Tag Archives: Law

Videos: Appointments to 2 boards, 2 law grants, 2 lift station items, 1 Comp. Plan contract @ LCC Regular 2025-07-22

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Two citizens spoke at the Lowndes County Commission Regular Session. Gretchen Quarterman about water wells, including private wells getting contaminated since Hurricane Helene, or running dry, and expenses of testing and well drilling. Commissioners actually discussed afterwards that you can take a water sample and get Public Health to test it.

Keyara Hamilton spoke about Goodwill.

[Collage @ LCC 22 July 2025]
Collage @ LCC 22 July 2025

The Lowndes County Commissioners appointed Scottie Orenstein, Joe Brownlee, and Rob Green to the Lowndes County Development Authority, which apparently never meets. Then they also reappointed Jerome Tucker and Barry Green.

They reappointed Michael Walker and J.D. Rice to the Lowndes County Public Facilities Authority. Then they also appointed Lowndes County Commissioner Mike Smith to succeed Clay Griner, and Andy Griffin to succeed Crawford Powell. They also clarified the when each term will end.

Chairman Bill Slaughter recommended that Commissioners should get a list of boards and their meeting dates and times so they can attend an learn things. This is good advice for citizens in general.

The Commissioners approved everything else unanimously.

County Manager Paige Dukes’s Reports lasted almost ten minutes, including Fire Department people speaking.

Below are Continue reading →

Videos: Appointments to 2 boards, 2 law grants, 2 lift station items, 1 Comp. Plan contract @ LCC Work 2025-07-21

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Update 2025-07-25: Videos: Appointments to 2 boards, 2 law grants, 2 lift station items, 1 Comp. Plan contract @ LCC Regular 2025-07-22.

The Lowndes County Commissioners discussed much more than usual, making yesterday morning’s Work Session 44 minutes long.

[Collage @ LCC Work Session 21 July 2025]
Collage @ LCC Work Session 21 July 2025

They vote today at 5:30 PM, which is about now.

Yesterday, the County Attorney weighed in on both the board appointment items.

The Comprehensive Plan update won’t change the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) that the county and the five cities agreed would last for ten years.

Both of the Juvenile Justice grant items lasted more than 9 minutes.

The longest item was not on the agenda: a report by Jeff Lovell on well issues and river water infiltration.

And we got a clue where the Blue Lake Lift Station is: near I-75 Exit 13.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the Continue reading →

Packet: Appointments to 2 boards, 2 law grants, 2 lift station items, 1 Comp. Plan contract @ LCC 2025-07-21

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Update 2025-07-22: Videos: Appointments to 2 boards, 2 law grants, 2 lift station items, 1 Comp. Plan contract @ LCC Work 2025-07-21.

The Lowndes County Commission this Monday and Tuesday will consider and decide on many appointments to two boards, and two Juvenile Justice grants.

The county is also outsourcing part of its five-year Comprehensive Plan Update to the Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC), for $30,000.

[Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-07-21]
Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-07-21

Lowndes County is still fixing problems from Hurricane Helene, this time at the Blue Lake Lift Station.

  • In September 2016 they replaced a pump there for no-bid $43,959.
  • In June 2020 they did a $71,789 no-bid emergency repair there due to corrosion.
  • In October 2021 they applied for $700,000 from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for “Permanent bypass pumps at lift station” for Bevel Creek, Whitewater, Heart road, Blue Lake, Highway 84, and Frances Lake, as well as $300,000 for “On-Site Crane/ Hoist lift station” for Whitewater, Frances Lake, and Blue Lake, all at the recommendation of Carter & Sloope.
  • In June 2022 they approved an apparently no-bid agreement with Carter & Sloope:

    “The scope of work at the County’s lift station is two-fold. A permanent bypass pump will be installed at the following six (6) lift stations: Bevel Creek, Whitewater, Heart Road, Blue Lake, Highway 84, and Frances Lake. The bypass pump will serve as the station’s backup/redundancy method if the primary pumping failed at any time. The new pump will be connected to the existing wet well and force main at the station on a concrete housekeeping pad. Where necessary based on location, the pump can be installed in an enclosure to reduce sound (i.e. if near a residential neighborhood). Electrical and controls will be installed on site with the new pump. Of the 6 stations, the following three (3) will also be retrofitted with an on- site crane/hoist system: Whitewater, Frances Lake, and Blue Lake. Those stations need a local mechanism for retrieving pumps from the wet well because of their layout and location.”

