Dave Hetzel from Tifton will appear via video at the Tourism Authority Tuesday morning to talk about the Alapaha River Water Trail that WWALS Watershed Coalition is preparing. Here’s the agenda, sent by VLCCCTA board member Tim Carroll. -jsq
Continue readingVALDOSTA-LOWNDES COUNTY
CONFERENCE CENTER & TOURISM AUTHORITY
MEETING
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
8:00 a.m.
AGENDA
Received 27 October 2014 about Whose rights come first? –Tim Carroll. -jsq
So because the owner of the property, which appeared to be a
national property owning corporation for the fraternity’s local chapters, couldn’t, or more likely, didn’t want to see the cultural and architectural significance of the Nichols’ House, and merely wanted to unload the property as quick as possible, their property rights trump all other citizens of Valdosta in regards to our historical/cultural history and what we may wish to preserve? Do private entities, which may not even live here, have carte blanche to run roughshod and do whatever they please in our city irregardless of the interests of the citizens that do?
If you think I have a “lack of true understanding Continue reading
More detail and issues with Bailey REZ-2014-16 after much discussion last time. Almost ten minutes on 6a. Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention. Numerous things incomplete or just FYI such as drug seizures in the financial report, none of which the citizens could see. This was in the Work Session Monday morning. They vote Tuesday 5:30 PM in the Regular Session.
They
actually named the multiple bids for a water item,
unlike the
single-source price-not-quoted pump replacement last time.
And they’re buying some property (at some place unnamed)
for a booster pump.
The Rural Land Agricultural Improvement Schedules was actually for Commercial land. We learned why Shiloh Road needs emergency repairs. Nothing about that on the new county Lowndes411 twitter account, and the county still doesn’t publish its own board packets.
I can understand why the Commission needs to approve a juvenile justice grant, a GEFA loan application, to accept quit claim deeds for a subdivision’s detention ponds, and to accept infrastructure for a subdivision, not to mention a CDBG agreement. But to replace batteries in a UPS?
See the agenda. Here are links to the videos of the items as they transpired this morning. Continue reading
Received 25 October 2014 on Too bad about the Nichols House –Jim Parker @ VCC 2014-10-23. -jsq
I realize many may think none on council heard what Dr. Willis had to say, but that was not the case. What I think was missed by many in the audience was the fact that the owner of this property was not the applicant of this request, but was adamantly opposed to it. Not only did they have an offer on the table to sell, but it was pending the outcome of the vote regarding historic designation. To take away the rights of a property owner at the request of another is a very tricky thing. Whose rights come first? This was a tough decision in and unto itself. To suggest that only the monetary value of the property for taxation purposes drove the decision demonstrates a lack of true understanding of the all the pertinent facts of this case.
-Tim Carroll
I think
the applicant’s frat alumnus attorney speaking for 15 minutes against probably tipped off most people about that first point. -jsq
Bailey’s back
after
much discussion last time.
This time they’re
actually going for multiple bids for a water item,
unlike the
single-source price-not-quoted pump replacement last time.
And they’re buying some property (at some place unnamed)
for a booster pump.
What’s this mysterious Rural Land Agricultural Improvement Schedules? Why does Shiloh Road need emergency repairs? Nothing about that on the new county Lowndes411 twitter account, and the county still doesn’t publish its own board packets.
I can understand why the Commission needs to approve a juvenile justice grant, a GEFA loan application, to accept quit claim deeds for a subdivision’s detention ponds, and to accept infrastructure for a subdivision, not to mention a CDBG agreement. But to replace batteries in a UPS?
Here’s the agenda.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROPOSED AGENDAContinue reading
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2014, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Some actual discussion!
20 minutes of it, on
6.b. REZ-2014-16 Bailey, Madison Hwy/Williams School Ln,
at the 14 October 2014 Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.
With no discussion, they approved
a single-sourced pump replacement
and
the DA’s VOCA grant application.
They
abandoned Water Oak Trail (not Water Oaks Drive),
and they
reappointed Jody Hall to the Planning Commission
with no discussion and no presentation by him.
The county now has a
twitter account,
but the new website still isn’t ready, after how many months?
See the Continue reading
Received 23 October 2014 on Alfred Willis comments at Valdosta Historic Preservation 2014-10-06. I added the [vote correction] and the links. -jsq
I attended tonight’s City Council meeting, and heard Dr Willis’ impassioned advocacy of the Council approving the historical preservation of the Nichols’ House. Our Historic Preservation Commission reviewed this and request recommended approval by a vote of five to one. Dr Willis sold me on the merits. Unfortunately, the Council must not have heard what I did, and unanimously voted against [actually all but one against] approving the designation. It looks to me, that as it stands, demolition of the house could commence tomorrow, and the replacement construction of the apartments for VSU students can commence.
A huge number of apartment buildings have been built over the past few years. First with the large complexes of Blanton Commons, The Gardens, and The Grove, to the numerous buildings along West Mary, Baytree Drive, Boone Drive and Oak Street, among others. Plans are still on tap for the major development of the entire city block just south of campus (one that I can actually appreciate). The question was mentioned to me tonight whether Continue reading
If it’s old, it’s no good: tear it down!
Despite
Alfred Willis saying the
Nichols House was not just
historic like he presented in his October 1st lecture,
but perhaps the most historic,
a lawyer spoke against it,
and
the Valdosta City Council voted against preserving it
and thus in favor of demolishing it for the
Turner Brooks subdivision next to VSU.
Only Council Robert Yost, in whose district the Nichols House remains
for the moment,
voted for preserving it.
We’re told the
water issues noted by WWALS for that subdivision
are permitting issues, so we’ll see what happens with those.
See also
Alfred Willis’ comments to the Valdosta Historic Preservation Commission.
And the Council approved Scintilla Charter School’s conditional use, perhaps not coincidentally after local attorney Bill Langdale spoke for it. Plus a sidewalk, streetlights, and other matters.
See the agenda. Here are videos of events as they transpired at the 23 October 2014 Regular Session of the Valdosta City Council.
Continue readingJoe Adgie wrote for the VDT today 23 October 2014, Coalition: Sabal one of Dirty Dozen,
VALDOSTA — The Georgia Water Coalition has named the proposed Sabal Trail pipeline as one of its Dirty Dozen for 2014, which highlights “12 of the worst offenses to Georgia’s waters,” according to the organization.
The pipeline is proposed to run under the Withlacoochee river, near Valdosta.
Joe Adgie also took the first picture above, of Logan Hulsey and Blake Clark of Students Against Violating the Environment (S.A.V.E.) at yesterday’s protest in front of the Valdosta Sabal Trail office. The other illustrations here are from WWALS Watershed Coalition about that Dirty Dozen item #9, Sabal Trail pipeline threatens Withlacoochee River and Floridan Aquifer,
In a press release, the GWC cited the risk of contaminating southwest Georgia’s well water, rivers and streams, as well Continue reading
Joe Adgie wrote for the VDT 22 October 2014, Residents protests Sabal Trail,
VALDOSTA — A group of around 40 Valdosta and Lowndes County residents went to the Sabal Trail’s Valdosta office on Tuesday afternoon in protest of the group’s proposed pipeline.
The group, many of which carried signs displaying their opposition to the pipeline, discussed the impact of a pipeline on the area.
Dr. Michael Noll, president of Wiregrass Activists for Clean Energy, discussed wanting to educate the community about the dangers of a natural gas pipeline.
“We also want to Continue reading