Board: Roadside memorials can last only a year

Columbia County Commission on Tuesday reinforced a recent committee decision to uphold an ordinance limiting roadside memorials on county roads to one year.

//

"Apparently, there was a little bit of confusion by the people who attended the (county's Public Works Services Committee on July 28) on whether they had voted ... to change it or not to change it," Commissioner Trey Allen said Wednesday.

The county ordinance, which was adopted in March 2004, requires that roadside memorials on county-owned roads be removed after one year. A symbol, however, can be painted on the road at the site, according to the ordinance.

At the July committee meeting, family members of Christian Giles, who was hit by a sport-utility vehicle and killed while walking with her husband and dogs on Mullikin Road more than a year ago, asked officials to change the ordinance so her memorial could remain at the crash site.

"We as a governing body ... are in agreement that the policy, as it stands, is the proper policy, and we would not be making any changes," Allen said. "We're going to keep it at one year, which is what I think is best."

Also at Tuesday's meeting, the commission accepted a proposal for design and engineering work on Washington Road in Evans that would widen the road for a stretch of nearly three miles.

The project would create a five-lane section on Washington Road from Gibbs Road to William Few Parkway.

The design services, which will be conducted by HNTB, will cost about $1.5 million, provided by the county's special purpose local option sales tax.

In order to proceed with the project, the commission approved a memorandum of understanding with the state Department of Transportation.

In other business, the commission delayed plans that might add a lodge and conference center at Wildwood Park.

A comprehensive feasibility study for the facility, which was estimated to cost about $341,000, was put on hold until private investment opportunities improve because the county does not have the money.

The commission also approved a major revision to a 188-acre planned unit development off Baker Place Road, next to the new Grovetown High School.

The changes eliminated apartments, senior housing units and offices, while adding 506 single-family lots and 115 townhomes in the development. The board accepted the use of vinyl siding on the homes.

More than 61 acres will be removed from the property and deeded to the county's school system to serve as the site for a future elementary school.