Category Archives: Tax

Datacenter Special Exception Public Hearing @ Irwin County Commission 2026-03-02

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The next stop is the Irwin County Commission, tonight, Monday, March 2, 2026, at 5:45 PM, in the same location, the Irwin County Courthouse, 301 South Irwin Avenue, Ocilla, Ga. 31774.

I asked the Interim Chief Appraiser for any new packet materials since all four Planning Commissioners present voted to recommend approval of the proposed Special Exception for the Data Center near Irwinville, last Thursday, February 26, 2026.

She said there are no new materials. So where is all that transparency promised by the applicants last Thursday?

[Datacenter Special Exception Public Hearing @ Irwin County Commission, 5:45 PM, 2026-02-03]
Datacenter Special Exception Public Hearing @ Irwin County Commission, 5:45 PM, 2026-02-03

The proposed location is on Ponderosa Drive, Irwinville, Georgia 31783, quite near the Alapaha River. And of course over the Floridan Aquifer, from which we all drink, for our houses, businesses, and farms.

You’ve already seen the extremely thin board packet for the Planning Commission for item IC-SE-01-2026.

The one agenda sheet received from the Interim Chief Appraiser in response to an open records request is on the WWALS website. Continue reading →

Datacenter: recommended approval –Irwin County Planning Commission 2026-02-26

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Update 2026-03-02: Datacenter Special Exception Public Hearing @ Irwin County Commission 2026-03-02.

All four Planning Commissioners present voted to recommend approval of the proposed Special Exception for the Data Center near Irwinville, last Thursday, February 26, 2026.

[Datacenter: recommended approval, Irwin County Planning Commission, After many speakers, most against 2026-02-26]
Datacenter: recommended approval, Irwin County Planning Commission, After many speakers, most against 2026-02-26

The next stop is the Irwin County Commission, this Monday, March 2, 2026, at 5:45 PM, in the same location, the Irwin County Courthouse, 301 South Irwin Avenue, Ocilla, Ga. 31774.

After numerous people spoke against and a few for that item, IC-SE-01-2026, two of the members of the Ocilla-Irwin County Planning Advisory Commission spoke at length about what they had been told or read or saw on a visit to another datacenter, as why they were for it, plus the promise of $20 million a year in tax revenue.

None of that was in the extremely thin board packet. So thin that their staff, Jessica Harris, Irwin County Interim Chief Appraiser, said at the beginning of that item that staff had no recommendation for or against because there was not enough information to go on.

The other two Planning Commissioners said they were for tabling the item due to lack of information.

However, one of the two for the project, Chairman Alan Smith, moved for approval. The other one, Vice Chair Tara Smith, seconded. And the remaining two, Arlinda Murrell and Ms. Walker, reluctantly also raised their hands.

Questions not answered with any documentation continue to include who is the datacenter customer (Google?), where are the specifications for the closed loop cooling water system, and what would those 200-300 high-paying local permanent jobs be doing, that were advertised in the slides for Irwin Forward Tech Park.

The proposed location is on Ponderosa Drive, Irwinville, Georgia 31783, quite near the Alapaha River.

Below are links to each WWALS video of each speaker or topic, with a few notes by John S. Quarterman, followed by a WWALS video playlist.

Most speakers were against the special exception, except for the few noted as for or as part of or attorney for the applicant.

Apologies for any incorrect names. And Continue reading →

Irwin Forward Tech Park

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Whoever is behind it is making big claims for Irwin Forward Tech Park: $20 million in tax revenue, 200-300 high-paying local permanent jobs, no fumes, limited noise, closed loop water, and no discharge.

This is according to a package of materials somebody sent me that I hear has been circulating in Irwin County.

If all this is true, why aren’t we hearing about it in public?

And where are the references to other places where this has already been done?

[Irwin Forward Tech Park, Irwinville, Irwin County, GA, Claims closed loop water, Limited noise, no discharge]
Irwin Forward Tech Park, Irwinville, Irwin County, GA, Claims closed loop water, Limited noise, no discharge

Remember, the Planning Commission Public Hearing on the special exception is Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 6 PM in Ocilla, supposedly moved to the Irwin Courthouse, 301 South Irwin Avenue, Ocilla, Ga. 31774.

The County Commission meeting is Monday, March 2, 2026, at 5:45 PM.

This is for the proposed site south of Irwinville, west of Ponderosa Drive, east of the Alapaha River.

