The Public Works and Engineering Services Committee of Columbia County on Nov. 25 approved a series of contracts, grant applications and change orders and moved to reject bids on the Pollard House renovation so the project can be redesigned and rebid.

In a meeting led by the committee chair (identified in the transcript as Speaker 2), staff presented a Georgia Department of Human Services grant for senior transit and recommended board signature on the contract. A presenter (Speaker 5) said the grant is reimbursed in fiscal 2026 at “$18 per bridal,” language taken verbatim from the transcript; the transcript does not clarify the meaning of that phrase. The committee added donations for animal services and approved a service agreement with the Columbia County Library System that the library board had already approved.

The committee rejected bids on the Pollard House renovation after staff reported market-driven cost increases. Speaker 7 told members the project will be value-engineered and that redesign and rebid would likely take three to four months. “We are rejecting bids and going back to the… project, value engineer this project, so we need to knock out quite a bit of money on this,” Speaker 7 said.

Members approved a $70,965 independent contractor agreement with Thompson Roofing to retrofit the Columbia County CARES Building roof following wind damage from Hurricane Helene. Speaker 7 said the retrofit is similar to recent work on other county procurement buildings and recommended approval.

The committee also authorized work on several infrastructure and procurement items:
- A $64,999.58 contract with Dukes Root Control for inflow and infiltration studies in the Jones Creek area to identify sources of stormwater that overwhelm pump stations (Speaker 8).
- An emergency purchase of six valves to keep a waterline cleaning project on schedule; the transcript lists a total cost of $203,000 and $750 (presented as “203,000, $750”); Speaker 8 said the valves will be used on other contracts as needed.
- A resolution (Resolution 25-38) to create no-parking zones on Grimaud Boulevard where trucks were creating safety and infrastructure damage; staff said the sheriff’s office would be authorized to enforce the restriction.
- Change Order No. 3 for Blair Construction on the Miramar Drive storm sewer extension for $119,339.18 to cover additional driveway replacements, fencing and extra pipe runs, closing out the project at roughly 6% over budget.
- Authorization to apply for the 2026 Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG). Staff reported a formula allocation of $2,143,819.46 (before the 10% match) plus LMIG/LRA savings of $763,320.73 for a combined project budget request of $3,121,522.14 and asked the chairman to sign required documents.
- Procurement adjustments for the Gateway signage project: staff asked the board to rescind an earlier contract with United Signs after procurement found issues with the company’s bid bond; the transcript lists the original amount as $275,872.32 and the next-lowest bidder, TriScapes LLC, at $345,831.77 with 120 calendar days to complete work.
- A $37,222 contract with Anderson Environmental Inc. for abatement and demolition of three homes related to the Herford Farm Road widening project; the contract must follow GDOT approval processes.
- A $49,048.13 contract with UES Professional Solutions for geotechnical services on the Wrightsboro Road widening project; staff said the county will seek 80% reimbursement through the MPO if eligible.
- Change Order No. 2 to Pond and Company for expanded preliminary engineering on the North Fairview Drive realignment for $133,165, covering additional survey, geotechnical work, right-of-way research and design; staff said the TA office and district engineer identified additional funding to support construction.
- Acceptance, contingent on staff approval, of public improvements in Greenpoint Phase 3 (roads, storm, water and sewer systems and right-of-way/easements).

The meeting included staff reports on year-to-date budgets and water/sewer construction projects; Speaker 8 clarified that recent blasting was for an interceptor coming from Harlem and was not related to the sewer force main. The committee noted one executive-session item and adjourned at 08:56.

Votes: The transcript records motions, seconds and confirmations (“moved,” “second,” “so moved”) for consent and debate items but does not provide a roll-call or named vote tallies for individual motions. Where specific dollar amounts or technical terms in the transcript are unclear (for example, the phrase "$18 per bridal" or the valves total stated as "203,000, $750"), the article reports the transcript language and flags the detail as not specified or unclear.

Next steps: staff will pursue the Pollard House redesign and rebid, execute the approved contracts and submit the LMIG application; the committee moved one item to executive session as noted and adjourned.