Website technical difficulties were a chief topic of concern at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority Tuesday evening.

Staff expects the website to go back online in less than 24 hours, but they also emphasized the need to upgrade the code. A Request for Proposal will be sent out by April for companies to respond to a bid for the creation of a new website.

According to Executive Director Andrea Schruijer, an upgrade was attempted two years ago unsuccessfully and the last true upgrade was over four years ago.

It was also pointed out that meeting agendas and minutes were still available on the crashed website, but were intermixed with coding language.

Schruijer said the Industrial Authority updates four differentwebsites with available land and buildings.

A new Facebook page has also been created. It is available at www.facebook.com/lowndeseconomicdevelopment.

Board members unanimously approved a bid from Market Street Services for a community market analysis. Chairman Roy Copeland asked for expediency in the voting process, since the board had “massaged” such a community assessment for over three years. Board member Norman Bennett was not present at the meeting Tuesday.

Six existing industry visits were handled last month and staff has identified five “opportunities to partner with local government agencies, regional and state economic development partners to resolve issues negatively impacting business operations and assist in identifying opportunities in emerging markets for new products.”

Staff has continued work with three companies with expansion plans.

Project manager Allan Ricketts expects this process to continue for another three to six months before any announcements can be made.

Moody Air Force Base has completed initial coordination with the Industrial Authority to host a visit for the Georgia Chapter of the

National Defense Industry Association in May or June of 2012.

Progress at Miller Business Park includes the installation of security fencing at both park entrances and demolition/site cleanup of three small structures located in the southern section of the park. Georgia

Power has completed the installation of underground electrical cable in preparation of Phase I entrance/roadway lighting and the landscape irrigation pump station.

At the Westside Business Park, Phase I infrastructure work is in progress and construction of the Durocky Road, LLC – Dupont Logistics/Distribution building is underway. An advertisement for landscape and irrigation bids is expected for release in May 2012.

Staff is working with the Valdosta Tree Commission to develop a plan for planting trees in the median along Gil Harbin Industrial Blvd.

Consideration will also be given for the replacement of existing Bradford Pear trees at both the Madison Hwy. and St. Augustine park entrances.

Board members unanimously approved a request from Industrial Authority attorney Steve Gupton to extend a lease agreement with Letica Corporation for an additional two years to allow them to meet certain conditions necessary for qualification of economic incentives.

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