Bureau will move forward on signs despite tepid response

A dismal number of responses from Columbia County residents on a survey for new "welcome" signs likely will be construed as public approval.

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The online survey conducted by the county Convention and Visitors Bureau that ended recently generated only nine mostly favorable responses to the welcome signs on display on Flowing Wells and Stevens Creek roads.

"Disappointing? Yes," CVB Director Beda Johnson said of the response, which included at least one CVB sign committee member.

The results showed that six people who took the survey liked the overall appearance of the sign, two found it acceptable and one disliked it.

Johnson suspects that the committee will attribute the lack of response as tacit acceptance.

"The (sign) committee is delighted with their choice, or they wouldn't have put it out there," she said. "The fact that they didn't get any responses is just going to validate their choice."

The committee will meet at 3 p.m. Oct. 20 in the general conference room of Building A in the Evans Government Center on Ronald Reagan Drive to discuss the survey.

Members likely will vote to erect more signs of the same design along additional gateway entrances into the county, Johnson said.

Adding signs will require raising funds to purchase more and gaining approval from state Department of Transportation officials to place signs on state-owned roads in the county.

"This is not over by a long shot, but what is over is that this is what the committee wants to go with," Johnson said.

Though the survey has concluded, those wishing to comment on the signs can do so at the Oct. 20 meeting, Johnson said.

Anyone wishing to speak should contact her at (706) 312-1361 or bjohnson@columbiacountyga.gov.