County manager explains how Columbia County government is structured and how residents can engage

Scott Johnson, Columbia County's county manager, described the county's commission-manager form of government and urged residents to use county systems such as 311 and HyperReach for service issues.

Johnson opened with what he called "government 1 0 1," saying Columbia County has five commissioners—four elected by district and a countywide chair—and that the board sets policy, budgets and millage rates. "We are what's called a commission manager form of government," he said, adding that it takes three votes of the commission to take official action.

The county manager is a full-time executive hired by and reporting to the entire Board of Commissioners. Johnson said he has served as county manager since 2011 and described his role as carrying out board policy and managing county staff. "I report to the entire board," he said.

Johnson emphasized the distinction between elected, part-time commissioners and the county manager's day-to-day responsibilities. Commissioners set the vision, amend and adopt the budget, and provide oversight; the manager and staff implement those decisions. He also explained that many commissioners maintain other full-time jobs and rely on county staff to resolve constituent service requests.

The county manager reviewed the autonomy of constitutional officers elected under Georgia law, naming the sheriff, probate judge, tax commissioner and clerk of court as officers accountable to voters and operating independently of the commission. He said the commission does set the budget for those offices, but it does not direct their day-to-day operations.

Johnson outlined the difference between external, board-appointed entities (Board of Elections, Board of Tax Assessors, Development Authority, Convention & Visitors Bureau) and internal advisory boards such as the planning commission and library board. He named Nancy Gay as the executive director who works with the Board of Elections, Morgan Auney as the county's chief appraiser, Chaney Eldridge as the Development Authority executive director, and Shelley Blackburn as the Convention & Visitors Bureau executive director, and noted those entities report to their appointed boards.

On incorporation and municipal services, Johnson said Columbia County contains two incorporated cities, Harlem and Grovetown, and that roughly 85% of the county is unincorporated. Cities provide "enhanced services" such as local police or fire that can respond more quickly inside city boundaries; county residents outside cities rely on county-provided constitutional services.

Why it matters: understanding which elected official or office to contact helps residents get faster service and clarifies which bodies set policy, tax rates and zoning. Johnson encouraged citizens to use official channels for service requests and to attend planning commission and board meetings when matters like rezonings are under consideration.

Next steps: Johnson said future episodes will address more controversial items in greater depth.