One sure fire way to create a controversy is to hold a public meeting that the public can’t reasonably attend and then wave it in their face.
The Columbia County Commission has a long history of sneaking off to Athens once a year to hold what is billed as a planning meeting; however, there is always at least one agenda item that perks up the ears of government watchdogs.
In the past, commissioners say such out-of-town meetings take away pressure and allow commissioners to speak freely. This is no kind of excuse for a blatant lack of transparency.
This year, the commission met on Nov. 17 in Athens to receive updates and discuss benign issues such as Hurricane Helene clean-up, dirt roads throughout the county and an update on public safety; squeezed into the agenda was discussion of consolidating the county, which had heads exploding on social media.
Any massive change in county government should not start far outside of the county, as there are quite a few interested players, such as the sheriff and mayors of Harlem and Grovetown, need to be in attendance. Also, the pros and cons of such a move need to be weighed in a public forum.
Imagine the backlash Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson would endure if he moved his charter review committee to Savannah, and that would be backlash from his own supporters.
It is time for Columbia County officials to wake up to the new era and commit to doing the public’s business, all of their business, in the full view of the public.
