The Columbia County Community and Emergency Services Committee approved moving forward with restructuring the Fleet Services Department during the meeting on Tuesday Nov. 26.
Leanne Reece, Internal Services division director, told the committee members that the Fleet Services manager recently resigned, so the county has been looking at the position. Currently, the Fleet Services manager oversees the entire operations, and under that position, two other managers that oversee two different departments.
“In trying to determine which of these should be the ultimate leader, it was nearly impossible. Both are very strong leaders, strong managers that bring different skills and different talents to the table,” Reece said. “So, we are proposing we restructure this much like Stormwater is currently structured with two managers that oversee two distinct pieces of it. They will maintain their same title, one is the operations manager, one is the shop manager.”
This restructuring would eliminate the single Fleet Services manager position and save the county almost $81,000 a year.
The CES Committee also approved moving forward with an intergovernmental agreement with Harlem High School for the donation of field equipment. Donations to the Senior Center and Animal Services were also approved.
The contract with Wellstar Medical Group for medical direction was also approved to move forward.
Public Works and Engineering Services Committee
The Public Works and Engineering Services Committee approved moving forward with an agreement with Mid State Construction and Striping, Inc. for the fiscal year 24/25 safety striping project A for $81,248.40. Kyle Titus, engineering services director, told the committee the roads that will be worked on include portions of Bluegrass Trail, Old Augusta Highway, Lone Oak Lane, Cemetery Rod, Blanchard Woods Drive and Evans to Locks Road.
The PWES Committee also approved moving forward with the purchase of In|Time Travel-Time units and In|Sync AI Detection upgrades through Rhythm Engineering for $127,150. Titus told the committee members this would help with the timing of traffic lights, especially during morning and evening rush hour.
“The AI detection is more advanced technology that provides not only the adaptive technology we have now, but also allows for the system to learn and adjust on the fly…and make the appropriate corrections,” Titus said. “We believe that by implementation these systems, primarily on the Washington Road corridor, also there’s two large intersection. One at Columbia and Belair roads and Riverwatch and Baston, in addition to the Washington Road corridor. This is going to greatly improve travel time.”
All of these items will go on the consent agenda for the full Columbia County Board of Commissioners. The next Board of Commissioners meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at the Evans Government Center Complex.
