HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting May 7, 2019
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
MAY 7, 2019
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., May 7, 2019, the Hon.
Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Fennoy, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, D.
Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Well, good afternoon, everyone. We are here to do the people’s business. I’ll
call this meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, at this time we will have our invocation led by Reverend Rufus
Copeland, Pastor of Gardner Grove Baptist Church after which we would like to ask Ms. Alma
from our H.R. Department to please lead us in the our Pledge of Allegiance.
The invocation was given by Reverend Rufus Copeland, Pastor, Gardner Grove Baptist
Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
The Clerk: Office of Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr., by these present be it known that Reverend
Rufus Copeland, Pastor of Gardner Grove Baptist Church is Chaplain of the Day. His spiritual
guidance and civic leadership serves as an example for all citizens of Augusta. Given under my
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hand this 7 Day of May 2019, Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Would you join me in thanking Pastor Copeland for (unintelligible).
(APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: Also, thank you, Ms. Phillips, thank you.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
April Years of Service
A. Congratulations! 2019 April Years of Service (YOS) Recipients.
The Clerk: On to our Recognitions, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay, at this time I call your attention to the Recognitions portion of our
agenda. Our recognition of our April Years of Service Employees which will be acknowledged
by Ms. Sylvia Williams of our H.R. Department and the Mayor and the Interim Director if you
please.
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Ms. Williams: Thank you, Madam Clerk. Good afternoon Mayor Davis, Commissioners,
special guests, Directors and citizens of Augusta, Georgia. My name is Sylvia Williams, H.R.
Employee Relations and Training Manager. Today it is my esteemed pleasure to recognize the
April Years of Service Recipients. For the month of April 2019 we have 14 employees celebrating
between five and 20 years of service with Augusta, Georgia, this afternoon we would like to
recognize our 25 to 50 years of service recipients. For the Month of April the total years of service
and institutional knowledge being celebrated here today is 250 years when I call your name please
come forward. Mary Gulcher, Tax Assessors Office 30-years. (APPLAUSE) Joyce Downs, Parks
and Recreation 35 years. (APPLAUSE) If you are here and I did not call your name please come
forward at this time. Congratulations to all of our Years of Service recipients for their loyal
service. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Let’s take a moment, we want to recognize the team members Ms. Downs,
Ms. Gulcher would ya’ll pause for a moment? Those who came to support you Ms. Downs,
Recreation and Parks, Ms. Gulcher if you came to support both of these ladies Tax Commissioners
Office would you please stand? If you’re here to support them, please stand. (APPLAUSE)
Congratulations. Thank you for your service.
RECOGNITION(S)
Augusta Utilities Department
B. “National Drinking Water Week” (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
The Clerk: At this time we would like to offer congratulations and recognition to our
August Utilities Department, Mr. Tom Wiedmeier along with the Augusta Utilities would you
please come forward, and Commissioner Marion Williams, Chairman of our Engineering Services
Committee.
The Clerk: Office of Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. City of Augusta. In recognition of “Drinking
Water Week” whereas water is the essential building block of life and is more than just necessary
to quench thirst or protect health and water is vital for creating jobs and supporting economic social
and human development. And whereas half of the world’s workforce works in water related
sectors in nearly all jobs regardless of the industry depending directly on the water and millions of
livelihoods rely on water. And whereas access to safe and reliable water supply and sanitation
services at home, school and the workplace is critical to maintaining our healthy, educated and
productive workforce. And whereas the demand for water is soaring especially in emerging
economies where agriculture, industry and cities are developing at a fast pace. And we are all
stewards of our water resources and infrastructures so that future generations will always have
clean sustainable water. And whereas we appreciate our public water systems whose complex
processes provide us with high quality drinking water daily and we take much pride in the drinking
water we provide to our city. Now therefore I Hardie Davis, Jr., Mayor of the City of Augusta do
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hereby proclaim May 5 through the 11 2019 as Drinking Water Week in Augusta, Georgia and
urge all citizens to applaud efforts and encourage public awareness about drinking water and
recognize the benefit of this precious resource. In witness thereof I have unto set my hand and
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cause the Seal of Augusta, Georgia to be affixed this 7 Day of May 2019, congratulations.
