Tag Archives: Safety

Videos: Wetland and stream credits for Kinderlou-Clyattville Road, UPS, Fire Station alterations, Moody Hydrant, Grassy Pond Utilities @ LCC Work 2024-07-22

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The Lowndes County Commissioners and staff were surprisingly inquisitive at yesterday morning’s Work Session. They vote this evening at 5:30 PM.

There was some discussion on 6.a. Alterations to Lowndes County Fire Station #10, which is the main station east on US 84.

[Collage @ LCC 22 July 2024]
Collage @ LCC 22 July 2024

About the 5.a. Purchase of Wetland Credits for PI#0016278 Kinderlou Clyattville Road, Gretchen noted, “There was a brief discussion of wetland credits and how they are calculated by the Army Corps of Engineers. The calculation is now cumulative to the project, not at each individual site. In my opinion, this is a good thing as a project with a lot of “little” encroachments now does not get a pass.

They also discussed the less expensive 5.b. Purchase of Stream Credits for PI#0016278, Kinderlou Clyattville Road.

Moody AFB is going back to the drawing board for the Continue reading →

Packet: Wetland and stream credits for Kinderlou-Clyattville Road, UPS, Fire Station alterations, Moody Hydrant, Grassy Pond Utilities @ LCC 2024-07-22

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Update 2024-07-23: Southern Gateway LLC annexation, rezoning, and aquifer recharge zone on Race Track Road SE, in All Valdosta cases: 2 small and 1 big annexation and rezoning @ GLPC 2024-07-29.

The ongoing Kinderlou Clyattville Road Paving and Drainage Improvements are getting both wetland and stream credits.

[Wetland & stream credits for Kinderlou-Clyattville Road, 2 Moody AFB projects, UPS, Fire Station alterations @ LCC 2024-07-22]
Wetland & stream credits for Kinderlou-Clyattville Road, 2 Moody AFB projects, UPS, Fire Station alterations @ LCC 2024-07-22

Something that seldom happens: staff recommends rejecting a bid, this one for the Moody Hydrant Replacement Project, because the one bid “far exceeded the budgeted amount for this project.”

Staff got four bids for the Grassy Pond Utilities Replacement and recommend the low bid for almost a million dollars.

Cost What
$995,604.00Grassy Pond Utilities Replacement
$891,210.00Moody Hydrant Replacement Project
$362,662.00Alterations to Lowndes County Fire Station #10
$59,220.00Purchase of Stream Credits for PI#0016278, Kinderlou Clyattville Road Paving and Drainage Improvements
$21,389.9.00Vertiv Service Contract for the UPS at the 911 Center, Valdosta Tower and Clyattville Tower Work/Regular
$10,800.00Purchase of Wetland Credits for P1#0016278 Kinderlou Clyattville Road Paving and Drainage Improvements
$2,340,885.9.00Total

Why is the Lowndes County Commission approving bids for these two Moody AFB projects when, according to the ULDC, Moody AFB is not a “stakeholder” and was not even mentioned in the previous County Commission Regular Session as getting drafts or meetings about changes to the ULDC?

Don’t get me wrong. I think Moody needs fire hydrants and Grassy Pond needs utilities repaired after hurricane of last fall. And Moody needs the wastewater treatment plant that the county now runs. I’m just mystified why Moody AFB doesn’t count as a stakeholder.

The bulk of this week’s board packet consists of three contracts for Vertiv Service Contract for the UPS at the 911 Center, Valdosta Tower and Clyattville Tower, each a dozen pages long, with only two pages each different: order number on one page, and site number, address, and a table of what is being bought for that site and for what amount on the other.

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website. We also got a copy of the draft minutes for the previous Planning Commission meeting. I don’t know why that was included in response to a request for County Commission packet materials, but we’re publishing it anyway.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: Solid Waste Franchises, Roads, Water Main, Hospital Revenue @ LCC Work 2024-03-25

Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk made a rare appearance to answer questions about the Speed Zone Ordinance, at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session yesterday morning.

The longest item was 7.d. Georgia County Internship Program Grant for Summer 2024 Grant Period at three and a half minutes. Commissioner Joyce Evans had some questions, which were mostly inaudible.

Second longest was 4. Georgia 811 Safe Digging Month Proclamation, at more than two minutes.

County Manager Paige Dukes mentioned that people were getting frusted with Deep South Sanitation Advanced Disposal Services (ADS) customer service since it was moved upstairs to Waste Management. However, she had no suggestions for changes this year to the 7.f. Advanced Disposal Services Residential Solid Waste Franchise Renewal.

Instead of her Reports, the County Manager requested an executive session to discuss real estate transactions, and they moved into that session.

