Valdosta City Council approves additional storm disposal funding, discusses collection use

Kasmira Smith, The Valdosta Daily Times, Ga.
·4 min read

Oct. 9—VALDOSTA — The Valdosta City Council approved two requests to provide funding for more debris removal services Thursday evening, Oct. 5. The council discussed concerns of potential uses for the collected debris materials during the considerations.

The council members previously approved a debris removal bid submitted from Ashbritt for $7.50/cubic yard for debris removal, not to exceed $2.5 million at the Sept. 25 meeting.

Assistant Director of Utilities Jason Barnes presented the funding requests that would cover approximately $1,825,000 for the removal of an additional 100,000 cubic yards of storm debris.

Due to working with GEMA and documentation policies and standards enforced by FEMA, Barnes presented a second request for monitoring the new yardage cleanup. The added monitoring service totaled about $548,000.

Councilman At-Large Ben H. Norton raised concerns on the usage of the collected debris. Councilwoman Vivian Miller-Cody of District 1 asked, "Will the city make money off of this?"

Barnes, along with comments from City Manager Richard Hardy, explained that the City of Valdosta does not currently have plans for the debris. Their current obligation is to collect the debris and transport it to a GEMA or FEMA-approved location so they can receive reimbursement for the debris removal services.

"Everything that we are doing right now as far as the storm, we have no control over those materials other than to work with GEMA and FEMA to make sure that we get reimbursed for everything that we do," Hardy said. "Right now, no one can have access to this material."

He continued explaining that the City of Valdosta does have its own private site for grinded materials that will be made available to the residents.

Other actions

Mayor Scott James Matheson led several public hearings starting with a consideration of an ordinance for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for an event center in a Highway-Commercial (C-H) Zoning District.

Planning Director Matt Martin said Kristie Jenkins submitted the request for the property located at 2525 N. Ashley St. The Planning Commission reviewed this at their Sept. 25 meeting and recommended approval without conditions (6-2 Vote).

No residents came forward in opposition. The council approved the ordinance with a majority 5-2. Council members Sandra Tooley of District 2 and Eric Howard of District 4 opposed.

Public hearings were held and unanimously approved for the following:

* A consideration of an ordinance to rezone 2.64 acres from Single-Family Residential (R- 10) to Highway-Commercial (C-H) as requested by St. Augustine Road Church of Christ (File No. VA-2023-13). The property is located at 713 North St. Augustine Road. The Planning Commission reviewed this at their Sept. 25 meeting and recommended approval (8-0 Vote).

* A consideration of an ordinance to rezone 3.96 acres from Highway-Commercial (C- H)(County) to Highway-Commercial (C-H)(City) as requested by Edward Jennings LLC (File No. VA-2023-14). The property is located at 1869 Madison Highway. The Planning Commission reviewed this at their Sept. 25 meeting and recommended approval (8-0 Vote).

* A consideration of an ordinance to annex 3.96 acres into the City of Valdosta as requested by Edward Jennings LLC (File No. VA-2023-15). The property is located at 1869 Madison Highway. The Planning Commission reviewed this at their Sept. 25 meeting and recommended approval (8-0 Vote).

Public Works Director Anthony Musgrove then approached the podium introducing bids for a ,ck for the Public Works Department's commercial routes. He said the current truck's model dates to 2004 and its cost of $360,000 was factored in the council approved budget for the fiscal year.

The council approved the remaining requests:

* A consideration of a request for payment per an agreement with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Consent Order EPD-WP-9424.

* A consideration of a request for partial payment of emergency repairs for a sanitary sewer main collapse at Highway 84 and Blanchard Street.

* A consideration of a request to authorize the extension of the deadline for credit for the Harvest Station Project.

The next Valdosta City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 19, at 5:30 p.m.