[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,73,85,97,109],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},"mediaId",6247972,"mediaKeyId","3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57","parentId",3212412,"title","Commissioners approve Wrightsboro Road engineering contract and several right-of-way payments","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1497000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57&start=1497&end=1497","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57/thumbnail_1497000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6247972/Columbia-County/Georgia/Commissioners-approve-Wrightsboro-Road-engineering-contract-and-several-right-of-way-payments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247972-a4663bfd0716baa79d7be31294632221/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153460&Signature=gJ9FzDW5CH0CUzxNsGaleVf~o3v0AaSu33XkTN4J9IIPa11jaZoa2JqTeIgn9qem5jDVM6SzEgFobivkcEIMqeANux32ts7s1yM0ixjIQTDLZAUi5C8C1W8NveTM6HLg4vTt2G6RAWFDFc-FCWaE~oMSC1Z96UzTL52R5kg-CsYy51DzB-HzWjQ1H-Xo4~LvccX0latVPKBdOHUcj2T0s0LKCUzlD4EyKGMKaDrqQXU1ILUEnDMsYlghY9TKH~gfqGuU7dHBuVWIgjGLq~8vmvLPv1Zg5tMUsKObMBn8RNBtZV6JS~BmtTViRWj61xsvIpxU23aKzpmPQult5SMM6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-07T13:51:23Z","article","Columbia County commissioners on May 6 approved a contract for engineering design work on the Wrightsboro Road widening project and authorized several right-of-way and easement payments for county transportation and sewer projects.

The board approved an engineering-services contract with Alfred Benesh and Company for the Wrightsboro Road widening project; staff said the contract is funded with metropolitan planning organization (MPO) funds and that the firm was the most responsive bidder. Staff noted a deadline to get the contract underway by the end of the fiscal year.

In executive-session follow-up votes, commissioners approved $2,100 to Pollard Land Company Inc. for temporary and permanent easements for the Little Coyote Creek Sewer Project. The board also approved right‑of‑way/easement payments totaling $18,900 to Robert Riley (partial), $5,555 to Steve Kuntz (partial), and $35,000 to George and Elizabeth Devet (partial) as acquisitions for the Herga Farm Road widening project. Staff described these actions as standard acquisitions to secure needed ROW and easements for the projects.

Commissioners emphasized the need to keep design and acquisition work on schedule to maintain grant and MPO funding timelines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025.05.06 Columbia County Board of Commissioners Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a design contract for Wrightsboro Road widening and authorized easement/right-of-way payments related to Little Coyote Creek sewer and Herga Farm Road widening projects.","taxTitle","Columbia County, Georgia","taxId",12804,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":74,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":75,"_41":76,"_43":77,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6247976,"Commissioners approve first readings of code changes on plats, buffers and landscaping",492,998000,1490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57&start=998&end=1490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57/thumbnail_998000.jpg","/articles/6247976/Columbia-County/Georgia/Commissioners-approve-first-readings-of-code-changes-on-plats-buffers-and-landscaping","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247976-138fd7b49de8b41ac8af6f90db5f6f76/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153460&Signature=dMFV0yvBRK8we7JOeFm9D3fEhSUk6AwjgvMMgDxJR7rIbzJ7q0E2qpvhApKkutCY5qkoxk7Ia85CXp93o4csp6vobY1KD49zEtGjAtj~S8qLBDQHWLD2~q3rJ47QkDZhUnIzCnFN-NvCEr-9K53vYIAlpyUMorzBXu7pprO4QTsl2viUKKsJ1N0r68T6QSgEBhGmJhMYuF8CbuxXol8~aC97d79APiK8mi7Yzeqty7HyWMNA-A~hX~PESilj3lmzX0nFswOq-CFm6dE1fAT1saNUBBMPaQRaT7UWi1tUDBS4IhIAsyFuuokJeQFjg6NE~XswXQGYf9CmHVUmtEhSTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia County commissioners approved the first readings of three ordinances May 6 that would change administrative procedures and development standards for plats, buffers and landscaping in county code.

Ordinance No. 25-02 (Chapter 74, subdivisions, Article 2) would allow staff to approve minor concept-plan changes after an initial board-approved concept plan if the change does not increase density, add units or significantly alter access. The amendment also clarifies that some concept plans can be waived where no public utilities or infrastructure dedication is required.

Ordinance No. 25-03 (Chapter 90, supplemental requirements, buffers and screening) would reduce a mandatory undisturbed buffer from 50 feet to 25 feet in certain cases in exchange for platting the buffer as a separate lot to protect it from later homeowner encroachment. The draft also exempts properties adjacent to county-owned green space or state‑protected wetlands or floodplains from duplicative buffering requirements.

