Commission will ask DOT for another I-20 interchange

The Columbia County Commission unanimously voted Tuesday night to ask that the Georgia Department of Transportation examine the need for a new Interstate 20 interchange at Louisville Road.

The request for an interchange-justification report, officials say, would be the first step in getting an on/off ramp at the location.

The current Columbia County I-20 interchanges, at Belair, Lewiston and Appling Harlem roads, offer east/west corridors. Commissioners say another interchange is needed, in part, because of increased traffic.

Also at Tuesday night's meeting, the commission voted unanimously to approve the relocation of the stone pillars and arch at Evans Middle School to the grounds of the new library in Evans, which is set to have a ribbon-cutting event Monday.

The pillars and arch will be placed around a retention pond behind an amphitheater, which is next to the new library.

Also at Tuesday night's meeting, the commission announced that first lady Laura Bush will not be able to make it to the opening of the new library.

The commission received word of her regrets in a letter sent from her director of scheduling.

"Thank you for inviting Mrs. Bush to participate in the dedication of Columbia County's new public library. She is honored that you would think of her,'' the letter states. "Unfortunately, the volume of requests and the complexities of her schedule prevent Mrs. Bush from being able to attend.''

The commission also gave final approval to the hiring of two new county department directors.

Scott Herring, who has been working as a roads and bridges manager in St. Lucie County, Fla., was approved as the new director of the construction and maintenance services division.

Herring replaces Kevin Lear, who left the county recently for a maintenance and construction job with a school board in Greensboro, N.C.

County officials said Herring has more than 17 years of experience in the public sector.

Miguel Valentin, who has been working as a city engineer for Decatur, Ga., was named Columbia County's new county engineer, a position that was recently vacated by Jim Leiper.

Leiper left the county to take a job in Pennsylvania at a civil engineering firm.

Valentin has more than 16 years of experience in the public sector, according to a county document.

"I think we got two jewels here,'' Commissioner Tommy Mercer said.