The Lowndes County Commission passed everything unanimously. Plus they had a proclamation about 811, two citizens spoke about datacenters, one about an alleged sinkhole, one invitation to a fair, and one talked about Southern Georgia Black Chambers.
Vice-Chair Mark Wisenbaker again presided, this time over the Regular Session.
Here are the LAKE videos of this Regular Session, with a few notes by John S. Quarterman.
See also Continue reading
Vice-Chair Mark Wisenbaker presided over the Lowndes County Commission Work Session this morning. They vote Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.
Commissioners spent almost six minutes on 6.a. REZ-2026-15 Mardun Ventures, 6434 Lake Alapaha Blvd ~10.7ac, R-21 To E-A.
Lowndes County Commissioner Michael Smith
wondered about possible blueberries instead of pine trees.
County Planner JD Dillard said it could happen.
https://youtu.be/AqAR2FViiMY?si=tvRo3DgMwlG2h9sF
David Crawford took about five minutes to talk about Partnership Health Center as part of 9. County Manager Report.
https://youtu.be/oFi7tV2aWV8?si=5g95qOAmPo6xhGns
He talked about the number of people that they have provided services to this year. He emphasized that people come from all county commission districts. The people that they help have no insurance and are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid or any other private insurance.
![[Partnership Health Center, 2026-08-10]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-08-10--lcc-work-videos/2026-08-10--partnership-health-center.jpg)
Partnership Health Center, 2026-08-10
Since Lowndes County does not post video of its Work Sessions, if you weren’t there this morning at 8:30 AM, you can watch it in these LAKE videos, which are followed by a LAKE video playlist.
See also Continue reading
In the County Manager Report there is this item: David Crawford – Partnership Health Center (Work Session).
Since Lowndes County does not post video of its Work Sessions, you’ll either need to be there Monday morning at 8:30 AM, or watch it later in the LAKE videos.
This contentious rezoning will be decided after a Public Hearing: REZ-2026-15 Mardun Ventures, LLC, 6434 Lake Alapaha Blvd, ~10.7ac, R-21 to E-A, County Water & Septic.
The big dollar item I believe comes from state money, i.e., your state taxes, or is it T-SPLOST, also your taxes?
| Cost | What |
|---|---|
| $1,808,850.75 | 2026 Local Maintenance and Improvements Grant (LMIG) Local Road Assistance (LRA) Resurfacing Bids |
| $64,302.26 | Jail Skylight Replacement |
| $62,440.00 | Jail Door Locking Control System Replacement |
| $1,935,593.01 | Total |
![[Collage @ LCC Packet 2026-08-10]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-08-10--lcc-packet/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC Packet 2026-08-10
Here is the agenda.
The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website, with images of each page below.
For the rezoning, see also the the preceding Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) meeting.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Continue reading
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2026, 8:30 A.M.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Two weeks ago at their Regular Session, the Lowndes County Commissioners discussed for nine minutes 5.c. REZ-2026-03 Villanueva Property, 6201 Union Rd, 6ac, E-A to C-G., mostly about fence colors. They ended up approving the rezoning with the staff-recommended conditions, except not the one about fence color.
They also talked for six and a half minutes about the agenda item they added, 6.b. Temporary Burn Ordinance.
Gretchen Quarterman noted, “There have been over 100 grass fires so far this year. Lowndes County (and surrounding counties) is in extreme drought. This temporary ordinance is made in conjunction with Georgia Forestry to protect property, people, resources, etc. This burn ban includes “recreational” fired and fires inside of a burn barrel. It does not ban outdoor grilling of food. (or so I thought I heard).”
She added, “The text of the county FB post is as follows:”
“Due to prolonged dry weather and worsening drought conditions, outdoor burning of yard debris is now restricted in the unincorporated areas of Lowndes County. To reduce wildfire risks and protect public safety, property, and natural resources, all open burning of yard debris, including leaves, limbs, grass, and other vegetative matter, is prohibited within the unincorporated area of Lowndes County until drought conditions improve.”
They passed all the agenda items unanimously.
