Tag Archives: Water

VLPRA & DFCS appointments, two rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 million Fire Rescue @ LCC 2025-06-09

Update 2025-06-10: Videos: VLPRA & DFCS appointments, two rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 million Fire Rescue @ LCC Work 2025-06-09.

Vincent Miller wants to be reappointed to the Parks and Rec Board. Lynn Orenstein would like to be reappointed to the board of Lowndes County Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Samuel Clemons has applied to be on each of those boards.

Plus almost $6 million dollars will be decided this week by the Lowndes County Commission, for a pump truck and a station for Fire Rescue.

[VLPRA & DFCS appointments, 2 rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 M Fire Rescue @ LCC 2025-06-09]
VLPRA & DFCS appointments, 2 rezonings, Hazard Mitigation, $1 million Custom Pumper, $4.7 M Fire Rescue @ LCC 2025-06-09

Cost What
$4,767,660.00A New Facility for Lowndes County Fire Rescue No. 4
$1,063,876.64Purchase of one (1) Sutphen Heavy Duty Custom Pumper
$21,000.00Service Agreement with SGRC to Perform Hazard Mitigation
$5,852,536.64Total

About the Purchase of one (1) Sutphen Heavy Duty Custom Pumper: Continue reading →

Videos: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC Regular 2025-04-08

The Tuesday evening Regular Session two weeks ago took 28 minutes, 5 of which were a Citizen Wishing to be Heard: 10. CWTBH – Brian Cosey – 4881 Newton Circle – dangerous dogs. He was actually speaking for three people.

[Collage @ LCC 8 April 2025]
Collage @ LCC 8 April 2025

The Lowndes County Commissioners did not repeat 4. Georgia 811 Safe Digging Month Proclamation. For that, you’ll need to see the LAKE videos of the preceding Work Session.

There was some Commissioner discussion of the first of the three rezonings, but all three breezed through unanimously, as did everything else.

Once again, the item with the longest discussion, this time 2.5 minutes, was 8.a. Alapaha Plantation Water Treatment Plant New Wells – Water Main Ext.

Commissioner Scottie Orenstein wanted to know when.

Answer from Utilities Director Steve Stalvey: “We’re ready to roll” on approval.

He also wanted to know when it would be finished.

Answer: It’s a 180-day project. Within 3 or 4 months of completion we will know if we need to do a nanocompression or not.

Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked about the Consent Order.

Answer: I couldn’t make out the answer.

Paige Dukes in 9. Reports – County Manager said the county’s hurricane debris collection program is finished.

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

See also the LAKE videos of the preceding Work Session and the agenda and board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request.

See also the board packet and LAKE videos for the preceding GLPC meeting.

Here is the LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiHashqrEifx8y43B9CUY_5-&si=duQqM6Qu3sQv7p75

-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!
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/donate

Videos: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC Work 2025-04-07

Update 2025-04-21: Videos: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC Regular 2025-04-08.

The Monday morning Work Session took 17 minutes.

Several minutes of that were for 4. Georgia 811 Safe Digging Month Proclamation. Turns out you can call 811 and they will come locate your water, sewer, and electrical lines, even if you put them in.

The county’s visual system was not working for the first two rezonings, but you can see many of the visuals in the board packet as provided by LAKE through open records request.

The longest item at almost 3 minutes was for 8.b. Alapaha Plantation Water Treatment Plant New Wells – Water Main Extension. As Gretchen noted, “To be paid out of SPLOST funds. No guarantee that this will work.
Wells are to be 600 feet deep and further away from the river.
There could still be river water infiltration.”

The Lowndes County Commission voted this evening at 5:30 PM; videos to come.

[Collage @ LCC 7 April 2025]
Collage @ LCC 7 April 2025

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

See also the Continue reading →

Packet: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC 2025-04-07

Update 2025-04-08: Videos: Three rezonings, three tax items, Sheriff Office and Water Wells bids @ LCC Work 2025-04-07.

This week’s agenda for the Lowndes County Commission looks long (and the board packet is 90 pages), but I predict everything will get approved unanimously in little time.

[Collage: LCC Packet 2025-04-07]
Collage: LCC Packet 2025-04-07

The three rezonings had no opposition at the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC), which recommended all three unanimously.

The three tax items are thoroughly supported by evidence.

The county is not going to not pay for the repairs already done to the hurricane damage at the Sheriff’s office.

And the county has to drill two new water wells for Alapaha Plantation because of a Consent Order from GA-EPD.

