A couple of weeks ago I heard about something interesting that was taking place between Fort Eisenhower and the Columbia County government.
Chairman of the Commission of Columbia County, Doug Duncan, being the gracious host as always, invited me to meet with the county managers to learn about the program.
I had the pleasure of meeting with Deputy County Manager Matt Schlachter. We sat in a private meeting area and had a nice one-on-one discussion. Schlachter struck me as being a very open and very capable with his position.
He stipulates that success isn’t about him, but about the staff in its entirety; Schlachter wanted to make it clear that in Columbia County it is a collaborative effort by all the staff and commission working together.
The partnership with Fort Eisenhower was also offered for Augusta-Richmond County to be a part of as well. Somehow Augusta, and I haven’t figured out why as yet, has not become a part of any of it.
However, Columbia County has indeed become a huge benefit to the Fort that also benefits Columbia County.
The fort wanted to outsource several services using an Intergovernmental Service Agreement. Services such as buildings, grounds, landscaping, custodial, trash pick up service and roadway, parking lot and curb maintenance plus new paving work all fell under scrutiny.
It was determined that the fort could cover most of these services as cost effective as the out sources could, but the services that required concrete or asphalt could be handled effectively through Columbia County’s Procurement Department.
What this means is that all of the work request and services provided would come through the procurement department’s bid process. Columbia County would handle all of the process from the beginning of the work and the fort would supervise and control the work.
Columbia County receives payment for their services at a rate of 8 % of the contract cost.
Simple example: When the fort wants and needs a new road built, they turn the process over to Columbia County to procure and a bid would then go out. From the bids, a vender is chosen and Columbia County completes all contractual agreements and turns the project back over to the fort.
Fort Eisenhower takes over from there. If the contract to the vender is, say, $500,000, Columbia County receives $40,000 for their services.
The contractor, meanwhile, would receive the full amount of the bid.
If there is an emergency order, then not only does the county receive the 8%, but also receives pay for the extra hours used to perform the service.
This is an excellent plus for the whole of the Columbia County government and it is cost effective for Fort Eisenhower.
I also learned that not all of the residents of Columbia County pays a storm water fee.
For instance, Appling and Harlem is non-billed; yet, they are able to keep the highways, roadways, streets and retention ponds maintained.
Recently, I accompanied a buddy who wanted to go fishing at a retention lake in his Evans neighborhood and found what is essentially a water run-off area behind Mullins Crossing to be maintained as if it is a public park.
The county also uses consultants sparingly.
There is little need for a consultant over the county line as the Columbia County tends to employ experts rather than the relative of a friend of a commissioner.
I asked how did they manage to resurface multiple roadways and reconstruct the intersections in such a seemingly short period of time? They explained that they planned and designed everything in detail well in advance.
The county leverages federal dollars to get the projects started and then uses funds from TIA and taxes to complete the tasks.
We also talked about the new Performing Arts Center and parking deck. We have been to a performance there and it is truly a beautiful building. My lady and I were impressed.
To find out that to park in the parking deck is at no charge, but first come first serve was somewhat of a shock. I asked how did they manage that and Schlachter answered: “The citizens have already paid for it so they can park free.”
The surrounding parking lots are also available at no charge.
And people wonder why Columbia County is growing while Richmond County declines.
The elections in Augusta are heating up and the gloves are coming off. Will some sitting officials be unseated? In all probability, yes.
I’m not really going to get into the individual races this week; I will explore those more in depth in my column to be published just before the election. I will remind everyone that votes that in order to have a vote for district attorney or sheriff, you have to choose a Democratic ballot.
Now, I know people in each party can be die-hard to the point that it sometimes it feels they are causing themselves more harm than good to stray across party lines; however, in this case it is necessary. So, Republicans, swallow hard, keep a smile or scowl, which ever you prefer, on your face and go DEM.
On Nov. 5 you go back to being Republican. How really? Is that so hard?
The vote to give Augusta’s mayor a vote is very important to pass.
Each side will give reasons as to why you should vote Yes or No, all depending if you are happy with the status quo or if you want to move Augusta forward. Being a former commissioner, I know well the reasons the mayor should have a full vote and not just a tie breaker vote.
For all of the candidates running for office, it’s great, it’s wonderful and it’s fantastic when you have the well known upper crust of Augusta’s society and business world endorse you; but be ever mindful that you don’t forget or ignore the other people whose names do not make the headlines.
The people of all races, gender and religions that get up every day and go out the door to work are just as important.
They are the people that go to work when they are sick, when they have issues at home to handle; working just to scrape by and pay that mortgage, pay the power bill that increases 3% every year, as does the water bill and struggle to feed their family because they make too much to get government assistance, but not enough to eat well.
Politicians love to talk about helping the homeless, helping the people on the street with mental illness and providing healthcare; that’s all well and good, but what about the hard workers? The law abiding citizens that aren’t semi-functional drunks or drug addicts? The ones busting their knuckles trying to stay in their homes and keep their kids fed. Why not talk about them? How is their mental health affected by worrying on how to keep bills paid and a roof over their head?
The talk now is to raise the minimum wage to a “livable wage.”
First of all, minimum wage was never designed for a person to raise a family on. It was made to be a supplemental income or a person’s entry into the workforce; it is the bottom rung of the capitalist ladder, but one has to continue to put in the effort and climb that ladder to earn a livable wage.
How is this wage adjustment working out in California? Restaurants are closing, people are losing jobs and a McDonald’s Big Mac combo is $25.00. People can’t survive when their income doesn’t keep up with soaring prices due to some politicians attempts to provide “equity” to the undeserving.
When people do earn and get a raise, then everything goes up in price carrying on the vicious cycle.
Affordable housing is what a person can afford to pay and we need to help the people that have already bought a house stay in it.
These are the people you should be most interested in helping if you run for office.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
