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
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
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]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-08-10--lcc-work-videos/2026-08-10--partnership-health-center.jpg)
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
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.
Here are LAKE videos of the July 28, 2026, Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.
See also the Continue reading
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 |
|---|---|
| $1,808,850.75 | 2026 Local Maintenance and Improvements Grant (LMIG) Local Road Assistance (LRA) Resurfacing Bids |
| $64,302.26 | Jail Skylight Replacement |
| $62,440.00 | Jail Door Locking Control System Replacement |
| $1,935,593.01 | Total |
![[Collage @ LCC Packet 2026-08-10]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-08-10--lcc-packet/many.jpg)
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
Continue reading
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
Update 2026-08-08: Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28.
Update 2026-07-28: Links to three documents cited in the draft Comprehensive Plan.
Update 2026-07-28: Datacenter meeting after Lowndes County Commission Regular Session 2026-07-28.
The draft 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update has appeared on the county’s own website, lowndescounty.com. See below for how that happened.
Below are LAKE videos of the Monday morning Work Session of the Lowndes County Commission, July 27, 2026, with some notes by John S. Quarterman. They vote at 5:30 PM this evening, Tuesday, in their Regular Session.
Don’t forget the
second page of the agenda says,
“There will be an information sharing session to address data center ordinance considerations following the adjournment of the regular meeting.”http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/2026/07/datacenter-meeting-after-lowndes-county-commission-regular-session-2026-07-28.html”>separate post.
More on that in a
![[Comprehensive Plan Update, Appts to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Work Session 2026-07-27]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-07-27--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
Comprehensive Plan Update, Appts to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Work Session 2026-07-27
Monday morning I was experimenting with an external microphone, which does seem to work better, although with quite a bit of hiss.
See also the agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request.
After the meeting, I mentioned to County Planner JD Dillard and County Attorney G. Walter Elliott that the draft Comprehensive Plan Update is not on the county website, so how can citizens know what to say in the Public Hearing 6.a. 2026 Comprehensive Plan Transmittal? Continue reading
Update 2026-07-28: Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments to VLPRA and Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening @ LCC Work 2026-07-27.
According to page 2 of the agenda, “There will be an information sharing session to address data center ordinance considerations following the adjournment of the regular meeting.” That’s the 5:30 PM, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission, on the second floor of 327 N. Ashley Street, Valdosta, GA.
The draft Comprehensive Plan Update recommends under Intergovernmental Coordination Needs, “Strengthen transparency and communication between officials, staff, and the public”
And under Opportunities & Existing Resources, “Most of the local governments already use their websites and social media platforms to disseminate critical information and educational content.”
What draft Comprehensive Plan Update? The 300-page draft in the board packet for this week’s Lowndes County Commission meeting.
The draft that is nowhere on lowndescounty.com that I can find. So you get to see it only because LAKE got it via an open records request.
The irony.
![[Collage, Packet @ LCC 2026-07-28]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-07-27--lcc-packet/many.jpg)
Collage, Packet @ LCC 2026-07-28
It’s amusing that LAKE is not mentioned in that draft, but multiple LAKE images are used, at least one of them credited in the image itself.
After their Monday morning Work Session, at their Tuesday Evening voting Regular Session, the Lowndes County Commission will reappoint Suzan Garnett to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority (VLPRA) and will appoint to replace Timothy McCoppin one of these candidates: Mr. Brent Moore, Mr. Herb Reinhard, Mr. Timothy McCoppin, and Mr. Broc McDowell.
Recently they appointed William Booth to the Lowndes County Library System Board of Trustees, but since discovered he does not live in Lowndes County. Debra Carruth and Sarah FitzGerald are candidates.
The two usual suspects bid for $5,039,798.50 widening of Hickory Grove Road and Skipper Bridge Road, and Scruggs bid below Reames.
Getting into real money, Resurfacing Batch 1 P.I. # 0020532 will include resurfacing 36 county roads, with a budget of $13,134,000.00.
These road projects are apparently all to be paid for by funds from the Georgia Transportation Investment Act (TIA).
Here is the agenda:
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Continue reading
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JULY 27, 2026, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Update 2026-07-09: Draft Minutes: Lowndes County small subdivision and communications tower, Valdosta doublewide and contractor office @ GLPC 2026-06-29.
