Tag Archives: Michael Noll

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 →

Videos: New Library Board, Wisenbaker Rd rezoning, communications tower in Langdale Park, Pre-Disaster Logistics, Juvenile Justice, Lift Station Bypass @ LCC Regular 2026-07-14

Update 2026-07-25:
Packet: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC 2026-07-27. Plus, “There will be an information sharing session to address data center ordinance
considerations following the adjournment of the regular meeting.”

They voted separately on each of the nine posts on the reconstituted Library Board,
and appointed someone to each.
They ended up with one applicant left over somehow.
This was the Lowndes County Commission in their Regular Session of Tuesday, July 14, 2026,
where they also unanimously approved everything else.

Including the one actual rezoning, 6a. REZ-2026-14 Ray Colding, 6808 Wisenbaker Rd., Lake Park, ~8.5ac, M-1 & R-A to M-2, County Water and Septic.


https://youtu.be/u67fzIz5f_A?si=H-5SvDlHxdsPEny3

And of course they unanimously approved this in Langdale Park,
6.b. TWR-2026-02 Bermuda Run, New 159′ Telecommunications Tower near North Valdosta Road and Hyta Mederer Drive.


https://youtu.be/Yn_jbG5uM0g?si=TPgg7XvhVyEKR3EK

I did speak against it, and I pointed out they still weren’t in conformance with the ULDC,
at least because the existing tower locations are not in VALORGIS.
But they approved it anyway.


[Collage @ LCC Regular 2026-07-14]

Collage @ LCC Regular 2026-07-14

County Manager Paige Dukes in her Reports called on Fire Chief Billy Young, who called on someone else
to explain grants they had recently applied for, and they got some.


https://studio.youtube.com/video/7UYGpYf1-Zc/edit

She also had EMA Director Ashley Tye about changes of policy at GEMA that affect hurricane disaster recovery centers.
FEMA will no longer provide that service.
The county would have to do that: building, setup, staffing, equipment.


https://youtu.be/893tG8BrjYw?si=KLJoce54y8Cjh2mR

Datacenters

The County Manager kicked off the now-traditional datacenter discussion at the end of her Report.
She said the county staff were still working on a datacenter ordinance,
and were taking advantage of work other locations had done in environmental, legal, and other studies.
She noted there was still no application for a datacenter.
I hope the county doesn’t wait around until there is one,
after which any ordinance or moratorium they passed would not apply to that application.


https://youtu.be/pUmHRF7yfNE?si=GWOn-Iy9wUjTjHK2

Five Citizens were Heard about datacenters: Continue reading →

Videos: DFACS, DUI, Accountability, Juveniles, Camelot Crossing Infrastructure, Email Software, Alcohol Ordinance @ LCC Regular 2026-06-23

The Regular Session of June 23, 2026, took 39 minutes, largely because a special presentation, an unscheduled report on the 911 center,
and five Citizens Wishing to Be Heard.

One of the citizens asked a question about the Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance
that he could have read the answer to for himself
if the county had published the draft ordinance before the meeting.

Why does the county continue to make more work for itself and everybody else
by not publishing its own board packets?

Unsurprisingly, the Lowndes County Commissioners unanimously approved every voting item,
including

reappointing Raymond Conner to the Lowndes County Division of Family and Children Services (LCDFCS).
Commissioner Demarcus Marshall was absent.


[Collage: Datacenter, Craig Center, Alcohol Ordinance, DFACS, DUI, Accountability, Juveniles, Camelot Crossing Infrastructure, Email Software @ LCC Regular 2026-06-23]

Collage: Datacenter, Craig Center, Alcohol Ordinance, DFACS, DUI, Accountability, Juveniles, Camelot Crossing Infrastructure, Email Software @ LCC Regular 2026-06-23

Three citizens spoke about Datacenters: George Fisher about sinkholes,
Michael Noll about a datacenter ordinance,
and
Tetiana Babcock, who wanted to know where the county stands in developing a datacenter ordinance.
You may recall that
in March she alleged encroachment on her property from the datacenter site,
which would be a violation of one of the conditions of the July 2025 rezoning of that potential datacenter site.

This time she asked for a timeline of development of a datacenter ordinance
and robust citizen involvement.
Which would be refreshing, compared to what we just saw as the usual
Lowndes County ordinance public engagement:
none.
They just slapped the alcoholic beverage ordinance update on the agenda and
voted on it, without any public hearing and without even publishing the draft beforehand.

Kelly Saxon spoke about Craig Center warming/cooling center funding.

Mr. Patel wanted to know how the Alcoholic Beverage Ordinances changes would affect established businesses.

If the county had simply published that ordinance before voting on it,
they wouldn’t get so many questions, and we wouldn’t see at least one
Commissioner trying to explain it on facebook.

