There was weeping, when Georgia Beer Company got approval to lease to own the former Valdosta waterworks.
![[Some crying from the applicants]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/vlcia/2018-02-07--vlcia-videos/gabeercoshot0009.jpg)
Some crying from the applicants
Here are LAKE videos of what happened at the Special Called Meeting of the Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority, February 7, 2018, and a few stills, followed by a LAKE video playlist, and some pictures of the subject property then and after opening.
They added two items to the agenda they didn’t even mention in the previous morning’s Work Session: purchase of some real estate on Davidson Road near Moody Air Force Base, and “just compensation” for right of way on Simpson Road.
Wait a minute! For ten years we’ve been told the county no longer buys rights of way: if you want your road paved, you have to donate the right of way. So why this exception? And why sneak it in like this?
Will Kamisha Martin get paid for right of way if the county paves Black Road? Will Rev. Berlinda Hart Love get paid for right of way if the county paves Williams School Road? They were the two citizens who were heard.
Not on the agenda were Continue reading
Longest Monday morning was Chief Ranger Stephen Spradley’s Georgia Forestry report, a copy of which, scanned by Gretchen, is on the LAKE website.
Second longest was Chairman Bill Slaughter’s comments, in which he listed four upcoming events: Continue reading
It’s the end of an era at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA), excuse me, the Development Authority, now that Roy Copeland declined to be reappointed. To his joint-appointment position, Valdosta appointed Aneesha Johnson, and the Lowndes County Commission may confirm Tuesday.
DuPont Valdosta Plant Names Johnson New Plant Manager,
Valdosta Today, 29 June 2015.
In Monday morning’s Work Session, they will also consider abandoning the end of Reed Road (presumably the part that runs down to the Withlacoochee River), and ending the hay lease (presumably on the county’s Land Application Site). Chief Ranger Stephen Spradley of Georgia Forestry will say a few words. They vote Tuesday at 5:30 PM.
Here’s the agenda.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Continue reading
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2018, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
On their agenda for tomorrow are bonds for Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe.
Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority
Continue reading
Tuesday, February 20, 2018, 5:30 PM
Development Authority Conference Room/103 Roosevelt Drive
Monthly Meeting Agenda
In an outbreak of transparency and due diligence in the last Lowndes County Commission of 2017,
they took ten minutes
replacing Mary Goodman
on the
Industrial Authority,
hearing from three nominees, and appointing Brad Folsom.
They took three and a half minutes to choose among three nominees
to the
Tourism Authority
to appoint
Robert Jefferson.
None of those nominees spoke, but the vote was so split
they actually had a runoff, which ended in a 3:2 final vote.
They also reappointed Joyce Evans by silent “acclamation”.
Leadership Lowndes spoke for 12 minutes (as long as three citizens get), citizen Willie Mae Jones wanted to know what next to get her Black Road paved, and County Engineer Mike Fletcher said the signatures were verified as 84% of the property owners on the road, so it would go on the paving list with the 74 projects already on there. Chairman Bill Slaughter actually asked for Commissioner comments, and each of them said a few words, mostly thanks to the staff and Merry Christmas. Chairman Bill Slaughter even thanked citizens for coming to the meetings. Merry Christmas, Commissioners!
The longest rezoning public hearing was REZ-2017-13 Quattlebaum-Meadors, N Valdosta RD, R-21 to C-H.
Below are Continue reading
Update 2019-07-21: LAKE videos and still pictures.
Alcohol and the economy, on the agenda for this morning’s Special Called Meeting of the Development Authority. I think I’ll go to see Brad Folsom as the new Mary Gooding.
Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority
Agenda/Special Called Meeting
Wednesday, February 7, 2018, 11:30 am
Industrial Authority Conference Room
103 Roosevelt DriveCall to Order
- For the purpose of voting on amended Economic Development Agreement and Lease Agreement for GA Beer Company
Adjourn Special Called Meeting
Georgia Beer Company’s website says “We are not open for business yet”, but its contact page says “Say hello to the first Georgia brewery in Valdosta.” They also have a facebook page. Neither of which says where they will be located. So, VLCIA, in one of your numerous mostly-empty business parks, or elsewhere?
Looks like GA Beer Co. had a kickstarter fundraiser a couple of years ago, which says they all met at VSU.
Presumably this is the same Community and Economic Development Strategy recently approved by the Lowndes County Commission.
-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!
They vote this evening on what you can see them discussing yesterday morning in
these LAKE videos of the Lowndes County Commission Work Session.
The longest business item was not even a minute and a half on
REZ-2017-12 West Ridge Business Park.
By far the longest item was not on the agenda: 11. Reports – County Manager a. Steve Gupton- LODAC Presentation, about a local drug counseling organization, originally private, but for long now funded by Valdosta and Lowndes County plus grants. As one of the presenters noted, probably only Commissioner Joyce Evans was thoroughly familiar with LODAC.
Below are Continue reading
A very busy agenda this morning, including the controversial REZ-2017-14 Cothron, Tucker Rd rezoning.
They’ll probably reappoint Commissioner Joyce Evans and Gerone Anderson to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority, although Robert Jefferson and Ellen Hill have also applied.
Mary Gooding is retiring from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development (Industrial) Authority, and four people have applied: Ed Hightower Jr., Brad Folsom, John (Mac) McCall (currently on ZBOA) and Giovanni Panizzi.
Nevermind the REZ-2017-12 West Ridge Business Park rezoning had nothing to do with the Industrial Authority that I know of.
No meeting would be complete without Continue reading
Maybe ask the company that adopted Clay Road? Response yesterday from the EMA Lowndes facebook page:
Hi, as a point of clarification emergency personnel responded to reports of an odor; however, after thorough investigation no evidence of a chemical leak or release could be identified or confirmed. As a precaution, the Board of Education property was accessed by responders. No evidence of contamination was present. A follow up visit to the area later this morning reports the odor was no longer present.
Thank you, EMA Lowndes, for responding, and on a weekend, too.
However, people couldn’t get home that night.
Adopt-A-Street ADM, Clay Road north from Howell Road
google street view.
I still think it would be good to check with nearby industry. Maybe start with Continue reading