Votes at a glance: Valdosta council approves airport grant, multiple procurement contracts, emergency sewer payment and HMI upgrade

The Valdosta mayor and council on May 21, 2026 took action on several routine and time‑sensitive items.

Airport grant resolution: Colonel Tim Hood of the Valdosta‑Lowndes County Airport Authority asked the council to accept a federal grant for the analysis phase of a drainage project. Staff said project costs could be up to $83,330 with federal funds covering up to $79,163 and no city funds requested; council approved the resolution by motion and voice vote.

Fleet procurement contracts: John Burton, motor pool superintendent, recommended one‑year contracts with renewal options for routine fleet supplies. Council approved the low bids as presented for: Performance Napa (auto and equipment filters) at $88,953.42; Akens Petroleum (oils and lubricants) at $50,426.47; and Southern Tire Mart (retread truck tires) at $69,700.

Emergency sewer repair payment: Staff described an emergency repair to a collapsed 21‑inch Delta Iron sewer main at US Highway 84 and Knights Creek first identified following 2024 deterioration. Utilities staff recommended payment to RPI for $381,380 to cover labor, materials, pressure grout (about 40,000 cubic feet of foam), traffic control and asphalt patching; council approved the payment by motion and second.

Mud Creek HMI upgrade: Staff explained an end‑of‑life human‑machine interface (HMI) at the Mud Creek Water Pollution Control Plant and recommended a sole‑source replacement from Aquaerobics for $58,514 to improve suspended‑solids removal by an estimated 25%; council approved the sole‑source procurement by motion.

Procedure and vote notes: For many routine items the transcript records motions, seconds and affirmative voice or show‑of‑hands votes but does not capture roll‑call counts or public abstentions; the council approved all items described above at the meeting.