Tag Archives: Water

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 →

All Valdosta cases: 2 small and 1 big annexation and rezoning @ GLPC 2024-07-29

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On Bemiss Road, the storage facility and the “event center called the “Enchanted Hall” that specializes in weddings, quincenaras, and family reunions, with an anticipated overall seating capacity of about 160 people,” seem unremarkable in next week’s agenda for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

[Two small Valdosta items and an annexation and rezoning @ GLPC 2024-07-29]
Two small Valdosta items and an annexation and rezoning @ GLPC 2024-07-29

For the Southern Gateway annexation and rezoning south of the airport, you can see a pond in the Aerial Location Map. 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: Budget, Court Grants, Stream Credits, Debris, Insurance, Vac-Trailer @ LCC Regular 2024-06-25

Commmissioner Demarcus Marshall asked what were the criteria for selecting firms for the 5.e. Pre-Event Debris Removal Contracts, at the Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission, June 25, 2024.

He also wondered about the timeline for 6.a. Bid for a Vac-Trailer for the Utilities Department.

Those and all the other items passed unanimously.

In her report, County Manager Paige Dukes said the Board of Tax Assessors had received 130 appeals for agricultural assessments.

There was one Citizen Wishing to Be Heard, Marcelle Rosbury of Enoch Lake Circle in Lake Park. She seemed to be complaining about road maintenance.

[Collage @ LCC 25 June 2024]
Collage @ LCC 25 June 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 the Continue reading →

Videos: Budget, Court Grants, Stream Credits, Debris, Insurance, Vac-Trailer @ LCC Work 2024-06-24

Update 2024-07-07: Videos: Budget, Court Grants, Stream Credits, Debris, Insurance, Vac-Trailer @ LCC Regular 2024-06-25.

Lowndes County Commissioners had a few questions about 5.ef. Pre-Event Debris Removal/Monitoring Contracts, in their Work Session of June 24, 2024. The removal and monitoring items were presented together. FEMA requires a monitoring firm to make sure the debris removal firms do the right thing.

FYI, a Vac-Trailer is like a vac truck, but it’s smaller and can get into more places (for sucking up sewage spills).

At the end the Chairman requested an executive session to discuss personnel. That’s interesting, because as noted years ago in a Commission meeting, the Commissioners only have one personnel. Everybody else reports up to the County Manager.

[Collage @ LCC Work Session 24 June 2024]
Collage @ LCC Work Session 24 June 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 the Continue reading →

Packet: Budget, Court Grants, Stream Credits, Debris, Insurance, Vac-Trailer @ LCC 2024-06-24

A million dollars, mostly for property and liability insurance, is on the agenda for the Lowndes County Commission at its Work Session Monday morning at 8:30 AM and it’s voting Regular Session Tuesday at 5:30 PM.

[Collage @ LCC Packet 2024-06-24]
Collage @ LCC Packet 2024-06-24

That and approving the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Since you didn’t go to the budget hearing week before last, you missed your only chance to comment to them in public before they approve the budget.

Cost What
$951,301.00Request for Proposals (RFP) for Property & Liability Insurance
$96,110.00Bid for a Vac-Trailer for the Utilities Department
$51,300.00Purchase of Stream Credits for Pl # 0016279, Coleman Road NW Paving and Drainage Improvements
$35,354.00Lowndes County Accountability Court Grant Approval and Cash Match
$26,343.00Lowndes County DUI Court Grant Award and Match Approval
$15,000.00Lowndes County Juvenile Accountability Court (LCJAC)
$1,175,408.00Total

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, JUNE 24, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Agenda: Budget, Personal Care Home, streets and transit, 2 sewer repairs @ VCC 2024-06-06

Nobody attended the First Hearing of the proposed FY 2025 Valdosta Budget, so Thursday is your last chance, at the Second Hearing, at the Valdosta City Council meeting.

[Agenda: Budget, sewers, Personal Care Home, streets, and transit @ VCC 2024-06-06]
Agenda: Budget, sewers, Personal Care Home, streets, and transit @ VCC 2024-06-06

That budget includes a pending $67 million bond for water and sewer projects, with interest to be paid from the Water and Sewer Revenue Fund.

The agenda also includes a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a Personal Care Home, two street resurfacing projects, an amendment to the contract for the on-call transport cars, and two sewer repair projects.

Here is the agenda.

See also the preceding Planning Commission meeting.

AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE VALDOSTA CITY COUNCIL
5:30 PM Thursday, June 6, 2024
CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS

  1. Opening Ceremonies
    1. Call to Order
    2. Invocation
    3. Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag
  2. Minutes Approval
    1. The Minutes from the May 9, 2024 Regular Meeting and the May 15, 2024 Special Called Meeting are forthcoming.
  3. Public Hearings
    1. Public Hearing for the Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. (Second Hearing)
    2. Consideration of an Ordinance for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a Family Personal Care Home in a Single-Family Residential (R-6) Zoning District as requested by Roche Kempson (File No. CU-2024-04). The property is located at 1206 West Magnolia Street. The Planning Commission reviewed this at their May 20, 2024 Regular Meeting and recommended approval subject to four conditions (5-0 Vote).
  4. Ordinances and Resolutions
    1. Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the execution of a Contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation for the Patterson Street Resurfacing and Utility Adjustments Project.
  5. Bids, Contracts, Agreements and Expenditures
    1. Consideration of bids for the resurfacing of streets in the City of Valdosta through the SPLOST VIII Funding and GDOT Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant.
    2. Consideration of a request to amend the Contract with River North Transit, LLC and extend Via On-Demand Transportation Services for the City of Valdosta.
  6. Local Funding and Requests
    1. Consideration of a request to authorize payment for an emergency bypass and sewer repairs on Pebblewood Drive.
    2. Consideration of a request to authorize payment for Phase III final billing for emergency sewer repairs at Knights Creek near the intersection of U. S. Highway 84 and Blanchard Street.
  7. Citizens to be Heard
  8. City Manager’s Report
  9. Council Comments
  10. Adjournment

