This was mostly an ordinary Lowndes County Commission Work Session,
except for a few items, perhaps most notably this one:
9.b. Entrance Gate at Davidson and Roberts RoadsMore about that later.
Here’s the agenda.
Here’s the playlist for the entire meeting:
Videos of 9 Jan 2012 LCC Work Session
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 9 January 2012.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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County Manager Joe Pritchard briefly described
agenda item
8.a. Ankle Monitoring SystemHe said it would permit jail inmates to serve some of their time outside the jail. He mentioned early discussions with Commissioners Joyce Evans and Richard Raines, and said it started related to drug court, but the idea had expanded. He recommended the board approve the County Manager working with the judges to organize the monitoring.
Chairman (and former Sheriff) Ashley Paulk remarked that this could lower the jail population. He seemed to be in favor of it.
Sheriff Chris Prine had some concerns that were hard to hear, but seemed to be related to budget.
Pritchard indicated that everybody realized the program was an experiment, and everyone would work with the Sheriff to avoid any unnecessary impact.
Commissioner Raines also reassured the Sheriff along the same lines.
They vote on it tonight, 5:30 PM.
Here’s the video:
8.a. Ankle Monitoring System –Joe Pritchard @ LCC 12 December 2011
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 December 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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The Commission started early, and they were already into agenda item
7.a. REZ-2011-16 South Beach Commercial, US Hwy 41 South R-10 & TLA to C-G, ~1.7 acreswhen this video started. Then they moved right into
7.b. Lowndes County – Greater Lowndes 2030 Comprehensive Plan Updates — Resolution to TransmitAs you can see, County Planner Jason Davenport had little to say about that (mostly that this draft isn’t the final version; they’ll revise it some time next year after they hear back from the state), and the Commissioners even less (they said nothing), at Monday morning’s Work Session. Tonight at 5:30 PM they vote on sending these materials to the state. If you want to know what’s in these documents, see Gretchen’s writeups The actual documents are on the LAKE web site. LAKE obtained them from elsewhere after the county refused to honor an open records request. The Chairman told Gretchen yesterday that those versions were “close enough” to what they’re going to vote on tonight.
Here’s the video:
Comprehensive Plan @ LCC Work Session, 12 December 2011
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 December 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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Videos from Monday morning’s Work Session of the Lowndes County Commission
are
here.
The
previously-skipped hearing related to the Comprehensive Plan
is on
the agenda
for tonight’s Regular Session, 5:30 PM at the county palace,
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor.
These videos of Monday morning’s work session start some way into the agenda, because they started about five minutes early. Here are the videos.
Videos of LCC Work Session, 12 December 2011
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 December 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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Commissioner Crawford Powell wanted exemptions or exceptions
to Lowndes County’s travel policy for
“department heads, elected officials, County Manager”.
Commissioner Richard Raines just wanted the limits raised.
Commissioner Joyce Evans preferred they
…make a statement that we should not exceed a certain amount per day.Chairman Ashley Paulk said exceptions were a problem and indicated they would be a bad idea. Powell and Raines are the same Commissioners who thought accepting a federal grant for NOAA Weather Radios would be “wasteful spending” of tax dollars and who refused a federal grant for an emergency vehicle. Spending local taxes seems fine with then when it comes to their travel expenses. They finally adopted a total of $75/day for meals. I hate to agree with Frank Barnas, but GSA standard for trips to Atlanta is $56/day.
At the Monday 24 October 2011 County Commission Work Session, County Manager Pritchard said the county’s travel policy had been discussed during their retreat and during budget preparations, with changes for mileage reimbursement, meal limitations, and use of tax forms. .
This is the policy we have been acting under since the adoption of the budget. I just wanted to bring it back before you to make this adoption public.Joyce Evans expressed a concern about it saying the County Manager or his designee could approve expenses. She seemed to want the designee part removed.
Crawford Powell said:
Representatives from SGMC gave a two part presentation
about expansion of SGMC facilities, to include 96 new
private rooms in the Dasher Heart Center, the 5 story
parking deck, now under construction and due to be completed
in early 2012, and Life Safety and Generator Equipment updates.
Additionally, they spoke briefly on the acquisition of Smith Northview Hospital on September 1, 2011. Smith Northview operates as a campus of SGMC and all Smith Northview employees are now SGMC employees.
The second part of the presentation was about the financial Continue reading
William Branham talked about solar initiatives he’s involved in
and a variety of public officials he’s talked to who are positive
on solar and renewable energy for generating jobs.
He pointed out that solar grew faster than any other energy source.
He mentioned the Chamber’s
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Network
(of which I am also a member).
After Branham spoke, Commissioner Raines cited one solar company that had failed together with financing concerns and indicated he didn’t think it was time for solar here.
I don’t agree with Commissioner Raines. What do you think?
Here’s the video:
Solar for Georgia —Bill Branham @ LCC 12 September 2011
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 September 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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Three prison work details, one will be assigned to
School board or runoff; the other two to road maintenance and public parks,
for $39,500 per detail.
Commissioner Powell wondered about the start date, total hours per year, etc., and those questions were clarified by staff (about 200 days per year depending on weather).
It seems like a great opportunity and a great deal for us. Is three crews enough to do what we need to accomplish, or is there an additional need for an additional crew.Answer by Chairman and staff: no more are available.
Nobody questioned whether using prisoners for cheap was a good idea when there are many people out of work around town.
Here’s the video:
8. For Consideration – 2011-2012 Prison Detail Contract @ LCC 12 Sep 2011
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 September 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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Another in a long series of periodic updates to the ULDC.
7.c. TXT-2011-01 Combination Plats, Administrative/Clerical Changes, Zoning Map, & Other AmendmentsCommissioner Powell wanted to know if County Planner Jason Davenport had sent these changes out to any engineers or developers to see if they had any concerns. County Planner said some of them had been on the mass email that he had sent, in addition to the notice in the newspaper, plus he had called surveyors’ offices. Commissioner Powell seemed satisfied.
Here’s the video:
TXT-2011-01 Combination Plats, Administrative/Clerical Changes, Zoning Map, & Other Amendments
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 September 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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Applicant and County Planner Jason Davenport recommend tabling
this rezoning case until one more test comes back from the health department.
7.b. REZ-2011-12 Cardwell, 5415 Railroad Ave, 0095 003, 1 lot, 1 acre, R-10 to R-21, well/septic
Here’s the video:
7.b. REZ-2011-12 Cardwell, 5415 Railroad Ave @ LCC 12 Sep 2011
Work Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 12 September 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
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