Tag Archives: Lowndes County

Data Center Moratorium vote Tuesday @ LCC 2026-08-21

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We have no further confirmation of this, since the county has not yet posted its agenda for next week in their Agenda Center, and they have not yet responded to LAKE’s open records request for the board packet.

But they sent this press release out to subscribers to lowndescounty.com and it’s on that web page under Lowndes County News.

Actually, at least one County Commissioner confirms this moratorium should be on the agenda for Tuesday. And probably also the animal ordinance.

Maybe Lowndes County is finally going to catch up to Brooks and Cook Counties and the City of Adel and many more Georgia counties, as well as Madison and Citrus and many other Florida counties, which have already passed datacenter moratoriums.

For much more about datacenters, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/datacenters

[Datacenter Moratorium vote Tuesday, 2026-08-21 --Lowndes County Board of Commissioners]
Datacenter Moratorium vote Tuesday, 2026-08-21 –Lowndes County Board of Commissioners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, August 21, 2026

Lowndes County Board of Commissioners to Consider Data Center Moratorium

Lowndes County, Georgia: The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners will consider a proposed moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Lowndes County during its Regular Session Meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

If approved, the moratorium would be in place on an interim basis while the County develops a comprehensive data center ordinance for consideration and approval by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners.

Meeting Information

Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Location: Commission Chambers

Address: 327 North Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601

The Board recognizes the importance of carefully evaluating the potential impacts and considerations associated with data center development and will continue to review the matter through the appropriate public process.

-jsq

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http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/donate

Videos: The first with curb and gutter: Quarterman Road Tree Canopy 2026-08-08

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This is a repost from Canopy Roads of South Georgia.

The first dirt road in Lowndes County, Georgia, to get curb and gutters to save tree canopies when paved, was Quarterman Road, back in 2009. Here are videos of what its two tree canopies look like today.

[Quarterman Road Tree Canopy 2026-08-08, The first with curb & gutter in Lowndes County, GA]
Quarterman Road Tree Canopy 2026-08-08, The first with curb & gutter in Lowndes County, GA

North canopy:

https://youtu.be/sddnjInkem8

Southwest canopy:

https://youtu.be/PFAcSmgcG7g

How did that happen? According to the Matt Flumerfelt, Valdosta Daily Times, November 12, 2008, Quarterman Road set to be paved,

The County overcame some objections to the project by agreeing to install curbs and gutters along the canopy sections of the road instead of the original plan that would have required clearing a wider area prior to paving. County Commissioner Richard Lee said the Quarterman Road paving project had “garnered more communication than any other project I can remember except maybe one.” Continue reading →

Videos: Lake Alapaha rezoning to ag., Howell Road rezoning and annexation to Valdosta @ GLPC 2026-07-27

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Update 2026-08-07: Packet: R-21 to E-A rezoning, Jail door lock and skylight, Subdivision Infrastructure, LMIG Resurfacing Bids @ LCC 2026-08-10.

After sixteen minutes and several citizen speakers, the Planning Commissioners unanimously recommended approval of 3. REZ-2026-15 Mardun Ventures, 6325 Lake Alapaha Blvd., ~10.7 acres, Map & Parcel 0261 056″.

[Videos: Lake Alapaha rezoning to ag. @ GLPC 2026-07-27, Howell Road rezoning and annexation to Valdosta]
Videos: Lake Alapaha rezoning to ag. @ GLPC 2026-07-27, Howell Road rezoning and annexation to Valdosta

In a rare showing, four Lowndes County Commissioners were present for whole session: Michael Smith, Chairman Bill Slaughter, Scottie Orenstein, and Mark Wisenbaker.

The Planning Commissioners took 35 minutes to reach a split vote on 4. VA-2026-07 Request by Sheldon Hill and Laine Chaney to rezone 15.57 acres and 5. VA-2026-08 Request by Sheldon Hill and Laine Chaney to annex a total of 21.97 acres into the City of Valdosta.

They even had Lowndes County Chairman Bill Slaughter talk about water and sewer delivery pricing and annexation, at 15:10.

They recommended approval of the rezoning by 7:1, with Ed Hightower against.

They recommended denial of the annexation by 7:1, with James Miller against.

Below are LAKE videos of each agenda item, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the Continue reading →

The LAKE blog is recovering from technical issues 2026-08-17

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You may have noticed not much activity out of the LAKE blog lately. But it’s operational again, and soon will remember everything.

http://www.l-a-k-e.org

The LAKE blog, along with hundreds of thousands of other websites, got infested with malware through vulnerabilities in WordPress, the very popular hosting software we use.

