Tag Archives: Hahira

No Runoff in Hahira: plurality will win

The Hahira rule is plurality, not 50% plus 1.

According to email to Gretchen from John Hallman with the Georgia Secretary of State, containing a forward from Jonathan Sumner, Hahira City Manager, originally copied to all the Hahira candidates, Mayor and Council, and many city employees on 25 October 2013:

Subject: No Runoff after General Election

Mayor, Councilmembers, Candidates,

In response to a question submitted to our City Attorney and myself earlier today by Supervisor of Elections Deb Cox, we have determined that a runoff after the November general election is not allowed under our current or even the old Charter (except in the extreme unlikelihood of a tie). The original 1912 charter stated,

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VDT video interview of Deb Cox on Lowndes County elections

Kristin Finney for VDT 1 November 2013, Video: Upcoming Elections,

Reporter Kristin Finney speaks with the Deborah Cox, the Lowndes County Supervisor of Elections, about the elections being held Tuesday, Nov. 5. For more information about this year’s elections, please contact the Lowndes County Board of Elections office at (229) 671-2850.

And it’s a video interview!

If the VDT can YouTube, who knows? even the Valdosta City Council could, and yes, yes, even the Lowndes County Commission….

See also Where’s your polling place in Lowndes County? 2013-11-05.

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SPLOST VII referendum 2013

If you live in Lowndes County outside the cities, the only thing you have to vote on today is the SPLOST referendum. (If you live in one of the five cities, you also get to vote on SPLOST.) See Where’s your polling place in Lowndes County? for where to vote. Here is the SPLOST referendum as worded by the Lowndes County Commission and appearing on the ballot today, according to the Georgia Secretary of State My Voter Page:

Lowndes County SPLOST Referendum
(Vote for One)

Shall a special one (1) percent sales and use tax be imposed in the special district of Lowndes County for a period of time not to exceed six years and for the raising of an estimated amount of $150,000,000 to be used and expended:

by Lowndes County for purposes of capital outlay projects, including major permanent, long-lived improvements or betterments and major capital equipment, consisting of: acquisition of right-of-way for, construction of, improvements to, and maintenance of road, street, and bridge facilities; major capital equipment, including vehicles, for construction of, improvements to, and maintenance of road, street, and bridge facilities; construction of, improvements to, and major capital equipment for water and sewer facilities; major capital equipment for law enforcement purposes, including law enforcement vehicles, and improvements to law enforcement facilities, including evidence storage facilities; major capital equipment for firefighting purposes, including firefighting vehicles, and improvements to firefighting facilities, including training facilities; improvements to 9-1-1 call answering facilities, including upgraded 9-1-1 security system and new computer aided dispatch system; improvements to and major capital equipment for public safety radio system purposes; acquisition of property for, construction of, and improvements to parks and recreation facilities, including new soccer facility, Naylor Community Center, boat ramp on Alapaha River, basketball courts at Freedom Park, and baseball field for special needs persons; improvements and additions to animal welfare facilities; improvements to civic center facility; improvements to historic courthouse facility; improvements to and major capital equipment for library facilities; improvements to airport runway, taxiway, and beacon tower facilities;

by the City of Valdosta for the purposes of capital outlay projects, including major permanent, long-lived improvements or betterments and major capital equipment, consisting of: construction of and improvements to road, street, and bridge facilities to include sidewalks, piping of ditches, land acquisition, design, traffic signals, intersection improvements, resurfacing, street repairs and materials, traffic management center improvements, technology improvements, and other transportation systems and equipment; construction of and improvements to drainage infrastructure, systems, facilities, equipment, and capital materials to include the purchase of land, property, capital equipment for the maintenance of drainage facilities and infrastructure, and necessary studies, plans, aerials, mapping, design documents, and surveys to support such projects; construction of, improvements to, and capital equipment for police facilities and operations to include technology, building renovations, and equipment purchases to include technology and operational equipment; construction of, improvements to, and capital equipment for fire department services, firefighting, training, fire station facilities, fire vehicles, facility renovations, additions, equipment, technology, and other equipment; construction of, improvements to, and capital equipment for parks and recreation facilities; construction of, improvements to, and equipment for water and sewer facilities including but not limited to design, land acquisition, equipment, repairs, renovations, replacement and new construction of facilities, plants, equipment, infrastructure, materials, and capital equipment; construction of, improvements to, and capital equipment for public works facilities to include sanitation vehicles, public works vehicles and equipment, facility and equipment improvements, replacements and renovations; construction of, improvements to, and replacement of a jointly owned public safety radio system to include equipment and technology improvements; repairs, renovations, and capital equipment for administrative facilities to include buildings, Mathis Auditorium, and computer hardware and software; property and land acquisition, capital equipment, and improvements to include design and construction of capital improvement projects as identified in the downtown Valdosta strategic master plan;

