{"id":24864,"date":"2025-03-23T15:20:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T19:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?p=24864"},"modified":"2025-03-26T12:46:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T16:46:18","slug":"packet-utilities-in-lowndes-county-commission-annual-planning-meeting-2025-03-06-lcc-2011-05-09","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2025\/03\/packet-utilities-in-lowndes-county-commission-annual-planning-meeting-2025-03-06-lcc-2011-05-09.html","title":{"rendered":"Packet: Utilities in Lowndes County Commission Annual Planning Meeting 2025-03-06"},"content":{"rendered":"

See also 2025-03-26<\/strong>:\r\nRiver water and groundwater interchange interacts with drinking water treatment 2025-03-26<\/a>.\r\n

Update 2025-03-24<\/strong>:\r\nPacket: Lowndes County Fire Rescue for Lowndes County Commission Retreat 2025-03-07<\/a>.\r\n

\r\nHere is another chunk of the board packet \r\nfor the March 5-7, 2025, Lowndes County Planning Meeting\r\non Jekyll Island, Georgia.\r\nThis one is for the Utilities Department, which was on the agenda for March 6.\r\n

\r\n\r\n\"[Utilities<\/a>\r\n
Utilities Department, Lowndes County Retreat 2025-03-06, Projects, Floridan Aquifer, River water infiltration & Nanofiltration<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nThese Utilities materials include an org chart, lists of projects completed during 2024, ongoing, and future,\r\nand some details on river water infiltration into the Floridan Aquifer producing a need for improved nanofiltration to get rid of harmful chemicals formed by interaction with chlorine.\r\n

\r\nBoth the lists of projects and the nanofiltration information are pretty clear\r\nthat they are mostly to support private for-profit subdivisions.\r\n

\r\nWhile posting the\r\n\r\nrest of the board packet<\/a>\r\nI noticed there were pieces missing.\r\n

\r\nSo on March 14 I sent a request for the rest:\r\n\r\n\r\n

\r\n

\r\nI don’t see any packet materials for several items on the agenda:\r\nSouth Health DIstrict, Utilities, Public Works, or Lowndes County Fire Rescue.\r\n

\r\nPlease send those materials, as well. -jsq\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\nOn March 20, six days after that additional request, and 15 days after the initial LAKE open records request of March 5, I got this answer:\r\n

\r\n

\r\nGood Afternoon Mr. Quarterman \u2013\r\n

\r\nPlease see the below link with information from our Utilities\r\nDepartment and our Fire Rescue Department. Our Public Works\r\nDepartment was already sent, it was the paved\/dirt road documents.\r\nRegarding the South Health District, Dr. Eanes came and met with the\r\ncommissioners.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\nThe link was into the county’s website bluesky.lowndescounty.com.\r\nWhy they don’t just make such links public so everyone can see them is mysterious.\r\n

\r\nEven more mysterious is why the county does not publish such board packets before the meetings they are for, \r\nso taxpayers and voters (and the Commissioners) can see what is going to be discussed.\r\n

\r\nAnyway, this post has the Utilities Department materials.\r\nThe Fire Department will follow in another post.\r\n

\r\n\r\n\"[Utilities<\/a>\r\n
Utilities Department Organizational Structure<\/a>\r\n
PDF<\/strong><\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\n

\r\nUTILITIES DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE\r\n

\r\nThe Utilities Department has 42 positions consisting of\r\nadministrative, management, operations, and maintenance personnel.\r\nMany of these personnel are on call 24 hours per day, 7 days a week\r\nto ensure the residents of Lowndes County receive uninterrupted\r\nutility services. The current organizational chart is shown below.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\n[See chart]\r\n

\r\nDEPARTMENTAL CERTIFICATIONS\r\n

\r\nThe Utilities Department has State of Georgia certified operators\r\nfor both water and wastewater including the following:\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nWater Distribution Operators: (5)\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nWater Treatment Operators: (3) Class 3, (5) Class 2, (1) Class 1\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nWastewater Collection System Operators: (2)\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\nWastewater Treatment Operators: (2) Class 3, (1) Class 1\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\r\n\"[Projects<\/a>\r\n
Projects completed, ongoing, and future<\/a>\r\n
PDF<\/strong><\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

\r\n

\r\nProjects substantially completed during 2024 include:\r\n\r\n
\r\n•<\/td>North\/South Watermain Interconnection\r\n(Hwy 84 to Indian Ford Rd\/Exit 13\/Touchton Rd)\r\n<\/td> $9,754,718\r\n
\r\n•<\/td>MAFB Water Interconnection\r\n<\/td>\r\n$886,352\r\n
\r\n•<\/td>Lucas Richardson Rd to McMillian Rd\r\nWater Main Extension\r\n<\/td>\r\n $1,195,956\r\n
\r\n•<\/td>Hammock Trail Drainage Repair<\/td> $179,227\r\n
\r\n•<\/td>Spring Creek Nanofiltration Pilot Study<\/td> $141,300\r\n
\r\n•<\/td>Clyattville Water Tank interior renovation and\r\nmultiple other water tank inspections\/cleaning<\/td> $182,068\r\n<\/table>\r\n

\r\nOngoing water system related projects under construction or out for bid\r\ninclude:\r\n\r\n
\r\n•<\/td>Interconnection of the Grove Pointe subdivision\r\nwater distribution to the Nelson Hill water\r\ndistribution system to improve system flow.\r\n<\/td> $78,393\r\n
\r\n•<\/td>\r\nConstruction of an elevated water tank\r\nat Billy Langdale Business Park to improve\r\nfire flow.<\/td>$3,551,666\r\n
\r\n•<\/td>\r\nConstruction of 2 new wells and a Nanofiltration\r\nwater treatment plant at Alapaha Plantation Sub.<\/td> Out for bid\r\n<\/table>\r\n

\r\nFuture water system projects currently under design include:\r\n