One day after Richmond County voters overwhelmingly voted against bond money for a sports and entertainment arena at the Regency Mall site, Columbia County officials began contemplating what the no vote means for them.
A Columbia County Arena/ Entertainment Facility Committee was established last year after Richmond County voters rejected an arena proposal as part of a special sales tax proposal in November. That committee had decided to hold off on making a recommendation until Tuesday, when Richmond County voters decided a second time on an arena.
"The committee will go ahead and finalize their report that's in draft form now and bring it to the commission, and the commission will review it and decide if we want to pursue it,'' Columbia County Commission Chairman Ron Cross said.
Mr. Cross said if a feasibility study is approved, commissioners would have to vote on its findings, which would detail such things as how an arena could be paid for.
Columbia County became a potential site for an arena when those with Augusta Entertainment LLC, who presented the idea to Richmond County, said they would consider Columbia County as an alternate site.
Mr. Cross said he still thinks it's an idea worth looking into.
"From my standpoint, I'm not on the soap box about it, but I would like for (Columbia County) voters to have the opportunity to say, 'Yes, this is something we'd like to tackle because it would be so extraordinary,' or, 'No, we don't have any interest.'''
Columbia County Commission Vice Chairwoman Diane Ford said she continues to keep an open mind on the arena issue, but she said she has other needs to think about in her district.
"I still have folks that I represent that don't have water and don't have sewage and they don't have paved roads and they still have stormwater issues.''
Mr. Cross said officials also will keep in mind a proposal still to go before Richmond County voters in November involving a $29 million general obligation bond to renovate the existing civic center. If such a renovation involves adding onto its seating capacity, Mr. Cross said he doesn't think Columbia County would pursue having another arena nearby.
However, "I'm not encouraged that the people in Richmond County are going to approve that either," he said.
Reach Preston Sparks at 868-1222, ext. 115 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
What's Next:
The Columbia County Arena/Entertainment Facility Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. today in the Evans Government Center auditorium to discuss a possible final recommendation to Columbia County's Board of Commissioners on whether an arena is desirable in the county.
