Trader Joe'sexpresses interest in Columbia County; manager dispels rumor of employee swimming pool at government center
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Summary
County Manager Scott Johnson confirmed Trader Joe's interest in opening a store in Columbia County but said no deal is finalized; he also denied a circulating rumor that the new government center will include a swimming pool for employees, saying the space will serve parking, ingress/egress and public access.
Trader Joe's has expressed interest in opening a store in Columbia County, County Manager Scott Johnson said, but he cautioned the plan is not final and requires further work with the company.
"The company did confirm that they are interested in a store here, and it is a project that we've been working on," Johnson said, adding that he personally has kept the potential project confidential while working on it for more than five years.
On the county's government center complex in Evans, Johnson addressed social-media rumors that the project includes a swimming pool for employees. He called the claim "absolutely ridiculous," said no such pool is planned and described the work as a demolition of obsolete Building A and reconfiguration to provide additional parking and improved ingress and egress for public access.
Context: Johnson said the government center and justice-center expansions are funded through prior sales-tax projects that were approved by voters. He said the changes are intended to improve public access to county services, not to provide staff amenities.
What happens next: Johnson said county staff will continue to work on site circulation and construction; he encouraged residents to follow official county channels for updates and reiterated that the Trader Joe's interest is not a finalized deal.