Paragraph I. School systems continued; consolidation of school
systems authorized; new independent school systems prohibited.
Authority is granted to county and area boards of education to establish
and maintain public schools within their limits. Existing county and
independent school systems shall be continued, except that the General
Assembly may provide by law for the consolidation of two or more county
school systems, independent school systems, portions thereof, or any
combination thereof into a single county or area school system under
the control and management of a county or area board of education,
under such terms and conditions as the General Assembly may prescribe;
but no such consolidation shall become effective until approved by a
majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in each separate school
system proposed to be consolidated. No independent school system shall
hereafter be established.
Thanks to all who helped —Jerry Jennett @ VLCIA 19 July 2011
Regular Meeting, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA),
Norman Bennett, Tom Call, Roy Copeland chairman, Mary Gooding, Jerry Jennett,
Andrea Schruijer Executive Director, J. Stephen Gupton attorney, Allan Ricketts Project Manager,
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 19 July 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Dr. Noll, president of WACE, welcomed VLCIA’s new executive director Andrea Schruijer, and
then reminded the board that the honking cars outside
indicated an ongoing community assessment of biomass,
and he encouraged them to consider previously presented
materials and to prevent the biomass plant from
finding a back door to come back in.
He remarked that he had visited his mother in Germany:
One and half years ago she was in the intensive care unit for about three weeks
because she had severe lung issues.
She moved away after that
to an area where there isn’t the kind of air pollution she was
exposed to before hand,
and every single day she wakes up she feels like she’s on vacation.
Because of my mother —Dr. Noll @ VLCIA 19 July 2011
Regular Meeting, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA),
Norman Bennett, Tom Call, Roy Copeland chairman, Mary Gooding, Jerry Jennett,
Andrea Schruijer Executive Director, J. Stephen Gupton attorney, Allan Ricketts Project Manager,
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 19 July 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Pritchard also said they (the county in its previous investigation,
presumably the one of 2010)
examined the character of those testifying for
the complaints and he said they found biases.
“Whatever problems there are, they’re going to be resolved.”
2011-05-24 The VDT quotes County Manager Joe Pritchard
as saying:
“It’s no longer a case of an individual making a claim, as it will be evident by the physical evidence provided by the security cameras.”
and:
“You take that policy, coupled with the updated standard operating
procedures, added to the technical verification and I think that
addresses the issues. My purpose is to eliminate any problem or potential
problem.”
2011-05-31 statement by Director Linda Patelski saying two people fired for euthanasia violation of 20 May 2011
I really feel like the Lowndes County Commissioners meetings are more
to pacify the community then to actually listen to the concerns of
the citizens which I’m sure most counties are the same. I feel quite
positive matters of concern actually never leave that room, I’m pretty
certain if the room were full and more individuals showing concern for
their community maybe things could change slightly. I have gotten the
impression that they really don’t want to hear people’s opinions. I
was once under the impression that there job of commissioners where
to also hear from the residence of the county. It certainly has shown
me how transparency issues and intimidation also go hand in hand. When
you think of a member of county government it’s a position of power
and power some obviously let go to their head. But after reading the
article it appears no matter where in this country when you oppose them
you obviously could be removed in handcuffs. You’re only allowed to have
your 3 to 4 minutes to speak after interruptions and snide remarks. First
Amendment right allows us to have freedom of speech… but broken down,
it allows us our time at the podium less freedom of speech if Mr. Paulk
decided to stop us. I wonder how the rest of the commissioners feel about
his antics toward people being heard. Maybe they don’t have concerns
in the matter but you have to wonder if they feel intimidated as well
and just choose to say nothing.
One reason LAKE permits anonymous posts is that occasionally
some useful information like this comes in that way;
received yesterday on
Graphic horse case. -jsq
Ga. Ag Equine Division is authorized to impound animals if animal cruelty is suspected.
However, if you take the time to read the state law (Ga. Code Section), you’ll see that local animal control and law enforcement are also authorized to impound horses/equine.
Counties need to understand that Ag is REGULATORY – they are NOT a criminal office. They cannot legally conduct a criminal investigation, nor file criminal charges.
Criminal investigations, and charges, have to be handled by local law enforcement.
The below excerpt is from “The Ga. Animal Protection Act” – which is – a state law.
.
4-11-9.2. Inspection warrant; impounding of animals
(a) At any time there is probable cause to believe that a violation of this article or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this article has occurred, the Commissioner, his or her designated agent, or an animal control officer who is an employee of state or local government may apply to the appropriate court in the county in which the animal is located for an inspection warrant under the provisions of Code Section 2-2-11.
(b) Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other peace officer shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this article and Code Sections 16-12-4 and 16-12-37.
These videos are not all labeled, which is unfortunate,
since some of them reflect quite well on some things the
Industrial Authority is doing.
But after all, they have paid staff who could be taking,
labelling, and posting their own videos, and
their new executive director says she wants transparency,
so who knows? Maybe VLCIA will do this kind of thing themselves.
They meet again tonight. You could go ask them.
Irregular Meeting, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA),
Norman Bennett, Roy Copeland, Tom Call, Mary Gooding, Jerry Jennett chairman,
J. Stephen Gupton attorney, Allan Ricketts Acting Executive Director,
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 14 June 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Received today on
Three things to actually improve education.
This CUEE supporter completely ignores all three things
I recommended to improve education; I will respond in more detail in
the next post. -jsq
I have actually attended several of the public meetings and listened to
the discussions from the Education Planning Committee. I’m not sure if
you realize this or not, but the committee consists of parents, concerned
residents and educators from both school systems and VSU. The committee
also has members who are supportive and opposed to school unification,
and it includes both city and county residents. In fact, Sam Allen even
attended and participated in the last meeting.
The objective of the Education Planning Committee is to
The Arizona Department of Corrections has given a green light to
four private, for-profit correctional management corporations for the
construction and management of an additional 5,000 state prison beds.
The American Friends Service Committee condemns this action as unnecessary
and deeply irresponsible given the state’s economic crisis and the
dismal safety records of all four of the corporations involved.
Arizona’s Auditor General estimates this expansion will cost us over
$640 million by 2017. Yet our prison population only grew by only 65
inmates in 2010.
This year, our corrections budget is over $1 billion, consuming 11%
of the state general fund. The Department of Corrections was the only
state agency whose budget saw an increase this year.
SECTION V.
