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Columbia County commissioners split on officer slate; keep 2026 meeting schedule
Summary
At its Jan. 5, 2026 meeting the Columbia County Board of Commissioners heard a split vote on a nominated slate for county officers and approved keeping regular meetings at 10 a.m. Wednesdays with 1 p.m. work sessions.
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners on Monday considered a slate of officers for 2026 and approved the county's regular meeting schedule for the year.
Committee member (S2) nominated "Kelly Jo Smith for chair, Casey Garrett for vice chair, and Margaret McGruder for budget officer," and used the nomination period to press concerns about the board's ability to work together. "I am concerned about our board and our ability to work together," the committee member said, urging that future discussions lead to a more effective working board.
The presiding officer (Chair, S1) acknowledged the remarks but said the cited problems were not necessarily "issues." The board discussed a desire for greater public involvement in budgeting and noted that a staff committee is working on revenue-related options that could inform future budget discussions.
When the nomination motion was called to a vote, the transcript records two members saying "Aye" and two saying "Nay," producing a split outcome. The board then moved on to set meeting logistics for 2026.
On scheduling, the board voted to retain its current rhythm: regular meetings at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays and work sessions at 1:00 p.m. A commissioner suggested flipping the order during some seasons so department heads would not have to interrupt their days, but the board kept the status quo.
The meeting will continue to invite department heads and staff to present projects and budget requests to the full board, officials said.
The board did not finalize changes to public budgeting practices at the meeting; any procedural changes would require follow-up work and possible future items on the agenda.
