VALDOSTA — Lowndes County Commissioners tabled two additions to nuisance ordinances that would add teeth to the county’s existing codes covering swimming pools as well as grass and weed height.

The amendments were postponed for two weeks pending review by County Attorney Walter Elliott to ensure the changes and prescribed remedies were consistent with other county codes.

The weed and grass ordinance would set a maximum height of 12 inches for weeds and grass on any lot with residential zoning — including vacant or abandoned property. The ordinance would not apply, for example, to properties zoned Suburban Agriculture, many of which are residential in nature and appearance.

The swimming pool ordinance will install both safety and sanitation requirements.

“All pools in Lowndes County shall be maintained throughout the year through all seasons if said pools contains water,” the proposed amendment reads. “Stagnant water accumulating in unattended pools shall not be tolerated per this ordinance.”

The goal of the sanitation amendment is to prevent emerging health hazards and quash potential breeding areas for mosquitoes as West Nile fears ramp up following a rainy spring and rising temperatures.

For pool safety, the county is proposing a requirement that all pools with a minimum depth of 24 inches be surrounded with a four-foot fence and that gates have self-closing and self-locking mechanisms to guard against drowning.

Fire Chief Jim Fielding, whose department handles nuisance cases, told the Board at Monday’s work session that he had received several complaints about overgrown yards and poorly maintained pools. He said the ordinance amendments would give his workers a way to handle such incidents.

The penalty for violating the new ordinances would be up to a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail, though warnings are usually given initially. Violations are handled by the county’s code enforcement division.

The Board will revisit the ordinances at its May 13 meeting.

In other business, Commissioners:

Unanimously approved a resolution proclaiming clerk’s week, April 27-May 3;

Unanimously approved a contract with the City of Dasher to provide fire services in the amount of $5,000. The county will have exclusive use of the Dasher fire station to store house equipment;

Unanimously approved a list of proposed road projects for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax V and authorized the county engineer to forward the list to the Department of Transportation. The DOT has agreed to match 75 cents on the dollar for all mutually agreed upon SPLOST projects;

Unanimously approved a proposal to require security for events held at the Lowndes County Civic Center by requiring the person who rents the facility to provide for the presence of a monitor, a law enforcement officer and/or a fire officer at the renter’s expense, that the monitor must be contracted for the renter and paid directly by the renter and must be from an agency with jurisdiction over the facility and come from an approved list of monitors provided by the county;

Unanimously amended the county policy on paid leave to allow employees to transfer unused leave to another employee in the event of illness or emergency;

Unanimously approved the purchase of a new public works vehicle for mail transportation;

Unanimously voted to amend policies and procedures for the Utility Department to clarify issues of county liability concerning water lines and other “hardware,” and

Met in executive session to discuss real estate matters.



To contact reporter Bill Roberts, please call 244-3400, ext. 245.