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All Commissioners Present

Call To Order: 6:00 pm

Approval of 8/4/2026 meeting minutes: Yay 5, No 0

Special Recognition, Presentation, and/or Declaration

Special Recognition
1. (G1a) Awarding of the Medal of Valor and Meritorious Service Award
  Structure fire call in April 2026. Fire crews arrived about 3 minutes after the call and were told someone was still inside. Within 1 minute, 23 seconds of arriving, firefighters entered through 2nd story window in a very hazardous environment. Firefighters suffered second- and third-degree Burns during rescue attempt, and later treated at the hospital. Although they succeeded in getting the person out and to medical care, the person did not survive. Their protective equipment is being studied because of the damage it sustained in the fire.
  - Brian Folsom, civilian neighbor, reached home first and helped young male escape without injury. Meritorious Service Award
  - Medal of Valor
    - Lt. Matt Kennedy
    - Lt. Kyle McClellan
    - Engineer Jimmy Williams

Consent Agenda: Yay 5, No 0

Management and Internal Services Committee
1. (H1a) Retirement Bridge Program Spousal Coverage and Dental Option Revision
2. (H1b) Reimbursement to GEMA/FEMA for Helene Project Number 806591
3. (H1c) Independent Contractor Agreement with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, LLC. for Risk Management Consulting and Supplementary Services
4. (H1d) ACCG Safety Incentive Discount Program: 2027 Policy Year
5. (H1e) Cisco Equipment Lifecycle Purchase from DISYS for Water Utility Sites
6. (H1f) Cisco Smartnet Renewal Payment Authorization 2026-2027
7. (H1g) Cisco Equipment Lifecycle Purchase from DISYS for Sheriff’s Office
8. (H1h) Subscription Agreement with GovAI
9. (H1i) Annual Maintenance Payment for Conga Software
10. (H1j) Award Bid # 2025013-BID03289 and Contract to S.D. Clifton Construction for the Pollard House Renovation
11. (H1k) Independent Contractor Agreement with Verge Erosion Control, LLC for the Pollard House NPDES Sampling and Reporting
12. (H1l) Independent Contractor Agreement with CSRA Testing & Engineering Co., Inc for Special Inspections and Material Testing Services at the Pollard House
Development and Planning Services Committee
1. (H2a) Purchase of a Takeuchi Mini Excavator for Facility Maintenance
2. (H2b) Position Reclassifications in Building Standards
3. (H2c) Easement Encroachment Agreement 828 Lillian Park Drive, Tax Map 067 Parcel 2563
4. (H2d) Easement Encroachment Agreement for 1222 Arcilla Pointe, Tax Map 082 Parcel 444

