Public works committee approves multiple contracts and renewals, including storm drain rehab and resurfacing bids

The Columbia County Public Works & Engineering Service Committee approved a broad set of procurement and contract items at its meeting, including stormwater rehabilitation, road resurfacing contracts, equipment purchases and several contract renewals.

Staff presented a low‑bid award to US Infra Rehab Services for UV lining rehabilitation of the One Marshall Place storm drainage system, describing roughly 7,000 linear feet of corrugated metal pipe in poor condition that can be rehabilitated by UV lining; the bid and contracting materials listed the amount and proposed a 120‑day schedule for completion. The committee approved the award as recommended by staff.

On road resurfacing, East Coast Grading was presented as the low bidder for the county’s 2026 LMIG/Elmeigg resurfacing contract; the materials listed the contract amount at about $2,570,442 and noted a required 10% local match to be funded from TA discretionary funds. Staff also presented Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with GDOT reconciling program budgets for the T2 Group 6 resurfacing package and increasing that package by $319,476; the committee approved both items.

Other items approved included: renewal of the Cayenta billing software license for water billing for the July–June fiscal year; a GameChanger AI traffic‑counting module purchase with capital and recurring licensing costs; a Bluewater Engineering agreement to design sewer rerouting on West Milligville Road; contracts for construction engineering inspection services with Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering (ICE); renewal of appraisal/acquisition services with International Appraisal & Research Group; and multiple easement acceptances (Department of the Army easement for Burns Road, utility easements for development and AU Medical Center) and subdivision improvement acceptances.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about staffing versus contracting for inspection services and about project timing. Staff said inspection contractors help meet peak staffing needs for the county’s roughly $100 million in active roadway contracts and that reimbursement from GDOT and other project funding offsets many inspection costs. Several routine consent motions were moved and seconded and carried without roll‑call tallies recorded in the transcript.

The committee also approved a county subsidy tied to bio‑solids land use: staff explained that Hudson Grassing must lease back land and the county will pay $150 per acre for 588 acres used (the materials listed total payment as $88,200), funded from contingency. The committee closed with staff reports, no public comment, and a decision to forward one item to the full board for executive session consideration before adjourning.