VALDOSTA — On Tuesday, the Lowndes County Commissioners approved several significant projects to enhance local infrastructure, public safety, and emergency response capabilities.

Local roads

The 2024 Local Road Assistance Administration Funds application seeks to secure funding for the maintenance and improvement of local roads. The Lowndes County Engineering Department Head, Chad McLeod, took the podium to discuss the application and the use of the funds.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has announced a significant boost for local infrastructure, McLeod said. Gov. Brian Kemp and the state legislature have included $250 million in Local Road Assistance funds in the amended fiscal year 2024 budget. These funds, distributed via the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant Application System, require no matching funds.

Lowndes County is set to receive $1,656,734.49, which will be used for improvements of approximately 35 miles of paved roads, including the intersection of Val Del Road at North Valdosta Road. With all in favor, Chairman Bill Slaughter approved the application.

County jail

The commissioners also approved the Guaranteed Maximum Price for the new addition to the Lowndes County Jail. McLeod walked the commissioners through the process of the expansion.

Lowndes County staff, Studio 8 Design Architects, and the Allstate Construction and Cauthan Construction Joint Venture, LLC construction team have finalized the Guaranteed Maximum Price for the new jail expansion project. Following the receipt of subcontractor bids in March, the GMP has been set at $8,965,053.

The project will add a new 60-cell facility connected to the existing medical area at the jail.

Alert system

Since 2007, Lowndes County has operated a mass notification and emergency alert system to send crucial alerts, such as missing person notifications and flood warnings. This system also relays National Weather Service warnings for tornadoes, flash floods, and severe thunderstorms. Initially implemented with Code Red, later acquired by OnSolve, the system has seen a decline in customer service quality due to shifts in the company’s focus, according to statements at the commission meeting.

Ashley Tye, Department Head of Emergency Management, said the Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency regularly assesses alternatives to ensure the best service for residents. After evaluating multiple systems, including Code Red, EMA has decided to transition to RAVE Alert, a Motorola product.

Tye said RAVE Alert offers more functionality, reliability, and a lower pricing structure than the current system.

He said residents must sign up for the new RAVE system due to privacy protocols, even if they were previously registered with Code Red. The move to RAVE was approved by all and signed.

Damage assessment

Tye stayed on the podium to discuss Crisis Track, a damage assessment software. This app can be installed on smartphones or tablets, enabling field users to quickly collect and transmit damage information to the Emergency Operations Center, he said. Crisis Track allows faster reporting to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and quicker notifications to FEMA for assistance requests.

Thanks to recently available GEMA grant funds, the implementation of Crisis Track has been expedited, Tye said. This ensures the system is in place and personnel are trained ahead of the peak hurricane season. The board approved the new software for use.