{"id":9659,"date":"2014-07-19T22:01:28","date_gmt":"2014-07-20T02:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/?p=9659"},"modified":"2014-07-19T22:04:59","modified_gmt":"2014-07-20T02:04:59","slug":"sparsely-attended-millage-hearing-lcc-millage-2014-07-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2014\/07\/sparsely-attended-millage-hearing-lcc-millage-2014-07-16.html","title":{"rendered":"Sparsely attended millage hearing @ LCC Millage 2014-07-16"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none;\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.ytimg.com\/vi\/8Uk03YlOS3Q\/mqdefault.jpg\"><\/a>\r\nTo raise or not to raise, that is the millage question,\r\nand what to spend it on,\r\nbut not many people showed up to ask.\r\n<p>\r\nThis 6PM Wednesday 16 July 2014 millage hearing\r\nwas one of the most lively,\r\njuding by\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.valdostadailytimes.com\/local\/x1760131108\/Residents-largely-absent-from-millage-hearings\">his report<\/a>, from which you can see that \r\nVDT political reporter Matthew Woody&#8217;s report on both hearings of\r\nlast Wednesday,\r\nand that&#8217;s not saying much.\r\nIn this evening hearing,\r\n<a href=\"#Comments-Dennis-Marks\">\r\nDennis Marks<\/a>\r\nspoke for res publica, the rule of the public, for the public good.\r\nThe other three commenters seemed to be against the millage increase.\r\n<p>\r\nOne more milllage hearing (8:30AM) and an adoption meeting (9AM), both\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2014\/07\/millage-hearings-for-lowndes-county.html\">\r\nWednesday 23 July 2014<\/a>.<!--more-->\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>\r\n<a name=\"Call-to-order-2-Presentation-of-the-Millage-Rate-Increase\" href=\"#Call-to-order-2-Presentation-of-the-Millage-Rate-Increase\">\r\n1. Call to order 2. Presentation of the Millage Rate Increase<\/a>\r\n<a title=\"video: 1. Call to order 2. Presentation of the Millage Rate Increase\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8Uk03YlOS3Q&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=2\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"1. Call to order 2. Presentation of the Millage Rate Increase\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.ytimg.com\/vi\/8Uk03YlOS3Q\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8Uk03YlOS3Q&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=2\">Video.<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<li>\r\n<a name=\"Comments-Dennis-Marks\" href=\"#Comments-Dennis-Marks\">\r\nComments &#8211; Dennis Marks<\/a>\r\n<a title=\"video: Comments - Dennis Marks\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=g7Y678T3cqo&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=3\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"Comments - Dennis Marks\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.ytimg.com\/vi\/g7Y678T3cqo\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=g7Y678T3cqo&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=3\">Video.<\/a>\r\nDr. Marks said the county should actually raise the millage\r\nmore to invest more in the public good, specifically so the Board of Elections\r\nwouldn&#8217;t have to close precincts.\r\nPresumably he knows the increase proposed is\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2014\/06\/lowndes-millage-rate-still-low-compared-to-other-counties.html\">still low compared to other Georgia counties<\/a>.\r\nStay tuned for more on budget,\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2014\/07\/board-of-elections-listened.html\">\r\nBoard of Elections<\/a>,\r\nand\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/2014\/07\/precinct-consolidation-table-and-board-of-elections-2014-07-22.html\">\r\nprecinct closing<\/a>.\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\nHe added:\r\n<blockquote>\r\nThis actually speaks to a larger problem.\r\nThat is we really need to have an investment not only in the\r\npublic sector, but also in public works,\r\nin water and sewer,\r\nin public transportation,\r\nand public safety&#8230;,\r\nin public infrastructure, including broadband.\r\nThere has to be a commitment on the public side.\r\nThis cannot all be done by the private sector.\r\nThe public responsibilities, the public obligations;\r\nthere are things we ought to be doing as citizens to step up\r\nand to step forward in terms of meeting our responsiblities.\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<li>\r\n<a name=\"Comments-Ed-Kent\" href=\"#Comments-Ed-Kent\">\r\nComments &#8211; Ed Kent<\/a>\r\n<a title=\"video: Comments - Ed Kent\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CpZW_DfkNuE&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=4\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"Comments - Ed Kent\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.ytimg.com\/vi\/CpZW_DfkNuE\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CpZW_DfkNuE&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=4\">Video.<\/a>\r\nHe wished county employees were getting raises.\r\nI hear they are; the raises are just hidden because the county\r\nstaff and Commissioners are afraid of the citizens.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<li>\r\n<a name=\"Comments-Susan-Ring\" href=\"#Comments-Susan-Ring\">\r\nComments &#8211; Susan Ring<\/a>\r\n<a title=\"video: Comments - Susan Ring\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XnwcZx4Bcqo&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=5\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"Comments - Susan Ring\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.ytimg.com\/vi\/XnwcZx4Bcqo\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XnwcZx4Bcqo&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=5\">Video.<\/a>\r\nShe mentioned the lack of citizen attendees, and then said she wanted to trim government.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<li>\r\n<a name=\"Comments-Kerry-Wells\" href=\"#Comments-Kerry-Wells\">\r\nComments &#8211; Kerry Wells<\/a>\r\n<a title=\"video: Comments - Kerry Wells\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yXWbf9dehxM&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=6\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"Comments - Kerry Wells\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.ytimg.com\/vi\/yXWbf9dehxM\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yXWbf9dehxM&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=6\">Video.<\/a>\r\nHe said he went to the Tax Assessors&#8217; office\r\nthe previous day and quoted the dollar differences they told him.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<li>\r\n<a name=\"Adjournment\" href=\"#Adjournment\">\r\nMeeting Adjournment<\/a>\r\n<a title=\"video: Meeting Adjournment\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gznbKJI2eRg&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=7\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"float:right;border:none\" alt=\"Meeting Adjournment\" src=\"http:\/\/i1.ytimg.com\/vi\/gznbKJI2eRg\/default.jpg\"><\/a>\r\n<p style=\"font-style:normal\">\r\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gznbKJI2eRg&#038;list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l&#038;index=7\">Video.<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>\r\nHere&#8217;s\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l\">\r\na video playlist:<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align:center;font-size:80%\">\r\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/videoseries?list=PLshUv86fYkiED074v3OHT9574qnUWo84l\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\r\n<br>\r\nSparsely attended millage hearing\r\n<br>\r\nMillage Hearing, Lowndes County Commission (LCC Millage),\r\n<br>\r\nVideo by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),\r\n<br>\r\nValdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 16 July 2014.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n -jsq\r\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"To raise or not to raise, that is the millage question, and what to spend it on, but not many people showed up to ask. This 6PM Wednesday 16 July 2014 millage hearing was one of the most lively, juding by his report, from which you can see that VDT political reporter Matthew Woody&#8217;s report [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[14,2,88,3],"tags":[7763,8704,8701,8699,10,8702,7764,12,7,8734,1247,2083,60,8700,6],"class_list":["post-9659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-economy","category-government","category-lowndes-county-commission","category-transparency","tag-16-july-2014","tag-economy","tag-georgia","tag-government","tag-gretchen-quarterman","tag-lake","tag-lcc-millage","tag-lowndes-area-knowledge-exchange","tag-lowndes-county","tag-lowndes-county-commission","tag-millage","tag-millage-hearing","tag-tax","tag-transparency","tag-valdosta"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p585fK-2vN","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9659"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9661,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9659\/revisions\/9661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}