Wiregrass Technical College @ VLCIA 15 March 2011

Wiregrass Technical College wants to expand onto some land owned by the Industrial Authority, using SPLOST funds.

Chairman Jerry Jennett:

The point is they're landlocked.

And so what you want to do is you want to take what your tract is now and have the ability to expand your building in the future. You want to move your training facility now and....

More transcription after the video:

Regular monthly meeting, Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority, VLCIA,
Norman Bennett, Roy Copeland, Tom Call, Mary Gooding, Jerry Jennett chairman,
J. Stephen Gupton attorney, Brad Lofton Executive Director,
Allan Ricketts Program Manager, 15 March 2011.
Videos by John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Roy Copeland:

Tell me why we're using.... What would be the nature of the potential partnership. Explain that to me. Are you seeking land or are we seeking some kind of....

Brad Lofton:

Long term land lease. ...SPLOST referendum developing tract, putting in the access, $3 million improvement. Our partnership would be the land. Their partnership would be the SPLOST referendum funds.

Roy Copeland:

So they're looking at basically a lease.

Further explanation of what's shown on the map and how this has come up at least twice before.

They appear to be referring to the ESPLOST referendum that passed that same day.

It seems VLCIA is not just industry; it also may help education.

-jsq

Comments

[Karen Noll]

Land bought with our tax money leased (??) using other tax money. Very shady!!
The IA should sell it to them for the same amount that they bought it for. The IA should not be landlords for the college that is absurd for a number of reasons. Most importantly, the college is not an industry but rather it trains individuals for industry jobs in this area (ideally).

[Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange]

Good point about the Industrial Authority taking tax money to rent tax-bought land. More like tax-mortgaged land, since it was bought with money from bonds that they're still paying off, and that the county co-guaranteed: http://lake.typepad.com/on-the-lake-front/2011/03/fiduciary-responsibility-of-lcc-to-oversee-vlcia-john-s-quarterman.html
Despite what their board says, they're not just industry, according to their own charter: http://lake.typepad.com/on-the-lake-front/2011/02/authority-should-listen-to-other-sources-john-s-quarterman.html