Andrea Schruijer, Executive Director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA), made a presentation to the Lowndes County Commission at their Work Session 26 March 2012. VLCIA Board member G. Norman Bennett was also present. Congratulations to VLCIA on proactively getting the word out about what they are doing!
Industrial Authority presentation Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 26 March 2012. Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
County Planner Jason Davenport described the problem, which came up in a request to rezone a piece of property that was partly zoned RA (Residential Agriculture) and partly Conservation:
We did get help from the clerk’s office to try to clear up when this property was zoned and why it was zoned conservation. I just don’t have anything [unintelligible]. We have minutes that say one thing and a zoning map that says another.
He said they had had limited time to investigate, and had not been able to resolve this issue.
That issue is still on the table. I would just remind you that in the grand scheme it is a minor issue.
Commissioner Richard Raines made the motion:
For my part I’m for rezoning the entire property RA and eliminating the conservation.
And that’s what they did. Which raises issues of what we should do.
Conservation records Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 28 February 2012 13 March 2012. Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
Other notable parts of this meeting were when
staff
said conservation status was a small detail and
and
Commissioners
proceeded to get rid of it in a rezoning.
Videos
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission, (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 March 2012.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
A month ago (28 February 2012), Chairman Ashley Paulk
chastised the VDT for how it reported on recent changes to the alcohol
ordinance.
This month he singled out an applicant for an alcohol license and said:
We expect you to run a clean, quiet establishment.
If not, we expect the Sheriff to enforce the law.
“We expect you to run a clean, quiet establishment” —Ashley Paulk @ 2012-03-13
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission, (LCC), Lowndes County Commission,
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 March 2012.
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
What’s this about, and what’s the connection with the meeting of a month ago?
The Chairman was referring to
Continue reading →
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).
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).
Andrea Schruijer, Executive Director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA), made a presentation to the Lowndes County Commission at their Work Session 26 March 2012. VLCIA Board member G. Norman Bennett was also present. Congratulations to VLCIA on proactively getting the word out about what they are doing!
