The most-organized open records response ever!
Well, that we’ve asked for, anyway.
Sure, sometimes local government bodies deliver a three-ring binder
of papers.
Sometimes they deliver a CD.
Sometimes they deliver on a USB stick.
Nobody ever delivered all of the above.
OK, I brought the USB stick and the scanner (not pictured),
but look at that CD lying on top of the really thick binder:
the CD contains everything that’s in the binder,
and that saved us a lot of scanning time.
Thank you, Kelly Lenz, Patrick Spurlock, and Tom Gooding!
It will take a bit of time to process all this information; stay tuned.
Kelly Lenz, Library Director, Tom Gooding, Attorney
Left to right:
an extra item,
the four architect presentations,
the “bible” of what the new library should be (the thick binder and the CD),
and agendas, minutes, and board packets (the other two binders).
Picture by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
at South Georgia Regional Library, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 26 October 2012.
I know of at least one open records request somewhere else that,
two years later and counting,
Continue reading →
Here's
a video playlist
of the Candidate Forum last night organized by the 30 Club at Serenity Church.
Probably more commentary later; for now, in the interests of speed, just the raw videos.
Candidates Forum, 30 Club,
J.D. Rice, President
Video by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 October 2012.
Thanks for bringing up the question of selling the current library
to SGMC. I tried to follow your link & did not see any reference on
the page it brought up. I personally have been wondering why the
taxpayers are not privy to any discussions of SGMC purchasing the
property. Since SGMC has already purchased the adjoining properties,
effectively land locking the current library, I would think the
library board would have quite a bit of leverage toward negotiating
price & we the taxpayers have a right to know what is transpiring
between them. Everyone I have questioned states they cannot find out
any information about proposed SGMC/library negotiations or
discussions.
Thankfully LAKE does a lot to solicit transparency within local
government entities & boards. I for one am tired of seeing said
transparency be a constant source of tension. No one should have to
constantly work to elicit information that should be readily
available. I personally will not vote for SPLOST VII or any other
proposed tax until I see local government become more accountable to
taxpayers. SPLOST VII needs to die so a more responsible proposal
can be presented. We complain about the federal government not
balancing the budget, yet local government entities seem intent on
devising lists littered with wants instead of focusing on needs as
if the economy is thriving. I am an avid library supporter, but I'm
not willing to blindly accept the current library board (or boards)
opaque tax payer liability assignments.
As its closing argument for SPLOST VII,
the VDT argued that the library has bees in its brick walls.
Sure and we need a new library.
But they didn’t address any of the questions about the Five Points
out-of-state architect plan for a new library
or about
the process by which that plan was produced.
Plainly speaking, the South Georgia Regional Library is in bad
shape. Half of the red-brick building was constructed in 1966, and
the other in 1995.
Walking in, the atmosphere seems stuffy and archaic — stained
ceiling tiles and old carpet, color-neutral walls and little
decoration.
The wiring intended to service the computers is buried in the floor
and unable to meet current internet standards, and the
machines—35 to process 7,000 logins a month—are all
clustered together in one area.
The HVAC system is antiquated, riddled with patches and still slowly
disintegrating, and replacement of the system would cost upward of
$2 million.
This and their other points are all true, and although I haven’t seen them,
I have no doubt this is true, too:
It’s good to see that someone responsible for allocating millions of dollars
of taxpayer money is willing to answer questions about related decisions,
as
Kay Harris is doing!
It would be even better if there were a regular process by which the taxpaying
and voting and library-using public could ask such questions and get answers.
If there were such a process, it’s pretty likely Ms. Harris or the Library Board
or the County Commission would have been asked about the architect selection,
considering I wasn’t even involved in that selection and my ear was scorched
with complaints as soon as it was announced.
Maybe Ms. Harris can suggest a way to produce such a process.
Let me take Ms. Harris’ points in order.
“First, they were the only one of the four finalists who did a full cost
evaluation of the project, estimating $16 million while others were more
than content to use the state’s estimate of $21 million.”
I was never asked why we selected an out of town architect, but will
happily answer that question now. First, they were the only one of
the four finalists who did a full cost evaluation of the project,
estimating $16 million while others were more than content to use
the state's estimate of $21 million. Second, they brought to the
project a consultant who is considered the country's leading library
consultant; only one of the other four brought in an outside expert.
