Panel approves road funds for Augusta Tech campus

The dream of an Augusta Technical College campus in Columbia County came closer to reality last week.

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The county commission approved during a Tuesday meeting a $590,000 bid from Evans-based Garnto and Gearig Brothers to build an entrance road for the planned Augusta Tech campus off Horizon South Parkway near Grovetown.

The commission received $250,000 from the Technical College System of Georgia to help pay for construction.

"This is one of those things that is a win-win," commission Chairman Ron Cross said. "Everyone is happy."

State funding already is in place to build the 22,000-square-foot school and construction bids currently are being advertised, said county Construction and Maintenance Director Scott Herring.

Gov. Sonny Perdue released $4.6 million in state money in January 2005 to build the Augusta Tech campus. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September 2007, but building plans were delayed when wetlands at the site halted the construction of an access road.

Officials have since received clearance to build the road.

In other road construction news, the commission accepted a $2.5 million bid from Reeves Construction to widen North Belair Road between Washington and Evans to Locks roads to five lanes, Herring said.

Herring was attending one of his final meetings as a Columbia County official. He resigned after accepting a position as engineering services director of Nassau County, Fla., and will serve his final day as a county department head on July 24.

The commission selected county engineer Matt Schlachter to serve as the interim director of Construction and Maintenance until a permanent replacement is found.

Also at the meeting, the commission failed to enter into an agreement with the Merchant's Association of Columbia County concerning the construction of a multi-purpose facility at the fairgrounds on Columbia Road.