04.21.2026 Commission Meeting Notes

All Commissioners Present

Call To Order: 6:00 pm

Approval OF 3/17/2026 meeting minutes and 3/17/2026 budget work session minutes: Approve Yay 5, No 0

Special Recognition, presentation and/or declaration: Approve: Yay 5, No 0

1. Declaration

   1. Proclaiming May 1, 2026 as Loyalty Day Vice Chair Couch

   2. Proclaiming April 2026 as Safe Digging Month

Consent Agenda. Approve: Yay 5, No 0

1. Community and Emergency Services Committee

   1. (H1a) Animal Services Donations

   2. (H1b) Lease with Columbia County Cares, Inc.

   3. (H1c) Proclamation Observing May 1, 2026 as Loyalty Day

   4. (H1d) Contract Renewal Number 8 with Columbia County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.

   5. (H1e) Independent Contractor Agreement with Patricia Essick for the Senior Center Ceramics Instructor

   6. (H1f) Contract Agreement with Ignite Soccer Academy, LLC.

   7. (H1g) Independent Contractor Agreement with Hain Tennis Academy, LLC

   8. (H1h) Contract Renewal Number 3 with Petersburg Tennis Academy

   9. (H1i) Contract Renewal Number 5 with Professional Disc Golf Association Inc.

   10. (H1j) Contract Renewal Number 1 with Georgia Glamping Company, LLC

   11. (H1k) Contract Renewal Number 3 with Keg Creek Watersports LLC.

   12. (H1l) Contract Renewal Number 4 with Savannah Rapids Kayak Rental for Bicycle Rental Service

   13. (H1m) Canoe, Kayak and Paddle Board Rentals at Savannah Rapids and Wildwood Parks Concessionaire Agreement with Savannah Rapids Kayak Rental, LLC.

   14. (H1n) Georgia Department of Transportation FY 2022 Surplus Vehicle #3568

   15. (H1o) Georgia Department of Transportation FY2026 Transportation Trust Fund Program Application

   16. H1p) Fire Services Automatic Aid Agreement with the City of Harlem, GA

2. Management and Internal Services Committee

   1. (H2a) Juvenile Court Independent Contractor Agreements with Margaret Adams, Angela Chambers, Kathleen Conner, Brendan Fleming, Jordan Hanson, Krista Marie Johnson, Kelly Kitchens, Joseph Pride and Sheila Wahman

   2. (H2b) Contract Renewal/Amendment Number 3 with Correct Health Columbia, LLC. for Inmate Medical Services

   3. (H2c) Contract Renewal Number 2 with Oasis Management Systems, Inc. for Inmate Commissary Services

   4. (H2d) Contract Renewal Number 1 with Guardian Mortuary Transport, Inc. for Coroner Transport Services

   5. (H2e) Contract Renewal Number 1 with The Nelson Law Group for Conflict Counsel for Tax Appeals

   6. (H2f) Memorandum of Agreement with Federal Emergency Management Agency Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS)

   7. (H2g) Resolution Number 26-09 Authorizing Adoption of the Columbia County, Georgia Multi-Jurisdictional Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Plan

   8. (H2h) Agreement Amendment Number 2 with Debristech, LLC for Disaster Debris Monitoring Services

   9. (H2i) Intent for Funding 45 Percent Cost Share of a New Mobile Operation Center to be used as a Primary Regional Asset

   10. (H2j) Employee On-Site Clinic and Medical Services Professional Agreement with MedNow Urgent Care

   11. (H2k) Agreement with Cushman Paint & Body, Headway Collision Center, Rick’s Paint & Body Towing, LLC, and Crash Champions, LLC, for Auto Collision Repair Services

   12. (H2l) Cisco Network Equipment Lifecycle Purchase from DSI

   13. (H2m) Broadband Utility Forklift Purchase from Hyster-Yale Materials Handling

   14. (H2n) Award RFP # 2026002-RFP3289 and Contract to Duckworth Development, LLC for the Construction of the Savannah Rapids Pavilion Renovation and Addition

