(Conversations and comments are not transcribed and often paraphrased.)
Edited 4/2/2025 at 9:29AM: Car/phone allowances for judges approved.
Call To Order: 18:01
Approval of the Minutes of Previous Meeting: Yay 5, No 0
(E1) 3/18/2025 Commissioner Meeting
3/18/2025 Budget Work Session
Special Declarations
Proclamation in observance of Native Plant Month
Proclamation in observance of Safe Digging Month
Consent Agenda: Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Community and Emergency Services Committee
(H1a) Service Agreements with the The Family Y and East Georgia Blitz
(H1b) Independent Contractor Agreement with Olive Cordelia for Accountability Court
(H1c) Agreement with Woolpert for Cityworks-related Hardware and Software Services
(H1d) Request for Proclamation in observance of Native Plant Month
(H1e) Request for Proclamation in observance of Loyalty Day
(H1f) Savannah Rapids Kayak Rental Bicycle Rental Servie Renewal #3
(H1g) Keg Creek Watersports LLC Contract Renewal Option #2
(H1h) Athletic Fields and Park Usage Agreement Fourth Contract Renewal with GA Bulls Soccer Club, LLC
(H1i) Savannah Rapids Kayak Rental, LLC Contract Renewal #3
(H1j) Animal Services Donations
(H1k) Senior Center Donation
(H1l) Long-Term glamping contract with Georgia Glamping Company
(H1m) Petersburg Tennis Academy Second Contract Renewal Option
(H1n) Clarks Hill Committee of the CSRA Bass Tournaments Agreement
(H1o) Independent contractor Agreement with Bliss Products and Services, Inc. for the Repair/Replacement of the Evans Towne Center Park Splash Pad
Development and Planning Service Committee
(H2a) Alcoholic Beverage Licens, Nouria Engergy Retail Inc dba Nouria 221 Bobby Jones Expressway
Public Works and Engineering Services Committee
(H3a) Change order number 01 with RCN Contracting, Inc for the Sheriff’s Office Repair Garage
(H3b) Approve bid and agreement from Southern Flow, Inc for SCADA upgrade and modifications
(H3c) Independent contractor Agreement with Blue water Engineering Services, LLC for Euchee Creek Force Main Project E&S Inspections and Monitoring
(H3d) Renewal Number 2 with Goodwyn Mills Cawood for the periodic maintenance of Hydraulic Model for 2026
(H3e) Change Order Number 1 for the Crawford Creek Sewer trunkline replacement
(H3f) Independent Contractor Agreement with N&P Fence Co. to replace Reed Creek WPCP fence
(H3g) Safe Digging Month Proclamation
(H3h) Purchase of Emtrac vehicle control units
(H3i) Bid #2025006-BID3313 and contracts of JA Long, Inc. for installation of a mini-roundabout at the intersection of General Wood Pkwy and Riverwood Pkwy
(H3j) Independent contractor Agreement with Cranston, LLC for professional services associated with the Watson Bailey Rd Improvement Project
(H3k) Independent contractor Agreement with Goodwyn Mills Cawood for ARTS MPO Consulting
(H3l) Acceptance of Improvements for Blackston Development Company, LLC
(H3m) Acceptance of Improvements for Tillery Park South
Debate Agenda
New Business
Development and Planning Services Committee
(I1a1) RZ25-03-02, Major S-1 (Special) Revision, 562 Rountree Way, Tax Map 077A Parcel 016C, 11.18 +/- acres and currently zoned S-1 (Special). Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Matt Schlachter: Allow the church to lease space to a preschool. Will add playground to front of existing building. Will do additional landscaping
(I1a2) RZ25-03-03, Major PUD (Planned Unit Development) Revision, 2571 William Few Pkwy, Tax Map 060 Parcel 1755, 3.00 +/- acres, and currently zoned PUD (Planned Unit Development). Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Schlachter: 3/20 Planning Committee. Currently Funeral Home with cemetary. Break up the property so this will be 3 1-acre lots zones R1.
(I1a3) RZ25-03-04, Rezoning from R-1 (Single Family Residential) to R-2 (Single Family Residential), 414 Calloway Road Extension, Tax Map 060 Parcel 013B, 63.14 +/- acres and currently zoned R-1 (Single Family Residential)
Schlachter: Will be 70 units. Callaway Rd Extension. Will need left/right turns. There are lots of conditions. Approve: Yay 4, No 1 (Commissioner Melear voted no)
Melear: Developer paying for turn lanes or is that on the County?
Schlachter: Developer
Melear: Issues from the neighbors?
Schlachter: Many neighbors have attended the planning meeting but none have spoken for/against it.
Melear: You mentioned water?
Schlachter: They will need hydrants to make sure they meet fire safety requirements.
Melear: And the developer bares the financial responsibility?
Schlachter: Correct
Melear: Would these improvements be a benefit to the existing residents?
Schlachter: Yes. Road will be widened to 24 ft which would be a better road.
Couch: You said neighbors haven’t spoken publicly but did they send emails?
Schlachter: There’s no record of any emails… I will point out that this is an early concept plan that was shown. Should Callaway Rd be brought into the neighborhood, the neighborhood will have to T into it and that’s not acceptable. They will have to maintain Callaway Rd as is to not interrupt existing traffic. *points to area*
Melear: Density difference. This was R1, now going to R2. Is it doubling the number of homes?
Schlachter: Not doubling. What they’re showing is about 1.8 units/acre. R1 is maybe 1 or less so not a huge difference…. This concept is not binding. The concept is not being voted on, just zoning. Eventually, a variance for how long a culdesac can be will be brought. This is not firm on what the actual concept will be. This says 1.8 units/acre.
(I1a4) Va25-03-02, Variance to Section 90-98 List of lot & Structure requirements, 4323 Evans to Locks Road, Tax Map 077A Parcel 011E, 3.94+/- acres, and currently zoned M-2 (General Industrial). Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Public Works and Engineering Services Committee
(I1b1) Change Order Number 1 with MB Kahn for the UV-Advanced Oxidation Treatment.
Motion to suspend order until 4/15 meeting: Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Schlachter: Allow staff more time to work with the contractor before bringing it to a vote.
(I1b2) Letter to Georgia Department of Transportation for project support for State Route 47/Highway 221 from Appling to Harlem, GA. Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Schlachter: $2 million in County funds. There is infighting in GDoT whether we can/can’t get money. They agreed to match the $2million to get the project started with scoping phase into engineering phase. Nothing will get started before there are studies.
Couch: Will there be a way to get public feedback during this phase?
Schlachter: We will hold public hearings.
Couch: Do they use population projections?
Schlachter: They use a lot of data/studies to support the recommendations/projects.
Public Comments
Marlena Bergeron - Poem against guidelines, and possible reduction in services at Columbia County Libraries.
Executive Session
Personnel
(M1a) Personnel A: Employment agreement with Greater Clarks Hill Regional Library Board for Regional Director, Amanda Ham. Ms. Ham is previous Harlem Branch Manager. Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Allow judges similar car/phone allowances to other County Employees. Approve: Yay, 5, No 0
Property
(M2a) Property A: Approve: Yay 5, No 0. 2 parcels purchased for Hereford Farm Rd Widening Project. 65% progress.