More details here:

https://wwals.net/?p=69394

Someone has started a change.org petition against this datacenter:

https://www.change.org/p/protect-irwin-county-from-data-centers

And don’t forget the two bills in the legislature right now: Continue reading →

Six hours and no decision @ Alachua Planning Commission 2026-01-13

Update 2026-01-20: In the next meeting, Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the vote was 4:0 to deny, by the City of Alachua Planning and Zoning Commission. So it’s dead for now, but watch for it to come back later.

The City of Alachua Planning Commissioners seemed inclined to approve the Special Exception Permit for the Tara April detention ponds and trails next to I-75.

But after the applicant’s case was countered by the National Speleological Society (NSS) and others, the Commissioners seemed ready to deny.

However, at midnight the court recorder had to leave, so they had to adjourn until Tuesday, April January 20, 2026, at 6 PM, also at Alachua City Hall, 15100 NW 142 Terrace, Alachua, FL 32615.

Get there early. It was standing room only this Tuesday, with some people outside the doors.

[Six hours and no decision, @ Alachua Planning Commission 2026-01-13, They meet again about Tara April, and Mill Creek Sink, 6 PM 2026-01-20]
Six hours and no decision, @ Alachua Planning Commission 2026-01-13, They meet again about Tara April, and Mill Creek Sink, 6 PM 2026-01-20

You can see the relevant parts of the meeting (minus the other two items on the agenda) in this video by Richie Denmark for NSS:

https://youtu.be/g2yNv9MtRBY?si=dtbvAtyaEnXwmvVw

That video does not include the images projected by the various speakers. But I took stills of many of them, which you can see below.

The video starts with me photographing the Tara April Master Plan. You can see my photographs below. Continue reading →

Valdosta drinking water meter sole-source issue 2025-10-19

Update 2025-12-30: Valdosta fixing sewer system problems before they break @ VCC 2025-12-11.

Back in 2020, Valdosta happily announced installation of new water meters, including a video of them installing the meters in the ground, with a steel cover. They were supposed to last a long time.

[Valdosta drinking water meter sole-source issue 2020-01-31, 25,000 meters replaced again in October 2025]
Valdosta drinking water meter sole-source issue 2020-01-31, 25,000 meters replaced again in October 2025

Unfortunately, those meters were not designed for hot subtropical summers. That steel cover kept the heat in, and the meters failed in little more than five years. There was no upgrade, because the sole-source vendor went bankrupt.

So in 2025 the City of Valdosta had to buy a whole new set of 25,000 meters, which were not in its budget, and required changing customer billing.

This story is about drinking water. In a later post, we will discuss how the sole-source issue is also relevant to Valdosta’s sewer system, and other sewer systems.

Metro 17, Valdosta, January 31, 2020, New Water Meters, Continue reading →

Videos: Bradford Road Denied @ Berrien County Commission 2025-11-04

The Berrien County Commission denied the subdividing issue before them: the six lots on Bradford Road, at their November 4, 2025, regular meeting.

However, many irregularities were raised.

[Bradford Road Denied @ Berrien County Commission. Many irregularities raised, 2025-11-04]
Bradford Road Denied @ Berrien County Commission. Many irregularities raised, 2025-11-04

The other lots on Old Valdosta Highway were already decided by the same Commission in 2024, and the minutes for that meeting say at the request of John and Tonia Beville.

At this meeting, John Beville said he and she had not requested that, and never saw any Public Hearing signs posted, even though they lived there at the time. When questioned by the Commission, Zoning Coordinator Teresa Willis said it was done for South Auction, and “Russ” brought the plat to her. She did not say who Russ was.

Della Gladieux pointed out that the three Planning Commission Public Hearings this year all had both plats advertised, for the lots on Old Valdosta Highway, and for the other lots on Bradford Road. She also pointed out other issues in the document she handed the Commissioners: Formal Complaint and Demand for Investigation Re Bradford Road –Della Gladieux 2025-11-04.

Lisa Sumner also spelled out numerous issues.

Below you can see the entire Berrien County Commission meeting of November 4, 2025 in the WWALS videos of each agenda item and speaker, plus a few still pictures, followed by a WWALS video playlist.

See also Continue reading →

Formal Complaint and Demand for Investigation Re Bradford Road –Della Gladieux 2025-11-04

Update 2025-11-23: Videos: Bradford Road Denied @ Berrien County Commission 2025-11-04.