   15. (H2o) Independent Contractor Agreement with WSP USA, Inc. for Special Inspection and Material Testing Services for Savannah Rapids Pavilion Renovation and Addition

   16. (H2p) Purchase of Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment from Weinberger’s for the Emergency Operations Center Renovation

3. Development and Planning Services Committee

   1. (H3a) Agreement with Sunset Auction Company for the Columbia County Surplus Items Auction

   2. (H3b) Automatic Forfeit Extension for Gregory M Parker Inc dba Parker’s #149 located at 3900 Washington Road

   3. (H3c) Alcoholic Beverage License Melina 25 LLC dba Habaneros Mexican Grill

   4. (H3d) Alcoholic Beverage License Kyoto Inc dba Kyoto Japanese Cuisine

   5. (H3e) Easement Encroachment Agreement for 1420 Dooley Lane, Tax Map 051 Parcel 319

   6. (H3f) Easement Encroachment Agreement for 4465 Baywood Trail, Tax Map 059 Parcel 967

4. Public Works and Engineering Services Committee

   1. (H4a) Renewal Number 3 with Goodwyn Mills Cawood for the Periodic Maintenance of Hydraulic Model for 2027

   2. (H4b) Emergency repair of the 22H Vertical Turbine Pump

   3. (H4c) Encroachment Agreement with Atlanta Gas Light for the Euchee Creek Harlem Interceptor Project

   4. (H4d) Meter Reading Agreement with Jefferson Electric

   5. (H4e) Proclaiming April 2026 as Safe Digging Month in Columbia County

   6. (H4f) 2026 Amendments of the Columbia County Radar Permit for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office

   7. (H4g) Contract #2026-3470 with Mid State Construction & Stripeing, Inc for the FY 2025/2026 Safety Striping Project B

   8. (H4h) Indemnification and Hold Harmless Agreement with GDOT for the Installation of Right Turn Lanes on Wrightsboro Rd (SR 223) and Louisville Rd

   9. (H4i) Indemnification and Hold Harmless Agreement with GDOT for Right Turn Lane Improvements on Washington Rd (SR104) from River Watch Pkwy to N. Belair Rd

   10. (H4j) Indemnification and Hold Harmless Agreement with GDOT for the Installation of “Welcome to Historic Appling” Gateway Signs on State Route 47 (US 221)

   11. (H4k) Project Framework Agreement with GDOT for PI 0021250 - Washington Rd Widening from William Few Pkwy to Tubman Rd

   12. (H4l) Bid #2026006-BID5200 and Contract #2026-3469 with Cajenn Construction & Rehabilitation Services for the 2026 Storm Water UV Lining Projects

   13. (H4m) Acceptance of Improvements for Flex Space of Evans, LLC

   14. (H4n) Purchase and Installation of Equipment from Willo Products Company to Replace Locks for Existing Dorm at the Columbia County Jail

DEBATE AGENDA

1. Unfinished Business Chairman Duncan

   1. Management and Internal Services Committee Commissioner Couch

      1. (I1a1) Resolution 26-04 to Amend the Jabez S. Hardin Auditorium Fee Schedule and Authorize the General Manager to Negotiate the Facility Use Agreement and Fees - Second Reading Approve: Yay 5, No 0

         When PAC took over Hardin Theater, realized that the fee schedule hadn’t been updated since 2016. Needed to make it break-even but realize that nonprofits and community groups use it. This allows PAC to negotiate lower fees for those organizations.

2. New Business

   1. Management and Internal Services Committee

      1. (I2a1) Independent Contractor Agreement with Kawahna McFadden to serve as MAT Program Clerk for the Columbia Judicial Circuit. Approve: Yay 5, No 0

         $5K until 9/30/2026 Contract Renewal

      2. (I2a2) Independent Contractor Agreement with Serenity Behavioral Health Systems to provide MAT Consultation and Clinical Services for the Columbia Judicial Circuit Accountability Courts. Approve: Yay 5, No 0