The Lowndes County Commissioners vote tonight at 5:30 PM.

[Collage @ LCC 25 March 2024]
Collage @ LCC 25 March 2024

Gretchen remarks about 7.b. Purchase of Property on Harbin Circle from Second Harvest, Continue reading →

Packet: Solid Waste Franchises, Roads, Water Main, Hospital Revenue @ LCC 2024-03-25

The two solid waste collection company franchise agreements are up for annual renewal, at the Lowndes County Commission. This time there are no changes except for dates.

Engineering is publishing a revised Speed Zone Ordinance, incorporating streets in Valdosta and Remerton.

[Packet: Solid Waste Franchises, Roads, Water Main, Hospital Revenue @ LCC 2024-03-25]
Packet: Solid Waste Franchises, Roads, Water Main, Hospital Revenue @ LCC 2024-03-25

Lowndes County Utilties is apparently getting a better price for running a sewer line on Holly Lane by doing it the same time as the Golden Oaks Subdivision installation.

That and other items run up almost a million and a half dollars this session.

Cost What
$1,082,688.00Bid for Quantity of 25 – 1/2 Ton Trucks for Various County Departments
$161,500.00Purchase of Property on Harbin Circle from Second Harvest; Short-term
$76,200.00Bid for Quantity of 60 SCBA Cylinders for the Fire Department
$63,176.00Coleman Road NW Right of Way Purchases
$42,652.50Golden Oaks Subdivision Force Main Change Order
$140.00Hospital Authority Revenue Certificates (TEFRA)
$0.00Deep South Sanitation, LLC, Residential Solid Waste Franchise Renewal, April 1, 2024
$0.00Hospital Authority Revenue Certificates
$0.00Advanced Disposal Services Residential Solid Waste Franchise Renewal, April 1, 2024
$1,426,356.50Total

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: Spring Creek Well, force main, and elevator with For Consideration and Bids from previous cancelled session @ LCC Regular 2024-02-27

In these LAKE videos of the February 27, 2024, Lowndes County Commission Regular Session, you can see they spent three minutes discussing the 6.e. Spring Creek Well Pilot Study. Everything else they breezed through.

They vote again this evening at 5:30 PM on three rezonings and other items.

[Collage @ LCC 27 February 2024]
Collage @ LCC 27 February 2024

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: Continue reading →

Videos: ULDC Text Amendment, new well, force main, and elevator with For Consideration and Bids from previous cancelled session @ LCC Work 2024-02-26

Update 2024-03-09: ULDC Text Amendment Status @ LCC 2024-03-26.

Yesterday morning at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session, they went straight into the ULDC Text Amendment. The changes County Planner J.D. Dillard discussed were not in the board packet. I have filed an open records request to get them. It’s fine that they want to be business friendly for incoming businesses, as he said. A little more friendly to we the taxpayers and voters would also be good, for example by publishing the board packet and proposed ULDC changes on the county’s own website, lowndescounty.com.

They could even put the proposed ULDC Text amendments on lowndescounty.com before they vote this evening at 5:30 PM.

[Collage @ LCC 26 February 2024]
Collage @ LCC 26 February 2024

While discussing minutes for approval, Chairman Bill Slaughter asked when the rezoning cases that were not decided two weeks ago due to the meeting being cancelled due to Commissioner illness: when will those rezoning cases be heard? Answer: March 12 there will be five rezoning cases. So apparently the old ones plus the new ones from yesterday’s Planning Commission meeting. County Manager Paige Dukes further clarified that they had to go back through the process of public announcements of the rezoning Public Hearings. Thank you, Chairman, for asking that question.

Those were the two longest items, at 3 minutes and 30 seconds and one minute and 20 seconds, each. The entire meeting took eleven minutes.

About 6.e. Spring Creek Well Pilot Study, Gretchen noted, “I hope this money comes from the enterprise fund for water and sewer and not the general fund.”

About 7.d. Golden Oaks Subdivision Force Main she noted “$100,500 to service around 30 homes. Again, I hope this is funded by the enterprise fund. Perhaps in the interest of transparency, the source of funds could be mentioned.”

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

See also Continue reading →

Packet: Missing ULDC Text Amendment, new well, force main, and elevator with For Consideration and Bids from previous cancelled session @ LCC 2024-02-26

Update 2024-02-27: Videos: ULDC Text Amendment, new well, force main, and elevator with For Consideration and Bids from previous cancelled session @ LCC Work 2024-02-26.

In the board packet Lowndes County sent this morning in response to yesterday’s LAKE open records request, there is more information on the 6.e. Spring Creek Well Pilot Study and 7.d. Golden Oaks Subdivision Force Main, including bid sheets and a contract. There was nothing additional on the third new agenda item, 7.a. Bid to Upgrade the Main Elevator at the Human Resource Building.

