New leaders sworn in

The Columbia County Commission Tuesday approved a $1.6 million bid from RCN Construction to build a Georgia State Patrol post on Chamblin Road.

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County officials initially budgeted the project at $2 million. They intend to pay for the new post using 1-cent sales tax funds.

The State Patrol facility, which will replace a post currently located in Thomson, might be ready late this year or early next year.

Commissioners also approved a $197,000 bid from Lamar Construction to expand the playground at the Columbia County Library, add a picnic shelter and build a zero-depth fountain.

More than $80,000 for construction of that project came from private donations with the rest coming from sales tax discretionary funds.

The library construction project should be complete by March 20.

Commissioners also gave tentative approval to a new ordinance, forcing developers to advertise major changes to planned unit developments.

The advertisements, posted in the area of the development and in The Columbia County News-Times , would inform area residents of plans to change buffer widths, the size of passive recreation spaces, types of housing, locations of roads, and density, such as adding apartments.

Any proposed changes will be discussed in a public hearing conducted by the county Planning Commission.

Prior to the Tuesday meeting, a swearing-in ceremony was held for new commissioners Trey Allen and Charles Allen. They replaced longtime former commissioners Tom Mercer and Diane Ford, respectively. Mercer and Ford chose not to run for re-election.

Constitutional officers sworn in Tuesday included Tax Commissioner Kay Allen, Coroner Vernon Collins, Clerk of Court Cindy Mason and Probate Court Judge Pat Hardaway. All were incumbents who ran unopposed.

During the meeting, John Samuels, of the county procurement department, was recognized as Employee of the Year for 2008 and Animal Care and Control was recognized as the Team of the Year.