This is the formal complaint Della Gladieux submitted to the Berrien County Commission at the meeting on November 4, 2025.

[Formal Complaint... Regarding Rezoning ... Bradford Road --Della Gladieux to Berrien County Commission 2025-11-04]
Formal Complaint… Regarding Rezoning … Bradford Road –Della Gladieux to Berrien County Commission 2025-11-04

Della Gladieux
1595 Bradford Road
Ray City, GA 31645

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Berrien County Board of Commissioners
John Nugent, Post 1
Ronnie Gaskins, Post 2
Jimmy Parker, Post 3
Kylon Fort, Post 4
Pixie Harrod, Post 5
Brenda Ferrell, County/Clerk/Administrator
Jennifer Herzog, County Attorney
201 N. Davis Street, Room
Nashville, GA 31639

Re: Formal Complaint and Demand for Investigation Regarding Rezoning of Property at Old Valdosta Highway and Bradford Road, Parcel ID #M&P 061-14-000

Dear Parties Listed Above,

This letter serves as a formal complaint regarding the rezoning of property located at Old Valdosta Highway and Bradford Road (parcel: 061-14-000), which was changed from an agricultural use to a residential use on October 15, 2025 2024. This action is invalid due to significant procedural and ethical violations of Georgia law.

The specific grounds for this complaint are as follows:

Continue reading →

Minutes of August and September Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-21

Update 2025-11-05: After some rather contentious testimony, the Berrien County Commission denied the subdividing request. WWALS videos to come. See also below about the other GORA request.

Here are the minutes from the first two meetings with the Public Hearings for the Cole Livingston proposed subdivision on Bradford and Strawder Roads and Old Valdosta Highway, at the Berrien County Planning Commission.

The actual decision will be made this evening, November 4, 2025, at 6 PM, by the Berrien County Commission, at 201 North Davis Street, Nashville, Georgia 31639.

These were received in response to a WWALS open records request, which is at the end below.

[Minutes of August and September, Berrien Planning Commission, Plus maps, Received 2025-10-21]
Minutes of August and September, Berrien Planning Commission, Plus maps, Received 2025-10-21

The Minutes are for these Berrien County Planning Commission meetings: Continue reading →

Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems –Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16

Update 2025-10-31: Agenda: Berrien County Commission 2025-11-04.

Here is the document Della Gladieux gave to the Berrien Planning Commissioners last Thursday, at the Public Hearing about subdidiving on Bradford Road in an agricultural character area.

[Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems --Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16]
Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems –Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16

You can see her present it in this WWALS video:

Continue reading →

Videos: Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision 2025-10-16

Update 2025-11-23: Videos: Bradford Road Denied @ Berrien County Commission 2025-11-04.

Update 2025-10-21: Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems –Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16.

The Berrien Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial of the proposed subdividing on Bradford Road.

However, that only applies to part of what (almost) everybody thought was being considered. It turns out the three lots at the corner of Bradford Road and Old Valdosta Highway were already divided out in October 2024.

Yet there are still many issues of urban sprawl and its costs, stormwater runoff, etc.

The Chairman not only moved to recommend denial, he also said the county should stop approving subdivisions until a Comprehensive Land Use Plan can be drawn up and enforced.

[Videos: Public Hearing, Berrien Planning Commission, Bradford Road subdividing, Part already subdivided in 2024, Rest recommended denial 2025-10-16]
Videos: Public Hearing, Berrien Planning Commission, Bradford Road subdividing, Part already subdivided in 2024, Rest recommended denial 2025-10-16

Applicant Cole Livingston and his attorney Danny Studstill said that when the applicant bought the property in an online auction, he understood that all agency permits were already in order. Also, the corner tracts were subdivided before he bought them.

Zoning Administrator Teresa Willis said those corner tracts were heard in the “9-19-24” Planning Commission meeting, and that the subdividing was approved in the October 2024 County Commission meeting. For more about that, see below after the WWALS videos of this October 2025 meeting.

It all still adds up to plopping ten houses in the middle of an agriculture character area, with runoff and recharge issues that affect the neighbors, Gin Branch Creek, the Withlacoochee River, and groundwater down to the Floridan Aquifer.

Chair Parrish Akins clarified that all the previous testimony in the preceding two Public Hearings was still valid. Then he asked for further comment for or against.

Della Gladieux supplied a tome of objections. Continue reading →