{"id":15778,"date":"2016-02-05T08:42:57","date_gmt":"2016-02-05T13:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?p=15778"},"modified":"2016-02-05T09:08:45","modified_gmt":"2016-02-05T14:08:45","slug":"videos-planning-meeting-lowndes-county-commission-lcc-2016-02-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2016\/02\/videos-planning-meeting-lowndes-county-commission-lcc-2016-02-04.html","title":{"rendered":"Videos: Planning Meeting, Lowndes County Commission @ LCC 2016-02-04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\nSuing local businesses\r\n\r\nhelps run up fees to the county attorney<\/a>, says County Manager Joe Pritchard.\r\nHe didn’t mention that continuing to promote sprawl for example through the county’s thoroughfare plan also runs up fees that property taxes will never meet.\r\nCommissioners seemed\r\n\r\nvery concerned about “stakeholders”<\/a> whom they said were “the development community, the real estate community” and “the construction and homebuilder industries”.\r\nMaybe somewhere they mentioned the agricultural and forestry industries,\r\nor sales tax payers even if they don’t own real estate; if so I missed it.\r\nAt least they’re thinking about the Comprehensive Plan\r\nand the general direction of the county in a public forum.\r\nAnd the County Planner did talk about quality of life.\r\nPlus it seems business prospects bringing that up got the attention of the County Manager.\r\nThey said they have a responsiblity to set the direction of the county.\r\nHow about instead of continuing to drive sprawl outwards,\r\nwhich is a fiscally (and environmentally) irresponsible path,\r\nturn to directing development to be more dense in already-developed areas?\r\nThey continue this morning at 8:30 AM, and Gretchen is there again with the LAKE video camera.\r\n

\r\nHere’s\r\nthe agenda<\/a>\r\nfollowed by links to each LAKE video with a few notes.\r\nSee also two<\/a> previous pictures<\/a>.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nWe are looking forward to the improved communication that was touted in the VDT headline.\r\nJason Stewart, VDT, 4 February 2016,\r\n\r\nSlaughter wants to strengthen communication<\/a>,\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\nLowndes County Commission Chairman Bill Slaughter wants a concerted\r\neffort to strengthen communication between county and city\r\ngovernments.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nSlaughter discussed the ill effects of what he called\r\n“fragmented conversations” at the Lowndes County Board\r\nof Commissioners annual planning session Thursday.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nSlaughter wants residents “to be able to go to a single source\r\nto find out everything going on in the community,” he said.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nSlaughter commended commissioners for diligence in communicating\r\nopenly with county residents.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\n“I wholeheartedly believe every one of you has a desire to\r\ncommunicate with the citizens as much as you possibly can,”\r\nthe chairman said.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nSlaughter said he is looking for ways to reach more residents more\r\nclearly.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\nHow about start by putting your own Commission’s board packets online?\r\nAnd those of the Planning Commission?\r\nAnd stop slapping things on the agenda the same day as a vote when\r\nyou’ve been negotiating for some time?\r\nAnd those emergency change orders: rein them in!\r\nAnd….\r\n