Columbia County lacks millions of dollars needed to address future stormwater needs, commissioners were told at a planning retreat Thursday.

In a telephone interview, commission Chairman Ron Cross said the "most depressing" of nine presentations made at the retreat at Lake Oconee was the update on stormwater management.

He said he was surprised by how much work needs to be done in the county and how much the projects will cost.

Mr. Cross said it would cost about $100 million to complete all of the stormwater projects needed to comply with county regulations and to help residents maintain their quality of life.

He said the county has only about $6 million or $7 million available for stormwater projects.

These funds are part of the $42 million general obligation bond that voters approved last year.

"We've got some tough decisions about how to handle that," Mr. Cross said.

Most of the stormwater problems are in the Martinez area, he said.

"We have a lot of stream bank erosions primarily in areas that were developed prior to our stormwater laws in the late '80s and early '90s," he said.

Other issues being discussed at the retreat, which ends today, include Wildwood Park, the open field behind Kroger and future 1-cent sales tax funds.

Mr. Cross said the board reviewed a new conceptual plan for Wildwood Park.

One item under discussion at Wildwood is a large convention space.

He said commissioners could hold their annual retreat at a lodge at Wildwood instead of traveling to Lake Oconee or Atlanta as they have in the past.

The commissioners also will elect a vice chairman and committee chairmen for next year at the retreat today.