CCBoC 03.18.2025 Meeting Notes

Commissioners in attendance: Connie Melear, James E. Allen III, Michael W. Carraway, Alsion G. Couch

Missing: Douglas R. Duncan, Jr

Call To Order

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of the Minutes of Previous Meeting: Yay 4, No 0

• March 4, 2025

• March 11, 2025 Elected Official Work Session

Presentation and Approval of the Agenda: Yay 4, No 0

Special Recognition, Presentation, and/or Declaration

• Boy Scout Troop

• Columbia County Youth Leadership

Consent Agenda: Yay 5, No 0

1. Management and Internal Services Committee

   1. (H1a) Purchase of Evidence Management Software from Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the District Attorney’s Office

   2. (H1b) Appointment of John “Trey” Kennedy to the Board of Tax Assessors

   3. (H1c) Acceptance of the FY2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant Application

   4. (H1d) Vehicle Purchases from Alan Jay Auto Group to REplace Vehicles Totaled

   5. (H1e) Cisco Equipment Lifecycle Purchase from DISYS

   6. (H1f) Cisco Equipment Purchase for Building A Construction

   7. (H1g) Cisco Equipment Lifecycle Purchase from DISYS

   8. (H1h) IT Production Infrastructure Refresh from Mainline

   9. (H1i) WebEx Telephony Payment Authorization

   10. (H1j) Resolution Number 25-10 Requesting to Provide a Homestead Exemption From Columbia County Ad Valorem Taxes for Purposes

2. Development and Planning Services Committee

   1. (H2a) Award BID#2024026-RFP3000 and contract to RD Brown Contractors, Inc. for the Construction of the CC Sheriff’s Office Detention Dorm Phase 2 Project

   2. (H2b) Independent Contractor Agreement with WSP USA, Inc for Special Inspections and Material Testing for CCSO Detention Center Dorm Ph II

   3. (H2c) Underground Power Easement with Georgia Power for the Coroner’s Office

   4. (H2d) Ancillary Dwelling Varince for Tax Map 009 Parcel 003D

   5. (H2e) Easement Encroachment Agreement for Tax Map 081 Parcel 238

   6. (H2f) Easement Encroachment Agreement for Tax Map 077H Parcel 048

Debate Agenda

1. New Business

   1. Development and Planning Services Committee

      1. (I1a1) RZ25-03-01, Rezoning from C-2 (General Commercial) & R-1 (Single Family Residential) to C-C (Community Commercial), 426 Lewiston Road & 5136 Autumn Trail, Tax Map 068 Parcels 095A & 096, a combined 3.24 +/- acres, and currently zoned C-2 (General Commercial) & R-1 (Single Family Residential).

Doug Thorton spoke against rezoning. He stated existing issues with the Popeyes that was build there. Increased pollution, increased traffic, drainage issues. Autumn Trail is not sufficient to support 2 business entrances.

Matthey DeMeyers from Louisiana to represent 426 Lewiston Rd and 5136 Autumn Trail. Part of the rezoning is to give the commercial property the proper depth to deal with the grading issues.

Motion to deny request to change zoning: Yay 4, No 0

2. (I1a2) VA25-03-01, Variance to Section 90-53 List of lot & Structure Requirements, 738 Campana Drive, Tax Map 071 Parcel 136, .28 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential)

55 fot setback, reduce setback to make a larger backyard. Other houses on street had similar variances approved.

Motion to Approve Variance: Yay 4, No 0

Public Comments:

• Marlena Bergeron: Against guidelines at the library and against SB74, which will criminalize librarians. Stated concerns that library board members were acting as political activists in support of SB74. Asked if County Commissioners were in support of SB74 and all present raised their hand that they support SB74.

• Karin Parham: Against the guidelines. Handed out a paper showing all of the books that have been reshelved since the guidelines were passed, showing that the majority moved are LGBTQ books. Stated that over 90% of the books challenged are LGBTQ books. Also, called for Mr. Davis to step down from both the regional and county boards.

After the public comments, Connie Melear began to show the book Gender Queer and claimed that people would go to jail for showing that book to a kid in the park or one of the boy scouts present and that it was shelved in the children’s section. The crowd began to say loudly that Gender Queer was an adult book and not shelved in the children’s area. (Karin’s Note: Gender Queer was always considered an “adult” book and shelved downstairs in the Graphic Novel section.) Patrice Crawley told everyone in the crowd they needed to be quiet after Allison Couch said that there needed to be order in the room. Then the Commissioners continued to the Executive Session.

Executive Session

1. Property

• Purchased (I think 4) properties for Hereford Farm Rd Widening Project (64% complete) Approve: Yay 4, No 0

• 2 properties - friendly condemnation for Hereford Farm Rd: Yay 4, No 0

• Purchase of property for the Chamblin Horizon Connector Project: yay 4, No 0

• Settlement Agreement for a stormwater related suit. Went up to GA Supreme Court. Settled $50,000 paid by County and $50,000 paid by HCG. Yay 4, No 0