[The LAKE blog is recovering from technical issues, 2026-08-17]
The LAKE blog is recovering from technical issues, 2026-08-17

Here’s what WordPress has to say about that: Continue reading →

Videos: R-21 to E-A rezoning, Jail door lock and skylight, Subdivision Infrastructure, LMIG Resurfacing Bids @ LCC Regular 2026-08-11

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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 →

Videos: R-21 to E-A rezoning, Jail door lock and skylight, Subdivision Infrastructure, LMIG Resurfacing Bids @ LCC Work 2026-08-10

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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

[Videos: R-21 to E-A rezoning, Jail door lock & skylight @ LCC Work, Subdivision Infrastructure & LMIG, Partnership Health Center 2026-08-10]
Videos: R-21 to E-A rezoning, Jail door lock & skylight @ LCC Work, Subdivision Infrastructure & LMIG, Partnership Health Center 2026-08-10

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]
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 →

Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28

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They approved everything unanimously, including reappointing Suzan Garnett to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) Board. Herb Reinhard and Broc McDowell were nominated to another seat, and the latter apointed.

Library Board candidates were Sarah Fitzgereald, Kimberly Cliett and Dave DiSalvo. Ms. Cliett was the only one nominated, and she was appointed “by acclamation.”

Only one person spoke in the Public Hearing about the Comprehensive Plan.

[Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments: VLPRA & Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening, @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28]
Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments: VLPRA & Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening, @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28

Here are LAKE videos of the July 28, 2026, Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.

See also the Continue reading →

Packet: R-21 to E-A rezoning, Jail door lock and skylight, Subdivision Infrastructure, LMIG Resurfacing Bids @ LCC 2026-08-10

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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
$1,808,850.752026 Local Maintenance and Improvements Grant (LMIG) Local Road Assistance (LRA) Resurfacing Bids
$64,302.26Jail Skylight Replacement
$62,440.00Jail Door Locking Control System Replacement
$1,935,593.01Total

[Collage @ LCC Packet 2026-08-10]
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
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

Continue reading →

Rezoning materials for REZ-2025-11, potential datacenter site, on Coleman Road North 2026-08-03

Lowndes County offered to charge up to $250 for rezoning materials related to the 2025 rezoning on Coleman Road North for the potential datacenter site across the Withlacoochee River from Langdale Park. Materials such as many other counties put in their board packets and put on their own website.

They actually charged $40.85.

They provided a heap of files on a USB stick, with little indication of which request each file was supposed to address.

[Rezoning materials, REZ-2025-11, potential datacenter site, Coleman Road North, Withlacoochee River @ LCC 2025-07-08]
Rezoning materials, REZ-2025-11, potential datacenter site, Coleman Road North, Withlacoochee River @ LCC 2025-07-08

This is what I asked for, plus links to what Lowndes County provided in response, as near as I can decipher what they sent.

This is a Georgia Open Records Request (GORA) for materials related to the rezoning application for REZ-2025-11, Langdale Capital Assets, N Coleman Road, as required by Lowndes County Unified Development Code (ULDC).

The rezoning request, evidence of payment, evidence of ownership, and the other items were not in the board packets for the June 30, 2025, Planning Commission meeting, nor for the July 8, 2025, Lowndes County Commission Regular Session, at each of which REZ-2025-11 was heard, at least not as returned in response to open records request by LAKE requesting those board packets.

In this present GORA request I am asking for: Continue reading →

Videos: Data Center Session @ LCC 2026-07-28

Update 2026-08-08: Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28.

Congratulations to Lowndes County for the astonishingly forthcoming Data Center Considerations session after the Lowndes County Commission Regular Session on July 28, 2026. They covered many topics of general concern, including water and power usage, zoning, and land use.

[Videos: Data Center Session @ LCC 2026-07-28, Lowndes County Manager Paige Dukes, Questions filtered by: Dr. Michael Noll, Verbal Moratorium: Chairman Bill Slaughter]
Videos: Data Center Session @ LCC 2026-07-28, Lowndes County Manager Paige Dukes, Questions filtered by: Dr. Michael Noll, Verbal Moratorium: Chairman Bill Slaughter

Lowndes County Manager Paige Dukes conducted the session. She revealed that the Commissioners have directed staff to draft a datacenter ordinance by around September, or in about six weeks, as Chairman Bill Slaughter told me afterwards.

She said the public would get to see the draft ordinance before the Commissioners approved it. She did not say anyone would get to see it before it appeared on an agenda for approval, which is how you’ve seen the Commissioners handle the recent Alcohol Ordinance and the Comprehensive Plan.

More clever than I had anticipated, she said that same afternoon she had asked Dr. Michael Noll to take question cards from the audience and pick questions to relay. So the head of Lowndes County Against Datacenters (LCAD) thus became the Lowndes County Commission filter for public questions. Continue reading →