Columbia County committee approves contracts, grant-backed park work and a $542,031 change order for Sugar Creek booster station

The Columbia County Public Works & Engineering Services Committee met Tuesday, April 22, and approved a slate of contracts, resolutions and projects including a $542,031.25 change order for the Sugar Creek booster station, a $3,241,864.42 contract to rehabilitate roads on Fort Eisenhower, and several other construction and procurement items.

The committee opened with a short presentation recognizing Little River Wastewater Treatment Plant staff for receiving the Georgia Association of Water Professionals’ wastewater plant of the year award. “They took the bull by the horns,” said Mr. Gordon, staff member, while praising the plant’s cleanliness and operations.

Why it matters: the meeting advanced multiple capital and maintenance projects that affect county roadways, stormwater infrastructure and wastewater operations, and approved budgeted purchases and contracts that will trigger construction or procurement activity this year.

Most significant actions

- Sugar Creek booster station change order: The committee approved a change order totaling $542,031.25 to relocate and upsiz e a septic/drainfield discovered during construction adjacent to the booster site near a fire station. Construction staff told the committee the original drain field was under trees and had been sized for four people but must be enlarged to serve 11 current users, requiring relocation, additional excavation (including removal of about 5 feet of contaminated soils across the site) and associated disposal costs. Staff recommended approval of the change order.

- Fort Eisenhower road rehabilitation: The committee approved a contract with Beams Contracting in the amount of $3,241,864.42 to rehabilitate multiple roads on Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon). County staff explained Columbia County will act as procurement and financial agent for the base; the base will reimburse work approved by its Department of Public Works and provide an 8% administrative fee to the county. Jacob Center, preconstruction department staff, said the base receives funding quarterly and that the contractor must complete the first roadway within 120 days after notice to proceed to allow the base time to secure further federal funding.

- Traffic control center video wall: The committee approved a $702,241.18 contract with Utilicom to supply the display wall, processors, hardware and three workstations for the new Building A traffic control center, to be funded from 2024 PFA bonds.

- Lakeside Park green infrastructure: The committee approved a $476,404.70 contract with Triscapes LLC to rehabilitate three existing bioretention systems, build one new bioretention structure, and construct a permeable trail at Lakeside Park. Staff said about 50% of the contract will be reimbursed through an EPA Section 319 grant; the contractor will have 135 days to complete the work.

Other contracts and purchases approved on consent

- Encroachment/easement approvals for properties including Carillonway (retaining wall), 790 Nuttall Street (pool deck and concrete pad) and 4213 Columbia Road (private drainage line). Staff said documents were signed and recommended approval.

- Alcohol license for Winston’s Restaurant Group, LLC (doing business as Winston’s Tavern): staff reported required documents and property notice posted; staff recommended approval.

- Purchase of a replacement utility truck under state contract for $153,002.17 (budgeted at $225,000) to replace a 20-year-old vehicle used for repairs and emergency response.

- Independent contractor agreement with Environmental Instrumentation and Calibration for bar-screen repairs at Little River and Reed Creek wastewater plants for $72,930 (lowest of three quotes).

- Bid awards and design contracts including: Cajun Construction ($283,884) for stormwater UV pipe lining projects (13,68 linear feet of 18"–48" pipe) funded by SPLOST 23–28; Southern Civil Solutions ($18,250) for design of the 1 Marshall Place UV lining; Bluewater Engineering Services ($79,400) to design Mill Branch culvert replacements; Pond & Company ($689,722) for preliminary-through-final design services for the Clary Cut Road/Old Union Road project (Tier 2); Southern Asphalt ($737,459.50) to resurface roads in Wildwood Park; and acceptance of infrastructure improvements in Highland Lakes West Section 1 (roads, stormwater and sewer, plats recorded 03/12/2025), with ponds remaining private under the HOA.

- Contract with Peak Pavement Marking ($72,438.64) for FY24–25 safety striping funded from IPTF.

