{"id":22494,"date":"2021-11-12T13:21:57","date_gmt":"2021-11-12T18:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?p=22494"},"modified":"2021-11-12T13:58:38","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T18:58:38","slug":"okefenokee-resolution-planning-commission-airport-sewer-system-road-renaming-moratorium-vcc-2021-11-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2021\/11\/okefenokee-resolution-planning-commission-airport-sewer-system-road-renaming-moratorium-vcc-2021-11-11.html","title":{"rendered":"Okefenokee resolution, Planning Commission, Airport, Sewer system, Road renaming moratorium @ VCC 2021-11-11"},"content":{"rendered":"

\r\nWith a packed agenda, the Valdosta City Council\r\npassed eight resolutions,\r\napproved five bids or purchases,\r\nand appointed people to four boards,\r\nyet the longest discussion was after all that.\r\n

\r\n\"[Mayor,<\/a>\r\n
Mayor, Howard, Gibbs, WWTP, Manager & Tooley, Suwannee Riverkeeper<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nPerhaps the most far-reaching item \r\nwas one of the briefest, presented by Mayor Scott James Matheson:\r\n\r\n3.f. Resolution in Opposition to a proposed strip mine near the Okefenokee Swamp,<\/a>\r\nopposing the proposed Twin Pines Minerals (TPM) strip mine or any others within ten miles of the Swamp,\r\nasking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reverse its abdication of oversight,\r\nasking GA-EPD for a moratorium on all mining permits until effects are settled of the recent court overruling of 2020 Clean Water Act changes,\r\nas well as to reject the TPM permits, or at least to review those applications as thoroughly as the Army Corps would, and\r\nasking the Georgia legislature to prevent such strip mines near the Swamp or any blackwater rivers in the Suwannee River Basin.\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n\"[Movie:<\/a>\r\n
Movie: 3.f. Consideration of a Resolution in Opposition to a proposed strip mine near the Okefenokee Swamp. (22M)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nSeveral items were contentious, including as an up to 180-day\r\n\r\nMoratorium on renaming of City of Valdosta streets,<\/a>\r\nwhich Council Eric Howard opposed as unnecessary, and he wondered why it only was proposed after the recent renaming of Forrest Street to Barack Obama Boulevard.\r\n

\r\n\"[Council<\/a>\r\n
Council 4, Eric G. Howard<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nCouncil Andy Gibbs asked some procedural questions.\r\nThe moratorium passed with Council Howard voting against.\r\n

\r\n\"[Council<\/a>\r\n
Council 6, Andy Gibbs<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nNobody objected to\r\n\r\n4.a. payment of emergency sewer system repairs on Patterson Street near Drexel Park<\/a>,\r\nbut there were questions about why a no-bid contract.\r\n

\r\nThey also appointed Robert Jefferson to the\r\n\r\nGreater Lowndes Planning Commission<\/a> (GLPC).\r\nHe was the only nominee, which was also the case for several other boards.\r\n

\r\nOnly one citizen wished to be heard,\r\nSuwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, who thanked the City for the Okefenokee resolution and half a dozen other things.\r\n

\r\n\"[Movie:<\/a>\r\n
Movie: 6. CTBH Thanks for the Okefenokee resolution and other things –John S. Quarterman, Suwannee Riverkeeper (112M)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nIn the\r\n\r\n7. City Manager’s Report<\/a>,\r\nCouncil Sandra Tooley asked general questions.\r\n

\r\n\"[Council<\/a>\r\n
Council 2, Sandra Tooley<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nCity Manager Mark Barber seemed to interpret Council Tooley’s questions as about specific persons.\r\n

\r\n\"[City<\/a>\r\n
City Manager Mark Barber<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nIn\r\n\r\n8. Council Comments<\/a>,\r\nCouncil Howard recommended respect between Staff and Council.\r\n

\r\nCouncil Vivian Miller Cody praised the staff and Council.\r\n

\r\n\"[Council<\/a>\r\n
Council 1, Vivian Miller Cody<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nCouncil Tim Carroll, who had made the motion to approve the Okefenokee resolution,\r\nmoved to adjourn.\r\n

