Meetings to begin for sales tax projects

Public meetings to discuss projects for Columbia County's next 1-cent sales tax start Thursday.

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The Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center in the Columbia County Library will serve as the spot for the first of three meetings concerning the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax referendum county officials hope to bring to voters in November.

The sales tax, for money collected from 2011 to 2015, will fund capital improvement projects.

The meetings allow the public to contribute ideas for the next SPLOST.

Also, updates will be offered on current sales tax projects.

SPLOST projects proposed in April by county officials include the widening of Gibbs and Owens roads, 15 miles of dirt road paving, additions to Blanchard Woods Park, Wildwood Park improvements, construction of the Evans Town Center Park, Savannah Rapids Pavilion renovations, additions to Reed Creek park, a clubhouse for the Bartram Trail Golf Course, additions to the Evans justice center.

Other projects proposed are a Georgia State Patrol post on Chamblin Road, an administration building and renovations for the sheriff's office, additions to the Columbia County Detention Center, a driver's training course, a new animal control facility, and replacing vehicles and equipment for firefighters.

There also are expectations that many will propose the construction of an indoor swimming pool with sales tax funds.

Future public SPLOST meetings will be held July 10 in the auditorium of the Evans Government Complex and July 17 at the Appling Courthouse.

All the meetings will be held at 6 p.m.