On the LAKE Front

Videos: Taxing alcohol on the road to the jail @ LCC 2013-01-22

One citizen actually got a response out of a Commissioner in Citizens Wishing to Be Heard! Unfortunately, only half a dozen citizens where there to hear that, or to see the Lowndes County Commission vote on matters that affect everyone, from abandoning a road leading to a river to an alcohol license.

Here's the agenda, with links to the videos and a few notes. See also the Work Session the morning of that same day.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2^nd Floor

Videos: Airport, alcohol, taxes, road, jail @ LCC 2013-01-22

Commissioners discussed several items much more than last year's Commission at this morning's Work Session; they vote 5:30 PM tonight at their Regular Session. However, you'd think with an ankle monitoring program Commissioners praised so highly, they'd want the public to know the details. Nope, still none of the documents related to that nor any of the other items they were discussing were revealed to the tax-paying public. They don't have a press release about that, nor about the Parade of Champions the Chairman talked about (twice) even though it wasn't on the agenda. He was silent, however, on who the candidates for the Airport Authority are, and none of them were present.

That's four reports that were not on the agenda: Parade of Champions, ankle monitoring, the county's wellness program and the upcoming Bird Supper.

Here's the agenda, with links to the videos and a few notes, followed by the video playlist.

Airport, alcohol, taxes, road, jail @ LCC 2013-01-22

It's curious how the Lowndes County Commission can hold a public hearing for a single beer, wine, and liquor license, but not for doing away with the solid waste collection sites that affect 5,000 county residents. And what's this "Special Assessment Rate for 2013"? At today's early morning work session maybe they'll say, or perhaps at tonight's regular session, both on the same day because of yesterday's holiday.

Here's the agenda.

-jsq

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2013, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2^nd Floor

1. Call to Order
2. Invocation
3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
4. Minutes for Approval
   1. Work Session — January 7, 2013
   2. Regular Session — January 8, 2013
5. Appointment — Valdosta/Lowndes County Airport Authority
6. Public Hearing — Beer Wine & Liquor License — Rascal's — 4875 Hwy 41
7. For Consideration
   1. Special Assessment Rate for 2013
   2. Abandonment of a portion of Old State Road (CR 16)
   3. Replacement of the Jail Fire Alarm System in Buildings 001 & 002
8. Reports-County Manager
9. Citizens Wishing to be Heard Please State Name And Address

Decatur County already went from private prison to solar park

Decatur County, that's turning an industrial park into a solar park; why is that county familiar? Because it's the other county that thought it was getting a CCA private prison last year!

Decatur County has already moved on from that boondoggle that would have prisoners competing with local workers while not increasing local employment. Decatur County is already well along towards a solar park that could bring "400 hundred thousand a year in tax revenue". Has our Industrial Authority got anything in negotiations for a solar park? How about our Airport Authority? And what is Georgia Power doing to help?

-jsq

Industrial park from green grass to a green solar future: Decatur County

Our Industrial Authority is in favor of solar business now; what if they seeded some of their industrial parks with solar panels like Decatur County is doing? They think it will make them look like a progressive county. What do we think?

Ty Wilson wrote for WTXL 7 Dec 2012, A solar park is coming to the Decatur County Industrial Park,

The Decatur County Industrial park will go from having green grass to having a green future.

A Lenexa, Kansas company is building a solar farm at the Decatur County Industrial Park.

The Decatur County Industrial park will go from having green grass to having a green future.

Keith Lyle is the chairman of the Bainbridge Decatur Development Authority, he says, "We are just extremely excited to have this come for the community."

And, it's private investment!

Trade Winds Energy is leasing at least 100 acres to put in solar panels at ten thousand dollars a year.

Company executives says they will invest 17 million dollars into the project.

Lyle says, "This will add from the tax aspect a significant revenue stream. When it is all said and done you are looking at a taxable amount of 40 million is assets. On the project that is 400 hundred thousand a year in tax revenue."

Trade Wind Energy doesn't list this project yet (and all the projects they do list are wind projects), but if we take a rule of thumb

Airport Authority says County Commission shorted payment —VDT

The Lowndes County Commission apparently failed to pay the Airport Authority $150,000, yet the City of Valdosta paid their part in full. Once again the VDT did a little investigation and came up with a story.

Brittany D. McClure wrote for the VDT 15 November 2012, Airport Authority chair states County Commission came up short,

When the Valdosta Regional Airport had hangars built on the property, both the city of Valdosta and Lowndes County pledged $900,000.

According to [Steve] Everett, the city paid their part in full but the county failed to pay $150,000 of the dedicated funds.

Why?

Airport Authority signs its own contracts

Here's another local Authority; this one signs its own contracts.

Brittany D. McClure wrote for the VDT 13 October 2011, Airport Authority discusses improvements to airport,

The Valdosta Airport Authority Board met Wednesday at its office in the main terminal of the Valdosta Regional Airport.

Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority Valdosta Regional Airport is owned and operated by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority. This six-member authority was established in 1987 and is comprised of three appointees from the city and three appointees from the county. The full-time staff of the Airport Authority is comprised of the executive director/airport manager and 5 additional staff members. The following personnel are members of the Airport Authority: Steve Everett - Chairman Wayne Edwards – Vice Chairman Nathaniel Haugabrook Dr. James Sinnott Anthony Payton Jane Shelton Jim Galloway - executive director/airport manager (229) 333-1833

The board reviewed several airport improvement projects in various stages of completion — including a remedy to the drainage problem, a proposal for a new Airport Rescue and Firefighting vehicle and new ARFF station and the anticipated opening of the new Subway restaurant.

Yet another Authority. This ones executive director, Jim Galloway, who was appointed January 1st, can sign contracts for it:

The proposal for a new ARFF vehicle and station, covered by AIP-28, is complete and Galloway brought the contracts that were ready for approval signatures.

“The way this contract is written is not where the mayor can sign it, it's where we can actually sign it,” explained Galloway.

Good thing the VDT was there.

-jsq