LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  MINUTES WORK SESSION MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2024  COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Bill Slaughter Vice Chairman Demarcus Marshall Commissioner Joyce Evans Commissioner Scott Orenstein Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker Commissioner Clay Griner  Chairman Slaughter called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.  MINUTES  The minutes were presented for the work session of July 26, 2024 and the regular session of. July 27,  2024. No revisions to the minutes were requested.  APPOINTMENTS  Lowndes County Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) Board was a former manager of the Winn Dixie in Lake Park? Mrs. Dukes answered yes.  County Manager, Paige Dukes, presented the item. Mrs. Dukes stated Mr. Lonnie Denton's term has expired, and he has expressed a desire to continue to serve. Commissioner Wisenbaker asked if he  Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority  County Manager, Paige Dukes, presented the item. Mrs. Dukes stated the term of Bubba Highsmith has expired and he has expressed a desire to continue to serve. Mrs. Dukes mentioned Mr. George  Foreman has also expressed a desire to serve.  FOR CONSIDERATION  Beer and Wine License - Frank C. Love, IV of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc., DBA Finance Director, Stephanie Black, presented the item. Ms. Black stated this is Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores, Inc. DBA Love's Travel Stop #550, located at2 2319Old Clyattville Road requesting a license for the sale of beer and wine for consumption off premises. Ms. Black stated this is a new  Love's Travel Stop #550, 2319 Old Clyattville Rd., Valdosta, GA  establishment and all requirements have been met.    BIDS  Pump Station Rehab  Utilities Director, Steve Stalvey, presented the item. Mr. Stalvey stated several lift stations are in need of repair and rehabilitation. The Utilities Department solicited bids to address these issues at fourteen (14) lift stations. Four contractors attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting and one bid was received from RPI, Inc. in the amount of $1,792,027.80. Chairman Slaughter asked to verify the number of lift stations included in this rehab project? Mr. Stalvey answered there are fourteen (14)inr need of repair and fifty-nine (59) total lift stations. Commissioner Orenstein asked ifv we have internal budgetr tnumbers on how much this repair should cost since one bid was received? Mrs. Dukes responded the last rehab which was done can be retrieved and reviewed to verify the estimate amount per station. Chairman Slaughter stated it is always wise to be cognizant of where the pricing is at as far as the market is concerned, in order to get the best value. Mr. Stalvey mentioned one of the issues for the vendors was they were awarded a bid in Albany on Monday, and with our bid being due on Tuesday, the vendor was unable to bid after receiving that job. Commissioner Wisenbaker asked if this bid amount was an acceptable amount? Mr. Stalvey answered yes, staff anticipated over two million  dollars. Utilities Forklift  Utilities Director, Steve Stalvey, presented the item. Mr. Stalvey stated that due to growth and upgraded warehouse space, the Utilities Department is in need of a forklift. Staff evaluated the cost of a newi forklift versus used, and a used forklift would meet the needs and is more economical. Staff recommends R&S Lift Trucks for the amount of $18,100.00. Chairman Slaughter mentioned a typo in  the amount shown for R& & S Lift Trucks, showing $18,000.00 instead of $18,100.00.  REPORTS  There was no additional information to report.  ADJOURNMENT  Commissioner Orenstein made a motion to adjourn the work session, Vice Chairman Marshall  seconded. Chairman Slaughter adjourned the meeting at 8:38 a.m.  2    LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  MINUTES REGULAR SESSION TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2024  COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairman Bill Slaughter Commissioner Joyce Evans Commissioner Scott Orenstein Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker Commissioner Clay Griner  Vice Chairman Demarcus Marshall was not present. Chairman Slaughter called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.  INVOCATION Commissioner Wisenbaker Commissioner Wisenbaker  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG  MINUTES  The minutes were presented for the work session of July 26, 2024 and the regular session of July 27,2024. No revisions to the minutes were requested. Commissioner Orenstein made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, Commissioner Evans seconded. All voted in favor, no one  opposed. Motion carried. APPOINTMENTS  Lowndes County Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) Board  County Manager, Paige Dukes, presented the item. Mrs. Dukes stated Mr. Lonnie Denton's term has expired, and he has expressed a desire to continue to serve. Commissioner Wisenbaker nominated Mr. Lonnie Denton for reappointment. There being no other nominations, Mr. Denton was reappointed  by acclamation.  Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority  County Manager, Paige Dukes, presented the item. Mrs. Dukes stated the term of Bubba Highsmith has expired and he has expressed a desire to continue to serve. Mrs. Dukes mentioned Mr. George Foreman has also expressed a desire to serve. Commissioner Griner nominated Mr. Bubba Highsmith for reappointment. There being no other nominations, Mr. Highsmith was reappointed by acclamation.    FOR CONSIDERATION  Beer and Wine License - Frank C. Love, IV of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc., DBA Finance Director, Stephanie Black, presented the item. Ms. Black stated this is Love's Travel Stops and Country Stores, Inc. DBALove's' Travel Stop #550, located at 2319 Old Clyattville Road requesting a license for the sale of beer and wine for consumption off premises. Ms. Black stated this is a new establishment and all requirements have been met. Commissioner Orenstein made a motion to approve the request as presented, Commissioner Wisenbaker seconded. All voted in favor, no one  Love's Travel Stop #550, 2319 Old Clyattville Rd., Valdosta, GA  opposed. Motion carried.  BID  Pump Station Rehab  Utilities Director, Steve Stalvey, presented the item. Mr. Stalvey stated several lift stations are in need of repair and rehabilitation. The Utilities Department solicited bids to address these issues at fourteen (14)lifts stations. Mr. Stalvey stated four contractors attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting and three contractors visited the lift stations and submitted questions. One bid was received from RPI, Inc. in the amount of $1,792,027.80. Staff recommends approval. Commissioner Evans made a motion to approve the item as presented, Commissioner Orenstein seconded. All voted in favor, no one  opposed. Motion carried. Utilities Forklift  Utilities Director, Steve Stalvey, presented the item. Mr. Stalvey stated due to growth and upgraded warehouse space, the utilities department is in need of a forklift. Staff evaluated the cost of a new forklift versus used, and a used forklift would meet the needs and is more economical. Staff recommends R&S Lift Trucks in the amount of $18,100.00. Commissioner Orenstein asked if this warehouse was in Lake Park where the E/One pumps are stored? Mr. Stalvey answered yes. Commissioner Orenstein asked if there was a forklift being used currently? Mr. Stalvey answered no. Commissioner Orenstein made a motion to approve the purchase of a forklift from R &s S Lift Trucks in the amount of $18,100.00, Commissioner Griner seconded. All voted in favor, no one opposed.  Motion carried.  REPORTS - County Manager  County Manager, Paige Dukes, mentioned the below items:  Mrs. Dukes thanked everyone from the Lowndes County IT, Public Works, Fire/Rescue and Engineering Department who worked last night to help restore usage of a data room which was Thursday, August 15th, Lowndes County Board of Commissioners will be hosting Leadership Lowndes in the Commission Chambers at 1:30 p.m. speaking about local government. Monday, August 19th, 2:00 p.m. there will be a ribbon cutting held at Love's Travel Stop On Monday, August 19th, Chairman Slaughter is being sworn in at the Capitol at 3:00 p.m. to serve on the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmenta Disabilities August 24th, Saturday at 8:00 a.m. the Feed Your Neighbor 5K run/walk to support Quola (our  down due to an electrical fire yesterday afternoon.  statewide board.  community soup kitchen) will be held.  2    This past Sunday, the Lowndes County Animal Services met with the Humane Society of Valdosta and the ASPCA at the animal shelter and 14 animals were transported to a shelteri in  Kentucky.  Mrs. Dukes asked EMA Director, Ashley Tye, to give the commission an update regarding Tropical Storm Debby. Mr. Tye stated over a week ago Tropical Storm Debby occurred and shifted at the last minute. Lowndes County did not receive quite the impact as expected. The highest wind gusts were 50 mph at the airport and between 4-7 inches of rain was received throughout the county. Approximately twenty-five (25) homes were damaged by trees falling and one hundred (100) individuals expressed an interest for assistance with yard debris. Mr. Tye stated the damage was minimal. GEMA is coming in next week to do a preliminary assessment. Chairman Slaughter and the commissioners thanked Mr. Tye as well as county staff, and all agencies involved with helping during  the storm.  CITIZENS WISHING TO BE HEARD- with people dumping animals.  Deborah Wilcox, 3240 Kelsee Circle, addressed the commission regarding the Lowndes County Animal Shelter. Ms. Wilcox mentioned a spay/neuter program and ordinances and/or laws to help Burton Fletcher, 3533 Cherry Creek Road, addressed the commission regarding the Lowndes County Animal Shelter. Mr. Fletcher mentioned improving communication between the public and the Commissioners, possible monthly and/or weekly meetings with the Chairman and the County Manager to have updates regarding the animal shelter, ordinances on animal welfare, citations for dumping animals, and a spay/neuter program. Mr. Fletcher thanked the board for the additional four hours Janice Monaco, 3744 Bermuda Run, addressed the commission regarding the Lowndes County Animal Shelter. Ms. Monaco mentioned the budget for the animal shelter, a spay/neuter program and  added to the hours at the animal shelter.  educating the public. ADJOURNMENT  Commissioner Wisenbaker made a motion to adjourn the regular session meeting, Commissioner  Evans seconded. Chairman Slaughter adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m.  3