{"id":7026,"date":"2013-12-09T23:54:53","date_gmt":"2013-12-10T04:54:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?p=7026"},"modified":"2013-12-09T23:58:02","modified_gmt":"2013-12-10T04:58:02","slug":"spectra-sales-pitch-nothing-about-nottinghill-etc-lcc-2013-12-09","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2013\/12\/spectra-sales-pitch-nothing-about-nottinghill-etc-lcc-2013-12-09.html","title":{"rendered":"Spectra Sales Pitch, Nothing about Nottinghill, etc. @ LCC 2013-12-09"},"content":{"rendered":"

\r\n\r\n<\/a>\r\nGiven\r\n\r\ndozens of questions submitted by citizens<\/a>\r\nand every opportunity,\r\nCommissioners asked only four perfunctory questions after\r\nSpectra Energy’s\r\n\r\nSabal Trail pipeline sales pitch.<\/a>\r\nChairman Bill Slaughter repeatedly let multiple Spectra reps\r\nspeak from the audience without having them come to the podium,\r\nor even identify themselves before they spoke.\r\nThey were pointed at by the chief Spectra speaker when he named them,\r\nbut they did not stand up or raise their hand at the time,\r\nso it was quite hard to tell which was which.\r\nThe Chairman never allows that sort of behavior from local citizens.\r\nWhy is he granting extra courtesies to a company from Houston\r\nthat wants to exercise eminent domain on local citizens’ lands?\r\nWho does the Lowndes County Commission represent?\r\n

\r\nAt least\r\nWALB<\/a>\r\nand\r\nWCTV<\/a>\r\nlet a landowner speak: that’s more than the County Commission did.\r\n

\r\nNottinghill<\/a> is back yet again.\r\nA Commissioner did ask staff whether it was really ready,\r\nand it isn’t, but no Commissioners asked any such probing\r\nquestions of the Spectra reps.\r\n

\r\nThe three\r\n\r\nbeer licenses<\/a>, a\r\n\r\nliquor license<\/a>,\r\nthe\r\n\r\ncontracts<\/a>, and the\r\n\r\nbids<\/a> were glossed over in almost as\r\nperfunctory a manner.\r\nThere were some questions from Commissioners about\r\ncosts to the county government.\r\nBut there were none from Commissioners about costs to landowners\r\nfrom gashing a pipeline through their property.\r\n

\r\nGiven that there’s a\r\n\r\nsettlement for back pay<\/a> for some county employees,\r\nit appears that the employees maybe had to sue to get paid.\r\n

\r\nStaff did express concern about\r\n\r\n“customer service”<\/a> for a decorative\r\nspecial tax lighting district, but none about service to the\r\nlandowners of the county whose land Spectra proposes to run through,\r\nor for that matter to the taxpayers of the county to whom the\r\nCommission and staff cannot be bothered to show what they’re voting\r\non before they vote.\r\n

\r\nHere’s\r\n\r\nthe agenda<\/a> plus links to the videos and a few notes.\r\n

\r\nLOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS \r\n
\r\n

PROPOSED-AGENDA<\/a><\/H3>\r\nWORK SESSION, MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2013, 8:30 a.m. \r\n

\r\nREGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013, 5:30 p.m. \r\n

\r\n327 N. Ashley Street — 2nd<\/sup><\/small> Floor \r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n
    \r\n
  1. \r\nOrder 4. Minutes for Approval 5. VLMPO Appointments<\/a>\r\n\"Order<\/a>\r\n

    \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

  2. \r\n\r\n\r\nInvocation<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n

    \r\nOnly in the Regular Session, Tuesday at 5:30 PM.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

  3. \r\n\r\n\r\nPledge of Allegiance to the Flag<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n

    \r\nOnly in the Regular Session, Tuesday at 5:30 PM.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

  4. \r\n\r\n\r\nMinutes for Approval<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n
      \r\n
    1. \r\n\r\n\r\nWork Session — November 11, 2013<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n
    2. \r\n\r\n\r\nRegular Session — November 12, 2013<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
    3. \r\n\r\n\r\nAppointment<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n
        \r\n
      1. \r\n\r\n\r\nMPO Citizens Advisory Committee (2)<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n

        \r\nVideo<\/a>.\r\nCounty Manager Joe Pritchard said\r\n“you have the dossier on two individuals”\r\nTodd Smoot and Michael Frost.\r\nWe the citizens know nothing about them.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      2. \r\n\r\n\r\nPublic Hearings<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n
          \r\n
        1. \r\nREZ-2013-11 Nottinghill, Orr Rd R-A to R-21<\/a>\r\n\"REZ-2013-11<\/a>\r\n

          \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nCounty Planner Jason Davenport said\r\n“staff has laid out for you background information”, etc.\r\nand staff recommended approval.\r\n

          \r\nCommissioner Crawford Powell pointed out that there was still\r\nsome question of the land being purchased by applicant,\r\nand not all the signatures were yet ready.\r\n

          \r\nDavenport said some were word of mouth, others were power of attorney,\r\netc.\r\nSo yes, there was some question.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

        2. \r\nDecorative Special Tax Lighting District — Windstone Subdivision (Orr Rd)<\/a>\r\n\"Decorative<\/a>\r\n

          \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nCounty Planner Jason Davenport said\r\n“of course” there would be conditions about timing\r\n(presumably referring to those imposed by Commissioners last month\r\non all such special tax lighting districts), but\r\nhe referred to wanting to move this one along because of\r\n“courtesy for customer service”.\r\nCurious how the county government isn’t so interested in customer\r\nservice for its taxpayers.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