As you may know, LAKE published that ordinance as soon as we got it by
open records request.


http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/?p=25794

The county has finally published it on lowndescounty.com: Continue reading →

Videos: 3 rezonings, 4 road items, 1 beer and wine, VLCIA bonds, servers, debris hauler @ LCC Regular 2026-05-12

Gretchen noted about these LAKE videos of the May 12, 2026, Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission, “Still having camera problems. No audio on two of the bits and agenda items 6e and 6f and the start of 7a did not get recorded at all.”

Yes, we know the county videos its own Regular Sessions:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PRqnqJwM8k

LAKE continues to video those meetings anyway, for a number of reasons
I don’t have time to go into here.

Also, the county does not post videos of its Work Sessions, nor of the
Planning Commission, nor of any of the other numerous Boards and Authorities, not to mention School Board meetings.
LAKE does post videos of those Work Sessions and Planning Commission meetings.
You can help.
Volunteer to video some meetings.
Or donate to LAKE to buy a better video camera.

Once again, Lowndes County plans to widen Old US 41 North the rest of the way up to the Hahira City Limits:

6.c. TIA – Local Delivery Application for Old US 41 North Widening Phase 4

Other than

the Clyattville case was withdrawn by applicant,
the Commissioners approved all the agenda items unanimously.


[Collage @ LCC 12 May 2026]

Collage @ LCC 12 May 2026

Two citizens spoke about datacenters:
Michael Noll and
George Fisher.
See also what IT Director Aaron Kostyu

said in the Works Session
about massive hikes in memory and server prices because the AI industry is sucking up all the inventory even before it is manufactured.

Two citizens spoke about animals:
Amie Burnam and
Tara Parker.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item for the May 12, 2026,
Lowndes County Commission Regular Session,
wWork ith a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman,
followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the

LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session
and the
agenda and the board packet,
received in response to a LAKE open records request.

For the rezonings (except Clyattville), see the
LAKE videos of the preceding Planning Commission meeting.

Here is the LAKE video playlist:


https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiFwlE_EHC-C06NPB_VIXiPc&si=tVArGKPA4yehJA9h

-jsq

Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!


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

Videos: Datacenters, Sinkholes, Animals, Emergencies, Disasters, Judges, Drugs, and Wells @ LCC Regular 2026-04-28

There was some discussion among Lowndes County Commissioners,
but their Regular Session on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, as they
approved all the voting items unanimously.

In her Reports,
County Manager Paige Dukes called on both Utilities Director Steve Stalvy and Fire Chief Billy Young about the current drought and fire situations.

Six Citizens Wished to Be Heard.


George Fisher spoke about his water research, which includes he’s discovered
the line of sinkholes running across the county.


Pam Kelly Jarvis and

Amanda Hall
spoke about animal issues.

Jimmy LeFiles,

Michael Noll,
and

Susan Wehling
spoke about datacenters.


[Collage @ LCC 28 April 2026]

Collage @ LCC 28 April 2026

After the meeting adjourned, County Chairman Bill Slaughter came down to talk to several people about datacenters.
County Manager Paige Dukes joined in.
The Chairman said it was their procedure not to answer Citizens Wishing to Be Heard during the meeting, but he made himself available afterwards.

I mentioned that the Continue reading →

Videos: Datacenter, paving, grants, breeding, health, 4 Board Appointments, 1 Alcohol, 1 Easement Exchange, 2 Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC Regular 2026-03-24

There was a somewhat startling citizen report about the possible future datacenter site at the Tuesday evening Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.
See
other post for Tetiana Babcock.

The Commissioners breezed through all the voting items with unanimous approval.
Except Commissioner Joyce Evans did

ask if any applicants for the board appointments were present.
Travis Cox was present.
He had just been

appointed to ZBOA in place of John Hogan.
Also, John McCall was reappointed to ZBOA.


[Collage @ LCC 24 March 2026]

Collage @ LCC 24 March 2026

County Manager Paige Dukes asked for

Ashley Tye to talk about Water Stewardship in the current drought,
and

Fire Chief Billy Young to talk about not burning while it is so dry.

Six citizens spoke:

Mary Roe about Paving of Green Road,

Kelly Saxon about Baldwin Place grants and shelters,

Amanda Hall about pet Breeding limits,

Kristina Cheek McBride about Maternal Health Issues,

Michael Noll about Data Center collaboration and transparency,
and

Tetiana Babcock about Data Center Encroachment.
See
other post for Tetiana Babcock.

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 →

Videos: Water treatment upgrade because GA-EPD Consent Order, Lift Station Pump Repair, Condemnation along Twin Lakes Road, VAWA @ LCC Regular 2026-01-27

Congressman Austin Scott, District 8, congratulated Lowndes County on its 200th anniversary.

