Local Maintenance and Improvements Grant (LMIG) Local Road Assistance (LRA) Resurfacing Bids |
| $64,302.26 | Jail Skylight Replacement |
| $62,440.00 | Jail Door Locking Control System Replacement |
| $1,935,593.01 | Total |
![[Collage @ LCC Packet 2026-08-10]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-08-10--lcc-packet/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC Packet 2026-08-10
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 rezoning, see also the the preceding Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) meeting.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Continue reading
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2026, 8:30 A.M.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
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.
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.
See also the Continue reading
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.
This Fire Station #9 is on James Road: 7.b. Purchase of one (1) Sutphen Heavy Duty Custom Pumper.
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
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.
| 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
Thanks to Jason Davenport for sending a current draft of the ULDC text amendments for this evening’s Public Hearing at the Lowndes County Commission at 5:30 PM.
They are on the LAKE website in Word and PDF formats.
I’m not sure how the public is supposed to comment intelligently on these changes with about two hours to look at them, if they happen to look when I post this. The county has not posted any drafts of these text amendments.
![[Pines and pecans no longer protected: ULDC Text Amendments @ LCC 2024-11-12]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2024-11-12--lcc-uldc-text-amendments/many.jpg)
Pines and pecans no longer protected: ULDC Text Amendments @ LCC 2024-11-12
The big change is:
5. Replace 4.07.07 (D) with:
4.07.07(D) All pine and pecan trees, even those over 24 inches dbh, are not considered protected trees.
Everyone understands that trees falling in Hurricane Helene (and Debby and Idalia) were a big problem.
But this seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Continue reading
For those of us with many trees blown down, this meeting should be very useful and informative.
POST HURRICANE HELENE FORESTRY MEETING SERIES
Participants: GA Forestry Commission (GFC), UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources and UGA Cooperative Extension Service
DAY DATE LOCATION ADDRESS Monday December 9 Tift County Extension Office 1468 Carpenter Rd S., Tifton, GA Tuesday December 10 4-H Center, Lake Park 6100 4-H Club Rd. Lake Park, GA Wednesday December 11 UGA Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center 8163 SR-147, Lyons, GA Thursday December 12 Augusta Library 823 Telfair St., Augusta, GA AGENDA
9:00-9:20 Registration
9:20-9:30 Welcome by County Extension Agent and GFC Forester
9:30-10:00 Hurricane Helene—Timber damage assessment — Troy Clymer and Ryan Phillips (GFC)
10:00-10:30 Forest markets and longevity — Lessons learned from Hurricane Michael — Devon Dartnell (GFC)
10:30-11:00 Assessing storm damaged stands — Dr. David Dickens or Dr. David Clabo (UGA Warnell School)
11:00-11:15 Break
11:15-11:45 Lean and uprooted pines recovery — Drs. David Dickens or David Clabo (UGA Warnell School)
11:45-12:15 Insect and diseases post hurricanes — frequent visits to pine stands — Dr. Elizabeth McCarty (UGA Warnell School)
12:15-12:45 Emergency Forestry Restoration Program (EFRP) and other programs after a declared natural disaster — Melissa Mullis (Farm Service Agency) or Ryan Phillips (GFC)
12:45-1:15 Lunch
1:15-1:45 Timber taxation and casualty losses— Dr. Yanshu Li (UGA Warnell School)
1:45-2:15 Reforestation options — Dr. David Dickens or Dr. David Clabo (UGA Warnell School)
2:15-2:45 Invasive species — ID and control options — Dr. David Clabo (UGA Warnell School) or Mark McClure (GFC)
2:45-3:30 Seedling availability updates — Arborgen, GFC, Meeks Nursery, and PRT/IFCO
3:30 Adjourn
Registration is required. Each location will only accommodate 90-100 attendees.
Dec 9 & 10 meetings – call 229-386-3298 or email salina@uga.edu
Dec 11 & 12 meetings – call 912-478-8986 or email dmiracle@uga.eduSociety of American Foresters continuing forestry education credits will be offered by meeting.
Georgia Master Timber Harvester continuing education credits will be offered by meeting.
-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 2024-10-17: Videos: Millage Public Hearing @ LCC 2024-10-15.
Only in the Work Session this morning, and if you weren’t there, only in these LAKE videos:
![[Collage @ LCC Regular 14 October 2024]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2024-10-14--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC Regular 14 October 2024
In regular items, County Planner JD Dillard recommended tabling the ULDC Text Amendments until stakeholders have more time to comment. He referred to the copy Commissioners had in their packet. We the taxpayers and voters do not have a copy.
He also recommended tabling 5.b. REZ-2024-15 Loch Laurel – Carroll Ulmer until the Planning Commission can review it. Which indicates that GLPC did not meet last month, even though there was no announcement that it had been cancelled.
Finance Director Stephanie Black said there would be a Millage Public Hearing at 5PM tomorrow, Tuesday, October 15, before the 5:30 PM Regular Session.
There was discussion in 7.a. Sprayfield Expansion Phase I. Continue reading
Commissioners Joyce Evans and Demarcus Marshall voted against 5.a. REZ-2024-01 Gresham Event Venue, 8415 Old Valdosta Road. Commissioner Clay Griner moved to approve with four conditions, Commissioner Scottie Orenstein seconded, and they and Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker voted for. Most of the audience left, clearly not happy.
The Lowndes County Commission at its Regular Session approved everything else unanimously. At an hour and fourteen minutes, this was among its longest meetings.
Approvals included the last-minute addition, 6.f. Intergovernmental agreement with the Hospital Authority. The hospital wants to fund expansion, in the usual way by floating bonds guaranteed by the county.
One citizen wished to be heard. Continue reading
![[Videos: R-21 to E-A rezoning, Jail door lock & skylight @ LCC Work, Subdivision Infrastructure & LMIG, Partnership Health Center 2026-08-10]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-08-10--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 10 June 2025]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2025-06-10--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 9 June 2025]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2025-06-09--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
![[Station Locations]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2025-03-07--lcc-retreat-fire/2025-Retreat-Lowndes-County-Fire-Rescue-0005.jpg)
![[VLPRA & DFCS appointments, 2 rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 M Fire Rescue @ LCC 2025-06-09]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2025-06-09--lcc-packet/many.jpg)
![[Public Notice]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/gafc/2024-12-10--gafc-helene/465909444_960833289406744_8165345186344960468_n.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 12 March 2024]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2024-03-12--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)