This time they have bids for the control panel, but still only one no-bid source for the pump: xylem, Inc. However, the county is going for repairing the pump this time, for $44,661.

It’s good Lowndes County is fixing its sewer infrastructure before it breaks. And it’s good they’re bidding at least part of the repairs this time.

Meanwhile, we still don’t know where the Blue Lake Lift Station is. So far as I can tell, there is no waterbody, road or street, or subdivision name Blue Lake in Lowndes County. More on that in a later post.

Cost What
$44,661.00Blue Lake Lift Station Pump Repair
$43,615.00Blue Lake Lift Station Control Panel
$88,276.00Blue Lake Subtotal
 
$30,000.002026 Comprehensive Plan Technical Assistance Contract
 
$118,276.00Total

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website. Images of each page are below.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JULY 21, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2025, 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 – July 7, 2025 & Regular Session – July 8, 2025
  5. Appointments
    1. Lowndes County Development Authority

      Documents:Lowndes County Development Authority 7.pdf

    2. Lowndes County Public Facilities Authority

      Documents:Lowndes County Public Facilities Authority 4.pdf

  6. For Consideration
    1. 2026 Comprehensive Plan Technical Assistance Contract

      Documents:2026 Comprehensive Plan Technical Assistance Contract.pdf

    2. FY 2026 Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Grant Application

      Documents:FY 2026 Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Grant Application.pdf

    3. Acceptance of FY2026 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Award

      Documents:Acceptance of FY2026 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant Award.pdf

    4. Blue Lake Lift Station Pump Repair

      Documents:Blue Lake Lift Station Pump Repair.pdf

    5. Blue Lake Lift Station Control Panel

      Documents:Blue Lake Lift Station Control Panel.pdf

  7. Reports – County Manager
  8. Citizens Wishing to be Heard-Please State Your Name and Address
  9. Adjournment

-jsq

Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/donate

July-22-2025-Meeting-Packet

[PROPOSED AGENDA]
PROPOSED AGENDA
PDF

Lowndes County Development Authority

[The terms of Mr. Brooks Akins, Mr. Jerome Tucker, Mr. Gary Cannon, Mr. Barry Broome, and Mr. Clay Griner have expired. Mr. Akins, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Cannon, and Mr. Broome have all expressed an interest in being reappointed to the board. Mr. Griner is not interested in being reappointed at this time. There are now three vacant seats on the board previously held by Mr. Gary Moser, Mr. Crawford Powell and Mr. Clay Griner. Mr. Robert Green has also expressed an interest in being appointed to the board.]
The terms of Mr. Brooks Akins, Mr. Jerome Tucker, Mr. Gary Cannon, Mr. Barry Broome, and Mr. Clay Griner have expired. Mr. Akins, Mr. Tucker, Mr. Cannon, and Mr. Broome have all expressed an interest in being reappointed to the board. Mr. Griner is not interested in being reappointed at this time. There are now three vacant seats on the board previously held by Mr. Gary Moser, Mr. Crawford Powell and Mr. Clay Griner. Mr. Robert Green has also expressed an interest in being appointed to the board.
PDF

