VALDOSTA — The Valdosta City Council met Thursday to address several infrastructure and utility-related items, approving a range of bids and agreements focused on public safety and system improvements across the city.

The first of many approvals of the evening came in support of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority. The council authorized a resolution to accept a grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation for the rehabilitation of Runway 4/22 lighting and the replacement of the General Aviation Terminal Building at the Valdosta Regional Airport. No city funds will be used for this project.

In another utility matter, the council approved a request to clean the #2 Ozone Generator at the city’s water treatment plant. The generator is a vital part of the system that disinfects Valdosta’s drinking water by producing ozone gas. Valdosta’s City Engineer, Benjamin O’Dowd, described that the generator must be cleaned properly due to the risk of explosion if it is not performed correctly. 

A majority of the meeting focused on sewer infrastructure projects, such as multiple rehabilitation and design projects for the city’s aging sewer systems. These included Phase 2 of the Knights Creek Sanitary Sewer Trunkline project, which will replace deteriorating pipes with new ones. 

Additionally, RPI Underground, Inc. was selected for the Phase 1 rehabilitation of the Remer Sanitary Sewer system. That project will restore about 610 linear feet of 70-year-old concrete pipe by lining it with new high-density liners.

O’Dowd clarified that while most of the sewer upgrades are preemptive and part of long-term system improvements, one project was an emergency response. The Sugar Creek Emergency Sewer Repair project arose after inspections revealed damage following the recent storms. The work includes the installation of new sewer piping, replacement of aerial crossings, bypass pumping, and other measures necessary to stabilize the area.

The last discussion item was about the development of Fire Station #8, located at 4434 Forrest Street Extension. The city purchased the property in 2023 and began design work with Ellis, Ricket & Associates (ERA) for Phase 1 of the project. According to O’Dowd, the fire station is not a new construction but a renovation of the existing building. While the size of the structure will remain the same, its interior will be completely refitted to serve as a fully operational fire station and public safety facility. 

Council voted to proceed with all of the proposed upgrades.