The City Council on Aug. 7 authorized city staff to proceed with HVAC work at the Columbia County Women’s Club building at 655 Northeast Martin Luther King Street, accepting the lowest of three qualifying bids from a local contractor, Lehi I. Jones, and charging the expenditure to the city’s General Building fund.

City Manager Rosenthal said the building is currently city property and in generally good repair but needs a new air‑conditioning unit. Vice Mayor Chabelle Young moved to approve funding for the HVAC work; the motion was seconded and council members indicated they intended to accept the lowest responsive bid. Procurement and staff confirmed the low bidder met specifications. Council also directed staff to research property history and to offer the same ownership‑transfer opportunity to this women’s club that had been discussed for another building earlier in the meeting.

Roll call recorded a unanimous vote to proceed; staff said they will award the work to the low bidder and manage the procurement and project using General Building funds.