by the City of Hahira for purposes of capital outlay projects, including major permanent, long-lived improvements or betterments and major capital equipment, consisting of: construction of, improvements to, and major capital equipment for road, street and bridge facilities, sidewalks, bicycle and cart paths and trails, including acquisition of rights of way, improvement of surface-water drainage, widening, resurfacing, leveling, and other repairs for preservation of road, street, and bridge facilities; construction of, improvements to, and major capital equipment for water and sewer facilities; construction of, improvements to, and major capital equipment for public safety facilities, including police and firefighting and rescue equipment, computer equipment, communications equipment, police and fire department vehicles, and acquisition of property; construction of, improvements to, and major capital equipment for administrative facilities, including city hall, computer equipment and technology upgrades; construction of, improvements to, and capital equipment for city parks and recreation facilities, including acquisition of property and construction of parks;

by the City of Remerton for purposes of capital outlay projects, including major permanent, long-lived improvements or betterments and major capital equipment, consisting of: construction of and improvements to road, street, and sidewalk facilities, and acquisition of equipment related thereto; construction of and improvements to water, sewer, and public works facilities, including, but not limited to acquisition of equipment and payment for services rendered in connection therewith; purchase of equipment for public safety including, but not limited to, public safety vehicles; construction of, improvements and renovations to, or the purchase of property for municipal facilities, and purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment related thereto;

by the City of Dasher for purposes of capital outlay projects, including major permanent, long-lived improvements or betterments and major capital equipment, consisting of: construction of and improvements to community culture, history, digital information center, museum, library, and technological equipment and software; construction of and improvements to streets, walks and bicycle paths, roads, and bridges; construction of and improvements to parks and recreation facilities including land development, capital equipment, and infrastructure; development of plans for, construction of, and improvements to sewage and water distribution systems; and

by the City of Lake Park for purposes of capital outlay projects, including major permanent, long-lived improvements or betterments and major capital equipment, consisting of: construction of and improvements to road, street, and bridge facilities, sidewalks, bicycle and cart paths and trails, including acquisition of rights of way, improvement of surface-water drainage, widening, resurfacing, leveling, and other repairs for preservation of road, street, and bridge facilities; construction of and improvements to water and sewer facilities; construction of and major capital equipment for public works facilities, including maintenance building facilities, service vehicles and maintenance equipment, and acquisition of property for construction of a maintenance building; improvements to and major capital equipment for public safety facilities, including police and firefighting and rescue equipment, computer equipment, communications equipment, and police and fire department vehicles; improvements to and major capital equipment for administrative facilities, including improvements to city hall, computer equipment, and technology upgrades; improvements to and capital equipment for city parks and recreation facilities, including acquisition of property, construction of parks, and renovation and restoration of civic center and other historic structures.

YES

NO

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Where’s your polling place in Lowndes County? 2013-11-05

“When did they change our polling place?” said the neighbor on the phone. The same time they do every time: before the next election. Why do they do this? Supposedly to reduce costs, now that so many people vote early, and all early voting is at the Board of Elections, they keep reducing the number of precincts, this time down from 12 last year to 9 this year. Another effect is to confuse everybody, and that has the result that some people just won’t vote. Quick version: go to My Voter Page by the Georgia Secretary of State.

According to the Lowndes County Board of Elections, Lowndes County Polling Places: Continue reading

Videos: VLMPO Policy Committee @ VLMPO 2013-10-29

I commend VLMPO for addressing real issues and getting a broad variety of organizations to show up. However, map after map on the consultant’s slides showed a straight-line highway going from Moody’s front gate to Hahira:

Highway straight line from Moody AFB to Hahira?

