Previously (28 February 2012),
Sheila Cook introduced herself
as an applicant for appointment to the
Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive
Diseases Region Four Planning Board.
At the 13 March 2012 meeting, the Commission appointed her.
Appointment of Sheila Cook,
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 March 2012.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
We know who’s on the Land Bank Authority now:
Burke Sherwood, Frank Morman, James Wright, and Joyce Evans,
because the
Georgia Department of Community Affairs publishes that information
(neither the Lowndes County Commission nor the City of Valdosta does so).
Which slot is up for appointment?
Who is the County Commission considering appointing?
This is tacked onto the end of the agenda:
Immediately following the Work Session, the Commissioners will receive reports from the
Valdosta/Lowndes County Industrial Authority & Valdosta/Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority
So the Industrial Authority reports to the County Commission!
That’s good news.
Also this item:
6.e. Proposals for Groundwater Sampling and Analysis at the Clyattville Landfill
And did you know they had a Special Called Meeting on 15 March 2012?
Approval of minutes for that is on this agenda.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Greater Lowndes 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update & Resolution
Rental Agreement for space occupied by the Department of Human Services, Family and Children
Services, located at 206 S. Patterson Street, 2nd and 3rd Floors
Declaration of Copiers as Surplus
Copier Leases
Proposals for Groundwater Sampling and Analysis at the Clyattville Landfill
Abandonment of unopened Right of Way of Fiveash Road
Reports-County Manager
Citizens Wishing to be Heard Please State Name And Address
Immediately following the Work Session, the Commissioners will receive reports from the
Valdosta/Lowndes County Industrial Authority & Valdosta/Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 28 February 2012. Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
It’s good to know County Commission Chairman Ashley Paulk supports transparency. However, if he considers certain details important enough for the public to know, how about if the Commission puts them in its own minutes? Or publishes its own videos of its own meetings?
Or even publish a list of changes that it approves when it changes an ordinance?
At the 28 February 2012 Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission, Chairman Ashley Paulk said:
I kind of like transparent government.
He proceeded to tell VDT reporter David Rodock that
Not killing the messenger, but it was written in your paper the other day that the alcohol ordinance was kind of rushed and people were not aware of it. If you would go back to your story of May the 11th we discussed that in great depth.
I kind of like transparent government —Ashley Paulk @ LCC 2012-02-28 Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC), Lowndes County Commission, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 28 February 2012. Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
He recommended that the VDT editors research their own archives.
Fair enough, but how about if we look at the Commissions own archives of its own minutes?
First let’s see what the reporter wrote that the Chairman was objecting to:
Continue reading →
What was discussed by the Lowndes County Commission regarding the recent changes to the alcohol ordinance came up again in their 28 February 2012 meeting. Relevant to that are these videos of discussion in their 23 May 2011 Work Session.
Sunday Alcohol Sales Work Session, Lowndes County Commission, (LCC), Lowndes County Commission, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 23 May 2011. Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
Several protesters wore hooded sweat shirts, held boxes of Skittles and cans of iced tea. They asked if those items made them appear suspicious as well.
More excerpts:
“That this community and every community in this country will continue to press for Mr. Zimmerman’s arrest and conviction,” Rev. Rose told Gullberg.
The news that Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee temporarily stepped down sparked new life into the rally.
“We all know that he botched the investigation. He did not even arrest Mr. Zimmerman, which would have been standard practice,” said Rev. Rose.
“I think the story is still kind of broad right now, people want to know what’s happened. So I’m actually happy about the crowd that came out today,” Valdosta State University NAACP Chapter President DeAndre Jones told Gullberg.
Videos of the rally on the courthouse steps Thursday.
Please join me and SCLC at the Courthouse in Valdsota at 6:30 for a “Justice for Trayvon Martin” rally Thursday, March 22nd. Thousands of people all over the United States will be gathering, including thiousands in Sanford Florida where 17 year Trayvon was murdered, and the killer has not been arrested.
Come let your voice be heard: 6:30 Thursday, March 22nd.
Rally “Justice for Trayvon Martin” Floyd Rose, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 March 2012. Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
Not on the agenda, Chairman Ashley Paulk invited Sheila Cook up to introduce herself as an applicant for appointment to the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases Region Four Planning Board.
I currently work in Lowndes County at Pine Grove Middle School as a special education teacher. I’ve been teaching for nine years.
She gave a rather complete resume, including education, professional experience, about her son who is twelve who is autistic, and about a woman who lived with her who has cerebral palsy.
Commissioner Crawford Powell, wanted to know whether travel would be a problem, since the meetings are usually in Thomasville. She answered not as long as the times don’t conflict with school.
I believe I’ve heard Commissioner Joyce Evans say in Commission meetings previously that it would be good for potential appointees to appear in Commission meetings beforehand. Congratulations to Commissioner Evans and the Commission for transparency in appointments.
Introduction of Sheila Cook, Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 28 February 2012. Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
Paul Wolff told us how he came to invest in solar energy:
I did the math on it ahead of time.
I had a bunch of mutual funds that hadn’t done anything in a long time.
I figured out given the
state and federal tax credits
what the payback would be,
and it came out to be about eight years.
So I just divided that out, and by selling mutual funds
and investing that money in solar panels on my roof
it’s an eleven percent return.
And in this economic climate I have nothing else
yielding anywhere near that.
So that’s a selling point.
11% return on solar panel investment —Paul Wolff
Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
The one on the right is 10 SEER (he had two);
the one on the right is a 17 SEER (the new one).
The new one has a separate dehumidifier and a two-stage
compressor.
It doesn’t have to cut on full blast every time,
which cut Paul’s energy cost for cooling by 40%.
Heat Pump —Paul Wolff, Tybee Island, Chatham County, Georgia, 17 February 2012.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
Previously (28 February 2012),
Sheila Cook introduced herself
as an applicant for appointment to the
Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive
Diseases Region Four Planning Board.
At the 13 March 2012 meeting, the Commission appointed her.
