There is another ignorant (or self-serving?) comment in Tuesday's (3/17/09) Valdosta Daily Times' Rant & Rave section :

"Hello? If you rent a place in Remerton, especially one that backs up to a street lined with bars, in a college town, um, you can expect noise. I would suggest move! They (the bars) have been there forever, and I don’t think they are going anywhere."

Are college towns exempt from normal law enforcement and civilized behavior?

The apartments and houses were in Remerton before the bars.  This myth about the bars being first is wishful thinking on the part of some patrons, owners, employees and their supporters.

  (Thurs., Mar. 19, 2009) Tuesday's rant was followed on Wednesday by this Times editorial.

And on Thursday this rebuttal appeared in the Times' Rant & Rave section :

"Hello! The bars in Remerton have not always been here. The residents were here first. All of Remerton was zoned residential. The bars came knowing there were residents at their back doors and the City of Remerton allowed the bars to move in. Fact: The city of Remerton just changed the zoning (not properly) of the front street where the bars now stand, after the bars were there."

We all breathlessly await Friday's edition.

This could only mean that the MILL PROJECT is back!  The presumed dead Mill Project was supposed to be one of those Public-Private ventures between the City of Remerton and private developers/investors.  Other examples of public-private ventures include the Post Office, freddie mac & fannie mae and now CitiBank and AIG.

Tuesday, March 17 is St. Patrick's Day.  Cook up a kettle of corned beef and cabbage.  Then grab a bottle of Irish whiskey and celebrate your Irish side!

Or, stumble on down to Baytree Place and see how the Irish traditions are being upheld and passed on to the next generation here in Remerton.

Remerton gets it's flag back after city works erect a new pole.

CITY OF REMERTON
Regular Meeting  March 9. 2009

Welcome Guests
Pledge and Prayer-Council member Sherry Wood recited an Irish Blessing in honor of her heritage and the upcoming St. Patrick's Day (March 17). 
Establish Quorum of Council - All were present.
Approval of minutes from Regular Council Meeting, February 9, 2009.- Approved without modification. 
Citizens to be Heard. -

New Business:
1. Consideration regarding placing the Chief of Police under the authority of the Council instead of the City Administrator-Council member Bill Wetherington-Resolution approved with 5:0 vote.
2. Consideration regarding request to make a donation for Valdosta State University Sexual Assault Month-Jessica Freeman-Approved unanimously to donate $100.
3. Consideration regarding Variance Request No V-2009-1-Jessica Freeman-Variance will be referred to the DDA by unanimous vote.
4. Financial Report-Lisa Mashburn-

Council Comments-

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Personnel & Property

ADJOURN

  City Council Regular Session of March 9, 2009 - Audio  (34 mins)

Monday, March 2, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Remerton Council Chambers

Welcome Guests
Citizens to be Heard-None

Presentations, Public Hearings and Updates:
1. Update in regards to Codification-Lisa Mashburn-The Codification is on its way and will be here in a few days. 

New Business:
1. Discussion regarding placing the Chief of Police under the authority of the Council instead of the City Administrator- Council member Bill Wetherington-Originally brought up at the Council/Staff retreat last month by Councilmember Day, brining the Chief of Police under the authority of of the Council, rather than City Administrator will be voted on next Monday.

2. Discussion regarding request to make donation for Valdosta State University Sexual Assault Month-Jessica Freeman-(min 5:50) This will be a vote next Monday to make a $100 donation as was done last year.  The march to Take Back the Night will be on April 23 at 7:00 PM on Baytree Place.

3. Discussion regarding Variance Request No V-2009-1-Jessica Freeman-This is about adding an extension to the former Davis Auto building on Baytree.  It is being enlarged for a new health food store.
4. Department Reports
 a. City Clerk-Lisa Mashburn-(min 14:10)
 b. Probation-Jessica Freeman
 c. Police-Chief Mike Terrell
 d. Fire/Utilities/Public Works-Ron Woods

EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Discussion regarding hiring procedures for City Administrator.
Discussion regarding easements-Brad Folsom, City Attorney.

ADJOURN-

Thanks to whoever finally moved the room's speakers from behind the council members heads, to a position in front of the bench.  Everyone was easily heard, for a change.

  Audio-City Council Work Session March 2, 2009.  (26 mins)