Gretchen Quarterman also spoke against the proposition, citing that
extending residential areas further out into undeveloped Lowndes County
would create greater strain on an already tight fiscal operating budget.
Schoolchildren, safety, and farmland: three topics that often seem forgotten in discussions of development.
Opposing the
proposed rezoning for Notthinghill,
neighbor Thomas E. Stalvey Jr. noted
that traffic on Cat Creek Road
is already a problem, and adding a subdivision would make it worse.
He noted that it’s traffic routed down Cat Creek to Moody that
accounts for a lot of it.
He said school children stood out on the road and they were already in danger.
“If we put 49 more houses out there, it’s just going to up the risk.”
Pritchard also said they (the county in its previous investigation,
presumably the one of 2010)
examined the character of those testifying for
the complaints and he said they found biases.
“Whatever problems there are, they’re going to be resolved.”
2011-05-24 The VDT quotes County Manager Joe Pritchard
as saying:
“It’s no longer a case of an individual making a claim, as it will be evident by the physical evidence provided by the security cameras.”
and:
“You take that policy, coupled with the updated standard operating
procedures, added to the technical verification and I think that
addresses the issues. My purpose is to eliminate any problem or potential
problem.”
2011-05-31 statement by Director Linda Patelski saying two people fired for euthanasia violation of 20 May 2011
I really feel like the Lowndes County Commissioners meetings are more
to pacify the community then to actually listen to the concerns of
the citizens which I’m sure most counties are the same. I feel quite
positive matters of concern actually never leave that room, I’m pretty
certain if the room were full and more individuals showing concern for
their community maybe things could change slightly. I have gotten the
impression that they really don’t want to hear people’s opinions. I
was once under the impression that there job of commissioners where
to also hear from the residence of the county. It certainly has shown
me how transparency issues and intimidation also go hand in hand. When
you think of a member of county government it’s a position of power
and power some obviously let go to their head. But after reading the
article it appears no matter where in this country when you oppose them
you obviously could be removed in handcuffs. You’re only allowed to have
your 3 to 4 minutes to speak after interruptions and snide remarks. First
Amendment right allows us to have freedom of speech… but broken down,
it allows us our time at the podium less freedom of speech if Mr. Paulk
decided to stop us. I wonder how the rest of the commissioners feel about
his antics toward people being heard. Maybe they don’t have concerns
in the matter but you have to wonder if they feel intimidated as well
and just choose to say nothing.
Somebody finally called a developer’s bluff!
Answering Commissioners’ questions about
his opposition to rezoning for Nottinghill on Cat Creek Road,
Calvin Marshall did what I’ve never seen anyone do before in opposing a subdivision:
he upped the ante.
Commissioner Richard Raines said he would require Nottinghill lots to have:
“Not perhaps, but a fence around the edge of the property.
…
Need to make sure that bicycles and fourwheelers, that children are not playing
in a field that is used to grow crops.”
Seems fair, except that he seemed to be talking about each individual
eventual property owner having to put up a fence, and I can tell you by
experience that that won’t happen without the neighboring landowner
personally insisting to each lot owner.
Unless the Commission insists that county code enforcement actually
enforce such a condition, which would be a good thing for a change.
Then Commissioner Raines asked Calvin Marshall:
“Is it still your position that 12-15,000 square foot lots are OK?”
Neighboring landowner demolishes developers’ arguments; explains agriculture to Lowndes County Comission.
Neighboring landowner Calvin Marshall,
speaking against rezoning for
REZ-2011-10 Nottinghill,
said neighbors,
“We’re not interested in a Bluepool,
We’re not interested in a Chatham Place.
And we’re certainly not interested in what they built out on Val Del Road.
We’ve also looked at what they’ve done with Old Pine,
and we’re definitely not interested in that, either.
Too small lots, small homes.”
That last one is presumably
Glen Laurel,
which had a roomful of neighbors opposing it last year.
Calvin Marshall asked for the Commissioners to deny the Nottinghill
rezoning request.
He also asked:
“The other thing that we asked the developer … what you going to do about
the neighbors that have got a farm on each side?
What kind of buffer are you going to put there?
…
We farm that land, we grow crops,
we run cows,
we run goats,
we run hogs,
and we’re going to continue to do that.
…
We don’t have an answer as to what they’re going to do for a buffer.”
Calvin Marshall continued with the economic argument:
“There’s three or four generations of property owners in this room tonight.
These people go back for three or four generations.
And these people have worked hard.
County Planner Jason Davenport introduced REZ-2011-10 Nottinghill, Cat Creek Rd, 0144 0255-0258, ~15.75 ac., 49 lots, Co W/S, R-1 to R-10.
He said the TRC recommended approval with a condition,
the Planning Commission recommended approval with a different condition,
and now staff preferred requiring a minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet.
Nottinghill, Cat Creek Road, rezoning —Jason Davenport
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 July 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
It was during the meeting, as in this video.
I was confused because I left the room briefly and didn’t see it.
Fortunately, Gretchen had a camera going.
I was disinvited to be on Black Crow radio —Ashley Paulk
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 July 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
The town of Quartzsite, AZ, population 3,466, is in disarray after a
video showing police hauling away a citizen for speaking at the town
meeting podium went viral. The woman was saying that the town council
had been violating open meeting laws.
It was the second citizen arrested at a Quartzsite town meeting in two weeks.
Alot of times, the local county residents are too afraid of retaliation
TO bring forth allegations of cruelty, or corrupted officials. So I’m all
for outsiders tossing in their two cents. I don’t live in Lowndes Co – far
from it – but I do know how corruption can fester in these rural counties
when the residents choose not to speak out.
Kudos to ALL of the Lowndes
Co taxpaying residents who speak out – not only for the animal’s rights,
but for their own human rights, as well.
Corruption corrupts. Period. And
if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.
-An Outsider Looking In
Many other comments have appeared on that and other recent posts,
some of which will probably get reposted here, but meanwhile
you can go to the blog and see for yourself.
In general, saying who you are will greatly increase the chances
your comment will get reposted,
as will sticking to issues and avoiding personal attacks.
David Rodock wrote in the VDT 13 July 2011,
Citizens speak against Cat Creek crowding:
She referred to a report County Planner Jason Davenport
commissioned from
Prof. Jeffrey H. Dorfman of UGA,
Local Government Fiscal Impacts of Land Use in Lowndes County,
December 2007,
in which he recommended development close in to existing services
for the most benefit to all parties.
As
Prof. Dorfman has said,
“Local governments must ensure balanced growth, as sprawling residential growth is a certain ticket to fiscal ruin*
