Call To Order: 6:00pm
Approval of 10/6/2026 meeting minutes: Yay 5, No 0
Consent Agenda: Yay 5, No 0
Management and Internal Services Committee Commissioner Couch
(H1a) December 2026 Committee Meetings
(H1b) Augusta Chiller Service Agreement for Refrigeration Equipment at the Coroner’s Office
(H1c) Fiscal Year 25/26 Required Budget Adjustment for Audit
(H1d) Rename the existing Beehive Drive to Willingham Drive and the existing Willingham Drive to Willingham Circle, subject to variances to Columbia County Code Sections 18-236 Purpose and Administration, and 18-238 Renaming and Procedures
(H1e) Renewal of Agreement with Mainline Information Systems for Unitrends Support
(H1f) Authorization of Payment to Mainline Information Systems for Unitrends Appliance
(H1g) Purchase of Genetec Servers from Dell for Life Cycle Replacement
(H1h) Deductive Change Order 01 with R.D. Brown for the Sheriff’s Detention Dorm
Development and Planning Services Committee Commissioner Melear
(H2a) Alcoholic Beverage License Augusta Kitchen Company LLC dba Augusta Kitchen Co
(H2b) Alcoholic Beverage License Geld Geld LLC dba Nordhavn Rustik
(H2c) Alcoholic Beverage License Vault 221 LLC
(H2d) Alcoholic Beverage License Fee Waiver for Vault 221 LLC
(H2e) Easement Encroachment Agreement 1114 Attfield Drive, Tax Map 051A Parcel 390
Debate Agenda
New Business
Management and Internal Services Committee
(I1a1) Memorandum of Understanding with Serenity Behavioral Health Systems for the Columbia Judicial Circuit Superior Court Accountability Courts. Yay 5, No 0
Johnson: MOU provides individual assessments and treatment services for participants referred to and accepted by the Accountability Courts.
(I1a2) Independent Contractor Agreement with Serenity Behavioral Health Systems to provide MAT Consultation and Clinical Services for the Columbia Judicial Circuit Accountability Courts. Yay 5, No 0
Johnson: Agreement provides medication-assisted treatment (MAT) consultation and clinical services. Cost is $1,750 per month, based on itemized billing statements, with total compensation not to exceed $26,250 for October 1, 2026, through December 30, 2027.
(I1a3) Independent Contractor Agreement with Martinez Urgent Care, Inc. to provide MAT Consultation and Clinical Services for the Columbia Judicial Circuit Accountability Courts. Yay 5, No 0
Johnson: Agreement provides MAT consultation and clinical services at Martinez Urgent Care. Cost is $1,750 per month, with total compensation not to exceed $26,250.
Development and Planning Services Committee
(I1b1) Revocation Hearing of the Business License for Xingda Wellness LLC. Located at 4158 Washington Road Suite 10
Schlachter: Business operated as Oriental Massage. In 2025, Code Enforcement issued a stop-work order after discovering the business was operating without a valid business license and employing unlicensed massage therapists. During an August 5, 2026, inspection, employees were again found without the required licenses. Several reportedly fled through the rear exit when officers entered. The Planning Commission revoked the massage operator’s license and business license. Owner requested reinstatement of the business license to operate a different type of business.
Yuri Huang (Owner): Requested reinstatement of the existing business license and permission to change the business name to Hair Wash Salon, offering facials, hair washing, and foot baths rather than massage services. Explained that obtaining a new license would require additional time and potentially establishing a new company and tax identification number.
Duncan: Questioned why the county should reinstate a license after repeated violations, particularly when employees reportedly attempted to flee during the second inspection.
Huang: Acknowledged employing individuals without Georgia massage licenses. Explained that some held licenses in Texas or California but had difficulty passing Georgia’s licensing examination because of language barriers. Said customers preferred their massage techniques and that employees were attempting to obtain Georgia licenses.
Steed: Emphasized that employees must hold the required licenses regardless of their qualifications or experience.
Melear: Stated that ensuring employees are properly licensed is the business owner’s responsibility.