Third, the principals of this firm live right over the county line
in Florida—they are within the 50 mile radius that is
considered "hiring local", so they are indeed a local firm. They
also brought a local engineering firm, from Valdosta, to the table,
and have agreed to hire as many subs from the local area as
possible. So I truly don't understand the "jab" about hiring
non-local… if it was that big a concern, why not just ask me the
question? Mr. Quarterman wasn't even in the room at the time I
spoke….
At Monday’s Lowndes County Democratic Party meeting,
LCDP Chair
Gretchen Quarterman introduced Kay Harris as chairman of the Library Board.
You can see that board in action a few weeks ago
in these previous videos.
Kay Harris said she was not there as editor of the newspaper,
since as such she wouldn’t be allowed (presumably by the newspaper)
at a partisan meeting.
She was there as chair of the library board.
She said this is her fifth year on that board, and
her second year as chairman.
She said the county put her on that board to move along the
library project, which had been in process for some time.
She said she had led negotiations with the City of Valdosta
for the Five Points process.
She mentioned the
Five Points Steering Committee,
of which she is also a member.
About the current library building and how the new one would be better,
she said,
The library board heard citizens at length about a problem that was
apparently news to the board,
later considered the problem at length,
came up with an interim solution,
and formed a committee to examine it longterm.
Citizen concerns about rules against after hours library use
Concerns were raised about hours at the southside library at the monthly meeting
of the South Georgia Library Board, 18 September 2012.
Apparently rules have recently been changed for
all library branches
so that meetings can no longer be held after library hours.
This is a problem for volunteer groups composed of working people.
It was unclear what the latest version of the rules is.
And the library board appeared
unfamiliar with the hours of its own libraries.
However, they did at the end of their meeting
extensively consider the issue
and apparently come to an interim solution with
a path to a more general solution.
The rules change may have been due to
one incident at one branch
(not the southside branch)
for which the library board knew the sponsoring organization.
Questions were raised as to why a blanket rules change ensued.
One citizen pointed out that
taxpayers pay for the library buildings
so it’s not clear why they should be prevented from using them;
school buildings, too.
Another consideration was
elderly parent care, because it’s hard to get help for that
any time other than during the day.
Kay Harris wanted to be sure everyone who wanted to speak had spoken.
At least one citizen left
a written statement for the record,
which is always a good idea.
Then all the citizens who had spoken left the meeting,
apparently uninterested in anything else the library board was doing.
Interestingly,
a southside library support group
was in one of the regular report items.
Transparency
After the other citizens left, one of the library board (his nameplate
said Ray Devery)
asked whether Gretchen could stay.
Kay Harris without hesitation said yes and moved on to approval of the minutes.
Congratulations to Kay Harris on knowing the open meetings law
and sticking to it!
Speaking of the minutes, where are they so the taxpaying public can see them?
Regarding the planned Five Points library, Kay Harris clarified
that staff are not supposed to help promote that
“in any way, shape, or form.”
During paid hours.
After hours is different.
South Georgia Library Board
southside library hours,
Monthly Meeting, South Georgia Library Board (SGLB),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 18 September 2012.
Rubberstamping library architect
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 24 July 2012.
Back to their old tricks! The Lowndes County Commission was already approving minutes a minute before the announced start time of their Work Session this morning. After that, it was another brief session. They vote Tuesday 5:30 PM 24 July 2012.
Here's the agenda. Below are some notes on some items.
5.a. Adoption of Millage County Manager Joe Pritchard reiterated that there would be a Public Hearing 5PM 24 July 2012. See other post for more details.
5.b. Acceptance of Proposal for Repair of Cat Creek Road County Engineer Mike Fletcher said what the project was for! See previous post for details.
5.c. Cameron Lane widening for industrial park @ LCC 2012-07-23 The Langdale Industrial Park rezoning REZ-2010-15 of 14 December 2010 was back this morning as a request to turn Cameron Lane into a boulevard entrance. See other post for details.
5.d. SPLOST VII Resolution and Agreement They somehow got an agreement between the cities and the county in time to announce a referendum for SPLOST VII. See other post for details.
Videos: Two taxes, Library bid, and two road repairs Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC), Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE), Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 23 July 2012.
