Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners approve procurement policy changes and set higher accessory-structure height limit in R zones
Summary
After a months-long staff review, the board backed updates to the county's purchasing policy to permit alternative procurement methods and adjusted thresholds for change orders; commissioners also approved a first reading to raise accessory structure height limits in certain residential zones.
The Effingham County Board of Commissioners on April 15 approved an update to the county’s purchasing policy and advanced an amendment to the zoning code that raises accessory-structure height limits in residential districts.
County staff described a six-month review of purchasing rules and recommended front-loading the procurement policy while postponing a full financial policy overhaul. The revised policy clarifies when verbal bids are acceptable, when written bids or requests for proposals are required, and adds modern alternative procurement methods — including progressive design-build and contract manager at risk — for projects where early contractor involvement can reduce cost and speed delivery.
Staff and commissioners discussed thresholds for change orders and how to reduce the administrative burden of bringing many small change orders to the board. The policy now requires cumulative change orders reaching 10% of a project’s total cost be brought to the board for approval; lower, more routine change orders can be managed administratively. Commissioners stressed the county will still follow state law for procurement thresholds and must return to the board if state thresholds change.
Why it matters: staff said the new methods and thresholds are intended to produce higher-quality projects, faster turnaround and more competitive pricing by involving contractors earlier in design on larger projects.
Commissioners also approved a first reading to amend Section 3.3 of the county code governing accessory structures in residential districts. The board set a new maximum eave height of 25 feet in AR-1 and AR-2 zoning categories and 20 feet in R or PDR zones (not to exceed the height of the adjacent principal structure). Commissioners said the 25-foot limit reflects recent development patterns and is intended to reduce the number of variances and administrative appeals.
Quotes: staff emphasized training and outreach to local contractors — including “lunch-and-learn” sessions — to help small local firms meet bonding and insurance requirements and compete for county work. Commissioners said the policy includes a small-business advantage: local bidders within 5% of the low bid can be given the opportunity to match the low bid.
Board action: the purchasing policy amendment and the ordinance change were approved by voice vote; the accessory-structure height change received a majority vote and will return for a second reading in May.
Ending: staff said it will continue refining the policy text with the county attorney, hold contractor outreach sessions, and return any statutory-driven updates to the board if state law changes procurement thresholds.