-jsq

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Videos: Hospital Authority appointment, 6 rezonings, paving and resurfacing, subdision infrastructure, probationers @ LCC Regular 2024-05-14

An hour-long Regular Session is very unusual for the Lowndes County Commission. Much of it was taken up by two rezonings: REZ-2024-08 on River Road (10:43) and REZ-2024-09 Dasher Grove Subdivision (12:24). For River Road, the applicant discussed setbacks and fire trucks and answered Commissioner questions about house prices and lot sizes. For Dasher Grove, Commissioner questions were mostly about how many lots and when T-SPLOST road work on Val Del Road would take place. Remember, that road work is your tax dollars going to subsidize subdivisions.

Nobody spoke against those rezonings nor against any of the others. All the rezonings and everything else passed unanimously, including they reappointed Hospital Authority incumbent Shirley Garland as expected.

[Collage @ LCC Regular 14 May 2024]
Collage @ LCC Regular 14 May 2024

There was discussion about the apparent price rise by 8.b. Pronto Consulting for Software as a Service to manage probationers. It is actually just that Pronto started with a discount, and this time is not supplying a discount. The total undiscounted amount was always in the county budget.

In Citizens Wishing to Be Heard, Mark Perkins of Lake Park had some questions about the burn ordinance.

Also, Representative John LaHood (R-175) was recognized by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) for his work on legislation regarding Service Delivery Strategies.

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 →

Packet: Proposed Annual Budget, City of Valdosta, FY 2025, for Budget Meeting 2024-05-22

In this Proposed Annual Budget for the City of Valdosta Budget Meeting Wednesday afternoon, 3-8 PM, there are two bond series, one refinancing, the other new, both for water and sewer improvements.

Apparently the city has previously financed more than $32 million in loans from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), and last year floated a bond at a lower interest rate for about $22 million still to be paid.

Even more interesting, if I am reading it correctly, this budget proposes a new bond for $67 million.

Maybe the Valdosta City government is getting more serious about fixing their sewer system problems.

This is all in addition to the water and sewer improvements paid for by Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) line items, by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, or from other revenue; see below.

[Extracts, Proposed FY 2025 City of Valdosta Budget]
Extracts, Proposed FY 2025 City of Valdosta Budget

W&S 2020 Bond Series

  • Purpose: Refinance GEFA notes at a lower interest rate
  • Maturity Date: 2033
  • Original Principal Amount: $32,134,000; July 1, 2023, Principal Outstanding $22,264,065
  • Interest Rate: 2.29%
  • Funding Source: Water and Sewer Revenue Fund

Pending for FY 25 – estimate
W&S 2024 Bond Series

  • Purpose: Upgrades Water and Sewer
  • Maturity Date: 2054
  • Original Principal Amount: $67,000,000; July 1, 2023, Principal Outstanding $67,000,000
  • Interest Rate: 4.5%
  • Funding Source: Water and Sewer Revenue Fund

See page 49, Debt Service, FY 2025, City of Valdosta. Continue reading →

Videos: Hospital Authority appointment, 6 rezonings, paving and resurfacing, subdision infrastructure, probationers @ LCC Work 2024-05-13

Update 2024-05-27: Videos: Hospital Authority appointment, 6 rezonings, paving and resurfacing, subdision infrastructure, probationers @ LCC Regular 2024-05-14.

This Work Session was long by Lowndes County Commission standards, more than half an hour.

[Collage @ LCC 13 May 2024]
Collage @ LCC 13 May 2024

Almost half of that, 13 and a half minutes, was on 7.c. REZ-2024-08 River Road, 4374 River Road, mostly about spacing between houses and fire risk.

Another five minutes was on 7.d. REZ-2024-09 Dasher Grove, about the timeline for Val Del Road improvements.

Notice the Val Del Road improvements are TIA projects, which means tax-paid road improvements to benefit a private developer. Yet this and other such rezonings appear in the agenda as “BUDGET IMPACT: NA”.

Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker asked if the packet materials could be projected on the screen for 6.a. Appointment – Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County. ITS Director Aaron Kostyu said he did not have the ability to do that.

Well, the County Planner manages to project all the materials for the rezonings. Why can’t the ITS Director project materials for other board agenda items?

Or the County Commissioners can look at the LAKE website, I suppose.

Or county staff could put the board packet on the county’s own website.

Either way, the Commissioners could use the Internet to look at it on their tablets.

The Commissioners could just direct staff to put the packet on the county’s website.

Commissioners also had some questions about why the increases in Continue reading →