His appearance was not on the agenda for the Lowndes County Commission Regular Session of January 27, 2026.
This was an unusual opportunity to talk directly to the Congress member for Lowndes County and many surrounding counties.
Which is a reason you may want to attend Lowndes County Commission meetings:
there’s no telling who may show up.

Rep. Scott read what he said was a resolution, but it appears to be a brief speech he made in the U.S. House.

CELEBRATING LOWNDES COUNTY’S 200TH BIRTHDAY; Congressional Record Vol. 171, No. 213
(Extensions of Remarks – December 17, 2025),

CELEBRATING LOWNDES COUNTY’S 200TH BIRTHDAY

HON. AUSTIN SCOTT

of georgia

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate
the 200th anniversary of Lowndes County in Georgia’s 8th
Congressional District. Lowndes County was established by the
Georgia State Assembly on December 23, 1825. Since then, the county
has grown to be home to more than 118,000 people and spans 511
square miles. What was once a railroad town dominated by cotton
sales has grown to serve as home to Valdosta State University, the
Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area, Moody Air Force Base, and many
charming Georgia towns. Lowndes County has served our airmen at
Moody Air Force Base for many years and sets the example for how we
can best support our soldiers and their families. I am honored to
represent this community and look forward to seeing Lowndes County
continue to grow for years to come.


[Collage @ LCC Regular 27 January 2026]

Collage @ LCC Regular 27 January 2026

The

Twin Lakes Road right of way condemnation turned into a

purchase agreement,
resolution having been reached with the landowners.

The Commissioners unanimously approved everything on the agenda,
except the condemnation, which they declared moot.

Three citizens spoke in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard:

Mary Roe about paving of Green Road,

Michael Noll about Citizens against Data Centers,
and

Maria Chung Willoughby about a non profit partnership.

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 →

Videos: Hamm Estates roads, Deannexation, Rezonings, Right of Way, Software, Health Insurance, Repairs, KLVB @ LCC 2020-02-25

The longest regular item at 4 minutes on this voting Regular Session agenda was

6.b. Accept Hamm Estates Dr. into the County Road Inventory.
Longer were two Citizens who spoke at the end about

Keep Lowndes-Valdosta Beautiful (KLVB).


Hamm Estates

Here again are the costs found in the agenda sheets for the items,
from most expensive down, with links back into

the agenda.

Cost What
$290,000.00 2020 Administrative Services Agreement with Allied Benefit Systems, Inc.
$50,433.00 Bid for Repairs to Knights Academy Road;
emergency repairs for Culvert Aprons
$43,245.50 Approval of Clyattstone Rd.-Simpson Ln. ROW Purchases
$24,613.44 Microsoft Server 2019 Data Center License
$11,535.00 Approval of Clyattstone Rd.-Simpson Ln. ROW Acquisition
$419,826.94 Total

The actual cost for the Clyattstone Road-Simpson Lane project is larger;
more like $77,696.50 so far, before grading, base, and paving;
see

the LAKE notes on the preceding morning’s Work Session.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes.
See also Continue reading →

VDT redacted Sabal Trail pipeline FERC Scoping Meeting story @ FERC 2014-03-04



Amusingly, when the VDT fixed the typos in their online story,
they redacted me and Gretchen right out of it.
I’m flattered!
Still, congratulations to the VDT on quoting a lot of landowners
(and a few others who remained unredacted),
and on putting this story on the front page.

Here’s an extract from the online version showing changes from the
printed version (pictured) as if the newspaper had used standard
blogging markup for changes after posting.
Starting with the pullquote in the printed version,
which they edited heavily in the online version:

Affected Land owner
Landowner Larry Rodgers
said he has been trying to sell his property
for a long time, and once he
He had an interested buyer
and they found out about,
but upon learning of
the pipeline running through his property

they dropped their, the interested party withdrew the offer.

“Where do I go to file that complaint!?
And whose who’s responsible for value lost due
to property damage?” Rodgers asked.
Peconom replied, “I don’t have an answer
for you tonight, but well we’ll look into it.”


Concerned citizens Gretchen Quarterman said she was concerned about the
pipeline moving Natural Gas that has
been fracked, and the taking of property
from private land owners to benefit a company
that does not do business in Georgia.
She also brought up safety concerns regarding sink holes,
and proposed Florida use an alternate way of producing energy,
such as solar “because as we all know
Florida is the sunshine state.”
 Continue reading →

The Third Solar Age –Michael Noll


LTE in the VDT today. -jsq



For millennia humans gazed into the sky and marveled at birds
sailing through the air. While some imagined a day when we would be
able to fly, others said it could not be done. Likewise the idea of
infinite, clean energy might seem unattainable to some, but the
progress we have seen in recent years is astonishing.

Since the discovery of fire Continue reading →