Lowndes County Public Facilities Authority

[The terms of Mr. J.D. Rice, Mr. Michael Walker, and Mr. Clay Griner have expired. Mr. J.D. Rice and Mr. Michael Walker have expressed an interest in being reappointed. Mr. Clay Griner is not interested in being reappointed at this time. This leaves two vacant seats on the board previously held by Mr. Clay Griner and Mr. Crawford Powell. Mr. Robert Green has also expressed interest in being appointed to the board.]
The terms of Mr. J.D. Rice, Mr. Michael Walker, and Mr. Clay Griner have expired. Mr. J.D. Rice and Mr. Michael Walker have expressed an interest in being reappointed. Mr. Clay Griner is not interested in being reappointed at this time. This leaves two vacant seats on the board previously held by Mr. Clay Griner and Mr. Crawford Powell. Mr. Robert Green has also expressed interest in being appointed to the board.
PDF

2026 Comprehensive Plan Technical Assistance Contract

[BUDGET IMPACT: $30,000.00 purpose of this assistance is to ensure that the 2026 Comp Plan Update in its entirety will be in compliance]
BUDGET IMPACT: $30,000.00 purpose of this assistance is to ensure that the 2026 Comp Plan Update in its entirety will be in compliance
PDF

FY 2026 Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Grant

[BUDGET IMPACT: $50,000.00 - All expenditures are paid by Lowndes County and reimbursed 100% by the CJCC through the grant.]
BUDGET IMPACT: $50,000.00 – All expenditures are paid by Lowndes County and reimbursed 100% by the CJCC through the grant.
PDF

Acceptance of FY2026 Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant

[BUDGET IMPACT: $325,000.00 CJCC Funding 100% of eligible expenses]
BUDGET IMPACT: $325,000.00 CJCC Funding 100% of eligible expenses
PDF

Blue Lake Lift Station Pump Repair

[BUDGET IMPACT: $44,661.00 FUNDING SOURCE: (X) Annual]
BUDGET IMPACT: $44,661.00 FUNDING SOURCE: (X) Annual
PDF

Blue Lake Lift Station Control Panel

[BUDGET IMPACT: $43,615.00 FUNDING SOURCE: (xX) Annual]
BUDGET IMPACT: $43,615.00 FUNDING SOURCE: (xX) Annual
PDF

July-7-2025-Work-Session-Minutes

[Page 1]
Page 1
PDF

July-8-2025-Regular-Session-Minutes

[Page 1]
Page 1
PDF

-jsq

Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/donate

Videos: Hurricane Recovery, Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC Regular 2025-06-24

Hurricane preparedness and recovery took most up of the 22-minute Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission Tuesday.

[Collage @ LCC 24 June 2025]
Collage @ LCC 24 June 2025

The Commissioners appointed Sam Clemons to the Lowndes County Library Board. Monday morning at the Work Session, Malcom Warren was the only applicant, but he was not even nominated at the Regular Session.

They approved everything else unanimously, with little discussion.

They did talk about body cameras in 7.c. Axon Renewal Contract for Animal Services. Apparently they’re used to de-escalate tense confrontations, when people see the camera.

County Manager Paige Dukes in her Reports discussed the confusion over tax assessment notices. The Tax Assessors staff sent out Continue reading →

Videos: Budget Public Hearing @ LCC 2025-06-23

Update 2025-06-29: Notice: Special Called Meeting to adopt FY 2026 Budget @ LCC 2025-06-30.

The 2024 millage of 5.283 is little more than half the 8.974 it was in 2017. Not counting the 2.5 mils of fire tax on unincorporated Lowndes County since 2021, and of course the 1 mil to the Industrial Authority and the 1.25 mils to Parks and Rec, which have not changed since 2008.

About 85% of the county’s revenues come from taxes. About 57% of that comes from property taxes, and about 31% Local Option Sales Tax (LOST).

Of expenditures, about 41% goes to Public Safety (Sheriff Department, Jail, etc.), about 12% to Juducial (courts), and about 18% to General Government.

[Collage @ LCC Budget Hearing 23 June 2025]
Collage @ LCC Budget Hearing 23 June 2025

Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked how the rising cost of gasoline was dealt with. Finance Director Stephanie Black said there was some leeway built into the budget, but if the price rise exceeds that, at the end of the year, additional funds would have to be allocated.

