Board approves soil treatment

VALDOSTA -- The North Lowndes Recreation site will undergo soil removal and replacement to remove bad materials impacting walking trails at the facility. On Tuesday, the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners approved a change order request for the recreation site as recommended by the contractor.

Unsuitable soil was found during the installation of partial storm drainage and is expected to cost about $25,000 for soil removal and replacement to correct the area. In addition, the board approved raising the walking trail that is at risk for flooding during rainy seasons. Elevating the trail is estimated to cost $3,533.

However, project manager Whit Alexander said the cost of soil treatment and raising the trails would not be exact until the process is complete. The change order request will also allow a 30-day extension for the project's deadline. The original completion was scheduled for June.

The board also approved two joint resolutions concerning the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority and the Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority.

A resolution approved for the airport authority will amend legislation to increase the number of authority members to six from five. This will allow three members to be appointed by County Commissioners and three to be appointed by the Valdosta City Council.

For the tourism authority, Commissioners approved an increase in the number of members to eight. Under this legislation, Commissioners would appoint four members and Council would appoint four members.

If City Council approves the resolutions on Thursday, they will be submitted to the Georgia General Assembly for approval.

In other minutes:

- In response to a citizens' concern about annexation, Chairman Rod Casey said the county still opposes adverse annexation. Casey said he made this with known with the former mayor, the late James H. Rainwater, and with current Mayor John Fretti.

"We've said there's right ways and wrong ways to do this, and we think this is the wrong way," Casey said.

Casey added that the county is considering making a public presentation to the Council regarding the annexation.

- The Commission accepted a proposal for monitoring and reports on the Tillman Crossing paving project. SPLOST V funds are being used for the project that will cost no more than $12,000.

- The Commission approved for drainage improvements with the construction of a subdivision on Quarterman Road. SPLOST V funds will be used for the $22,642 drainage construction.

- A request for utility extensions along Oak Hill Drive was postponed until the county's March meeting. The county plans to further examine an exact cost for extending services to six lots that are to be developed. Currently, there is an estimate of $225,000. A request for utility extensions to Loch Laurel Estates was also postponed until March in order to determine exact costs.