The Columbia County Board of Commissioners have a lot of items to discuss during the June 6 meeting.
These items include the contract between the county and Gold Cross EMS, the water and sewer rates and a resolution halting the issuance of new tattoo applications.
For the Gold Cross contract, the Community and Emergency Services Committee recently discussed the two contract options and the $1,500 penalty Gold Cross receives if there is not a paramedic on the ambulance, along with whether or not the quick response vehicles are needed and if there are enough paramedics to place on vehicles.
“Staff recommends Option 2 with the requirement that an additional performance adjustment of $1,500 be assessed in each instance a unit is without a paramedic for any length of time. All other penalties in the current contract will remain in effect,” according to the agenda document.
Several fee schedules, including the water and utility rates and building standards, will also be discussed.
For the water and utility rates, commissioners are considering a slight increase to the rates over the next three years. According to the agenda document, the county has made its current water and sewer rates since 2016 and its current tap fees since 2017. However, due to the rising costs of materials and other items, an increase in the rates is being considered.
“We have experienced increases in the cost of supplies, power, labor, and construction and this rate increase will allow us to maintain our operations at a high level,” according to the agenda document. “We currently have the lowest water and sewer rates of our benchmark counties as shown in the attachments. Even with the proposed rate increase, we will still maintain the lowest rates of our benchmark counties. In order to prepare for the up-coming plant expansions and the Master Plan project recommendations, the rate increase is a necessary first step to funding these projects.”
Commissioners will discuss resolution 23-24 that would halt the issuance of new tattoo applications for 120 days or until the board adopts text amendments related to zoning. According to the agenda document, to protect the welfare and safety of Columbia County citizens, the board has determined a recent application for a new tattoo parlor related to commercial zoned property needs to be carefully considered.
“The board has expressed concern with the potential for a number of additional tattoo parlor applications on commercial zoned properties within the county and desires an opportunity to debate the regulations related to the same uses,” the agenda document states. “The board desires to establish and adopt a hold on new tattoo parlor applications on commercial properties within the county in order to give the Board the opportunity to consider the proposed text amendment to Chapter 90, Zoning in Columbia County.”
The Columbia County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday, June 6 at 6 p.m. in the Evans Government Center auditorium.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com
