Columbia County commissioners adopted Ordinance 2025-22 on storm debris contractors and approved staff to proceed with procurement steps intended to prevent the contractor problems the county experienced in the previous major storm.

County attorney Joel introduced the ordinance as the adoption draft that will require storm-debris contractors to register with the county and provide contact information so the county can locate contractors and address complaints during declared states of emergency. "This is intended to cut off the pretty expensive and extensive problems we had during our last bad storm," Joel told the board, referencing out-of-area for-profit contractors that left debris in rights-of-way and required county cleanup at substantial expense.

After opening and closing the public hearing with no speakers, commissioners discussed the ordinance and expressed support. One commissioner called the measure "much needed" and said local vendors supported it. A motion to adopt Ordinance 2025-22 passed on a voice vote.

Related procurement actions: the board also approved staff recommendations to enter negotiation with the top-ranked respondents to the county'9s storm-debris request for proposals so the county can prequalify contractors and divide the county geographically to avoid reliance on a single vendor. Kevin Kirby, county staff, said the county received seven vendor responses and staff will negotiate with the top-ranked firms and aim to select multiple contractors for geographic coverage and performance-based measures.

In related construction procurement votes the board awarded Bid No. 202507 for paving ("Boss Road") to Kirch Construction in the amount of $968,134.07 and awarded Bid No. 202506 (road construction including utilities) to Anderson Columbia in the amount of $4,074,917.72. County staff said the Anderson Columbia award covers necessary utility work as an alternate and the county will build the road and capture utilities in the same contract.

Decisions recorded at this meeting included the ordinance adoption, authorization to negotiate with top-ranked debris firms, and award of two road-construction contracts. Each award was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Staff noted earlier issues during storm responses where out-of-area contractors left large debris piles in rights-of-way, creating expense and FEMA complications. The registration requirement and multiple-contractor procurement aim to provide contactability, performance thresholds and remedies (liquidated damages) to reduce risk in future events.