[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6188231,"mediaKeyId","5063973-b3c10277702a14f459ced7cc6654e027","parentId",5063973,"title","Columbia County accepts NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection funding for storm-related debris removal — $31.65 million construction award","audioSeconds",233,"startMs",2581000,"endMs",2814000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063973-b3c10277702a14f459ced7cc6654e027&start=2581&end=2814","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063973-b3c10277702a14f459ced7cc6654e027/thumbnail_2581000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6188231/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-accepts-NRCS-Emergency-Watershed-Protection-funding-for-storm-related-debris-removal-3165-million-construction-award","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188231-66ca1a020132b79cbe23ce85804e1a97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168319&Signature=Oyq8vIAEOVmH9id0psDJY-g8oAqJzDmeUXK172ftt-yyLN5lQfSYQIe4GI5rs~Th2e0M-N4Wp4dO5D3YZ1uzYo5pyeVbW0pdNmGEFpggvE7QDaIKHTUhZjfNL8JytxTpKWXGayXUFA2Lxx~rzIQ~ghWZgoNl7yaFXDplcTbDhrostrKPBrEeQPl32uR-M1LAJmXK-46r76jmeHy1SWLvTzKAYFk8znD4r0X4kI7OfaSU87fsixuk9rqP-6XMKwQuneeN8ZDO~27KfmUjLbcwIpJ4x8sEhpdLFDG3sVtOGD8pcVSy1XgIMAa0GSiTBWFRcP4D5emRWq9PqHL1AUQNbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-25T01:17:06Z","article","Columbia County commissioners approved an agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to accept Emergency Watershed Protection Program funding to remove storm-generated debris that threatens infrastructure following Hurricane Helene and related storms.

NRCS has approved $31,653,911 for construction work to clear debris and $2,374,043.33 for technical assistance (engineering, administration, inspection and monitoring). County staff told commissioners NRCS has the funding already allocated and that the county will be reimbursed for eligible work; payments typically take about 30 days after submission of reimbursement requests.

County staff said the application identified over 50 locations for work and that the county submitted the application about two to two-and-a-half weeks after initial NRCS outreach. The agreement gives the county 120 days from execution to complete the work; staff said NRCS has granted an additional 90 days in recognition of approval delays. Staff recommended approval and noted the work will address downed trees and creek obstructions residents reported after the storm.

Commissioners discussed the timeline and funding. A staff member confirmed NRCS had the funds available and that FEMA has delegated oversight of this program to NRCS for this grant; FEMA is not managing the award. Staff also said the county has already coordinated with procurement, finance and emergency management and expects a current contractor to complete the work by fall; the additional NRCS extension could move the deadline into winter.

The agreement allocates construction and technical‑assistance funds for work and county administration; the transcript states reimbursements typically take about 30 days. Staff recommended approval; the motion on consent moved the item forward.

The transcript does not include a detailed project schedule, a list of the 50+ specific sites, nor the procurement specifics for every subcontractor that will perform the work. Staff stated the county will have 120 days to complete the project from execution, and added NRCS granted an additional 90 days because of approval delays. For residents who reported debris in waterways, staff said crews would begin work following contract execution and local procurement steps.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Columbia County | Public Works and Engineering Services Commitee (June 24th)","oneSentenceSummary","Columbia County accepted Emergency Watershed Protection Program funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service to remove storm-generated debris, with $31,653,911 allocated for construction and $2,374,043.33 for technical assistance.","taxTitle","Columbia County, Georgia","taxId",12804,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6188236,"Columbia County votes to form its own public library system, dissolves advisory board",179,1182000,1361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063973-b3c10277702a14f459ced7cc6654e027&start=1182&end=1361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063973-b3c10277702a14f459ced7cc6654e027/thumbnail_1182000.jpg","/articles/6188236/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-votes-to-form-its-own-public-library-system-dissolves-advisory-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188236-762f073c3efef9d8c0787cdf16f4557d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168319&Signature=EWF5INDUj0ojOphhwc04~Z1cmSxBdc2j~zqE0xwAsEDg9216ihhSIPywHyeX9HQc08eqQgTfD3mhRWVUdtXFU57ZuYwYjJOcb29pG3S8eiTafGhn8heyNfuztTfQaeNW9bDlho2ITGO4vOVylTHqgLpPXErQJCzCMaaMow4wZ3hW2cI5ACsm~ThWFuoNVdmUKimuBngfBChtBJlX7Ck~QR9RaHMsz9qvYUd6vey7~Kqgkylx44HH-988lVYD8V8c1PAVZHdIxN1XjCCbxj9Ud0pELJHVe4DB4u-KNQ4RiDPwZ91KMA3aVNCgaZutw5tK9O0kbFlh6ieEsxTYM0V2sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Columbia County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution 25-20 on a consent motion to establish a Columbia County Public Library System, withdraw the county from the Greater Clarks Hill regional library system, create a five-member county library board to be named later and dissolve the Columbia County Library Advisory Board effective immediately.