        3. \r\nBeer and Wine License, Twin Lakes Ventures, LLC 6.d. Liquor License, Big Al's<\/a>\r\n\"Beer<\/a>\r\n

          \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

        4. \r\n\r\n\r\nLiquor License — Big Al’s — 4991 HWY 41 S. Lake Park<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
        5. \r\n\r\n\r\nFor Consideration<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n
            \r\n
          1. \r\nApproval of the 2014 Commission Meeting Schedule<\/a>\r\n\"Approval<\/a>\r\n

            \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nCommissioner Joyce Evans spoke up about this, yet she asked\r\nnot a single question of Spectra Energy about the proposed\r\nSabal Trail pipeline.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

          2. \r\n2014 Public Defender Services Contract & 2014 Operating Contract<\/a>\r\n\"2014<\/a>\r\n

            \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nCommissioner John Page wanted to know more detail on costs.\r\nCounty Manager Joe Pritchard didn’t have it, but said he would get it.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

          3. \r\nLand Application Site (LAS) Bar Screen Replacement<\/a>\r\n\"Land<\/a>\r\n

            \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nCommissioner John Page wanted to know whether this was SPLOST or operational\r\nbudget.\r\n

            \r\nAnswer from Utilities Director Mike Allen: regular budget.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/a>\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n

            \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nCommissioner Crawford Powell had some construction timing questions.\r\n

            \r\nAnswer: actual construction time about 120 days.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

          4. \r\nBudget Calendar FY 2014-2015<\/a>\r\n\"Budget<\/a>\r\n

            \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nFinance Director Stephanie Black didn’t have a firm schedule, merely\r\nguidelines, but she reminded Commissioners they had to adopt a budget\r\nby June 30th.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

          5. \r\nBeer and Wine License, Parnish Corporation 7.f. Jay Brahamani<\/a>\r\n\"Beer<\/a>\r\n

            \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nFinance Director Stephanie Black read the boilerplate\r\nabout change of ownership.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

          6. \r\n\r\n\r\nBeer and Wine License — Jay Brahamani, LLC — 2601 Madison HWY<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n

            \r\nFinance Director Stephanie Black read the boilerplate\r\nabout change of ownership.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

          7. \r\nBack Pay for 9-1-1 Center Employees<\/a>\r\n\"Back<\/a>\r\n

            \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nWhat’s this about parties to the agreement, and “settlement”?\r\nDid the employees sue?\r\n

            \r\nCommissioner Demarcus Marshall also wanted some clarification,\r\ngiven that he thought they had approved it last meeting.\r\nCounty Manager Joe Pritchard said this decision was for\r\npublication of the settlement.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

          8. \r\n\r\nSecond State Court Judge — Resolution & Act<\/a>\r\n\"Second<\/a>\r\n

            \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nIt’s a resolution to request the Georgia General Assembly to pass a law.\r\nRemember that next time the Commission tries to claim it’s powerless\r\nbecause something is a state or federal matter.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

          9. \r\n\r\n\r\nBids<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n
              \r\n
            1. \r\nRepair of Damaged F150- LCSO<\/a>\r\n\"Repair<\/a>\r\n

              \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nFinance Director Stephanie Black read a bunch of bids, which is good:\r\nat least she did that much.\r\nBut why can’t the county be bothered to publish that information\r\non its website?\r\n<\/p>\r\n

            2. \r\nRepair of Damaged Fire Tanker- LCFR<\/a>\r\n\"Repair<\/a>\r\n

              \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nFinance Director Stephanie Black read only one bid.\r\n

              \r\nOne Commissioner wanted to know if no other bidders were interested.\r\nShe said no others had bid.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

            3. \r\n\r\n\r\nReports-County Manager<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n

              \r\nCounty Manager Joe Pritchard’s only report was to cut to\r\n\r\nSpectra’s pipeline sales pitch<\/a>.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

            4. \r\n<\/a>\r\n\r\nCitizens Wishing to be Heard Please State Name And Address<\/a>\r\n<\/strong>\r\n

              \r\nOnly in the Regular Session, Tuesday at 5:30 PM.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

            5. \r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/a>\r\nReports-County Manager 11. Sabal Trail<\/a>\r\n\"Reports-County<\/a>\r\n

              \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nSpectra Rep. Brian Fahrenthold repeatedly said the\r\nFederal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) “dictates”\r\npipeline decisions, but neglected to mention that FERC’s\r\npre-filing and filing processes are largely intended to\r\nget input from affected parties, including local citizens\r\nand local governments.\r\nThe cowed County Commission in this very same meeting\r\ndiscussed sending\r\n\r\na proposed law to the state legislature<\/a>,\r\nso it’s not powerless before state and national authorities\r\nwhen it feels like acting.\r\nWhy doesn’t our local government want to act on behalf\r\nof local citizens?\r\n<\/p>\r\n

              \r\nSabal Trail says companies with many jobs are a strain<\/a>\r\n\"Sabal<\/a>\r\n

              \r\nVideo.<\/a>\r\nSo I guess the Industrial Authority might as well close up shop.\r\n<\/p>\r\n

              \r\nThe QA on Spectra’s slide certainly didn’t stand for Quality Assurance,\r\nand it apparently didn’t stand for Questions and Answers, either,\r\nsince all we got was one question from each of four Commissioners\r\n(Commissioner Joyce Evans didn’t even ask one), and canned\r\nanswers from Spectra.\r\nWe could have skipped this whole meeting and gone to Spectra’s\r\nown dog and pony show on the 16th<\/sup><\/small>\r\nand learned just as much: nothing we didn’t know before.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n

              \r\nHere’s\r\n\r\na video playlist:<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n

              \r\n