The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will discuss appointments, fee schedules and the budget during its meeting on Tuesday, June 20.
Commissioners will consider the second reading of amendments to fee schedules for the building standards, water utility, the clay courts fee schedule at Columbia County Racquet Center and the land development fees in the Stormwater Compliance Department.
The building standards schedule residential fee is a flat rate depending on the type of work. There are also other types of fees, including re-inspection, permit reactivation, plan revisions, non-compliance, appeals board hearing and more.
For the water utility fee schedule, the board of commissioners approved the first reading of amending the schedule. But instead of a slight increase over the next three years, Commissioner Gary Richardson made the motion to go with the 2024 fees starting July 1, 2023. That means the residential base charge would be $12.31 with the rate per 1,000 gallons starting at $2.42 per 1,000 gallons for less than 10,000 gallons.
The county has not increased the water consumption rates since 2016 and has not adjusted the tap fees since 2017. However, since that time, there has been an increase in the cost of chemicals, construction, equipment and labor. The increase is also needed to keep money in the fund balance to be able to help pay for projects needed to accommodate the growth in the county, said Assistant County Manager Matt Schlachter during a previous meeting.
With the opening of the Columbia County Racquet Center, the fees for the clay tennis courts are being discussed. The fees are $350 per year for Columbia County residents, $275 for Columbia County residents who are 55 and older and $500 per year for non-Columbia County residents.
Commissioners also approved amending the fee schedule for the land development fees in the Stormwater Compliance Department. Schlachter said some of the increases were $150 to $250 for minor land disturbances and a major land disturbance for one to five acres went from $250 + 25 per acre to $300 an acre, with the other fees increasing similarly.
Appointment to the Hospital Authority of Columbia County Board of Directors are up for approval by the commissioners with resolution 23-30. In February, the commissioners passed a resolution to activate the Hospital Authority.
The members of the Board of Directors will be Dewey Galeas (countywide), Dr. Rick Richards, (district 1), James Allen, III (district 2), Walter Massingale (district 3) and Ronnie Kurtz (district 4). For Galeas, Richards and Kurtz the terms will be through Dec. 31, 2026, and for Allen and Massingale the terms will be through Dec. 31, 2024. After the initial terms have expired, all appointees will serve four-year terms.
Commissioners are expected to approve the appointment of Ann Cushman as the chairperson of the Columbia County Board of Elections. Cushman is the current chairperson, and her seat is up for reappointment. Due to House Bill 730, commissioners must appoint a person as the chair.
The Columbia County Board of Elections is made up of three members, two of whom are appointed by the political parties who received the most and second most votes in Columbia County in the previous general election for president. The third spot, the chairman, is appointed by the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. The terms for the other two spots are not up for re-appointment until 2025.
Commissioners will approve the fiscal year 2023-24 budget. The county is proposing a balanced budget and a rollback of the millage rate.
“When initial budget requests were received, revenues exceeded expenditures (with no contingency fund) within the General Fund by $610,349,” according to the agenda document. Based on further analysis and discussions with County staff and elected officials, projected revenues within the General Fund were increased by $6,521,112 and projected expenditures were increased by $576,614, to result in a balanced General Fund budget of $95,175,964, including a contingency fund of $2,254,847 and a transfer to the TAVT Fund of $4,300,000. A summary of these changes is attached. All other funds are balanced as well. Therefore, the fiscal year 2023/2024 proposed budget for Columbia County, GA is presented tonight for adoption by the BOC.”
Commissioners will approve a proclamation recognizing the Harlem High School baseball team as the 2023 GHSA 3A State Champions.
“The Harlem High School Baseball Team played an outstanding season with a final record of 36-1, outscored their opponents 309-54, scored the most wins in a season by a CSRA team, and now hold the most state titles of any GHSA team in the area,” according to the proclamation.
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6 p.m. in the Evans Government Center auditorium. The agenda can be found on the county website.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