Ordinance No. 25-04 (Chapter 90, landscaping) would revise required tree spacing, increasing shade-tree spacing from 40 to 45 feet on center and understory tree spacing from 20 to 25 feet on center, and would require clearer timelines for installing street trees and landscaping earlier in the development process rather than leaving installation to the lot-builder punch list.

Staff said the changes were developed with the local development community and county management and would require additional readings before adoption. Commissioners approved the first readings by voice vote and asked staff to return with required subsequent readings.","The board gave first readings to several ordinances amending county code on plat approval procedures, buffer and screening requirements and landscaping standards; changes would let staff handle minor concept-plan tweaks, reduce buffer widths with protections, and adjust street-tree spacing.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6247984,"Columbia County approves multiple land-use requests; rezoning for private elementary school approved with traffic condition",595,401000,996000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57&start=401&end=996","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57/thumbnail_401000.jpg","/articles/6247984/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-approves-multiple-land-use-requests-rezoning-for-private-elementary-school-approved-with-traffic-condition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247984-20d8c73b6e9eb8f79fc2e82439bc4789/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153460&Signature=B2pj~J34bl5weXR~8dQJEHoAltOP4YLY2cAgCRNWTeN3lZu3eMG1dMRmqJAJogejGV~DIuF6CUH27DhnJkhKGGAH~-r7yxV7A3XGxlxX4v3x8tbtJ~zJ6YHYHW6xx7fQoDkWVvVngBREjknBkvwbaNKq8bS~Okqiio8tird4IgyFihMvdqid5ka-cTSeb0liqfWBYuUcbwi0mhvHNUQiuoWJO4yCQ0Kf5BpJwjiS0h5x8Fhh388s3H40u9fRTdLYf8HtgUkKk0x7J~cE8ItKdzlc-M-H7Cj24V93jrz5TisB3OVklbRHuDlFlp4B8Tq3~cclMoX5HRZQVuk8F6le6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia County commissioners approved a slate of planning and zoning actions May 6, including a rezoning to allow Augusta Christian School to build a new elementary campus, a conditional-use permit for a daycare, multiple PUD revisions and a request to reduce a required buffer.

The board voted to rezone property at Tax Map 082B, Parcel 006 to S-1 to permit a proposed private elementary school for Augusta Christian across Baston Road from the school's existing campus. Planning staff told commissioners the applicant plans a two-story structure estimated at roughly 42,000 to 60,000 square feet and highlighted traffic as the primary concern. The board approved the rezoning subject to the conditions in the April 17 Planning Commission report and added a requirement that the applicant provide a traffic-control plan to prevent school-related traffic from queuing on Baston Road and a pedestrian crossing plan; the county engineer must approve the traffic-control plan and it must be implemented before the new school opens.

County commissioners also approved a conditional-use permit for a daycare at Tax Map 078B, Parcel 047; staff noted the applicant said the facility could serve up to 200 children, and the board approved the conditional use with conditions addressing site access and traffic. The vote on the daycare permit was recorded as 4-1.

Other land-use approvals included a major PUD revision to allow a bank at a commercial corner at Ronald Reagan Parkway and Evans Town Center Boulevard and a PUD revision granting driveway access on Marsh Point Road for a property where rear access was not feasible. The board also approved a variance reducing a required buffer from 50 to 30 feet for a mass-grading project; staff explained the grading would direct stormwater to an on-site pond and noted adjacent golf-course buffers would result in 60 feet of separation between new homes and the golf course. The buffer variance vote carried 4-1.

Planning staff said several approvals include minor site-plan adjustments during permitting to meet fire-code or engineering requirements. Where board members expressed questions, staff said final design and any necessary additional conditions would be handled through the county engineer and permitting process.

Motions carried by voice votes except as noted.","The board approved several planning and zoning items including a rezoning for Augusta Christian's proposed elementary school subject to a traffic-control plan, a conditional-use permit for a daycare, major PUD revisions and a buffer variance.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6247989,"Columbia County board votes to form single-county library region within state system",340,1910000,2250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57&start=1910&end=2250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57/thumbnail_1910000.jpg","/articles/6247989/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-board-votes-to-form-single-county-library-region-within-state-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247989-b5ea7c165bb88e0a6e759b2ce19a2132/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153460&Signature=j6wEPAl23QRvdN6CptUiXe5nTOC8~FgGFAtNk0HsiX6ng91~7w1LMf-zPjDPFp2OVaeYxyRNMZmZ4trjsZ1JULqWxcbZMO4xHwA-49o1wOMwht~oy1kUNfK~yc-o1fNDFgK2QyG5yF2ChJyt7AdyM1mLOpVwCODjLh~jFst5MRk3lXetlBCAEWj65iEcsZ9BpKLnZZ5Ao5sJ-6daZozCE~TnVXM~luxuQKXcWg4SvnD0EARY0qzIBbX5dlN-2eAeJX5F2aU7r3ZOJWNBsMjmijaSVtWn7nO8UnLEv2TLI0JucIyjJ8NYGRu-UNm076flen3EbRTKny-Fo-9rWQaaFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbia County Board of Commissioners voted May 6 to withdraw from the Greater Clarks Hill library region and apply to become a single-county region within the state library system, a change staff said would take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

County staff told commissioners the move would keep Columbia County within the state system and preserve access to services such as PINES and GALILEO while giving the county's oversight board greater local control. County staff said the state preliminarily approved Columbia County as a candidate and that the change would be operationally ‘‘virtually identical' to current arrangements.