Debate Agenda

New Business
1. Management and Internal Services Committee
  1. (I1a1) Resolution 26-17 to Establish a Millage Rate for Purposes of Computing Ad Valorem Taxes on Property in Columbia County, Georgia for Calendar Year 2026 Approve: Yay 5, No 0
    Johnson: County adopting rollback rate as previously announced. County General Services/ Administrative Services: 4.491 Mills. School Tax: 14.997 Mills. Fire Special Service District (unchanged): 2.788 Mills. 4.491-mil county rate puts Columbia County among the lowest in the state.
    Duncan: Credited county officials and staff with working through budget requests to balance the budget and allow the millage rate to be rolled back.
2. Development and Planning Services Commttee
  1. (I1b1) RZ26-08-01, Conditional Use for Therapeutic Massage, 4490 Washington Road, Tax Map 072 Parcel 060N, 2.82 +/- acres, and currently zoned C-2 (General Commercial). Approval: Yay 5, No 0
    Schlachter: Existing business owner relocating to property. Therapeutic massage requires conditional-use approval at this location. One massage therapist 8am-5pm, Tuesday through Saturday.
  2. (I1b2) VA26-08-01, Variance to Section 90-53 List of Lot and Structure Requirements, 113 Glenora Drive, Tax Map 073C Parcel 163, 0.30 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential) and Easement Encroachment Agreement. Approval: Yay 5, No 0
    Schlachter: Owner plans to construct 16x20 foot addition to home. Property is triangular shaped, causing addition to encroach into required side setback. Reduce setback to 2 feet to accommodate addition. Includes encroachment agreement.
  3. (I1b3) VA26-08-02, Variance to Section 90-55 RCO Residential Cluster Overlay District, 509 Ernestine Falls, Tax Map 061 Parcel 1434, 0.3 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential)/RCO (Residential Cluster Overlay) and Easement Encroachment Agreement. Approval: Yay 5, No 0
    Schlachter: Corner lot, so applicable setbacks are side setbacks rather than rear setback. Owner wants to construct an accessory building on existing concrete pad. Reduce the side setbacks to 1 foot. Property has grading challenges, and owners completed work to address the grade. Submitted an HOA approval letter. Includes associated encroachment agreement.
  4. (I1b4) VA26-08-03, Variance to Section 90-53 List of Lot and Structure Requirements, 711 Campana Drive, Tax Map 071 Parcel 082, 0.29 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential) and Easement Encroachment Agreement. Approval: Yay 5, No 0
    Schlachter: Owner plans to construct a pool, deck and retaining wall in northern corner of property. Placement affects by property’s topography and irregular shape. Property has a 10-foot setback. Retaining wall - 9 ft. Reduce both sides and rear setbacks from 10 feet to 5 feet. Includes encroachment agreement.
  5. VA26-08-04, Variance to Sections 90-139 Buffers & Screening and 90-98 List of Lot and Structure Requirements, 4546 Washington Road, Tax Map 072 Parcel 073Q, 0.84 +/- acres, and currently zoned C-2 (General Commercial). Approval: Yay 5, No 0
    Schlachter: Site already graded and has an existing retaining wall. 30-ft structural setback required where the property adjoins residential property. Request reducing 30-ft structural setback to 10-ft, allowing existing retaining wall to remain and proposed building to be shifted farther back on lot. 10-ft side setbacks required because adjoining properties have different commercial zoning. Request reduce 10-ft side setbacks to 3-ft. No public comments during planning meeting.
  6. (I1b6) RZ26-08-02, Rezoning from R-2 (Single Family Residential) to S-1 (Special), 250 Legion Drive, Tax Map 079 Parcel 122A, 2.5 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential). Postponed: Yay 5, No 0
    Schlachter: Proposed 12-unit glamping campground. Units are enclosed dome structures on about 30x30 ft wooden decks. Plans include gravel access road and 13 parking spaces. Letters of support submitted from some neighboring property owners. Concerns raised during planning commission include flooding, wildlife, fire safety and emergency access. Campfires would not be permitted. Only entrance crosses the top of a dam. Fire access requires 20-ft wide route able to support emergency vehicles.
    Robert Tice, DMC Engineering: Existing gravel surface is not currently 20 ft wide, although distance from berm to berm is slightly more than 20 ft. Geotechnical evaluation would be performed to determine whether it can support fire vehicles. Fire also requested guardrails or lighting along access route to reduce risk of emergency vehicles leaving roadway.
    *Commissioners had questions about length of stay, security for property when nobody is there
    Frank Harris: Applicant. Property would be fenced and guests would need access codes for both property and individual sites. He lives nearby and intends to remain hands-on in managing property. Said that it was intended for short-term stays but had not established a specific limit yet.
    Carraway: Said to Harris that he seems to have good intentions but expressed concerns about “unintended consequences” if property were sold or operated by someone else.
    Harris: Has no intention of selling property and intends for it to remain in his family.
    Melear: Suggested postponing the request rather than risking denial, which would require the applicant to wait 6 months before reapplying.
    Schlachter: Agreed to send applicant and engineer list of questions so they could be addressed at next meeting.
  7. (I1b7) RZ26-08-03, Rezoning from R-3 (Single Family Residential) to P-1 (Professional) 106 Bellewood Drive, Tax Map 082A Parcel 100, 0.45 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-3 (Single Family Residential). Approve: Yay 5, No 0
    Schlachter: Applicant proposes converting existing 1040 square ft structure into an office for a tree-service business. Used as a professional office only. Adjacent property owner supported request and no one appeared in opposition at planning hearing. Companion Variance addresses required structural buffer.
  8. (I1b8) VA26-08-05, Variance to Section 90-139 Buffers & Screening, 106 Bellewood Drive, Tax Map 082A Parcel 100, 0.45 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-3 (Single Family Residential). Approval: Yay 5, No 0
  9. (I1b9) RZ26-08-04, Rezoning from R-3 (Single Family Residential) to PRD (Planned Residential Development), 325 McCormick Road, Tax Map 077B Parcel 114, 14.1 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-3 (Single Family Residential) Postpone until 9/1/2026 Meeting: Yay 5, No 0

Public Comment

Lee Muns: Questioned why commissioners extensively discussed the glamping proposal while asking comparatively few questions about much larger data center projects. He called for public disclosure and discussion of proposed changes to the county’s data center ordinance, a possible moratorium, and detailed calculations supporting projected tax revenue and property-tax relief. Also suggested considering millage-rate reductions as a broader form of tax relief and questioned what would happen to funds accumulated for the HB 439 program if necessary legal changes do not occur. He concluded that citizens are asking for specific calculations, documents and proposals rather than promises of future relief.
Cambrey Wood: Formally presented a draft model data center ordinance for the county's consideration and again called for a temporary moratorium on new data center applications while regulations are reviewed. She asked when the public would see the ordinance revisions and moratorium that Couch previously said were being developed. Wood asked the commission to place her draft on the appropriate agendas, have staff and the county attorney evaluate it alongside the county's proposed changes, and hold public workshops before adopting a revised ordinance. She said the goal was not to stop economic development but to establish rules and involve the public before additional projects are approved.
Susan Warren: Raised questions about data center construction and enforcement, including noise and lighting restrictions, power and water use, infrastructure, stormwater, setbacks, and the timeline for full buildout and projected tax revenue. She also asked about proposed changes to the county's data center ordinance and again raised the possibility of requiring a project surety bond.
- Couch: Proposed ordinance amendment relates to a surety bond
- Chairman Duncan: He reviewed the model ordinances submitted to the county and considered them “too invasive.” Also said the county was very close to having financial numbers available for review and attributed the failure of the constitutional amendment needed for the proposed property-tax relief mechanism to Democrats in the Georgia House.

Closed Executive Session: 6:48 - 8:11 pm to discuss 2 personnel items

Johnson stated that they discussed 2 personnel items during executive session and no formal action was taken during executive session

Approval of employment contract for Brian Armstrong as Right-of-way Specialist: Yay 5, No 0

Adjourned: 8:12 pm

The Columbia County Observer

CCBOC 08.18.2026 Meeting Notes