VALDOSTA — The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners convened Tuesday evening to discuss and vote on a range of county matters, including a liquor license request, special assessment rates, the issuance of purchase cards to elected officials, and a grant application for the Solicitor-General’s Office. Each of the proposed actions was approved.

The Board unanimously approved a request from Lisa Ash, the new owner of Lisa’s Billiards and Sports Bar, located at 5129 Mill Store Road in Lake Park. Following the change in ownership, Ash applied for a license to sell beer, wine, and liquor for consumption on the premises.

County officials confirmed that all ordinance requirements and approval guidelines had been met. With the Board’s decision, Lisa’s Billiards and Sports Bar is now officially licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, ensuring business operations can continue under new management without interruption.

Commissioners also addressed the county’s special assessment interest rate for 2025. This rate is set annually for paving or utility assessments not paid within the initial 90-day period. If unpaid, these assessments convert into installment agreements spread over up to ten years.

The interest rate for 2025 was set at 9.5%, based on the current prime rate of 7.5% plus an additional 2%. This follows previous rates of 8.5% in 2024, 9.5% in 2023, and 5.25% in 2022. The rate adjustment aligns with financial policies that ensure timely repayment of county-issued assessments.

The Board also approved requests from two elected officials for county-issued purchasing cards. Tax Commissioner Clay Guess and Probate Judge H. Burke Sherwood have both signed the necessary credit card user agreements, as required by state legislation passed in 2015.

House Bill 192, enacted during the 2015 legislative session, mandates that any elected official seeking a county-issued credit or purchase card be approved in an open meeting. 

Another significant approval came with the Board’s decision to authorize the submission of the FY2025 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Continuation Grant application. The Lowndes County Solicitor-General’s Office has been a recipient of this federal grant since 2018, using the funds to support a specialized prosecutor handling family violence and violence against women cases.

The grant application requests $79,112.00 in federal funding for the upcoming fiscal year. Lowndes County is required to provide matching funds of $26,371.00. The continuation grant would cover the period from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, and its approval ensures ongoing resources to prosecute domestic violence cases effectively.

The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners will meet again on Monday, February 10, for the regular work session and Tuesday, February 11, for the regular meeting.