(APPLAUSE)
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Mr. Wiedmeier: So Leidra Collins, our Public Education Specialist, has a number of
activities planned for this week. I’d like her to just tell you a little bit about what we’re doing.
Ms. Collins: All across the State of Georgia the first Monday of May is Water
Professionals Appreciation Day so we kicked our week off yesterday by showing the employees
in our department how much we appreciate what they do. So we had lunch in fellowship yesterday
on today and yesterday we also did a variety of Facebook Live to meet staff AUD. Today we did
some giveaways the same thing and we visited a school. We adopted Hornsby K through 8.
Tomorrow we will have our Model Water Tower Competition the first in Augusta. It’s sponsored
by the Georgia Association of Water Professionals AWP so we will have our very first competition
and the competition has been in existence for 8 years and this will be our first year participating
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with the 6-grade students at Langford Middle School. It begins at 9:30 a.m. so please if you’d
like to come and see what those students have put together please feel free to join us. And then on
Thursday we’ll be at our Peach Orchard location just doing water facts, interacting with our
customers and showing them how much we appreciate them and having a variety of games and
activities beginning at 11:00 and we’ll end at 1:00 there.
Mr. M. Williams: I just want to say I kid Tom a lot about having plenty of money in water
and he jokes about it but I’m serious when I talk about that. But I just thank him for the work he’s
doing and the work he’s done for this City of Augusta. So I’m really proud of Utilities and what
ya’ll are doing over there. Keep doing what ya’ll are doing, thank you.
Mr. Sims: Great job AUD, thank you. (APPLAUSE)
RECOGNITION(S)
Congratulations!
C. Lucy C. Laney High School Senior Jakelia Baker on receiving offer of $1.3 million in
scholarship awards. (Requested by Commissioner Bill Fennoy)
The Clerk: At this time we would like to recognize Ms. Jakelia Baker would you please
come forward along with your family. Jakelia, I’m sorry I think I apologized over the phone for
butchering her name and she accepted it, it’s beautiful. Office of the Mayor Certificate of
Recognition presented to Jakelia Baker the 2019 Class Valedictorian and Honors Recipient Lucy
C. Laney High School. Whereas Ms. Baker is the 2019 Lucy C. Laney Class Valedictorian earing
an excellent 4.1 grade point average while taking honors in advance placement classes. And
whereas Ms. Baker was Student Council President, National Honor Society President, a student
ambassador and a member of the math team, she played basketball, golf, tennis, soccer, captain of
the volleyball team, sang in the choir and was drum major for the marching Wildcats Band. And
whereas Jakelia applied to more than 65 colleges and universities and receiving national media
attention when 55 schools accepted her and extended more than $1.3 million dollars in scholarship
awards. She is accepting an athletic scholarship to play volleyball at Penn State Beaver. On the
occasion of these superb milestones and on behalf of the citizenry of Augusta we would like to
extend to you our warmest greetings and best wishes. The City of Augusta recognizes and
applauds your commitment, hard work and the enthusiasm you have shown throughout your
scholastic and athletic voyage. We commend you for the important contributions and essential
roles you have played in enhancing the quality of life in our community through your
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achievements, commitment and dedication for academic and athletic excellence serves as an
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example and inspiration for all of us. Given under my hand this 7 Day of May 2019 Hardie Davis
Jr., Mayor. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Baker: I’m happy to represent Laney and hopefully more people can do better than
me in the future. (APPLAUSE)
Ms. Baker: First an honor to God who is the head of our lives when you put God first in
anything that you do he will direct everything that we have going on. And so Jakelia she pushes
herself more than we want her to at times and you know that’s just the beginning because I think
at the end of the school year it’ll be more than you know maybe like $3 million or something like
that and a 4.3 but we’re very proud of her. And we actually extended our hands to other children
to know how to get this money and be accepted into different colleges as well so it’s not just us
because you have to share the knowledge. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Baker: I just want to say everyone recognizes the now but it all started as the
foundation piece (unintelligible) when they were young. One of the biggest things for all of my
kids we set that foundation of reading and expectations, higher learning and we pushed them at an
early age although it was a battle at that stage. But it became and settled in and from that point on
we didn’t have to do any work. It was all driven by her all the way up to this point and I know it’ll
continue (unintelligible).
