The Community and Emergency Services Committee discussed several contract renewals during its meeting on Tuesday, April 25.
Community Services Director John Luton presented several contract renewals, including the Senior Center ceramics instructor independent contractor agreement with Kristine Galindo, Outdoor Augusta, LLC agreement for kayak rental services at Riverside Park and purchase of nutrition services agreement with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for the Senior Center, Columbia County cares lease.
Luton said the ceramics class is a popular one at the senior center and even has a waiting list.
“We’re going to try to expand,” Luton said. “Afternoon programs are something we’re trying to look into, we may expand the ceramics into the afternoon.”
With the nutrition services agreement with CCSO for the senior center, Luton said the price for meals has increased from $2.75 to $3 per meal due to rising costs.
“We’ve adjusted in next year’s budget the number to $190,000,” Luton said. “That covers for the increase per meal price, as well as, we were talking about waiting lists. We’ve made arrangements to clear off our waiting lists for this service by adding additional hours to our current drivers and doing some adjustments to our routes.”
Luton said with this program the sheriff’s office makes the meals and staff pick them up every morning and brings them to the senior center. From there the meals are packed into Styrofoam containers with some staying at the senior center and others being delivered to seniors.
The committee approved moving all the renewal requests forward to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners.
During the Public Works and Engineering Services Committee meeting, there was a public hearing on the proposed establishment of a street light district for River Oaks Phase 3. There were no comments during the public hearing. The committee approved moving resolution 23-16 for the street light district to the debate agenda for the Board of Commissioners.
“Staff received a petition from the developer of the following subdivision for the installation of street lights. Staff contacted GA Power and requested a proposal for the upfront installation and annual utility costs associated with the proposed street light district (SLD),” according to the agenda notes.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com
