Tag Archives: Georgia

Quitman solar electricity and hot water

California can do it, and it turns out Brooks County can do it: install solar hot water heaters on low-cost housing. In Brooks County, they also installed solar electric panels.

Kevin Skeath explains the 2.03 kilowatt solar electric panels on an apartment office, 9 solar thermal systems on the apartments, and how you can reduce your power bill upwards of 30% just by heating your regular hot water, and even more by using it for heating your rooms. Continue reading →

Precincts for ESPLOST election

Local precincts have been changed yet again since the last election. Here are the precincts for the ESPLOST election on March 15th. According to the Board of Elections, Lowndes County Polling Places:
To find your polling place go to Secretary of State Poll Locator

Click Precincts for Map Locator and Driving Directions provided by Google Maps.

The version of their precinct list below actually has map links for each precinct. I have omitted the photographs of the polling places.
Precinct 1 Newsome St. Church, 202 S. Newsome St., Hahira
Precinct 2 Old Pine Grove Elementary School Gym, 4023 Pine Grove Road, Valdosta
Precinct 3 Westminister Presbyterian Church, 3019 Country Club Road, Valdosta
Precinct 4 Northside Baptist Church Gym, 200 E. Park Avenue, Valdosta
Precinct 5 Jaycee Park Activities Building, 2306 Jaycee Shack Road, Valdosta
Precinct 6 Naylor City Hall, 8753 Georgia Highway 135, Naylor
Precinct 7 Wood Valley Community Center, 1907 Gornto Road, Valdosta
Precinct 8 Rainwater Conference Center, One Meeting Place, Valdosta
Precinct 9 New Clyattville Fire Station, 5080 Madison Highway, Clyattville
Precinct 10 Mildred Hunter Community Center, 509 S. Fry St., Valdosta
Precinct 11 Dasher City Hall, 3686 US Hwy 41 S. Dasher
Precinct 12 South Lowndes Recreation Center, 6440 Ocean Pond Ave, Lake Park

-jsq

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 →

Against taxes –Nolen Cox

Speaking to the Lowndes County Commission on 8 March 2011, Nolen Cox said businesses produce money and government consumes it, and he doesn’t like taxes.

He appears to be opposed to the ESPLOST election.

He’s the same fellow who introduced the topic of climate change denial in a Lowndes County Commission meeting.

Here’s the video.


Regular meeting of the Lowndes County Commission, 8 March 2011.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

Fiduciary responsibility of LCC to oversee VLCIA? –John S. Quarterman

Speaking to the Lowndes County Commission on 8 March 2011, I read from VLCIA “inter-governmental funding agreement” with Lowndes County, noting that VLCIA’s own audited annual financial report seems to be out of date, since it still says VLCIA asks the Lowndes County Commission for its funds. And I wondered about this part in Note F:
The bonds are secured by an “inter-governmental” funding agreement between the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority and Lowndes County, Georgia.
I repeated what I wrote before:
If the Lowndes County government is co-guarantor of VLCIA’s bonds, how can the Lowndes County Commission say it has no responsibility or control over what VLCIA does? I am not a CPA, but the term “fiduciary responsibility” comes to mind.

I quoted myself from VLCIA Bonds: $15M becomes $23.5M?

If I’m reading that right (I am not a CPA), VLCIA took out about $15M in bonds for which they will pay back a total of about $23.5M. Is that really $8.5M in debt service, or about 56% of the original principal?
I pointed out that VLCIA seems to have about $8.3 million in cash 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 →

Movin’ on up!

Arrived via google alert for keyword “Valdosta”:
Those on the committee to hire a new EDC director seem so certain they will offer Lofton the job that he is already making plans to announce he’s leaving Georgia next week, and can start work here in mid-April.
Lofton? Yes, that Lofton:
Brad Lofton, a Georgia native and moneymaker for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority in his home state, is being introduced around Horry County today as the leading candidate for the executive director of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation.
The story is Economic development agency likely has new director, by Lorena Anderson, in the Myrtle Beach SunNews.

Hm, somebody is counting at least one chicken that hasn’t hatched:

Lofton has been with the Valdosta group since 2006, and has brought millions of dollars’ worth of business and jobs to that county, Wendel said, including an energy plant that uses biomass and is now getting federal renewable energy credits; ….
Also notice what they don’t list as a positive: the solar plant. Perhaps an indication of somebody’s priorities.

-jsq

Tornado warning: you would have heard this on NOAA Weather Radio

This is what NOAA Weather Radio would tell you right now. I know this stuff because a friend called and told me to check on the Internet. But people who can’t afford $21 for a radio don’t have Internet connections; some don’t have telephones. When there’s severe weather frequently telephones don’t work, either.

The red line is severe weather heading this way fast:

WCTV reports Tornado Watch: Severe Weather Expected Throughout Fla. Panhandle: Continue reading →

Lowndes County Commission Meets Tuesday Evening

It’s a light agenda, but that doesn’t mean nothing interesting or important will happen: you never know. Here is the agenda:

View Larger Map
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION CANCELLED
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2011, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

  1. Call to Order
  2. Invocation
  3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
  4. Minutes for Approval
    1. Work Session – February 21, 2011
    2. Regular Session – February 22, 2011
  5. Public Hearings – REZ-2011-02 Cat Creek, 4097 Cat Creek Road, 0144 050, 9.18 ac., ~23 lots, R-21 to R-10
  6. Citizens Wishing to be Heard Please State Name And Address
  7. For Consideration
    1. Smith Northview Services Agreement
    2. Inmate Medical Savings Program
    3. Resolution and Contract for the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund (HWTF)
  8. Reports-County Manager
According to the Lowndes County Tax Assessor’s Office, the 9.18 acres at 4097 Cat Creek Road are owned by Narvel R. Briggs of 243 Park Street, Somerset, NJ 08873 with no sales on that land reported since 1982. I would guess this is not a big developer, rather a child of the original owner.

-jsq

ESPLOST election, now through 15 March 2011

Update 7 Mar 2011: election date fixed in this post title and text.
Here’s how to announce public finances:
To be published on February 11, 18, and 25, 2010 and March 4 and 11, 2010.
That’s five times the Lowndes County Board of Elections is publishing the details of the ESPLOST one percent sales and use tax for educational purposes. This is significant money: not more than $165 million dollars over five years, $94,875,000 for Lowndes County schools, and $70,125,000 for Valdosta schools. There are only two main ways of raising money for public schools: sales taxes, or property taxes. The local school boards use both. This is the sales tax part.

Well, there is a third way. Continue reading →