The ULDC Text Amendment (TXT-2024-01) Update Presentation was not included in the board packet. I have filed an open records request to get it.

[Packet: new well, force main, and elevator @ LCC 2024-02-26]
Packet: new well, force main, and elevator @ LCC 2024-02-26

Since no map was included of the Golden Oaks Subdivision, I have added one from VALORGIS. Continue reading →

Agenda: ULDC Text Amendment, new well, force main, and elevator plus For Consideration and Bids from previous cancelled session @ LCC 2024-02-26

Update 2024-02-27: Packet: Missing ULDC Text Amendment, new well, force main, and elevator with For Consideration and Bids from previous cancelled session @ LCC 2024-02-26.

Another stealth ULDC presentation heads this morning’s Work Session at the Lowndes County Commission. You will be able to see it in the LAKE videos Gretchen is taking. You won’t see it in Lowndes County’s own videos, because they no longer post video of their Work Sessions.

[Old and new items @ LCC 2024-12-26]
Old and new items @ LCC 2024-12-26

Other new items are:

Everything else is carried forward from the cancelled previous Regular Session.

But none of the rezonings were carried forward, possibly because they had to advertise the Public Hearings again. I guess they’ll handle those next month along with the new ones on tonight’s Planning Commission agenda.

Here is the agenda.

I neglected to request the board packet after the previous meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum due to Commissioner illness. However, I have included on the LAKE website the board packet items from the previous meeting’s packet.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: 3 Tax Assessors appointed, Francis Lake Warehouse $397,980, LMIG Match $133,769.41, VOCA Grant down but match up @ LCC Regular 2024-01-08

Update 2024-01-20: Packet: Appoint another Tax Assessor, Special Assessment Rate, VOCA, federal consultant @ LCC 2024-01-22.

Two weeks ago the Lowndes County Commission appointed three new Tax Assessors: Gene Felts and Thomas Reed to 3-year terms and Sandra D.S.Jones to the 4-year term. Gene Felts resigned two days later, after being sworn in but before his first Tax Assessors Meeting. They still have 12 – 3 = 9 applicants to choose from. Maybe somebody should tell them they have to take substantial hours of training after being appointed.

We the taxpayers and voters still haven’t seen the applications, which were not in that board packet. At least the appointees did show up at the meeting.

Gretchen took these LAKE videos with her iPhone. The LAKE camera is old and tired and refused to function. If anyone wants to donate so we can get a new video camera, that would be wonderful.

The added agenda item, 6.f. 412-416 North Lee Street Purchase, was apparently the result of the Executive Session in the same morning’s Work Session.

The Commissioners unanimously approved everything else with little discussion.

There was a weather report by EMA Director Ashley Tye.

[Collage @ LCC Regular 8 January 2024]
Collage @ LCC Regular 8 January 2024

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few comments by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also Continue reading →

Videos: 12 applicants for 3 Tax Assessors, Francis Lake Warehouse $397,980, LMIG Match $133,769.41, VOCA Grant down but match up @ LCC Work 2024-01-08

Update 2024-01-20: Videos: 3 Tax Assessors appointed, Francis Lake Warehouse $397,980, LMIG Match $133,769.41, VOCA Grant down but match up @ LCC Regular 2024-01-08.

Even the County Commissioners did not get to see the applications of those who applied to be Tax Assessors; not unless they trouped upstairs and asked the County Clerk.

County Manager Paige Dukes read off the dozen names of applicants and added, “Ms. Lovern has their appointment sheets in her office.” Commissioner and Vice Chair Demarcus Marshall said he wanted to see their appplications; he noted Amy Carter is a former state legislator. Chairman Bill Slaughter said “Certainly if you would like to look at those applications, you’ve got those that you can go through.” He did offer to ask Ms. Lovern to call the applicants and ask them to show up at the Regular Session.

Why the secrecy is mysterious. So far as I know, they’re the same application forms everybody fills out to apply for any board or authority. They contain the same kind of information people put on LinkedIn or even facebook, and they are usually included in the board packet, but not this time.

The County Manager said two of the Tax Assessors posts will be 3-year terms, and the third will be a 4-year term, to keep terms staggered.

[Collage @ LCC 8 January 2024]
Collage @ LCC 8 January 2024

The new Vice Chair of the Lowndes County Commission is Demarcus Marshall. Chairman Bill Slaughter thanked Mark Wisenbaker for doing that for the past year, presiding at meetings when the Chair was absent.

Demarcus Marshall wanted to know Continue reading →