VALDOSTA— The Valdosta City Council moved quickly through its agenda Thursday evening, approving all action items during its regular meeting.

The meeting opened with the council approving two rezoning ordinances; the planning commission previously discussed these projects at its March 31 meeting. The council approved two resolutions allowing the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority to accept grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. These grants, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Airport Improvement Project program, will cover the construction costs. 

The meeting featured several bids related to city service vehicles and equipment upgrades. These included several new service vehicles for the Engineering, Utilities and Public Works departments. The new equipment will replace aging vehicles, some over 20 years old.

Infrastructure improvements were another key focus of the meeting. Council approved professional design service proposals for two major sewer system projects. The first addresses utility rehabilitation for the Lakeland Highway Lift Station and the Sanitary Sewer Main Outfall, while the second involves an evaluation of the Knights Creek Sanitary Sewer Trunk Line. Valdosta’s city engineer, Benjamin O’Dowd, discussed the proposals and how both projects aim to maintain infrastructure, keep staff alert to the state of the sewer lines, and prepare the city for future growth. 

Other approvals during the meeting included a broker to assist with employee supplemental benefit plans, the approval of the Valdosta On Demand Safety Plan, and the purchase of a new micro bar screen for the Mud Creek Water Pollution Control Plant.