Valdosta Daily Times

Local News

June 22, 2012

Council deeds land for library

FY 2013 budget approved

VALDOSTA — Valdosta’s City Council members were in sync on each item on Thursday’s agenda, as the council unanimously approved the city’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget and followed through on this month’s earlier decision to deed a tract of land to the South Georgia Regional Library Board of Trustees for a new library.

With the debate on next year’s budget ironed out, the council spent little time presenting and approving the $86,254,976 budget proposal.

The final decision on the Five Points land long promised to the Library Board was discussed in a private, executive session of council.

After reopening the chamber to the public, council members revealed that the city would indeed grant the library board the public land needed to construct the new library.

“Councilman Alvin Payton Jr. motioned to deed an approximate 3.7 acre tract of the Five Points property to the South Georgia Regional Library Board of Trustees for the purpose for constructing a new regional library facility,” according to the motion.

Councilman Ben Norton seconded the motion and the council backed it with a unanimous vote.

Though favorable, the motion stated that the council’s decision is still subject to provisions recommended by library staff and a legal description of the site’s master plan.

The gifting of the public land enables the library board to receive state funding for the new facility. The new site, out of the shadow of the ever-growing South Georgia Medical Center, will allow for a new branch library that meets the needs of the community now and for 20 to 30 years in the future.

In other business, council unanimously approved each of the following agenda items:

• Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the filing of an application with the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance to fund the purchase of eligible bullet-proof vests for City of Valdosta Police Officers. The deadline for the matching grant is set for June 27.

• Consideration of bids for uniforms for the Police Department. Azars Uniforms, based in Jacksonville, Fla., was the only company to submit a bid by the department’s June 5 deadline.

• Consideration of bids for work uniforms for City of Valdosta personnel. Cintas submitted the lowest bid for the contract, while previous contractor, Command Uniforms, failed to submit a bid by the deadline.

• Consideration of bids for plumbing services for the City of Valdosta. Only one bid was submitted, as city officials sought out a single source to fulfill the city’s plumbing needs.

• Consideration of bids for hand tools for the City of Valdosta.

• Consideration of a request to purchase a video camera platform for use by the Valdosta Police Department. Officials said the $143,862.72 camera system would be funded by SPLOST and would not be used to enforce red light rules.

 Council members also heard the first reading of an ordinance to adopt the Water and Wastewater Rate Sufficiency Study that includes proposed changes in the City of Valdosta’s water and sewer rates.

For more on this story and other local news, subscribe to The Valdosta Daily Times e-Edition, or our print edition

Text Only
Local News
  • Easter Seals.jpg Easter Seals benefit Thursday

    Easter Seals Southern Georgia will be hosting “Sweet Charity: Desserts for a Cause” Thursday at Mathis Auditorium. The event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. and will include several local restaurants serving dessert as well as a silent auction.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • police-lights-backgrounds-for-powerpoint.jpg Dollar General robbed at gunpoint

    A customer and two employees were unharmed during a Sunday evening robbery as two masked men demanded cash from registers and the business’ safe as the Dollar General on Bemiss Road prepared to close at around 11:30 p.m., according to reports from the Valdosta Police Department.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • overpass1 copy.jpg Overpass work causes detours

    All vehicles which are not making a delivery in the immediate vicinity of the new overpass will have to find alternate routes immediately.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • AR - Merita W. 02 copy.jpg Crossing guard keeping kids safe

    Meet Merita Williams, crossing guard.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • 120623_juneteenth1 copy.jpg Juneteenth’s coming

    Held in just as high a regard as the celebration of our country’s independence to many, the county’s annual Juneteenth dinner returns this Tuesday at 7 p.m. for its 21st year and will offer citizens of all races with a central point to celebrate human rights.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • preacherbook1 copy.jpg A soldier called preacher

    In Vietnam, Wesley Harrell spread the Lord’s word among his fellow soldiers. He spoke of God often though few seemed to listen until they encountered war’s sudden death.

    June 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • 130615 100 Black men 01 copy.JPG History on the move

    In the right hands, a divided house can again mount a sound foundation and settle into a new era, as proved on Saturday when the 100 Black Men of Valdosta unveiled a transplanted house that’ll likely serve as their headquarters at its Martin Luther King Jr. Drive location.

    June 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • summer safety logo.jpg Beach Safety: Keeping safe with fun in the sun

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second story in a weekly series on summer safety.

    June 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • 130614-community depot003 copy.jpg Ribbon cutting held for Joan Bailey Center

    The Community Depot has opened the doors of its newest non-profit retail center, which was dedicated Friday to and named in honor of former Valdosta State University First Lady Joan Bailey.

    June 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • KJ4.jpg Kendrick Johnson’s body exhumed

    The family of a deceased Lowndes High School student had his body exhumed Friday morning from Sunset Hills Cemetery as relatives continue the process of acquiring a second autopsy.

    June 15, 2013 1 Photo

Top News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Poll

Should the government have access to your phone, emails?

Yes, always.
No, never.
Only in times of national emergency.
     View Results