Two wells, a lift station, water meters, and drainage eminent domain @ LCC 2026-01-26

Lowndes County is under a GA-EPD Consent Order about drinking water for a well near Pine Grove Middle School. They did try for multiple bids to fix that but only got one.

And they’re fixing a sewage lift station near Ocean Pond in Lake Park. Before it breaks: good. It’s a sole source bid, though.

The Consent Order is revealed by the agenda packet page for 5.a. Spring Creek Water Treatment Plant Design Build Project. Neither the board packet materials nor the ad for bids mentions where this is. However, previous research indicates it’s the well with water tower at 4245 Hattie Pl, Valdosta, GA 31605, near a creek that runs west by Pine Grove Middle School to the Withlacoochee River.

They will vote on spending $214,412.00 on the Spring Creek plant. Which also mysteriously includes “add a lift station.” Lift stations usually refer to sewer lines, and Lowndes County’s sewer lines do not go up Hattie Place to the well site. Maybe an open records request for the Consent Order will clarify that.

And another $24,400.00 on a sewage pump repair at the Peterson Road Lift Station. The packet materials don’t say where that is, either, but it appears to be in the southeast corner of 6201 Peterson Road (the Home Depo Distribution Center), east of the I-75 Georgia Visitor Center. The sign on the fence says Roadway Lift Station.

And the county thinks $12,400.00 is a fair condemnation price to get some road and drainage right of way along Twin Lakes Road.

Two wells, a lift station, surplus water meter components, and drainage eminent domain @ Lowndes County Commission 2026-01-26

That’s about a quarter million dollars they may approve Tuesday, before even adding in the $26,371.00 cash match for a VAWA grant.

Cost	What
$214,412.00	Spring Creek Water Treatment Plant Design Build Project
$26,371.00	Approval of the Solicitor General's FY26 VAWA Continuation Grant Application
$24,400.00	Peterson Road Lift Station Pump Repair
$12,400.00	Condemning Right of Way and Drainage Easement for Twin Lakes Road TSPLOST Paving Project; Parcel 3
$277,583.00	Total

Spring Creek Well

Here’s how the agenda sheet describes the Spring Creek Water Treatment Plant Design Build Project:

HISTORY, FACTS AND ISSUES: North Lowndes water system was issued a consent order from Georgia EPD several months ago due to continued disinfection by-product violations. After discussions with our engineering firm and negotiations with EPD, a decision was made to upgrade the Spring Creek site. Staff advertised an RFP to add a new deep well, upgrade existing well, install nanofiltration water treatment skids including chemical feed systems and an operations building, add an emergency back generator, and add a lift station. Three firms submitted questions, but only one proposal was received from Reynolds Construction, LLC. We believe the size and specialization of the project limited the number of proposals we received. Reynolds Construction submitted a preliminary phase price of $214,412.00. Reynolds has now presented the attached agreement between Lowndes County and Reynolds Construction of Georgia, LLC. Staff recommends approval and authorize the Chairman to sign the attached agreement with Reynolds Construction of Georgia, LLC for $214,412.00.

So they did try to get multiple bids.

BUDGET IMPACT: $214,412.00 FUNDING SOURCE: (xX) SPLOST due to GA-EPD Consent Order, one bid, Reynolds Construction
PDF

Here’s a Google Street View image of the water tower at Spring Creek Well at 4245 Hattie Pl, Valdosta, GA 31605.

Spring Creek Water Tower, 2026-01-24 —Google Street View

Here’s a location map. Notice a bit to the northeast the Norman Hall Sinkhole, which appeared in a homeowner’s garage soon after the county dug that well in 2012. By road, the sinkhole is about a mile away, but as the crow flies, more like 600 feet.

Map: Spring Creek Well in the WWALS map of the Withlacoochee and Little River Water Trail (WLRWT)

Peterson Road Lift Station

Here’s how the agenda sheet describes the Peterson Road Lift Station Pump Repair:

HISTORY, FACTS AND ISSUES: Pump one at the Peterson Road lift station began running high amps. After troubleshooting, the pump was sent to Xylem for further diagnostics. After examing the pump, Xylem determined the cost of repairs would be $24,400.00. The cost of a new pump is $76,440.25. Staff recommends approval for the pump to be repaired for $24,400.00.

So Lowndes County Utilities is fixing the pump before it breaks and saving money by not buying a new one. It’s a sole-source bid, though.

BUDGET IMPACT: $24,400.00 FUNDING SOURCE: (XxX) Annual, Xylem repair
PDF

Here is a Google Street View image of the lift station in the southeast corner of 6201 Peterson Rd, Lake Park, GA 31636. The sign on the gate says Roadway Lift Station.

Roadway Lift Station, Peterson Road, 2026-01-24 — Google Street View

That location, according to USGS, is in the Withlacoochee River Basin, draining to what we call Deese Track Creek, slightly upstream from Sullivan Launch, near Pinetta, Florida.

Map: 1201 Peterson Road Lake Park Deese Tract Creek, 2026-01-24 — TNM, with layers GNIS, Hydro Cached, NHD Plus High Resolution Dataset.

There’s also a water tower on Peterson Road, slightly uphill from Ocean Pond, which is in the Alapahoochee River Basin, upstream from the Alapaha River. Here’s a Google Street View image.

Peterson Road Water Tower, 2026-01-26 — Google Street View

Agenda

Here is the agenda.

For the board packet, see Packet: Water treatment upgrade because GA-EPD Consent Order, Lift Station Pump Repair, Condemnation along Twin Lakes Road, VAWA, Extension Office, Red Cross @ LCC 2026-01-26.

You may wonder, as I do, why doesn’t the county put its board packets on its own website?

Maybe you’d like to ask your County Commissioners that question.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2026, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Call to Order
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Minutes for Approval

Work Session & Regular Session – January 12, 2026

For Consideration

Spring Creek Water Treatment Plant Design Build Project

Documents:Spring Creek Water Treatment Plant Design Build Project.pdf

Peterson Road Lift Station Pump Repair

Documents:Peterson Road Lift Station Pump Repair.pdf

Resolution to Sell Surplus Water Meter Components

Documents:Resolution to Sell Surplus Water Meter Components.pdf

Condemning Right of Way and Drainage Easement for Twin Lakes Road TSPLOST Paving Project; Parcel 3

Documents:Condemning Right of Way and Drainage Easement for Twin Lakes Road TSPLOST Paving Project Parcel 3.pdf

Special Assessment Rate for 2026

Documents:Special Assessment Rate for 2026.pdf

Approval of the Solicitor General's FY26 VAWA Continuation Grant Application

Documents:Approval of the Solicitor General FY26 VAWA Continuation Grant Application.pdf

Reports – County Manager

Extension Office Update by Joshua Dawson (Work Session)

American Red Cross Update by Jacqueline Shoemaker

Citizens Wishing to be Heard-Please State Your Name and Address

Adjournment

LCC Agenda 2026-01-26

For Consideration and Reports
PDF

Another Report and Adjournment
PDF

There are more images below.

-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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