Update 2026-07-08: Work Session Monday or Tuesday? @ LCC 2026-07-14.
The Greater Lowndes Planning Commissioners (GLPC) approved everything unanimously, except for three split votes: on the proposed communications tower in Langdale Park (see below), on a CUP for a mobile home in a single-family residential zoning district in Valdosta (see below), and on setback variances at Exit 29 in Hahira (see below).
https://youtu.be/xjF9ymuajvE?si=08W6F1_phjUJhfwl
See also Packet: 4 Dasher @ GLPC 2026-06-29.
there was quite a bit of discussion about use of a dirt road but applicant said that they never used the dirt road because there are two paved access lanes to the parcel.
https://youtu.be/uyopRnx4WzI?si=5ZMwLURg93vwcUm4
![[4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County, w. comm. tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira, @ GLPC 2026-06-29]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2026-06-29--glpc-videos/many.jpg)
4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County, w. comm. tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira, @ GLPC 2026-06-29
I was the only speaker in opposition. My main point was that county staff had not supplied information in a timely manner so that the public, or even the Planning Commissioners, would have adequate time to consider the evidence. Plus according to conformance with the ULDC, which is what staff said the Commissioners were supposed to be evaluating, the tower does not fit in Langdale Park. For my points, see Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29.
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/?p=25853
They did recommend approval, but with a split vote, 5 to 2.
https://youtu.be/djKNudEhsSw?si=FUQuYHyMoPXktGlY
See also Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29.
Gretchen Quarterman spoke in favor, in addition to the applicant. Gretchen also noted: Continue reading
Update 2026-07-06: Videos: 4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County inc. comm. tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira @ GLPC 2026-06-29.
Here is some information about the Verizon Wireless proposed communications tower in Langdale Park, that was missing from the board packet for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) meeting on June 29, 2026.
There are still more missing pieces that are required by the county’s own Unified Land Development Code (ULDC):
GLPC recommended approval of TWR-2026-02, but only by a split vote: LAKE videos to come.
The Lowndes County Commission will decide at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
![[Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2026-06-29--glpc-tower-packet/many.jpg)
Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29
The tower would be a stone’s throw from the main trail kiosk, at 30.885908, -83.320453, and right next to White Trail A, which many citizens helped clear of Hurricane Helene deadfalls.
Thanks to Jason Davenport, consultant for Lowndes County Planning, who sent this additional information in the morning before the meeting. He was responding to a followup I sent after the initial county response to the LAKE open records request of the previous Tuesday. My followup request was a brief version of the discrepencies I noted in the LAKE post with the previously-received TWR-2026-02 board packet materials. Continue reading
Update 2026-07-04: Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29.
You can see in these packet materials how the four Dasher items are related, in the agenda for the Monday, June 29, 2026, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).
![[Packet: 4 Dasher @ GLPC 2026-06-29, All related, On US 41 S]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2026-06-29--glpc-dasher-packet/igmany.jpg)
Packet: 4 Dasher @ GLPC 2026-06-29, All related, On US 41 S
It took a while for them to arrive, since it was not obvious who was the contact or how to contact them. Now that that’s sorted, next time should be easier.
These GLPC board packet materials, received in response to a LAKE open records request, are on the LAKE website. Images of each page are below.
Also, after the GLPC meeting, Dasher put these materials on its own city webs ite. Now if they’ll just do that before the meeting, and if Lowndes County, Valdosta, Hahira, etc., will do the same, nobody will have to play this open records request game.
See also the Continue reading
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.
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: R-21 to E-A rezoning, Jail door lock & skylight @ LCC Work, Subdivision Infrastructure & LMIG, Partnership Health Center 2026-08-10]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-08-10--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
![[Videos: Comprehensive Plan Update, Appointments: VLPRA & Library Board, Road Resurfacing and Widening, @ LCC Regular 2026-07-28]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-07-28--lcc-regular-videos/fbmany.jpg)
![[Collage: Datacenter, Craig Center, Alcohol Ordinance, DFACS, DUI, Accountability, Juveniles, Camelot Crossing Infrastructure, Email Software @ LCC Regular 2026-06-23]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2026-06-23--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)