Columbia County commissioners directed staff to prepare an ordinance or resolution to adopt a nickel-based rounding system for fees and charges and took action on several operational items.

Staff explained that the U.S. Mint's cessation of penny production requires counties to decide how to round fees (landfill tonnage, taxes, service fees). "My recommended motion was to direct my office to prepare a resolution or ordinance as appropriate implementing a nickel based system for assessment of fees and costs," staff said; the board approved the request to prepare the measure.

On digital engagement, staff described a cloud-based centralized community calendar and invited a vendor demonstration; the commission asked staff to arrange a workshop with key stakeholders including the county website administrator (Patrick Thomas), planning and zoning, and partners to evaluate integration and cost (roughly $23,000 was discussed as a reference price). Several commissioners emphasized the need to involve internal IT and key department users before a final decision.

Operational contract decisions included rejecting an over-budget kennel bid and directing a rebid, approving an animal-care contract (RFP 2025S with Zootech) for interim animal services, and awarding annual generator maintenance to North Florida Maintenance & Repair Services after staff reported eight proposers.

Next steps: staff will prepare the nickel-based ordinance/resolution, arrange calendar vendor demonstrations with stakeholders, rebid the kennel procurement, and implement newly approved service contracts.