An update on several projects was given during the Columbia County Public Facilities Authority meeting on Tuesday, May 27.
Scott Johnson, Columbia County manager and PFA board member, updated the board on potential changes to the former Euchee Creek Library, the senior center, Pollard House and other projects. He said the county is looking at using some of the PFA money to fast track the former Euchee Creek Library and senior center projects.
“It’s come to our attention, ya’ll know that we use the voting precinct out at Euchee Creek, it’s been very successful out there,” Johnson said. “The problem is that’s a very large building (that) we use one room of once a year. But we can’t put anybody else in there because we would have to displace them (during elections.)”
Johnson said the county is considering building a structure next to the former Euchee Creek Library that would be for the elections. Community Connections, the senior center and transit are currently housed in the senior center building. The plan is to move those programs to the former Euchee Creek Library, but that can’t happen at the moment due to the elections taking place there.
“The idea is now that we may build another standalone building for voting where they could store all their stuff in there,” Johnson said. “It would be secure, easy in and easy out for the voters. It would be in the same location, you would park in the same parking lot, you would just walk into a different building. But by doing that, it would free up the space that’s in the old Euchee Creek Library. Again, I think it’s being extremely underutilized, although very important with the voting. To potentially move Community Connections into that building and then we could remodel the existing senior center because the seniors are just completely out of space. We really need to do that building.”
Johnson stressed the proposed standalone building for voting is not finalized and discussions are still being had about it, no decision have been made.
Pollard House
Board members were shown renderings of the Pollard House, which is being renovated into a community center. The renderings include layouts of how the inside will look, images of the front and grand staircase.
“We tried really hard to capture the original appearance of the house,” Johnson said.
Once complete, the facility can hold different events, including weddings, meetings and more.
Other projects
An update on the construction of the new Building A was given. Johnson said the work is going well and staff is expected to move into it in December of this year.
The Columbia County Performing Arts Support Facility is another rental venue that will be constructed. It has been designed and goes out for bid this year. It will seat around 300 people and be located next to the PAC, Johnson said.
As for Savannah Rapids Pavilion, which has been shut down due to damage from Hurricane Helene, Johnson said the design for that is happening now. The facility must be completely redone due to the damage from the hurricane.