Mr. Speaker: Well, outstanding student, valedictorian, top student in the school in Lucy
Laney High School. She represents Laney well, she represents herself well most of all, and she
represents herself and her family and she understands the value of education. And that’s where
we all want to go. We want to understand that at an early age the value of education. It doesn’t
matter what the problems or situation you’re going through the way out is a good education
because no one can take that from you. God Bless you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Fennoy: When I saw the accomplishments that Ms. Walker made, I wanted to, Baker
I’m sorry, I wanted to bring her before the Commission and let the people in Augusta know what
a great job that they’re doing at Laney and we’ve got some real bright students here in Richmond
County. And what impressed me more than anything else is that if you add up my grade point
average the whole time I was in high school it didn’t come to 4.3. So I think that she has done a
good job but it all begins in the home. It begins in the home the success and failure about kids
begin in the home. And I could only imagine the sacrifices that the parents had to make running
up to this and that to make sure that if this is what she wants to do than I’m going to give her the
opportunity to do that. So you make Laney proud, you make District 1 proud, but you also make
the whole City of Augusta proud in the accomplishments that you have made. Just a couple of
years ago we had a young man from Laney Joshua Turan that was here that had gotten a Bill Gates
scholarship which means that as long as he’s in school his parents won’t have to pay a dime. So
this just is a testimony to the great jobs that that take place at Lucy Craft Laney and congratulations
and this is a token of our appreciation. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: To Ms. Baker I happened to be watching television and I heard about you, I
didn’t know about you and as you’ve already heard from all of the speakers, your city is extremely
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proud of you not just what you will do today but what you will do in the future to make this city
proud and even more proud but your parents equally proud of the work that you will do in changing
your generation. Thank you and God bless you. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: I do want to take a moment to recognize my State Representative Sheila
Nelson who’s in the audience as well Representative Sheila Nelson. She’s back home from the
Legislative Session so I’m confident that they held the line and did good work for us so would you
join me in giving her a hand. (APPLAUSE) I also want to take an opportunity to recognize my
dear friend school board member who just had a chance to celebrate one of his students and School
Board Member Wayne Frazier, Dr. Frazier. (APPLAUSE) He loves the children, he does. We’re
joined today, they’re not a part of our delegations but we are joined today by a local Boy Scout
Troop, Troop 45 from Aldersgate if they’d please stand. (APPLAUSE) They were here
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interviewing the distinguished Lady from the 3 Commissioner Mary Davis, and we wanted to
make sure we had a chance to recognize them today.
Ms. Davis: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right. All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go to our delegations.
REGOGNITION(S)
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Saint Paul’s Church 100 anniversary
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D. Congratulations! Saint Paul’s Church 100 anniversary. (Requested by Commissioner
Bill Fennoy)
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
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E. Mr. Bennish Brown, President & CEO Augusta Convention Visitors Bureau regarding 1
quarter updated on progress and activities of the ACVB’s efforts to promote Augusta.
Mr. Mayor: So before Mr. Brown gets started, we’re extremely fortunate to have him in
this community. In the short period of time that he’s been here he and his team have done a
phenomenal job so much so that his former Mayor who is a friend on just a couple of weeks ago
reminded me once again that she was a little upset with me that we stole him from them. And I
reminded her and said too bad, too bad, too bad, so we’re excited to have him here in the city. Mr.
Brown.
Mr. Brown: Thank you very much. Thank you, Mayor, members of the Commission. I
am Bennish Brown with the Augusta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau our address is 1010 Broad
Street here in Augusta. And I know I only have five minutes but I’m willing to forego a few
seconds just to acknowledge the young lady that we just celebrated so Jakelia wonderful reflection
obviously of a family and of the City of Augusta. And we were just chatting here we’d love to
have her in Travel and Tourism. There’s a place for her if she wants to be a part of Travel and
Tourism. But I’m here to share with you our first quarter report. I’m thrilled to be in front of you
also excited to have members some members of my team to join me today. This is something we
expect to continue with you every quarter, we’d love to come before you and have this direct
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interaction with you. Our efforts are driven by four strategic priorities. We’ve handed a packet
out to you. You may have gotten it a little bit earlier this one page with our four strategic priorities
I won’t review those but simply know that the things we share today are somehow tied to those
four strategic priorities, so I’ll walk through this report. It does look exactly like the email format
that we send out to you. Augusta and Company. Augusta and Company identified what has been
identified in Destination Blueprint and it is open for business; we’re excited about that. This is
our new space that welcomes both visitors and locals information about all the things to see and
do is shared by one of our local experts with featured tastings of local food and drink. It’s a one
stop shop for locally produced merchandise including items sourced from veteran owned
businesses, minority owned businesses and women owned businesses and we are inviting you to
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our grand opening this Friday May 10 at 5:00 o’clock so I hope you will join us. The New
Augustan is a tool that we use and again I’m just going through this program I need to catch up
and I know my five minutes are ticking. The New Augustan helps bring awareness of our
destination and it even inspires a visit. A secondary purpose of this tool is to develop community
pride with locals. Distribution of this magazine comes in a lot of ways including mailing it out
when we requests through our website, it's stocked at all Georgia Welcome Centers, we provide it
to attendees of who are here for conventions and events including sports events, sometimes it’s
included in packets for economic development prospects. It’s also made available at Fort Gordon
and at Augusta University and otherwise it’s also available locally in a variety of ways. This page
represents just how we tell our story the marketing aspect. In the actual email quarterly report you
will see links that represent a snapshot of all the coverage specifically generated by our office.
Anything we report on has been generated through our office. During the quarter we generated
some impactful exposure related to Black History Month and to Valentine’s Day Packages. And
a quick example two examples the Lucy Craft Laney Museum reported they saw an increase in
online traffic specifically from the Atlanta market. That is a market we specifically targeted for
promoting Lucy Laney Craft during Black History Month. The Partridge Inn saw an increase in
bookings as a direct response to our support of marketing their Valentine’s Day Packages so that’s
why we use the term ‘impactful’. This black box you see at the top of this page makes the point
that we generated nearly $1 million-dollars in advertising value from stories that went out from
the CVB and were published in various ways. Destination Discovery Tours. So beside effective
marketing we also engage in efforts to engage our community particularly employees of the
hospitality industry. We want them to be adequately equipped to be the best resources possible by
having their own firsthand experience in our destination. And last quarter we did work with the
Augusta National Golf Club and with Frontline Employees from our attractions and our hotels
touring them around Augusta. I’m not sure how much time I have left but I’ll keep going until
you stop me. Part of our mission is to grow the local economy and when people visit they spend
money. We hosted 35 groups which brought in more than 25,000 attendees in just the first three
months of this year. This included conventions, meetings and sports groups that were booked by
the Augusta Sports Council. So the bottom line the estimated economic impact to our destination
from these efforts is nearly $8 million-dollars again that’s in just the first quarter. Finally,
upcoming events you will see that in the brochure as it’s sent to you electronically. I do want to
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highlight Banjo-B-Que on May 24 and 25You also get electronically a document called
Insider’s Guide so please use that to see all of the exciting things to do in Augusta. Last finally
our hotel metrics are up year to date, average hotel revenue is up, average occupancy is up. Again,
thank you for this. We do look forward to continuing working with the city including on the
development of the International Soul Festival and we want to continue to provide support to the
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greater Augusta Arts Council on the implementation of the public art throughout Augusta. Thank
you. I hope we’ll see you Friday we’ll definitely see you second quarter, thank you very much.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brown, I think we have some questions. The Chair recognizes the Mayor
Pro Tem.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Bennish, thank you for that presentation. The
last page is that part of your slide presentation ---
Mr. Brown: It is.
Mr. Frantom: --- because that’s what I’m focused on. And my question’s going to be in
your presentation of that how many, are we employing locals in the films that you’ve done, if you
have that on the screen.
Mr. Brown: I don’t have that data and I did overlook my bullet points on that and we were
sharing those points to show you the production scouting efforts ---
Mr. Frantom: (unintelligible).
Mr. Brown: --- that screen, let me show that screen so, Jennifer, I am sorry for omitting
that and we talked about film and how important that was.
Mr. Frantom: There we go.
Mr. Brown: There it is, okay thank you thank you. I don’t have those details you’ve asked
for those are things I think we can at least try and get some figures, I don’t know how exact we
can get but this does show our efforts through Film Augusta. It is a division of the Convention
and Visitor’s Bureau. This shows the scouting efforts that have taken place first quarter and
registration. Registration is important because registrations are filled out by those entities that
have a definite interest in filming here in Augusta.
Mr. Frantom: And are you seeing most of those productions that ya’ll have done are locals
that are getting jobs. Is that mainly filled by locals?
Mr. Brown: Not all are local but yeah, local opportunities. Is it okay if Jennifer approaches
the stand to answer that?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Brown: Okay, thank you.
Ms. Jennifer Bowen: Hello, everybody. Yes, out of those four that you see listed there
Nellis Productions actually was cancelled, they weren’t able to continue. Alex Croft was a local
production, local employees. Paceline was something that came in from Atlanta, a very small
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production crew. Chedda Boy Productions also came in from Chicago. They brought a lot of
people with them but they did employ one or two of our locals. And if you turn your attention to
Number 2 under Scouting Augusta it says Untitled Prison Movie. That is going to shoot here in
Augusta in mid-June and they are employing all locals.
Mr. Frantom: And then as far as like what else do ya’ll do to promote this industry for
Augusta?
Ms. Bowen: Sure, so there’s several different ways that we promote the industry. We
didn’t include it in this particular information because it really ended at the end of March but an
example is for the Masters we hosted actually writers and producers and also a senior vice-
president of production of a major cable television network. Actually the Mayor actually joined
us for some of that as well and so by bringing them here we exposed them to Augusta as a
destination to film and to bring their production. And specifically talked to them also about
locating a series in Augusta as well for future productions. We also attend the Association of Film
Commissioner Internationals. We are members of that and so we are able to attend a trade show
like event with them once a year. We develop relationships with people in the industry and ask
for word of mouth referral and we also do a small bit of advertising in things like the publication
of Oz which is a production basically a guide to resources and availability in the State of Georgia.
And we also work with our State of Georgia Film Office to partner on opportunities as well.
Mr. Frantom: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Permission to address Jennifer? With these registration forms that come in is
there a fee associated with filling these out?
Ms. Bowen: There is not. There is no fee associated with any kind of application. There is
no permit process. Our registration process simply allows us to gather information to collect it
and to notify the appropriate parties. There are fees involved only when a location is chosen and
if a location has a fee associated with it. There are also fees attached to locations owned by the
City of Augusta but there is no fee that is in place for applying or for registering or any paperwork.
Mr. Garrett: Do you guys work with the Augusta Film Office any to try to coordinate with
different local groups that are trying to film here?
Ms. Jennifer: We do. We’ve actually really had a very solid partnership over the last really
year and even more strengthened over the last six months. So if you look back where it says under
‘Scouting’ that we partnered with Indy Grip, Indy Grip really is the actually physical location and
the community hub really for the people who are also involved in the film industry and so we have
worked actually all, three out of those five have been in partnership with that group.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brown, thank you so much ---
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Mr. Brown: Thank you very much.
Mr. Mayor: --- Jennifer, thank you, thank the CVB for the work that you do in the city,
Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
F. Mr. Moses Todd regarding the state of the Good and Welfare of Augusta-Richmond
County, GA.