Here is the agenda.

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

See also the board packet for the preceding GLPC meeting.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: 911 Center Award, Appointment to 7 Rivers RC&D, Network Hardware, and Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC Regular 2025-03-25

Once again the Special Recognition – E911 Center Award, this time up front, added several minutes to an otherwise brief meeting on a light agenda, for the Lowndes County Commission Regular Session Tuesday evening.

[Collage @ LCC 25 March 2025]
Collage @ LCC 25 March 2025

About 5.a. Seven Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc., Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker said he had asked the incumbent, Jake Price, who said Corey Milirons was a good candidate. So the Commissioners appointed him.

They approved everything else unanimously as well.

For the 6.b. Advanced Dispoal Services Residential Solid Waste Franchise Renewal, Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked about price increases.

Answer from Kevin L. Beals: not-to-exceed price is already set to $25 back in 2023. Current cost is $20/month and neither franchisee is asking for any raise.

Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker asked if the two franchisees are aware they are not supposed to start collecting before 7 AM.

Answer: it’s in their agreement, and if they do, contact Mr. Beals to get them to stop.

In 7. Reports – County Manager – Chairman gave comments, County Manager Bill Slaughter said County Manager Paige Dukes was in Atlanta “clearing the path for us” to be recognized in the state House and Senate for the county’s 200th anniversary.

One Citizen was heard, 8. CWTBH – Brittany Bayshore 5630 Emily Lane Home School event invitation.

Below are links to each LAKE video, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session and agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request. Continue reading →

Videos: 911 Center Award, Appointment to 7 Rivers RC&D, Network Hardware, and Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC Work 2025-03-24

Update 2025-03-29: Videos: 911 Center Award, Appointment to 7 Rivers RC&D, Network Hardware, and Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC Regular 2025-03-25.

An additional item within another, 7. Reports – County Manager – recognition of 911 center award, added 4 minutes to an otherwise brief meeting on a light agenda, for the Lowndes County Commission Work Session yesterday morning.

[Collage @ LCC 24 March 2025]
Collage @ LCC 24 March 2025

They vote this evening at 5:30 PM.

Below are links to each LAKE video, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request. Continue reading →

Videos: Opt out of HB 581 and increase local homestead exemptions, Accountability Court Grant and truck for Magistrate Court @ LCC Regular 2025-02-25

The Lowndes County Commission added two important agenda items early in their February 25, 2025, meeting: 5.b. Vote on opting out of HB-581 and 5.c. Resolution to increase local homestead exemption. They approved both unanimously, although there is more to do at the state level; see below for that.

But why did the Commissioners wait until this meeting to add those items, when they’ve known for many weeks they would have to vote on them?

[Collage @ LCC 25 February 2025]
Collage @ LCC 25 February 2025

They unanimously approved the few other items.

Can somebody explain why the County Manager does not provide a written report? I, for one, cannot remember all the stuff she runs through in a few minutes. She is clearly reading from notes. She could just make at least a bullet list, or have one of her assistants do so.

One citizen spoke: 8. CWTBH – Kelly Saxon – flooding, hurricane recovery, cooperation.

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: One Valdosta case, for VLDA @ GLPC 2025-02-24

There was only one case at the February 24, 2025, Planning Commission meeting: 3. CU-2025-03 VLDCA – 1804 Bimbo QSR Blvd Plastics: Manufacturing in M-1. The attending Commissioners unanimously recommended approval.

[Collage @ LCC 24 May 2025]
Collage @ LCC 24 May 2025

The agenda was so light that three Greater Lowndes Planning Commissioners did not show up, including the Chair. Vice-Chair James Miller presided.

Here are LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the agenda and board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request. The Valdosta Mayor and City Council already decided this case at its March 6, 2025, Regular Meeting. The City has not published its minutes of that meeting yet, so we do not know the outcome. But I’m betting they unanimously approved it. Continue reading →

Appointment to 7 Rivers RC&D, Network Hardware, and Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC 2025-03-24

It’s a light agenda for the Lowndes County Commission this week, with one board appointment, one request for replacement for various end-of-life network hardware, and renewal of the two solid waste franchises to Advanced Disposal Services and Deep South Sanitation. The only BUDGET IMPACT listed is $79,351.45 for the network hardware.

For the Seven Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. they will consider replacing retiring Jake Price, who is the UGA Extension Service county agent for Lowndes County, with Corey Millirons, who lists his Knowledge & Skills as “Agricultural, common sense & desire to improve community”.

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 24, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →