The Columbia County Public Facilities Authority received an update on several projects during its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
County Manager and Board Member Scott Johnson told the board about multiple projects, including Building A, the Performing Arts Center Support Complex and the Pollard House.
“Building A is very much underway, they’re actually getting in the footers already,” Johnson said. “They are moving along quite swiftly with that project.”
The PAC support complex is next to the PAC and is in the design phase. Johnson said it was sent to a cost estimator, who came back with a price that was about $3 million over the budget. They are looking at what can be done to bring that cost done, including taking a second look at materials and construction methods.
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As for the Pollard House, the architecture contract was awarded to Cheatham, Fletcher, Scott. Johnson said the county has seen some conceptual plans and hopes to have plans to show the authority at the December meeting. The plan is to have rooms to the side when people walk in and an empty floor space to allow for big events, such as meetings or weddings.
“They’re proposing moving the grand staircase from the middle of the room to the side, which is actually really good,” Johnson said. “It gives us a lot more room in the middle to be able to do what we need to do and the move it over to the side, where if there was a wedding, potentially the bride could have an area upstairs where she could get dressed and then come down the staircase and be ready for pictures.”
Johnson added they are looking at adding an outdoor pavilion and a circular driveway. There will be a wheelchair lift on the outside for ADA compliance. The amenities on the second floor, such as a room for a bride to get ready in, will also be available on the first floor, along with restrooms.
Nothing has been done yet with the senior center remodel and Euchee Creek work, Johnson said. Work has also not yet started on Savannah Rapids Pavilion because they want to wait for the PAC support facility to be finished first. That way events can be moved from one to the other.
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Columbia County committees
The Public Works and Engineering Services Committee approved moving forward with a resolution and project delivery agreement with GDOT for intersection improvements at Stevens Creek Road at Evans to Locks Road.
The PWES Committee also approved a lighting services agreement with Georgia Power for new parking lot lights for the Board of Elections on Range Road and to upgrade existing roadway lighting on Range Road and Columbia Road.
The Community and Emergency Services Committee approved accepting a $2,000 donation from Attic Treasures to Columbia County Animal Services.
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Columbia County Hospital Authority
The Columbia County Hospital Authority met for its quarterly meeting on Thursday. There weren’t any new updates given, but there was talk about visiting the site of the new hospital in one of the upcoming meetings.