\r\n\"[Council<\/a>\r\n
Council 5, Tim Carroll<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nBelow are the agenda<\/a>,\r\nthe\r\nLAKE videos<\/a> of each agenda item, followed by a LAKE video playlist,\r\nand the resolution<\/a> against the titanium strip mine near the Okefenokee Swamp.\r\n

Agenda<\/a><\/H4>\r\n

\r\nPDF<\/a>\r\n

\r\n

\r\nAMENDED AGENDA\r\n
\r\nREGULAR MEETING OF THE VALDOSTA CITY COUNCIL\r\n
\r\n5:30 PM Thursday, November 11, 2021\r\n
\r\nCOUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL\r\n<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  1. \r\n\r\nOpening Ceremonies<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
      \r\n
    1. \r\n\r\nCall to Order<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
    2. \r\n\r\nInvocation<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
    3. \r\n\r\nPledge of Allegiance to the American Flag<\/a><\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
    4. \r\n\r\nMinutes Approval<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
        \r\n
      1. \r\n\r\nValdosta City Council – Regular Meeting – Oct 21, 2021 5:30 PM<\/a><\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
      2. \r\n\r\nOrdinances and Resolutions<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
          \r\n
        1. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a Resolution to formally adopt the 2021 Joint Comprehensive Plan Update for Lowndes County and the Cities of Dasher, Hahira, Lake Park, Remerton, and Valdosta<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
        2. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a Resolution for the Georgia Municipal Association’s Certified City of Ethics Program.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
        3. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a request from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority to approve a Resolution authorizing acceptance of a contract from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to proceed with crack sealing and remarking of Runway 4\/22 at the Valdosta Regional Airport.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
        4. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a request from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority to approve a Resolution authorizing acceptance of a Grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to assist Airport concessionaires in economic recovery.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
        5. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a request from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority to approve a Resolution authorizing acceptance of a Grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to assist Airports in the areas of operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, combating the spread of pathogens at the Airport, and debt service payments.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
        6. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a Resolution in Opposition to a proposed strip mine near the<\/a><\/strong>\r\nOkefenokee Swamp.\r\n
        7. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a Resolution to authorize the execution of a Memorandum of<\/a><\/strong>\r\nUnderstanding for an Opioid Settlement.\r\n
        8. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a Resolution for a Moratorium on renaming of City of Valdosta<\/a><\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
        9. \r\n\r\nBids, Contracts, Agreements and Expenditures<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
            \r\n
          1. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a request for payment of emergency sewer system repairs on Patterson Street near Drexel Park. This request was postponed at the October 21, 2021 Regular Meeting until the November 11, 2021 Regular Meeting.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
          2. \r\n\r\nConsideration of a request to purchase equipment for the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
          3. \r\n\r\nConsideration of bids for the South Toombs Street Pedestrian Improvements Construction Project.\r\n<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
          4. \r\n\r\nConsideration of bids for the Smith Street Pedestrian Improvements Project.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
          5. \r\n\r\nConsideration of bids for the North Oak Street Pedestrian Improvements Project.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
          6. \r\n\r\nBoards, Commissions, Authorities, and Advisory Committees<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
              \r\n
            1. \r\n\r\nConsideration of appointments to the Central Valdosta Development Authority\/ Downtown Development Authority.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
            2. \r\n\r\nConsideration of an appointment to the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
            3. \r\n\r\nConsideration of an appointment to the Valdosta Housing Authority.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
            4. \r\n\r\nConsideration of an appointment to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center & Tourism Authority.<\/a><\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
            5. \r\n\r\nCitizens to be Heard<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
            6. \r\n\r\nCity Manager’s Report<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
            7. \r\n\r\nCouncil Comments<\/a><\/strong>\r\n
            8. \r\n\r\nAdjournment<\/a><\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

              LAKE Videos<\/a><\/H4>\r\n

              \r\nHere are the LAKE videos of each agenda item, followed by a LAKE video playlist.\r\n