So, what’s happened after our
rooftop tour?
Bobbi Anne Hancock
explains how she got the idea for Blazer Gardens
after she heard about Blazer Pantry, which is Crystal
Hardy’s project that provides food for VSU students who don’t have any.
Everybody explained how they heard about Blazer Gardens. Here are few I videoed. Continue reading
Continue readingFrom: John S. Quarterman
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 1:40 PM
To: Commissioner@lowndescounty.com
Cc: Paige Dukes
Subject: Policies and Procedures for Citizens Wishing to be HeardDear Commissioners,
At your most recent meeting I mentioned I had a few suggestions about your new Policies and Procedures for Citizens Wishing To Be Heard, and at least one of you has indicated he would like to see them, so here they are.
“2. A maximum of 10 persons shall be allowed to speak at any meeting.”I think that number is too low. On the one hand,
Chairman Paulk notes the sheriff has a very difficult job in
trying to find the younger Eunice in the Ocean Pond.
He asks people also to keep the Eunice family and Joyce Evans in mind
since her niece was recently murdered.
The Commission adjourns.
This second version is both noisier and perhaps somewhat easier to hear. Continue reading
He remarks that the county has contracted with an arborist
to prune a tree on the courthouse property the next day,
but don’t be alarmed; they’re not cutting any trees down.
He thanks volunteers and agencies throughout the state
who have participated in searching for the missing person in the lake.
-jsq
First time speaker
Dr. William Fuller refers to a paper copy he got from the City of Valdosta
of the
charter of the Industrial Authority.
He says it allows them to make contracts, and he asks
for someone to check to see the unelected members
of the Industrial Authority don’t contract with relatives.
He notes that the charter says their main purpose is to
promote the general welfare of the people of Lowndes County, and the proposed biomass
plant won’t do that.
-jsq
Chairman Paulk says
he got a very good email from Susan Wehling,
who said she could not be here tonight.
-jsq
She says she has asked the Industrial Authority
who in our local community has done studies on the environment
and our health?
She says she understands that they have constituents who are not from here,
but who locally can do some investigating
that specifically cares about Lowndes County,
who has the environmental expertise?
Chairman Paulk thanks her for their earlier conversation, and says: “I will seek an answer.”
Two cameras and the sound is bad in both, although for other speakers it’s fine. I attribute it to the microphone being too far away from her, and when Chairman Paulk speaks to the audience he leans around his laptop and thus away from his microphone.
-jsq
Karen Noll, co-presiden of WACE,
notes that the proposed biomass plant would burn
human waste, which is animal waste, so there may be a conflict
with the requirements the County Commission made when it rezoned
the land for the plant.
She asks biomass oponents to stand; many do.
-jsq
Frenchie points out that there are other biomass plants
in the county, and
he even helped set one of them up.
He wonders if biomass opponents know that.
(Yes, VLCIA has mentioned it enough times.)
-jsq
I thank County Clerk Paige Dukes for making the text of the new
Policies and Procedures
available, and refer it to as as sterling example of local
government transparency.
Then I remark that I can’t be quite as complimentary about
their content, which is in some parts too vague and in others too strict.
I offer to provide written comments.
And in my personal opinion local government should not suppress
but rather celebrate citizen participation!
Since at least one commissioner did ask for them, I sent them the written comments yesterday; they will follow in a separate post.
-jsq