Tag Archives: Valdosta

Chemical leak next to Lowndes County Schools Transportation Department

Update 2017-11-05: Word from EMA Lowndes, and how about ask the company that adopted Clay Road?

Already heard about last night on facebook, a chemical leak on Clay Rosd at Howell Road is next to the Lowndes County Schools Transportation Department. Were all those school buses affected?

Google Street View, SE Corner Clay and Howell Roads
Photo: Google street view.

Valdosta Daily Times, 3 November 2017, Chemical leak reported off Clay Road,

VALDOSTA — Lowndes County officials said late Friday a possible chemical leak located in the vicinity of Clay Road resulted in temporary road closures.

Sheriff Ashley Paulk said Continue reading →

Larry Hanson retiring as Valdosta City Manager

Congratulations, Larry Hanson.

Valdosta, PR, 1 November 2017, City Manager Larry Hanson Retires From Valdosta with Exceptional 42-Year Career: Hanson has been named the Georgia Municipal Association Executive Director

Larry Hanson will retire from the City of Valdosta, effective Dec. 8 after 42 years of public service, 22 of which he served as the Valdosta City Manager. Hanson will assume his new role as the Georgia Municipal Association Executive Director, where he will oversee the advocacy, training and various programs for more than 500 Georgia cities.

Hanson is the 10th and longest-serving city manager for the City of Valdosta, where he oversees Continue reading →

B&B, Church, Office, Home @ GLPC 2017-10-30

Three small rezonings in Valdosta and Lake Park, plus a 44.97 acre office rezoning by Arrow Engineering in Lowndes County: this could be one of the briefest and least contentious Planning Commission meetings ever.

Or not. Lowndes County Tax Assessors say that 44.97 acre parcel is owned by PINE RIDGE DEVELOPERS LLC, 105 CYPRESS ESTATES PARKWAY, INGRAM, TX 78025. They also own 108.68 acres on the north side of Naylor.

Parcel 0186 078, Pine Ridge Developers LLC
Parcel 0186 078, Pine Ridge Developers LLC, Dasher Johnson Road and Howell Road.

Here’s the agenda.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission Continue reading →

Videos: KLVB appointment, Stafford Wright Road R.I.P., GEFA, pumps, and dollars @ LCC 2017-10-23

They vote today at 5:30 PM. At yeasterday morning’s Work Session, Commissioner Scottie Orenstein, the current Vice Chair, presided in the absence of the Chair. Chairman Bill Slaughter was in Atlanta on his way to D.C. The Vice Chair said what they were not going to cover until the Regular Session, which was unusual: 8.f. GEFA Loan Agreement. Also at the end he mentioned Citizens Wishing to be Heard is in the Tuesday evening meeting.

Below are links to each LAKE video, with a very few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda and the notes I put in that previous post. Continue reading →

KLVB appointment, Stafford Wright Road R.I.P., GEFA, pumps, and dollars @ LCC 2017-10-23

To replace Molly Stoltz on KLVB (she moved), they will appoint either Adam Floyd or Kyle Rudrow, discussing Monday morning and voting Tuesday evening.

Between Valdosta at Cherry Creek Road and the Skipper Bridge Road McDonalds, Google Map

Years ago I tried to explain to people on Stafford Wright Road that if the county ever paved that road, it wouldn’t be for the current residents. Now it’s getting a water main with paving. The county only ever runs water to places it plans to have subdivisions. Enjoy your quiet country road while you can, old-time residents. You’re about to be displaced for an expansion of “Central Lowndes County” west of Skipper Bridge Road and north of Cherry Creek.

Lowndes County has been approved for a GEFA Loan Agreement submitted in December 2016, for upgrades at the Land Application Site (LAS) and lift stations. It’s not clear whether that includes the purchase of Continue reading →

Videos: Naylor Boat Ramp and Appointments to Public Facilities Authority @ LCC 2017-10-10

By far the most time, almost eight minutes, on 6b. Abandonment of Portions of Old Lake Park Road and Hickory Grove Road SE, the Lowndes County Commissioners spent two weeks ago, involving reference to minutes they approved in that meeting but that still aren’t on the county’s website two weeks later, and resulting in a split vote.

More interesting: the county is finally starting construction on the Naylor Boat Ramp.

By their customary silent “acclamation” they appointed people to the Lowndes County Public Facilities Authority.

Below are Continue reading →

Videos: Curfew resolution second reading @ VCC 2016-10-05

Last Thursday the Valdosta City Council asked “every police officer, civilian and sworn” to come up front for 2a. Special Presentation of the CALEA Law Enforcement Accreditation Award, which took more than 15 minutes. That item alone was longer than yesterday’s entire Lowndes County Commission meeting.

Like the County Commission, the City Council apparently thinks silence is acclamation, at least for their minutes. They did at least actually vote on going into executive session to discuss real estate.

They did not vote on the Loitering Ordinance amendments because there will be a third reading. There will also be a third VPD Community Forum to discuss Proposed Curfew Ordinance, 8PM, Thursday, October 12, 2017, at Morningside Baptist Church. They have gotten some feedback already. They got more from a citizen who wished to be heard. Sorry I didn’t get her name: the city’s sound is very muddy. She seemed to recommend after-school programs and jobs intead of a curfew. She said we need to support the parents. Roy Taylor Sr. said something similar. John Robinson recommended building the community with jobs and activities. Elsie Napier talked about community grants.

Unlike the county, the city uses Continue reading →

Curfew resolution second reading @ VCC 2016-10-05

The big item is the controversial teen curfew, first discussed in August, twice, and negotiated in September between the police chief and the city manager, according to WALB.

VPD Chief Brian K. Childress

According to WCTV, it was Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress who originally proposed this curfew, but apparently the city manager had more draconian ideas.

Here’s the agenda. Continue reading →

Videos: Public Facilities Authority, Health Fair @ LCC 2017-10-09

The longest item was not on the agenda: a Health Fair Update in the County Manager’s Report.

They breezed through everything else including 5 a. Lowndes County Public Facilities Authority Appointment, although the Chairman did have another name to propose.

Below are links to the LAKE video of each item, plus a very few notes, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also Continue reading →

Videos: Ten cases @ ZBOA 2017-10-03

A backlog since June is a lot of cases, and in the interests of time I have not watched the whole thing; instead I’m posting now. A Summary of Actions should appear soon on the Valdosta website for the decision-making Zoning Board of Appeals. See also the agenda and board packet, is which is on the LAKE website, courtesy of ZBOA member Gretchen Quarterman. Gretchen also set up the LAKE video camera behind the board this time. Links to the two LAKE videos appear below, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

Continue reading →