Tag Archives: Gretchen Quarterman

5.d) 5.e) and 5.f) have all been withdrawn @ VCC 7 April 2011

5. Public Hearings

d. Consideration of an Ordinance to rezone 0.75 acres from Single-Family Residential (R10) to Single-Family Residential (R-6) as requested by Martha Rock, represented by Ken Garren (File No. VA-2011-07). The property is located at 1 Brookwood Circle. The Planning Commission did not review this request at their March Regular Meeting because the case had been withdrawn.

e. Consideration of an Ordinance for a Conditional Use Permit for a townhouse (SingleFamily Attached) development in a Single-Family Residential (R-6) Zoning District as requested by Martha Rock, represented by Ken Garren (File No. CU-2011-02). The property is located at 1 Brookwood Circle. The Planning Commission did not review this request at their March Regular Meeting because the case had been withdrawn.

f. Consideration of a request to change the name of a portion of Jackson Street Lane to Bivins Lane.

Here’s the video: Continue reading →

Robert Hall on consequences of Dioxin @ VCC 7 April 2011

I’m pretty sure this is the picture Robert Hall showed the Valdosta City Council. He was showing it to VDT reporter David Rodock outside before the meeting. It’s not a pretty picture, which I think was part of his point. He said he was also exposed to dioxin in Vietnam, and continues to suffer several medical consequences.

Here’s the video:


Robert Hall on consequences of Dioxin @ VCC 7 April 2011
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

5.c) LDR changes @ VCC 7 April 2011

From the agenda:
5.c) Consideration of an Ordinance for Text Amendments to the Land Development Regulations (LDR) for Section 106-1(C), Definitions, and Section 218-13 (TTT) Temporary Use – Commercial Retail as requested by the City of Valdosta (File No. VA2011-04). The Planning Commission reviewed this request at their March Regular Meeting and recommended approval (8-0 vote).
Valdosta City Council also approved.

Here’s Part 1 of 1:


5.c) LDR changes @ VCC 7 April 2011 Part 1 of 2
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Update 5:30 PM 17 APr 2011: added the vote video. Continue reading →

Dr. Mark P. George wants a conversation @ VCC 7 April 2011

The mayor prefaced a comment that he’s read (apparently in this blog) that he’s been criticized for not paying attention while people are speaking. He clarified that he’s often taking notes. Then Dr. Mark P. George spoke, wondering when people would get answers to their more substantive questions.
I have an attorney. These folks have an attorney. He’s sitting right there.
Indicating the city attorney.

Here’s Part 1 of 3:


Dr. Mark P. George @ VCC 7 April 2011 Part 1 of 3:
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Dr. George amplified the not paying attention comments by adding in body language, and saying he did appreciate taking notes. He asked if the meeting is recorded. Mayor Fretti answered yes.

Dr. George remarked:

It seems to me you are now cloaking the lack of response in legalities.

…

Legality does not equal morality.

Council Sonny Vickers remarked that he already told everyone he is for the biomass plant.

Dr. George recommended conversation, following up on new information.

The mayor asked Dr. George to wrap up. Dr. George responded:

There really is no end.

Here’s Part 2 of 3:


Dr. Mark P. George @ VCC 7 April 2011 Part 2 of 3:
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

More back and forth between Dr. George and the mayor about how or whether or when he or somebody might answer questions, followed by interchange between Dr. George and the audience.

Here’s Part 3 of 3:


Dr. Mark P. George @ VCC 7 April 2011 Part 3 of 3:
Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

5.b) VA-2011-08 rezoning Richard Terry @ VCC 7 April 2011

VA-2011-08 rezoning Richard Terry, presented by Matt Martin:


Regular monthly meeting of the Valdosta City Council (VCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011,
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Richard Terry spoke for: Continue reading →

How much does the owl weigh?

One of LAKE’s intrepid investigative teams managed to get an appointment to visit the Lowndes County Courthouse Owl. John S. Quarterman answers the question: how much does the owl weigh? Here’s the video.


Visiting the Lowndes County Courthouse Owl, Lowndes County, Georgia, 14 April 2011. Video by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

Roy Taylor at VCC 7 April 2011

Roy Taylor spoke first at Citizens to be Heard, Valdosta City Council, 7 April 2011. He didn’t stay to hear the rest of the meeting, though. Could he be one of the people Scott Orenstein was referring to? Here’s the video.


Regular Meeting, Valdosta City Council, Lowndes County, Georgia, 7 April 2011
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

PS: Sorry for not transcribing, Roy, but we have so many videos lately that we’re going to have to rush a bunch of them out without that.

-jsq

Randall Jones employee recognition VCC 7 April 2011

Mayor Fretti presented a check for $200 to Randall Jones, who gets his name inscribed on a plaque inside the front door of City Hall. Jones is a maintenance supervisor at the water plant. The mayor said he identified that the January water outage involved damage to switch gear and dealt with the problem. Here’s the video.


Regular Meeting, Lowndes County Commission, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 April 2011
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

-jsq

Valdosta Downtown Farm Days —Mara Register

Mara Register came to the Lowndes County Commission regular meeting to talk about Downtown Valdosta Farm Days, following up from the Farm Days organizational meeting Monday.

I think her main points were:

  1. Provide additional information about healthy eating with food from local farmers, thus helping solve the epidemic of childhood obesity in Georgia.
  2. Economic development opportunity for small farmers.
  3. Promote downtown district.
When? The Saturday after First Friday and the Saturday after Art After Dark.

Where? The parking spaces around the historic courthouse.

No livestock. Local produce. Here’s video of the first part of what she said.


Regular Meeting, Lowndes County Commission, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 April 2011
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Logistics, such as no cooking, because Continue reading →

Master Gardeners Graduate

Grand Bay Master Gardeners (GBMG) has been holding a class to become master gardeners, and they just graduated yesterday!

I’m not going to attempt to name all of them, because the ones I missed would be miffed. I will say that’s Gretchen Quarterman on the right. And that these are people from all over the area, city and country, Democrat and Republican. Growing food is the universal community builder.

GBMG is “organized as a cohesive working group in Lowndes, Brooks, Echols, and Lanier Counties”. They’ll be holding more classes, so you, too, can become a master gardener.

-jsq