The Columbia County Development and Planning Services Committee approved a contract for construction of the new Building A at the Evans Government Center complex on Ronald Reagan Drive during the meeting on Tuesday, July 9.
Steven Prather, facilities and construction manager, said the bid from McKnight Construction Company is for $29,373,806 and work will take approximately 22 months total, with demolition and site work taking six months and the new construction taking 16 months.
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The new Building A will be approximately 81,000 square feet and will house several departments, including engineering, development and planning, HR, county administration and more. It will also house the new commission chambers and auditorium, traffic control center and 311.
The DPS Committee also approved moving forward with a contract for $500,000 with Craig, Gaulden and Davis, Inc. for the Performing Arts Center support facility. Prather said the facility will include a multi-use space, storage, a kitchen and more. The design is expected to be finished by summer 2025. This item was moved to the consent agenda.
A resolution amending the fee schedule for building standards was moved to the debate agenda. Changes to the fee schedule had to be made following House Bill 461, said Paul Scarbary, development services director.
During the Columbia County Management and Internal Services Committee meeting, the committee approved moving the appointment of Kerry Bridges to the Development Authority of Columbia County, the appointment of Cheney Eldridge and Rick Evans to the Greater Augusta Joint Development Authority and reappointment of Col. Gwendolyn Fryer and Sheila Wahman to the Department of Family and Children Services Board to the consent agenda for the full board of commissioners.
Service agreements with Izzy’s Foundation for $7,000 and ViaCognitive Health for $6,500 were also approved to move forward to the consent agenda.
The DPS and MIS committees will meet next on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 8:30 a.m. in the auditorium at the Evans Government Center complex.
