The Columbia County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with R.W. Allen Construction for the construction of the Columbia County Performing Arts Center (PAC) Support Facility.
The contract was for $9,684,000 was the lowest of eight bids received, said Deputy County Manager Matt Schlachter during the meeting Tuesday evening. The bids came from all over Georgia with the highest being $10,970,000.
The support facility will have several functions, including offering storage for lighting and sound equipment belonging to the PAC that needs to be moved when shows come in, Schlachter said.
“When Broadway shows come in, they bring a lot of their own equipment and we have to move ours out,” Schlachter said. “We don’t have anywhere to put it. We’ll have somewhere to put it now. It also has a commercial kitchen in it. We have a lot of events inside the PAC where we have to bring catering in. So now they’ll be able to cook the food on-site and bring it in. They’ll also have some venue space in there for pre-functions, as well as a rental venue for functions that don’t involve the PAC.”
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The support facility is a SPLOST project approved by voters in the 2023-2028 SPLOST and is paid for with sales tax dollars, Schlachter said.
“The Public Facilities Authority bonded the money that was approved by the voters,” Schlachter said. “So, we’ve got that money in hand, we’re going to use that to build it. Once it’s built, it’ll be a self-funded venue…so the money they use will be the money they own.”
The facility will be located on the greenspace next to the PAC.
The vote was 3-0-1 due to District 1 Commissioner Connie Melear abstaining due to her working at R.W. Allen Construction.
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Other approved items
In a 3-1 vote, with Melear voting against, the board approved a change of conditions for 106 Davis Road Suite E. Schlachter told commissioners that the original condition was placed on only allowing massage in Suite D. But an applicant wants to open in Suite E and it was being proposed to remove the condition and all massage to be in any of the buildings.
“The one I voted against, generally we when we approve it, it’s a conditional use for one unit and this was to make the entire strip center eligible for it and I didn’t think that was an appropriate use,” Melear said. “I think it should be each individual until should have its own designation and I didn’t think the whole strip should be designated that.”
With a 3-0-1 vote, with District 4 Commissioner Alison Couch abstaining due to the applicant being her client, the board approved a conditional use for massage at 4414 Hereford Farm Road.
A conditional license, encroachment and maintenance agreement with Pinnacle Bank for landscape within the right of way at Evans Towne Center Boulevard. The agreement was approved 3-0-1 with Melear abstaining due to her being on the board of directors for Pinnacle Bank.
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Comment from Chairman Duncan
At the end of the meeting, County Chairman Doug Duncan, who is in his 11th year on the commission, gave a statement about the proposed data center in Columbia County.
“Every commissioner that I’ve had the privilege to serve with has been committed to making Columbia County the best place to live in America. We’re certainly not perfect, but I know that we have simple goals. And the first goal is safe streets. I believe there is no quality of life without low or no crime and invest anyway we can in the sheriff’s department to give them the assets they need. The second is infrastructure. I wish I could tell you how much we’re spending on roads, $500 million, $600 million. Big, big money to widen and expand. I wish we could do it faster, it’s a very slow process. We’ve invested in infrastructure. Then lastly, a goal is to reduce the homestead taxes, what homeowners pay. Over the years we’ve reduced the millage rate…significantly. But we haven’t been able to outrun the increase in property values. When it comes to the pending technical part in Columbia County, our vision is to generate enough revenue so that we can offer a homestead exemption that can eventually eliminate property taxes folks pay and county taxes. It’s definitely a work in progress. I just want to be crystal clear. We will not compromise, risk or gamble the water table or the electric grid to pull this (data center) project off.my understanding is there’s stuff (on social media)…but we won’t compromise those in any shape form or fashion to achieve this vision. Our intent is we will achieve it, but we won’t compromise those, and I just wanted to make that public statement. You have our commitment as we work this whole project through, we’re going to protect Columbia County.”
Candidate announces intention to run for District 2 seat
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Howard Johnson announced his plans to run for the District 2 commission seat in the Nov. 4 special election. Johnson said he wanted to run because of his concerns about the library and library guidelines.
“I’m concerned with the efforts by our current elected officials to implement non-experts in leadership positions at the library,” Johnson said. “I would like to see folks with experience working in libraries with education, a Master of Library Science, those are the people I believe should be serving as advisors and leaders at the library. I’m also opposed to censorship efforts. I believe that growth happens outside of our comfort zone. So yes, some of the topics that are being challenged can be a little uncomfortable to speak about, but it’s important that we allow access to these ideas in order to be able to grow, both as people and just to be exposed to differing ideas to further strength our own beliefs.”
As for why he is passionate about the library, Johnson said his grandmother was an elementary reading teacher, so books have been a part of his life since he was young.
“The library has always been my happy place,” Johnson said. “I mentioned at the meeting that that sense of community helps me maintain my sobriety. I go to the Sassy Stitchers Club; it’s a knitting and crochet group that meets weekly at the library. So having folks that I meet with socially regularly, it’s an important pillar in what I’m doing in improving as a person and libraries serve as a community space where people can meet and that’s important for the health of the community, the health of the citizens.”
Johnson said he also referee’s youth soccer during the Parks and Rec season.
“You’ll see me out there three or four nights a week ensuring that the children of Columbia County are given a fair and safe playing environment,” Johnson said. “Again, I believe social interaction is so important, providing these public spaces for kids to learn the social norms as they interact with their peers, adults in a fun environtmne.t I think building those connections is what is super important.”