Schlachter: Clarified that Huang was requesting reinstatement of the business license only, not the massage operator’s license. Also noted that county regulations required the owner to be present during business operations, but she was absent during both inspections.
County Staff: Explained that business licenses are issued for specific activities and the existing massage business license could not simply be transferred to a different business classification. Huang could apply for a new license for the proposed services, with county processing generally taking approximately 10 days to two weeks.
Schlachter: Confirmed that revocation would not prohibit Huang from applying for a new business license for non-massage services.
Driver: Clarified that the existing revocation would remain in effect without further action, although a formal motion would establish a clearer decision date for any appeal.
Huang: Initially sought to retain her existing business license but appeared to accept the explanation that she would need to apply for a new license. Noted that state licensing requirements could take longer than the county's estimated two-week processing period.
Motion: Melear moved to deny the request for restoration and uphold the revocation of Xingda Wellness LLC’s business license. Yay 5, No 0
(I1b2) RZ26-10-01, Rezoning from R-2 (Single Family Residential) to C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial), 4391 Hereford Farm Rd, Tax Map 072A Parcel 058, 0.79 +/- acres, and currently zoned R-2 (Single Family Residential). Approve with 30 days to remove storage containers: Yay 5, No 0
Schlachter: Vacant parcel previously contained a residence purchased by the county for the Hereford Farm Road widening project. Applicant owns adjacent commercial property at 4398 Hereford Farm Road and intends to combine the parcels. Proposed conditions require combining the properties into one parcel to meet C-1’s minimum 100-foot road frontage requirement, upgrading the existing residential driveway for commercial access, removing outdoor storage, prohibiting use of the driveway until commercial access improvements are approved, and installing a minimum 10-foot landscape strip along Hereford Farm Road.
Melear: Asked how long the applicant would have to remove the existing storage container.
Schlachter: Said the applicant was already making arrangements to remove it and suggested 30 days if commissioners wanted a specific deadline.
Melear: Amended the motion to require removal of the storage container within 30 days of approval.
(I1b3) RZ26-10-03, Major S-1 (Special) Revision, 6389 Washington Road, Tax Map 024 Parcel 065, 6.93 +/- acres, and currently zoned S-1 (Special) Approve: Yay 5, No 0
Schlachter: Applicant requested a major S-1 revision to add a new multipurpose building. Approval includes a condition requiring the proposed building to be set back at least 15 feet from the property line. All future structures must comply with a 125-foot setback requirement.
Public Comments:
Susan Warren: Urged residents to comment on the Army Corps of Engineers permit application for White Oak by November 12, citing concerns about impacts to wetlands, streams, stormwater runoff, and wildlife. Raised concerns about scheduled blasting, construction noise, and lighting at Greenpoint [Pumpkin Center] data center site, and questioned a commissioner's refusal to discuss construction hours due to pending litigation. Also reported that Project Azalea, the Grovetown quarry, had applied for an air quality permit to operate 4 diesel generators continuously for up to two years while awaiting a connection the power grid.
Howard Johnson: Praised the county for completing the Willingham family’s road renaming request and approving medication-assisted treatment services for Accountability Court participants. Criticized the county’s use of Flock license plate readers, arguing that tracking license plates effectively tracks individuals because vehicles are registered to their owners. Disputed the county’s claim that the cameras track plates rather than people and questioned their effectiveness against vehicles without plates. Announced a peaceful “Flock Block Party” protest on October 25 and invited commissioners to observe the public response.
Lee Muns: Responded to personal remarks made by Chairman Duncan and Commissioner Carraway at the previous meeting, emphasizing that his concerns about data centers are policy-related, not personal. Rejected claims of inconsistency, explaining that his concerns have expanded as new information becomes available. Questioned the increase in White Oak’s proposed data center space from 8.5 million to 27 million square feet and criticized the county for approving rezoning before adequately evaluating environmental and infrastructure impacts. Called for greater transparency, meaningful public engagement, and accountability, and asked commissioners to leave his family and marriage out of policy discussions.
Chairman Duncan: Announced that Trader Joe’s had submitted an application for a construction permit in Columbia County, bringing the proposed store one step closer to development.
Adjourn: 6:38 pm