VALDOSTA — The State Attorney General’s Office has ordered the Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County to pay a $500 civil penalty to the State of Georgia and to participate in an open government training session with the Attorney General’s Office.
The admonishment follows an investigation into allegations the authority violated the Georgia Open Meetings Act. The authority oversees South Georgia Medical Center.
The Attorney General’s Office is requiring the hospital authority to:
- admit to repeated violations regarding meeting times;
- admit to violation of meeting minute requirements by not ratifying minutes in timely fashion;
- attest and pledge it will post correct starting times for all meetings;
- attest and pledge it will approve minutes and make the available by the time of the next regular meeting;
- agree to participate in an Open Government training session with the Attorney General’s Office;
- agree to pay a $500 fine with subsequent violations within 12 months being subject to fines of up to $2,500.
Read more at The Valdosta Daily Times.
Read the letter from the State Attorney General’s Office (PDF).