The resolution replaces the county's advisory board with a new county-controlled library board that the county will appoint. Community Services staff recommended approval at the June 24 meeting.

The change matters because it shifts governance of library policy and public input from an advisory body to a newly appointed board. That prompted public comment during the meeting. Resident Karen Parham told the board she was concerned that dissolving the advisory board removes an established mechanism for public input: “It kinda feels a little bit preliminary to dissolve the Columbia County Library Advisory Board, considering that we're we haven't named anybody to be on that new regional library board. What this does is then it cancels 6 months' worth of meetings where you could receive public feedback.”

A Community Services staff member confirmed Parham's procedural concern when the resident asked whether upcoming advisory-board meetings would be canceled: “Yes. I yes. That that's correct.” The minutes and staff presentation show the new five-member Columbia County board will be named at a later date; the resolution itself does not list appointees or an appointment timeline.

The board moved the item on consent and the motion carried as part of the meeting's consent agenda. The resolution also states the advisory board is dissolved “effective immediately”; staff recommended approval and indicated appointments to the new board will follow in subsequent actions.

The meeting record does not specify when the county will solicit applications or public nominations for the new library board, nor does it provide an interim public-feedback process tied specifically to the library transition. Parham said members of her organization intend to continue attending commissioner meetings and public comment periods to provide input.

The board took the vote as a consent-agenda item and did not debate the resolution on the record. No formal roll-call vote with individual yes/no tallies was read into the minutes for this item at the time it moved on consent.

Members of the public who want additional information or to request a role on the new board should contact county Community Services; the resolution and any future appointment notices will be posted in subsequent meeting materials.

","The Columbia County Board approved Resolution 25-20 to withdraw from the Greater Clarks Hill regional system, create a five-member county library board and dissolve the county's existing library advisory board; a resident raised concerns about losing a forum for public feedback.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6188222,"County hires Goodwin Mills and Caywood for sewer-modeling study; $80,000 contract covers Harlem model and system gaps analysis",109,1529000,1638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063973-b3c10277702a14f459ced7cc6654e027&start=1529&end=1638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063973-b3c10277702a14f459ced7cc6654e027/thumbnail_1529000.jpg","/articles/6188222/Columbia-County/Georgia/County-hires-Goodwin-Mills-and-Caywood-for-sewer-modeling-study-80000-contract-covers-Harlem-model-and-system-gaps-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188222-4b197acf0e77ab6b637d080af2bb6ad4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168319&Signature=EttiNca8eZlVZ1PU8LFv0Eo3gXuAHTOx2mijgAv5zTLer1nu-2UCFe2yChuia3ths6z0VSVv54dmkppGgH1DFwDH6j5vqSUd2sPGgZza7Fi3cUbt2l8hOQSSZzVJqd2uSHWvYiMUNMrTDEIom1yyxPzxD7ljsQUYI-3QD6u9FrbWTVgjOJxlJPhUvS3Kf10JMJVg7-V13ohrwBfcx82w25VQis5M2XXW5~7kwD-Sdou4-NjT~PqhuXUs1b4h5~mLBLa722XOxTOjsPfsNtNbjfyWS7ynG8uGCEseKkoRlLHCrn6vruoBVVVnqXsfneJW1MZR4-h0UV0sE0XYzT7A8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia County approved an $80,000 independent-contractor agreement with Goodwin Mills and Caywood to develop a sewer model for the city of Harlem and perform a system gaps analysis as phase 1 of a multi-step approach toward a countywide water and sewer model.

Public Works staff explained the county completed a water model during a previous master plan but deferred a sewer model to reduce costs. The current contract funds a focused sewer model for Harlem and a desktop gaps analysis for the remainder of the system, enabling county staff to gather needed field data in stages rather than contracting full wet-weather flow monitoring across the entire system.

Staff described a wet-weather model that requires flow-monitoring equipment in sewers as expensive — potentially approaching three-quarters of a million dollars for the whole system — and said the county plans to use “smart covers” and in-house monitoring where practicable to estimate inflow and infiltration (I&I). Goodwin Mills and Caywood will complete the dry-weather model component and identify data gaps the county must fill before a full system model is complete. The county intends to fund the work from the engineering department's general operating fund.

Staff recommended approval of the $80,000 contract. Commissioners approved the item on consent.

The project is intended to produce a completed water and sewer model ahead of the county's next comprehensive master plan; the contract represents phase 1 of that effort. The record does not provide a detailed timeline for deliverables or specific milestones for in-house data collection.

","Public Works recommended and commissioners approved an $80,000 contract with Goodwin Mills and Caywood to complete a sewer model for the city of Harlem and a gaps analysis for the broader system, with staff planning to collect additional data in-house to limit outside monitoring costs.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6188226,"Columbia County awards $4.02 million waterline cleaning project to Blair Construction to install permanent pig stations",152,1671000,1823000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5063973-b3c10277702a14f459ced7cc6654e027&start=1671&end=1823","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5063973-b3c10277702a14f459ced7cc6654e027/thumbnail_1671000.jpg","/articles/6188226/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-awards-402-million-waterline-cleaning-project-to-Blair-Construction-to-install-permanent-pig-stations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6188226-6ea490b2671e072e7178560e122e9f18/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168319&Signature=E0liiKAkyDZyW3diNb3DqvGXb5f6NThFGGs5~kD6I713052QOu--AdL40dSvWaSaP2eIe1qOwXbs03SO6O21FUgDUD~oBkuKQGJxrpV~bmRuHpBXQPBqKzvcDshD5n4CIu3~iAJbeq-xf0Op4Y29hofvurKEZQAFXjxilV0JA1OR3Ewo4mIEAjira-Wfo8CrAIlAvZ2~5ikvgDEwGxZKBLNX19uKmi2f6mOXik~s3S7caLP11M7Jcn2L0SUNvR3NzhYMO4tep09Ch4pdvh-da9CgQhCzanOCBCJaTXPt6cvRL2xVOZw-A0CtuaHRSXyO~LsyRtuXH-8662YFRBDovQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia County authorized a $4,021,444.78 contract with Blair Construction to install permanent pig launch and receiving stations on major water transmission lines as phase 1 of a waterline cleaning initiative.

Public Works staff described the project as installation of launch and receiving vaults (so-called “Y” assemblies) on the county's 30-, 36- and 24-inch mains leaving the Jim Blanchard Water Treatment Plant. The vaults will allow the county to periodically send a sponge pig through the lines using water-system pressure to remove deposits from pipe walls, then capture and dispose of the removed material at a receiving location with required erosion-and-soil-control measures.

Staff said the project was above initial budget estimates because material costs rose; after consulting with the low bidder and procurement staff, they concluded the bid was fair. The county will later issue a separate procurement to purchase and operate the pigs themselves; this construction contract covers only the permanent launch/receive infrastructure. Staff recommended approval.

Commissioners asked whether the public will see effects during construction and cleaning. Staff said the county will use social media and public notices because cutting and working on water mains can temporarily produce discolored water and require flushing: “We will have to get on social media and and let everyone know because we may see some dirty water.” The presentation noted the construction portion is phase 1; subsequent work to run the pigs and perform additional cleaning will be procured separately.

The record shows the low, responsive bidder was Blair Construction at $4,021,444.78 and staff recommended approval. The motion to approve the contract moved on consent in the Public Works meeting.

","County staff recommended and commissioners approved a $4,021,444.78 contract with Blair Construction to install permanent pig launch and receiving stations on major transmission lines; the work is described as phase 1 of a multi-step program to reduce dirty-water complaints.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Columbia County accepts NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection funding for storm-related debris removal — $31.65 million construction award

Columbia County votes to form its own public library system, dissolves advisory board

County hires Goodwin Mills and Caywood for sewer-modeling study; $80,000 contract covers Harlem model and system gaps analysis

Columbia County awards $4.02 million waterline cleaning project to Blair Construction to install permanent pig stations