There is no such road. There better not be, since it would go straight through my property and would drive development right through agricultural and forestry areas that the Comprehensive Plan says aren’t supposed to be developed,. not to mention the Moody MAZ. I’m told the consultant is going to fix this.

I have my doubts, because Continue reading

Videos: Nottinghill tabled, Barrington, Whitewater, New Statenville + VLD * 2 + Dasher + Hahira variance @ GLPC 2013-09-30

In last month’s Planning Commission meeting we learned that developers get agenda items in PDF; yet the county still doesn’t publish agendas or minutes, much less agenda packets, online. Nottinghill (on Orr rather than Cat Creek Road this time) was tabled. Norwood (on Springhill Drive in Valdosta) got recommended denial by 5-4 and was later withdrawn, plus a a Hahira variance (5 to 3 against), a Valdosta conditional use permit (unanimously recommended), a Dasher zoning text amendment (unanimously recommended), and three other rezonings in Lowndes County, on New Statenville Highway, Whitewater Road @ Williams Road, and Barrington Drive @ Bemiss Road.

Here’s the agenda, with links to the videos and a few notes.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission

Lowndes County City of Valdosta City of Dasher City of Hahira City of Lake Park

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING

AGENDA

Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue

Monday, September 30, 2013* 5:30 P.M. * Public Hearing

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HA-2013-04 Bert Chancy parcel on north side of Claudia Drive @ GLPC 2013-10-28

Received yesterday. -jsq

Hahira re-zoning issue for land adjacent to Hahira Elementary School intended for apartment construction. Several citizens have expressed concerns for increased traffic in a school area and reduced property values. If you are for or against you need to be at the Planning Commission meeting Monday 10/28/13 and at the Hahira City Council meeting Thursday 11/07/13 to voice your opinion. You do not have to be a city resident to comment and parents of school children can express their traffic & safety concerns if desired.

-Barbara Stratton

Claudia Drive, Chancy Development Company LLC:

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Steward, Chancy, VLCIA, Nottinghill, and Teramore @ GLPC 2013-10-28

Why is the Industrial Authority asking Valdosta to annex and rezone a parcel it apparently does not own? That plus rezonings in Dasher and Hahira (see separate post for more on that one), plus two in Lowndes County: Teramore, and Nottinghill is back.

Here’s the agenda.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission

Lowndes County City of Valdosta City of Dasher City of Hahira City of Lake Park

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING

AGENDA

Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue

Monday, October 28, 2013* 5:30 P.M. * Public Hearing

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Another October LAKE meeting Tuesday 22 October 2013

Pipeline and local governance: Water (sinkholes, aquifer recharge, runoff, drinking water, and wastewater), trash (how about that Exclusive Franchise!), and money (no-bid contracts and plus SPLOST VII). If you want to help, we have a little list of tasks you can do. Why another meeting in October? The first one was at a time when many of the regulars couldn’t come, so here’s one for them.

What: Another October LAKE Meeting
When: 6:15PM Tuesday
after the Lowndes County Commission meeting
7 October 2013
Where: Michael’s Deli
1307 N Ashley St.
Valdosta, GA 31601

If you're on Facebook, please Like the LAKE facebook page. You can sign up for the meeting event there, Or just come as you are.

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Videos, AAUW Candidates’ Forum @ AAUW 2013-10-15

Water was a popular topic, as you can see in these videos of the Candidates’s Forum by AAUW. Same location (VSU Continuing Education Building) as the one Chamber held, but this time the audience got to ask questions. Yes, Virginia, they do all live in their districts, and some of them have widely divergent views about what cities or school boards should do.

Local AAUW President Diane Holliman gave a welcome, and then Dr. Luke Fowler moderated. Here’s the list of qualified candidates. Here’s Matthew Woody’s writeup in the VDT.

Valdosta City Council District 2

John Hogan and Calvin Graham Sr. were present; Sandra J. Tooley was not.

John Hogan pointed out that a road issue could really be a drainage issue, so it’s necessary to look at context.

Calvin Graham Sr. said he was retired military, lived in the district, and had been spending a lot of time volunteering. He indicated the Continue reading