In the only debate agenda item of the evening, the Columbia County Commission sealed the Planning Commission’s approval of a zoning variance to allow property located at 614 Whimbrel Court in Evans to access a nearby driveway.
The two approvals went against the recommendation by county staff to deny access.
According to the recommendation that accompanied the commission agenda, the site is steeply slopped from Whimbrel Court. The staff recommended disapproval because of the continuity of the zoning and that the home was sold knowing the topography.
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In consent agenda business, the commission approved the purchase of a Ford Explorer for the Magistrate’s Court from Gerald Jones Ford. Purchase price was $33,439, which came in $42.86 under budget. Members also approved the purchase of a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse as a replacement vehicle for on that has been declared a total loss. They purchased the Chevy from Alan Jay Fleet Sales for $26,323.
The commission also accepted $1,275 in donations to cover the costs of spaying and neutering shelter animals and signed off on several entertainment matters, including the sublease of Wildwood Park property to Georgia Glamping Co. and the leasing of the Columbia County Exhibition Center to the American Cornhole Organization for their 2021 South Atlantic tournament.
The Commission also accepted a $1,000 grant from the Evans Walmart to the county’s Fire Services Division to be used to purchase fire prevention supplies, including materials for distribution to school pupils.Â
The commission honored the Stormwater Compliance Department as 2020 Team of Fourth Quarter and employee Wheeler Cowart as the December 2020 employee of the month.
Cowart is the erosion, sanitation, pollution control plan reviewer at Stormwater Compliance department. He was nominated for his expertise and his hard work with the county. Cowart was further recognized, along with his coworkers, for their critical role in persevering the environmental sensitive areas of Columbia County.
Peter Mahoney was also honored for his Boy Scout Community Leadership Project. Mahoney worked with the county to replace or reinstall mile distance poles along the Evans to Lock multi-use trail. Mahoney led a team of Scouts to install new mile post every half mile from Savannah Rapids Pavilion to North Belair Road.
Haley Knight is a contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at haley.knight@TheAugustaPRESS.com
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