![[Collage @ LCC 10 February 2026]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-02-10--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC 10 February 2026
Three citizens wished to be heard: Gretchen Quarterman about solid waste and recycling, Mary Roe about Paving of Green Road, and Joel Deon about Data Center concerns.
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
Update 2026-02-22: Videos: 3 rezonings, 1 Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Backup Generators for Pruitt Health Facilities @ LCC Regular 2026-02-10.
Two weeks ago at their Work Session, the Lowndes County Commissioners talked much about the 7.b. Consideration of Bids for Installation of Emergency Backup Generators for Pruitt Healthcare. The county is merely passing through that $1,470,216.00. Chairman Bill Slaughter says the opportunity was offered to all nursing homes in Lowndes County, but only Pruitt Healthcare took it up.
They also talked about fences for 5.c. REZ-2026-03 Villanueva Property, 6201 Union Rd, 6ac, E-A to C-G.
And they said a few words about the $477,896.15 to Reames & Son Construction from TSPLOST for 7.a. PI #0016273, Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Orr Road Bids.
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
Ed Hightower was reappointed to the Planning Commission and. Calvin Graham was appointed to the seat previously held by Vicki Biles.
Two citizens spoke in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard. Burton Fletcher thanked various people for running for or winning office and other things. Janice Strickland spoke about flooding on Pin Oak Circle, which is in the City of Valdosta, so she was referred to the City Council.
In a thirteen and a half minute discussion, “County Planners JD Dillard and Jason Davenport went over the proposed changes to the ULDC which was “in the room” at the seat of the Lawyer Walter Elliott.”
![[Collage @ LCC 12 November 2024]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2024-11-12--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC 12 November 2024
Jason Davenport mentioned their goal was to get these changes approved by the County Manager and then to the “development community”. No mention of the public, other than the request by “Mrs. Quarterman” for a copy, which LAKE did get and publish. The county did not publish them before that Regular Session. The latest copy of the ULDC on the county’s website is still earlier than that, ULDC Unsigned Searchable Copy – July 9, 2024 (PDF).
Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted affirmation that these changes required existing systems to have generators if they expand. Davenport agreed they do require that.
Commissioner Scottie Orenstein, County Manager Paige Dukes, and County Chairman Bill Slaughter discussed other existing systems. It doesn’t look to me like the ULDC changes require those to have generators.
Commissioner Orenstein wanted to hear more about subdivision policy goals. Davenport’s answer was they would be looked at on a case-by-case basis and “appropriately address” them. County Chairman Bill Slaughter expressed concern about dense subdivisions where the county could not bring utilities and for subdivisions with a single point of ingress and egress (cul-de-sacs). Davenport mentioned they chose not to have separate rules for septic vs. county utilities.
At the Public Hearing, Gretchen Quarterman spoke in opposition to the amendments, noting that the time available to actually review the final language was only a couple of hours before the meeting, especially since the Planning Commission no longer gets ULDC text amendments on its agenda. She also recommended “continuously” instead of “consistently” for private well generators. She liked the explicit list of grandfathered subdivisions. She mentioned Val Del Estates, which flooded recently, despite the county rezoning it a few years ago in what were claimed not to be wetlands.
The Commissioners did not discuss most of those topics, nor removing pine trees from being protected species. They did unanimously approve the ULDC text amendments.
They also unanimously approved everything else, including the Loch Winn rezoning, even though several people spoke in opposition. That one took twelve and a half minutes.
They discussed the purchase of VSU South Campus for almost five minutes.
The Chairman paused other items several times for recognition of various groups and individuals. An agenda item at the front would simplify all that. Similarly, a Commissioner Comments item at the end would be easier than ad hoc asking Commissioners for comments.
Here are LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.
See also the Continue reading
There was so much discussion at the Work Session this morning that the meeting was 30 minutes long. They spent ten minutes on the ULDC Text Amendments; the ones that remove pine trees from being protected species. Even the UPS replacement got discussion.