         $10,500 until 9/30/2026 Contract Renewal

      3. (I2a3) Independent Contractor Agreement with Martinez Urgent Care, Inc. to provide MAT Consultation and Clinical Services for the Columbia Judicial Circuit Accountability Courts. Approve: Yay 5, No 0

         $10,500 until 9/30/2026 Contract Renewal

   2. Development and Planning Services Committee

      1. (I2b1) RZ26-03-08, Major PUD (Planned Unit Development) Revision, 4102 Shady Oaks Drive, Tax Map 081B Parcel 1081, 0.28 +/- acres, and currently zoned PUD (Planned Unit Development). Approve: Yay 5, No 0

         Reduce to 5ft for a swimming pool

      2. (I2b2) RZ26-03-09, Rezoning from M-1 (Light Industrial) to C-2 (General Commercial), 475 Lewiston Road, for a 1.0 +/- acre portion of Tax Map 061 Parcel 030L, 32.25 +/- total acres, and currently zoned M-1 (Light Industrial). Approve: Yay 5, No 0

         Ken Worthington appeared on behalf of neighboring property owner, Brad Semback, who owns 2 parcels South of the property. He said that Parcel used to have direct access from Lewiston Rd, but that access was lost in a prior condemnation tied to road work, leaving the property effectively stranded and vacant. He asked the commission to add a condition to the Rezoning approval requiring a curb cut along the southern boundary of thee rezoned property, arguing that it would help restore access, improve emergency access, and make it easier to redevelop. Right now it’s an “eyesore.”

         Commissioner Melear asked if he had worked this out with the other property owner. Worthington said they had reached out and discussions were ongoing, but he was only asking the county for the curb cut as a first step, not for the county to force a full access agreement.

         Robert Titus spoke for the owner of applicant. He opposed Worthington’s request. He argued that the neighboring owner had already been compensated (about $2 million) when the old access was closed, so trying to get access through this Rezoning would amount double-dipping. He said the lack of access was a self-created hardship and argued the could not legally make a developer solve a 3rd party’s access problem as a condition of Rezoning. He also said there was no real public benefit, since this would mainly serve one private owner, and raised safety concerns about creating a through-access.

         Worthington responded that connectivity between commercial parcels is common, that condemnation is not really a normal voluntary sale, and that there is still a county interest in seeing that vacant Parcel put back into production. Melear said the motion to approve the Rezoning would stand as presented , without any added condition.

      3. (I2b3) RZ26-03-10, Major S-1 (Special) Revision, 830 Louisville Road, Tax Map 052 Parcel 001J, 5.0 +/- acres, and currently zoned S-1 (Special). Approve: Yay 5, No 0

         Schlachter: The business applied for a new sign, which triggered a review. Staff realized the existing sign had been built partly in the right of way. The proposed replacement sign also did not meet code because it would sit inside the required 20-ft sight triangle. Normally you can’t put something like a sign in the sight triangle because it blocks visibility. In this case, there was 35 ft from the property line to Louisville Rd, so although the sign would technically be inside the triangle, it won’t obstruct driver’s view down the road.

Public Comments

• Channing Taylor

• Karin Parham

• Howard Johnson

• Susan Warren

• Marlena Bergeron

Executive Session:

1. Property

   1. (M1a) Property A: $2000 to Brighton Landing HOA. Acceptance of land donation (9.96 acres) for right of way easements for Horizon South Parkway - Chandler Road Connector. Approve: Yay 5, No 0

   2. (M1b) Property B: Amendment to Temporary Easement (Chamberlain Rd - Horizon Connector) Easement size reduced from .05 acres to .02 acres. Approve: Yay 5, No 0

   3. (M1c) Property C: Sale .62 acre back to WellStar for drainage easement. Approve: Yay 5, No 0

   4. (M1d) 4 properties purchased for right of way and easements for the Hereford Farm Rd Windening Project. 99% Complete. Approve: Yay 5, No 0

   5. (M1e) New Park Purchase (South of I20, near Pumpking Center and Green Point) Purchased $40K per acre from Euchee Creek Development Company. Approve: Yay 5, No 0

Adjourn: Yay 5, No 0