Chairman Duncan was not present. Present: Connie Melear (D1), Jim Steed (D2), Mike Carraway (D3), Alison Couch (D4)
Call To Order: 6pm
Approval of 4/21/2026 Meeting Minutes: Yay: 4, No 0
Consent Agenda: Yay 4, No 0
Community and Emergency Services Committee
(H1a) Master Services Agreement with Rep’d for AI Chatbot Services
(H1b) Purchase of a Boston Grand Piano from Turner’s Keyboards for Jabez Harden Auditorium
(H1c) Reed Creek Donation for Interpretive Signage
(H1d) Animal Services Donation
(H1e) Athletic Fields and Park Usage Agreement with GA Bulls Soccer Club, LLC
(H1f) Tournament Hosting Agreement with GA Bulls Soccer Club
(H1g) Canoe, Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals at Riverside Park Concessionaire Agreement with Outdoor Augusta, LLC.
(H1h) Clark Hill Committee of the CSRA Bass Tournaments Agreement
(H1i) Purchase of Nutrition Services Agreement with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for the Senior Center
(H1j) Service Agreement with the City of Harlem for the Oliver Hardy Festival
(H1k) Athletic Facilities Use and License Agreement with Martinez Evans Little League (MELL)
(H1l) Donation from Clark Hill Committee for the Fishing Rodeo
(H1m) Columbia County Library System Donation
Public Works and Engineering Services Committee
(H2a) Memorandum of Tower Site Land License Agreement and Tower Site Land License Agreement with SBA Structures, LLC. for 580 Stevens Creek Road
(H2b) Award Bid# 2026010-BID5100 and contract to Blair Construction for Sawdust Rd Waterline project
(H2c) Independent Contractor Agreement with Turnipseed Engineers for Crawford Creek Aeration Basin Rehabilitation
(H2d) Change Order Number 2 with Blair Construction, Inc. for Crawford Creek Sewer Phase II
(H2e) Independent Contractor Agreement with Ardurra Group, Inc. for Biosolids Alternatives Evaluation and Recommendations
(H2f) Lighting Services Agreements with Georgia Power to install Safety Lights at the Intersections of Columbia Road & Long Creek Falls, Wrightsboro Road & Euchee Creek Drive, Louisville Road & Nature’s Way and the Blue Ridge Dr. Crosswalk.
(H2g) Revised Lighting Services Agreement with Georgia Power for the Intersection Safety Light at Wrightsboro Rd and Kettle Creek Dr
(H2h) Resolution 26-02 to amend Street Light District (SLD 2024-535B) in Jackson Heights, Phase II
(H2i) Resolution 26-10 Concerning a Determination to Declare as Surplus and Sell Real Property located at 4065 Columbia Rd, Martinez, GA (Parcel ID 079 084)
(H2j) Contract# 2026-3521 with Maner Builders Supply for Perimeter Fence Repair at the Baker Place Rd Landfill
(H2k) Contract# 2026-3495 with Southern Asphalt for Parking Lot Repairs and Overlay at Fire Station #3
(H2l) Contract #2026-3512 with Thompson Building Wrecking Company for Abatement, Demolition, and Removal Services of Properties for the Hereford Farm Rd Widening Project
(H2m) Contract #2026-3531 with Lose Design for Architectural & Engineering Services related to the Columbia County Sports Complex
(H2n) Supplemental Agreement #1 to the Project Framework Agreement with GDOT for the Wrightsboro Rd Widening Project
(H2o) Acceptance of Improvements at Greenpoint Phase 4
Debate Agenda
New Business
Development and Planning Services Committee
(I1a1) VA26-04-01, Variance to Section 90-135 Signs, 212 Bobby Jones Expressway, Tax Map 078D Parcel 024, 0.598 +/- acres, and currently zoned C-2 (General Commercial). Approve Yay: 4, No 0
Request to allow additional building signage to remain in place. Buffalo Luke's restaurant installed a sign on the side of the building without obtaining the required permit. Total proposed signage — front, side, and one additional sign — totals 102 square feet, which is 0.5 square feet under the 102.5 square feet permitted if all three allowed sign positions are used. Conditions attached to approval: all unpermitted window signs must be permitted or removed within 30 days; sign facing the parking lot (Roseland-facing) must be permitted within 30 days; each tenant limited to two total signs per the subdivision requirements.
(I1a2) VA26-04-02, Variance to Section 90-53 List of lot and structure requirements, 710 Whitetail Trail, Tax Map 017 Parcel 068, 3.09 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-A (Residential Agricultural). Approve Yay: 4, No 0
Request to reduce rear setback from 25 feet to 10 feet for a proposed storage structure. Property accesses via easement rather than a road, which causes what would typically be a side lot line to be classified as a rear lot line, triggering a 25-foot setback instead of the standard 10-foot side setback. Reduction would align the structure with the property's driveway and is consistent with a neighboring structure.
Public Comments:
Karin Parham
Susan Warren
Executive Session
Property
(M1a) Property A: Approve: Yay 4, No 0. Highlands Townhomes HOA, donating 0.04 acres as a permanent easement for the Ivy Falls sewer line improvement project.
Adjournment: 6:18pm
The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 6:00pm in the Auditorium of Building A at the Evans Government Center.