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

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.