Legislators will speak on county issues

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is offering chamber members and county residents the chance to hear and be heard by the area's legislative delegation at the 2005 Pre-Legislative Breakfast.

The breakfast is slated for 7:15 Tuesday at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Columbia County's full legislative delegation is scheduled to attend, including state Sen. Jim Whitehead, R-Evans, and state Reps. Barry Fleming, R-Harlem, and Ben Harbin, R-Evans. State Rep. Sue Burmeister, R-Augusta, will attend via video-conference.

Each legislator will speak about issues facing the state and county, including road construction, the Clarks Hill Partnership, county fire service consolidation, city-county incorporation/consolidation and budget priorities, said the chamber's executive director, Gordon Renshaw.

Chris Noah, the forum moderator, and the audience will participate in a question-answer session with the legislators.

"This is something we believe is so key for our members, for them to plug into our leadership and ensure that the business voice is both heard and understood, and then also that they (members) have a full understanding of our legislative delegation and what their priorities are," Renshaw said.

Harbin heads the state Appropriations Committee. Fleming is the house majority whip and Whitehead heads the state senate's Transportation Committee.

Renshaw said he expects more than 200 chamber members to attend. Admission for chamber members is free; the meeting also is open to the public for a $10 admission fee.

The event was born from the chamber's government affairs committee, Renshaw said. Event sponsors are BellSouth and TGI Friday's.

County Commission Chairman Ron Cross, School Board Chairwoman Regina Buccafusco and the mayors of Grovetown and Harlem also are expected to attend.

"I have confirmed that both mayors are going to be on hand, so we will have microphones for the audience and we will allow the mayors to go ahead and be able to say a few words as well," Renshaw. "We certainly want to hear from the county on (consolidation). That is one that (the mayors and delegation) are very concerned about and certainly that becomes a concern of the business community and the chamber as well."

Anyone wishing to attend should contact Robyn Rhodes at 651-0018 or rrhodes@ columbiacountychamber.com.