County Manager Scott Johnson says he hopes the state legislature will take up Columbia County’s incorporation/consolidation proposal in the legislative session that begins in January.

In the meantime, the county has created a hub site, which is an extension of the county website, where residents can find information pertaining to the proposal from Q&As to the announcement of open forums and public meetings.

“The hub site will be a one-stop shop for people to get all the information they need about incorporation and consolidation,” Johnson says.

Under the proposal, the county’s unincorporated land area, which excludes Grovetown and Harlem, would be incorporated into a city. The new city then immediately would consolidate with the county government.

A feasibility study that was completed earlier this year found that incorporation and consolidation would be fiscally feasible.

However, it did not address the social, political or governance aspects of the proposal. In addition, if it becomes reality, Grovetown and Harlem would be landlocked with no possibility of further growth through annexation.

Voters will have the final say in the matter, which could take two more years to decide.

“Everyone will have the opportunity to vote,” says Johnson. “That includes Columbia County and the cities of Harlem and Grovetown.”