- Lighting and streetlight items: the committee held a public hearing (no public comments) and approved resolutions 25-03, 25-04 and 25-08 to establish streetlight districts for Whispering Pines Sections 4B and 5B and Jackson Heights Phase 2. The committee also approved a lighting services agreement with Georgia Power for corridor lighting on Horizon South Parkway; staff reported a $49,800 upfront installation cost (to be reimbursed by TIA) and an annual energy cost of $15,887.64 to be paid from TABT.

- Project delivery agreement and resolution with GDOT (resolution 25-12) for Tier 2 Group 6 roadway resurfacing, authorizing the county to deliver the listed resurfacing projects on GDOT’s behalf.

- Rejection of bid for Crawford Creek generator: staff recommended rejecting the lone bid for the Crawford Creek generator (bid of $466,000) because it exceeded the $250,000 budget; staff plans to rebid or scope the work to meet budget.

Discussion highlights and staff directions

Committee members pressed on the scope and budget detail for several items. On Sugar Creek, staff explained the drain field location was misidentified during design, that trees and contaminated soils made relocation necessary and that the septic was undersized for the fire station’s current occupancy count. For the Fort Eisenhower contract, Jacob Center explained the federal funding cadence and said the county will authorize the full project but the base may only fund a portion immediately; the contractor must complete the first roadway within 120 days to allow the base to confirm additional funding.

On stormwater fees, staff presented resolution 25-14 to add course and workshop fees (for certification courses and a rain-barrel workshop) and to impose a doubled land-disturbance permit fee where work begins without a permit; staff emphasized the fee change is intended to recover staff costs, not to generate revenue, and that code enforcement and citations remain options for repeat noncompliance.

Votes at a glance (motions moved on consent unless noted)

- Encroachment agreements (Carillonway; 790 Nuttall St.; 4213 Columbia Rd.) — approved (action: encroachment easement approvals). - Alcohol license: Winston’s Tavern — approved (action: license issuance). - Purchase of replacement truck — approved (action: contract_award; $153,002.17). - Reject Crawford Creek generator bid — approved (action: referral/rejection; bid rejected; staff to rebid). - Independent contractor: Environmental Instrumentation & Calibration (bar-screen repairs) — approved (action: contract_award; $72,930). - Sugar Creek Booster Station change order — approved (action: contract_change_order; $542,031.25). - Streetlight district resolutions 25-03, 25-04, 25-08 — approved (action: resolution). - Lighting services agreement: Georgia Power (Horizon South Parkway) — approved (action: contract_award; $49,800 installation reimbursed by TIA; $15,887.64 annual energy cost). - Peak Pavement Marking — approved (action: contract_award; $72,438.64). - Utilicom (video wall) — approved (action: contract_award; $702,241.18; funded from 2024 PFA bonds). - Cajun Construction (UV lining) — approved (action: contract_award; $283,884; funded from SPLOST 23–28). - Southern Civil Solutions (1 Marshall Place design) — approved (action: contract_award; $18,250). - Bluewater Engineering Services (Mill Branch culvert design) — approved (action: contract_award; $79,400). - Triscapes LLC (Lakeside Park green infrastructure) — approved (action: contract_award; $476,404.70; ~50% reimbursed via EPA 319 grant; 135-day completion). - Beams Contracting (Fort Eisenhower road rehab) — approved (action: contract_award; $3,241,864.42; county to be reimbursed by base plus 8% admin fee). - Southern Asphalt (Wildwood Park resurfacing) — approved (action: contract_award; $737,459.50). - Pond & Company (Clary Cut/Old Union design) — approved (action: contract_award; $689,722; Tier 2 funding). - Acceptance of improvements: Highland Lakes West Section 1 — approved (action: acceptance_of_improvements; plats dated 03/12/2025). - Stormwater compliance fee schedule revisions (resolution 25-14) — approved (action: resolution; adds course/workshop fees and doubles land-disturbance fee where work starts without a permit). - GDOT project delivery agreement (resolution 25-12) — approved (action: resolution; authorizes county to deliver Tier 2 Group 6 resurfacing projects).

What didn’t change: staff recommended rejecting the Crawford Creek generator bid and will seek alternative scoping or rebidding to meet the $250,000 budget.

The committee moved its business to the full board and adjourned at about 9:20 a.m.