During the public-comment period, multiple residents and library advocates urged the board to remain in the state system and expressed concern about recent local library decisions, shelving changes and appointments to the library advisory board. Freedom to Read Coalition CEO Karen Parham said an open-records request showed county leadership had explored withdrawal and that advocates had gathered a petition opposing withdrawal.

The board adopted the motion during the meeting; the chair announced the motion carries. Staff said the county would submit the official application to the state the next day and that the county expects the transition to require minimal additional county funding, with an estimated possible adjustment under $30,000 to the county library budget for items such as courier service.

Commissioners and members of the public debated library oversight, book shelving and the rights of librarians versus elected boards. The board approved the staff recommendation and instructed staff to proceed with the application to the Georgia Public Library Service.","The board approved a staff recommendation for Columbia County to withdraw from the Greater Clarks Hill library region and become a single-county region within the Georgia state library system effective Jan. 1, 2026.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_46":115,"_48":116,"_50":117,"_52":118,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":119,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":120,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":55,"_72":55},6247994,"Columbia County commissioners approve resolution opposing Harlem annexation",475,1554000,2029000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57&start=1554&end=2029","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3212412-23d8a6ed9b1be1ae1370ba80e86e3d57/thumbnail_1554000.jpg","/articles/6247994/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-commissioners-approve-resolution-opposing-Harlem-annexation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6247994-2a6658171cc9acff9e8517d94d9d8bfb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153460&Signature=Iet681fxXoFriZuHIotb9-xcfJBZY6fWMKQvg4cd0Y3LNrmusMyMpk2mSrloyCmjZhuJ0AXi5BL122pldtH-w3yoNrn4zxLsXxqpiWhGo330e1ZNq34WtLJhThEk1D4WlnrtTRICCssWRQcrDkMlCskSiGyijzOpsIkePeozNCaYAYaQaGlGc7YdAAos3L0HhVxG0yfOHjsEkuHWwaSpEJqCVwhrbmOP220MOcKTpn6Bwlr4C6P78ADu8UXcs6c8Ek0sXH7XDqO837q3DqNfSEY5xxHyfGcpWTL1O8zESKiJo2RpzEgS35B2cSVjpcJkOuOGNtmgCDV9nkWd5uwR5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbia County Board of Commissioners voted May 6 to approve Resolution No. 25-15 notifying the city of Harlem of the county's opposition to the proposed annexation of tax parcel ID 020012.

The resolution, presented to the board at the May 6 meeting, states the notice of annexation covers 736.3 acres and says the landowner intends to construct a higher-density residential development. Commissioner Valer moved to approve the resolution; the motion was seconded and the board carried the measure.

The county's statement says Harlem's likely zoning for the parcel would allow a density roughly five times the county's current RA (rural/agricultural) classification and that the change could ‘‘overly tax the current infrastructure of the county, including placing an undue burden on the Columbia County School System.' The resolution asks Harlem to abandon the annexation pursuit.

County staff and commissioners described the item as a formal, non‑litigative request: the board acknowledged it has no legal standing to block the annexation but can communicate its objection. Commissioners cited concern about unanticipated infrastructure needs — roads, water and sewer, and school capacity — if the parcel is annexed and developed at higher density than the county's comprehensive plan anticipates.

The resolution text read into the record identifies the property owner as Log Creek, LLLP and states the board received notice of annexation on March 27, 2025. The board approved the resolution by voice vote; the chair called for hands and said the motion carries.

County staff did not present a negotiated mitigation package, and the board did not direct staff to initiate legal action; the vote was the board's formal policy position to send to Harlem city officials.

The resolution document and the public reading are part of the meeting record.","The Columbia County Board of Commissioners voted to approve Resolution 25-15 formally opposing the proposed annexation of Tax Parcel ID 020012 by the city of Harlem, citing concerns about density and infrastructure impacts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve Wrightsboro Road engineering contract and several right-of-way payments

Commissioners approve first readings of code changes on plats, buffers and landscaping

Columbia County approves multiple land-use requests; rezoning for private elementary school approved with traffic condition

Columbia County board votes to form single-county library region within state system

Columbia County commissioners approve resolution opposing Harlem annexation