Regarding the purchase of VSU South Campus, Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker wondered how this could so easily move forward when the proposed animal shelter is taking so long. There was a little discussion.
They vote at 5:30 PM this evening.
![[Collage @ LCC 12 November 2024]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2024-11-12--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC 12 November 2024
Here are LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.
See also the Continue reading
Update 2024-11-12: ULDC text amendments remove pines and pecans from protected trees @ LCC 2024-11-12.
Because Monday is Veterans Day, both the Work and Regular Sessions of the Lowndes County Commission will be Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
![[Collage @ LCC Agenda 2024-11-12]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2024-11-12--lcc-agenda/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC Agenda 2024-11-12
Most of the almost $2.5 million being contemplated is for the purchase of the VS U South Campus.
| Cost | What |
|---|---|
| $2,156,000.00 | Purchase of VSU South Campus Property |
| $111,223.17 | LMIG Supplemental Local Road Assistance (LRA) 2024 Restriping Bids |
| $85,097.4.00 | Bid for 60 SCBA Cylinders for the Fire Department |
| $72,103.12 | UPS Replacement at the Valdosta and Clyattville Public Safety Radio System Tower Sites |
| $2,424,423.69 | Total |
Here is the quite long agenda.
We don’t have the board packet, because I forgot to send in the open records request. However, the packet materials for the rezonings will probably be much like the ones from the preceding GLPC meeting, and the ULDC amendments should be somewhat similar to those the Lowndes County Commission previously tabled.
For the VSU South Campus, see Packet: DRC Emergency Services and VSU South Campus Purchase @ LCC 2024-10-22.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Continue reading
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
The Loch Winn Farms subdivision rezoning on Loch Laurel Road, long delayed due to the Planning Commission not meeting because of lack of quorum and then hurricane, plus in between being tabled by the Lowndes County Commission waiting on Planning Commission review, finally got that on Monday, October 28, 2024.
![[Collage @ GLPC Packet 2024-10-28]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2024-10-28--glpc-packet/many.jpg)
Collage @ GLPC Packet 2024-10-28
GLPC also heard a new Lowndes County case, REZ-2024-17 Evans Property, Bemiss Rd., 0145B 100, ~1.4 acres, R-1 to C-H, “to allow the property to be used at its highest and best potential.”
Plus six Valdosta cases from the previous month’s GLPC agenda, and one new Valdosta case (a church) and one new Hahira case (a parking lot for a restaurant).
There are no LAKE videos of this GLPC meeting, because Gretchen was out of state as was jsq.
You may wonder, as I do, why doesn’t Lowndes County video it? Or why doesn’t Valdosta do facebook live, like for Valdosta City Council meetings?
Maybe you’d like to ask that Commission and that Council those questions.
Here is the agenda: Continue reading
Update 2024-10-21: Agenda: DRC Emergency Services and VSU South Campus Purchase @ LCC 2024-10-21.
The TXT-2024-03 ULDC Text Amendments are quite long and detailed. The county still has not published them for the tax-paying and voting public to see. You can see them now, because LAKE got them with an open records request, and now they are on the LAKE website.
It’s good the Lowndes County Commissioners decided Tuesday to table those amendments (and the rezoning) until the Planning Commission can review them.
| Cost | What |
|---|---|
| $3,369,213.71 | Sprayfield Expansion Phase |
| $78,392.6.00 | Grove Pointe Nelson Hill Watermain Interconnection |
| $3,025.00 | Joint Funding Agreement with USGS for Stream Gauge Maintenance |
| $3,450,631.31 | Total |
The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.
See also Continue reading
![[Videos: R-21 to E-A rezoning, Jail door lock & skylight @ LCC Work, Subdivision Infrastructure & LMIG, Partnership Health Center 2026-08-10]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-08-10--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 9 February 2026]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-02-09--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
![[Packet: ULDC text amendments, Loch Winn rezoning, millage rates, river gauges, sprayfield expansion, watermain interconnection: Grove Pointe, Nelson Hill @ LCC 2024-10-14]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2024-10-14--lcc-packet/many.jpg)