Commissioner Scottie Orenstein wondered about the fire services budget. FD Black said it is going down 10%, because new fire trucks were moved into a SPLOST line item.

County Manager Paige Dukes said a few words about property assessments that were mailed out by Tax Assessors staff. I think this was about the recent opt-out of the county from the statewide homestead exemption (the county actually has better homestead exemptions).

Almost no citizens attended, and none asked any questions.

Below is the LAKE video of the session, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist of this Lowndes County Commission presentation at 9AM this morning.

See also Continue reading →

Videos: VSU Tennis Proclamation, Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC Work 2025-06-23

Update 2025-06-27: Videos: Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC Regular 2025-06-24.

In addition to 4. Proclamation Presentation to Mr. John Hansen, the VSU Tennis Coach, the Lowndes County Commissioners were remarkably chatty about several other items this morning at their Work Session.

[Collage @ LCC Work 23 June 2025]
Collage @ LCC Work 23 June 2025

They vote tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 5:30 PM.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also Continue reading →

Packet: Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC 2025-06-23

Update 2025-06-23: Videos: VSU Tennis Proclamation, Library Board, Courts, Insurance, Animal Services, Loan to Valdosta Housing Authority @ LCC Work 2025-06-23.

On the agenda for the Lowndes County Commission this week, the property and liability insurance is the big dollar item, followed by the proposed million dollar loan to the Valdosta Housing Authority.

[Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-06-23]
Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-06-23

The rest is mostly cash match for grants to various courts, plus a renewal contract for Animal Services, which is things like body cameras for their agents. Continue reading →

Videos: One Hahira Case: rezoning and annexation for an access road @ GLPC 2025-04-28

This may have been the fastest Planning Commission meeting ever, at 18 minutes.

[Collage @ GLPC 28 April 2025]
Collage @ GLPC 28 April 2025

They welcomed new Planning Commissioner Shawana Griffith, appointed by Lake Park.

The only person there who was not a Commissioner or staff (or LAKE) was to speak for the one rezoning and annexation case in Hahira. So the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission forged ahead and approved both parts unanimously.

Below are LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE video playlist. Continue reading →

Videos: DBHDD appointments, VAWA, Juvenile Justice, Naylor Tower Top Amp, LMIG Resurfacing @ LCC Regular 2025-04-22

It is mysterious why 7.b. Val Del Rd and N. Valdosta Rd. Intersection improvement was only added in this Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission. They’ve been leading up to it for a long time. Apparently the two bids were only opened the previous day; I thought bid openings were scheduled.

[Collage @ LCC 21 April 2025]
Collage @ LCC 21 April 2025

In this meeting, they talked about that intersection for almost seven minutes, which is very long for this body. The intersection will completely close starting May 27, probably for most of the summer. It will end up with two lanes going north, and three lanes going south: one left only, one left or straight, one right only.

The old US 41 North facebook group has renamed itself to follow this development
https://www.facebook.com/LowndesCoHwy41WideningRoadProjectUpdates

Second longest was Continue reading →

One Hahira Case: rezoning and annexation for an access road @ GLPC 2025-04-28

Update 2025-05-04: Videos: One Hahira Case: rezoning and annexation for an access road @ GLPC 2025-04-28.

Update 2025-04-28: The minutes of the previous GLPC meeting were received this morning in reponse to a LAKE open records request reminder, and are now on the LAKE website.

The Planning Commission has only one case in two agenda items: rezoning and annexation into the City of Hahira of a triangular lot on South Hagan Bridge Road, so that a secondary subdivision access road already built can be made legal.

[Collage: GLPC Packet 2025-04-28]
Collage: GLPC Packet 2025-04-28

Here is that agenda for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC), Monday evening at 5:30 PM.

The board packet, received in reponse to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

Except the minutes of the previous meeting are missing, because Lowndes County did not responsd to the LAKE Georgia Open Records Act (GORA) request, which was sent more than the statutory three days ago.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~

Monday, April 21, 2025 5:30 P.M. Work Session – CANCELLED
Monday, April 28, 2025 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading →