[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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",6184144,"mediaKeyId","5092999-b802c4f39a8f5f0ca9e611ad2d93cc27","parentId",5092999,"title","Columbia County accepts $34,027,954.33 in NRCS emergency watershed funds for storm debris removal","audioSeconds",1115,"startMs",1117000,"endMs",1518,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5092999-b802c4f39a8f5f0ca9e611ad2d93cc27&start=1117&end=1","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5092999-b802c4f39a8f5f0ca9e611ad2d93cc27/thumbnail_1117000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6184144/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-accepts-3402795433-in-NRCS-emergency-watershed-funds-for-storm-debris-removal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184144-93d9ecbbff381c696d51b8d6129541f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773078480&Signature=TaZgv~GrHzHyWwB8Lzi8GSvT-8W8iaRnftVuzvvWqqFhQlMRg1UAj~EfBd4rZF3a2kSxmaVw3rwE-FTVq6vy4UFhCsUT9DC7P6lOIoyI~qz2AoDbtB~ZSzwiiRcNH~RCQ~XzHLlDhP4RhAhq74GlB7kMc8Epsy9aUGcnOm-kaMya2EzfdnXuRkB41ldtaAtW20m8lEVcXpKkE0J~BfgcXp8IR17~21c-V4y3S9afkbhgPZFmw3f6--YNsPUyzFaaVaWIByUlRDDKkFm9wkzcUMo35pbhI~LAoM-Veq3xOs1RonF4FvxhA5FRvN87UTvVOgWpwgy4DHzR7tjCYiPhiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-26T20:09:30Z","article","Columbia County’s Public Works and Engineering Services Committee on June 24 approved an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to use Emergency Watershed Protection funding totaling $34,027,954.33 for removal of storm-generated debris and related technical assistance.

The county will receive $31,653,911 for construction work to remove debris that threatens infrastructure and $2,374,043.33 for technical assistance, including engineering plans, administration, inspections and monitoring. Committee members were told NRCS already has the funds allocated and that the county will typically receive reimbursements about 30 days after submitting invoices.

County staff said the application covered more than 50 locations identified shortly after Hurricane Helene. “From the time we found out about it to the time we submitted an application with over 50 locations, it was about two, two-and-a-half weeks,” a county staff presenter said during the meeting, describing the rapid application process that led to local and USDA approval.

Why it matters: the funding pays for removal of storm debris that county staff said is blocking creeks and posing flood risks behind private properties. The county expects to work with its existing contractor, Ceres, to complete the work before winter. Under the agreement, the county has 120 days from the date the agreement is executed to complete the construction work; staff said NRCS has granted an additional 90 days to address delays in final approval.

Committee members clarified that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are not managing this grant; NRCS is the federal lead for the program. Staff told the committee they had coordinated with procurement, finance and emergency management (EMA) leadership while preparing for the work.

The committee voted to approve staff’s recommendation to accept the NRCS agreement and proceed with project execution and reimbursement procedures. Staff characterized the timeline as achievable with the county’s current contractor and said field crews would begin prioritizing sites once the agreement is executed.

Ending: Staff will return to the committee as needed with project updates and reimbursement progress once work begins and invoices are submitted to NRCS.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025.06.24 Columbia County Board of Commissioners Public Works & Engineering Services Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Columbia County’s Public Works and Engineering Services Committee on June 24 approved an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to use Emergency Watershed Protection funding totaling $34,027,954.33 for removal of storm-generated debris and related 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},6184136,"Columbia County Public Works committee approves multiple contracts, lighting upgrades and planning studies on consent",30,32000,1498,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5092999-b802c4f39a8f5f0ca9e611ad2d93cc27&start=32&end=1","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5092999-b802c4f39a8f5f0ca9e611ad2d93cc27/thumbnail_32000.jpg","/articles/6184136/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-Public-Works-committee-approves-multiple-contracts-lighting-upgrades-and-planning-studies-on-consent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184136-b889e795a72874e08824cdfd51719e67/orig.mp4?Expires=1773078480&Signature=BwMrv6VsOAJwiKAU444la216tFmTYqCQcWMSn27ncVo~IaXVYvXPfHObxN~6dm7a~B1N2~bwTF7h1MQFe38qg-MoJ8oUSAJO9U-pqwE6pYy7MPwoQmPIUs~-5SjL4y0oAoKzjMi9LWHRzTJ2RsQtWL7QAzHDsMfXhUrh~emU16zd0ePDDQGF7fkDJrKngMIU9tINqu7l-Z5VWKgvR42fbKcENL5lLsOaU4dHD~Q3isdPlvOBK6CCHX~PeHnKyw0HX8UQ6Cuivn72t3yS0h20cRViLlGhipV~uc84KUTmSScLzR5DTiGB7HtdnD6SqqiY0pdxszb63hO764qeRCMzAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia County’s Public Works and Engineering Services Committee on June 24 approved a slate of consent items including permits, consultant agreements, small capital purchases and planning efforts.

Key approvals included authorization for the chair to execute a Georgia Department of Transportation indemnification and hold-harmless agreement tied to permitting for the Pollard House driveway; an $80,000 independent contractor agreement with Goodwin Mills Cawood to develop a sewer model and gaps analysis (phase 1, city of Harlem); and a generator purchase from High‑Tech Power Systems for $101,101.47.

The committee also approved:

- A resolution (25-06) to amend Jones Mill Phase 3 streetlight district to add one streetlight; upfront installation cost $7,620 and an annual utility increase of $2.80.

- Lighting services agreements with Georgia Power to install safety lights at several intersections (Old Evans Road at Murray Lane; Evans Deluxe at King Taylor; and four crosswalks on Panther Crossing), with upfront and annual utility costs paid from the insurance premium tax fund.

- Phase 2 of a Georgia Power neighborhood LED conversion (part of a multi-phase upgrade) that will increase monthly utility costs by $3,397.61 across the neighborhoods in this phase.

- Renewal of the county’s Title VI plan required to continue receiving certain federal transportation funds; staff said the plan contains no major substantive changes beyond date updates.

- An amendment to the Infrastructure Consulting Engineering (ICE) contract to update inspection rates for construction engineering inspection (CEI) services; staff said CEI costs are charged to each project’s funding code and that funding for inspectors will come from project-specific sources (for example, TIA or House Bill 170). A committee member asked staff to follow up with an estimate of annual costs.

- A property abatement, demolition and removal contract with Thompson Building and Racking for Hereford Farm Road for $88,600, to be funded from House Bill 170 for the Farm Road widening project.

- A contract with Cranston to develop landscaping guidelines for county roadway medians and shoulders ($11,900); staff said the guidelines would be developed with engineering, planning and leadership and brought back for county policy adoption.

- A preliminary desktop review contract with Goodwin Mills Cawood to evaluate three potential county-owned stream and wetland mitigation bank sites ($14,250), to be split between the county stormwater utility and the water utility.

- Acceptance of water and sewer easements: a water-utility easement from Greenpoint PCD LLC off Appling Harlem Road and a 20-foot sanitary sewer easement from Waffle House, Inc., off Columbia Road. Staff recommended final approval following department review.

All of these items were presented by county staff and approved on consent. Where staff provided funding sources, the record shows a mix of project-specific funding, utility funds, House Bill 170 funds and the insurance premium tax fund.

Ending: Staff provided routine reports (year-to-date budget and project updates) and the committee adjourned at 9:04 a.m.","Columbia County’s Public Works and Engineering Services Committee on June 24 approved a slate of consent items including permits, consultant agreements, small capital purchases and planning efforts.",{"_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},6184141,"Columbia County awards $4.02 million contract to install permanent pigging stations on major water lines",486,207000,693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5092999-b802c4f39a8f5f0ca9e611ad2d93cc27&start=207&end=693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5092999-b802c4f39a8f5f0ca9e611ad2d93cc27/thumbnail_207000.jpg","/articles/6184141/Columbia-County/Georgia/Columbia-County-awards-402-million-contract-to-install-permanent-pigging-stations-on-major-water-lines","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6184141-c022bbd848b3e018e25e354cfdfaeeec/orig.mp4?Expires=1773078480&Signature=gbdjfmdmH6mBO6GSgOC8WBHQM~oL605UvF1FCEVuqLARbmEsO~8nBoKaGbnpMMueRbUO8BJ5dOHCHEEZyRg6TsCnGxZ2KDRzmfLAdfoa6V~44Gp4y3W01bCg4KvB0WFVJLo1xw4Tjb1a9AHxLISgnt7069dZ5RThQbt0ggPC8tzl1jniu2Tu3s4hXTyyVX4j8qUavFFyryuRhszDKjxLiikbhJVeO2HEg29UcsbI7eze4VdQGf6Kh76qNQJi3fglilGclJTbrUGYma34hj1gAgUU3~wduoTqNNCpDuqU91vUG1hSPN16odm8P5YGTkzwIGwWd2C-zKTLNqMGhx2JIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Columbia County’s Public Works and Engineering Services Committee on June 24 awarded a $4,021,444.78 contract to Blair Construction to install permanent pig launch and receiving stations on major transmission lines that leave the Jim Blanchard Water Treatment Plant.

County staff said the project is phase 1 of a larger waterline cleaning program. The installed stations will allow the county to insert a sponge “pig” and use pressure from the water system, such as from a fire hydrant, to push the pig through the pipe and capture accumulated deposits at a receiving station.

Gordon, a county staff member presenting the item, said the work targets the 30-, 36- and 24-inch major lines and includes building vaults so launch equipment can be covered between uses. He said the work is expected to “drastically reduce” dirty-water complaints and that the county will continue other cleaning methods for smaller distribution lines.

Gordon cautioned residents the county may see temporary dirty water when crews cut lines and perform flushing operations. “We will have to get on social media and let everyone know because we may see some dirty water,” he said. County staff said they will perform flushing and public notices while work is under way.

Project scope notes: the contract covers the civil work to install permanent launch/receiving vaults and connections; a future procurement will seek a contractor to supply and operate the pigs used to clean lines. The committee approved staff’s recommendation to award the contract and to return later with an RFP for the pigging operations.

Ending: Staff said the work will improve water quality and consumer confidence in the system once installation and subsequent pigging operations are complete.","The committee approved a $4,021,444.78 contract with Blair Construction to install permanent pig launch and receiving stations on 30-, 36- and 24-inch lines leaving the Jim Blanchard Water Treatment Plant; work is intended to vastly reduce dirty-water complaints and will require temporary flushing and public notices during construction","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Columbia County accepts $34,027,954.33 in NRCS emergency watershed funds for storm debris removal

Columbia County Public Works committee approves multiple contracts, lighting upgrades and planning studies on consent

Columbia County awards $4.02 million contract to install permanent pigging stations on major water lines