Mr. Todd: Mr. Mayor my name is Moses Todd. My address is 2115 Nolan Connector,
Augusta, Georgia. Mr. Mayor, I’m concerned about the state of Augusta, Georgia’s government’s
good and welfare. In my opinion property owners and taxpayers have lost all confidence in the
Augusta government leadership and management team, ability to manage Augusta’s finances in
an efficient manner. I’m concerned about the state of Augusta’s government;s risk exposure. I
think that we’re losing core confidence there too. I’m concerned about the Augusta Utilities
Director’s been conflicted with the Savannah Riverkeeper’s that he’s on the Board of Directors for
the entity. And I think that Augusta government should review our relationship with the Savannah
Riverkeepers. It appears that our priorities as far as saving the Lock and Dam, it’s not the same as
the Augusta Riverkeeper’s priorities. I think that the director should resign from that board. I’m
also in support of the $100,000 dollars that proposed to save the Lock and Dam. I’m against
spending one additional penny to support Savannah Riverkeeper’s priorities as far as the
Whitewater and taking down the Lock and Dam. I support Save the Pool. And, Mr. Mayor, also I
would like to say that there’s other departments where there is individuals that work for the City
of Augusta is conflicted. Some on them is not with an entity or organization a private organization.
It could be as simple as the Board of Elections that you know oversee the election of your office,
Mr. Mayor, and the Commission. I think that we need to pull out Augusta’s efforts in government
policy and dust it off. You know the Carl Vinson Institute of Government offers a class emphasis
in government that I know that all of you have taken and I know that you’re busy. I know you’re
managing a $750 million-dollar overall budget with the federal and state funds that come in or
come through this government but I think it’s important that we do a review and we look at some
relationships and we make sure that we don’t have cronyism in our government. It’s been said
and I’m not accusing this government of you know of this that cronyism breeds corruption. Thank
you, Mr. Mayor, for your time and listening.
Mr. Mayor: All right now, all right, thank you, Mr. Todd.
The Clerk: I call your attention to the Consent portion of our agenda which consists of
Items 1-49, Items 1-49. For the benefit of any objectors to either of our alcohol petitions would
you please signify your objection by raising your hand once the petition is read. I call your
attention to:
Item 1: A request for an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be
used in connection with the location at 2510 Peach Orchard Road Unit G.
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2: Is a request for an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used
in connection with the location at 2821 Washington Road.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to either of those alcohol petitions? Mr. Mayor,
members of the Commission, there are no objectors to our alcohol petitions and our Consent
Agenda consists of Items 1-49.
Mr. Mayor: All right thank you, Madam Clerk. All right, before I do that, all right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1 for a Point of Personal Privilege.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, last Thursday I had an opportunity to
visit go out to the Julian Smith Casino where the fire department recognized more than 30 firemen
for their bravery, I think Commissioner Bobby Williams was there also. And what I found out is
that the fire department do more than put out fires. We had firemen that had jumped in the river
to save people that had tried to commit suicide. We had firemen who even though they didn’t save
that individual’s life but they kept that individual alive long enough that his organs could be
transferred to three individuals to save the lives of three other individuals. So one of the machines
that we’re getting ready to approve today was used to detect whether a person had heart issues or
not so I just think that it was only fitting and proper that I let the members of the Richmond County
Fire Department know that I appreciate them and the service that they provide to all of the citizens
of Richmond County. And during that presentation Chief James thanked the Commissioners for
all of the support that fire department has given but I tried to assure Chief James that the reason I
support them is that I may be the person that’s on the other end. I may be the person involved in
an accident or I may be the person that has a heart attach and I want to make sure that the people
that are coming to see me know what they’re doing. And lastly, Mr. Mayor, I’d like to ask all of
my colleagues to remember the family of Riley Howell. Riley Howell was a student at the
University of North Carolina Charlotte that took three bullets to keep the gunman from killing
other folks. And also remember the family of Laurie Kay. Laurie Kay was a 60-year old Jewish
person that was celebrating at the Synagogue with her husband and she stepped in front of a
gunman, in front of the to keep gunman from shooting from killing the Rabbi. So there’s a lot
going on and I think when people display acts of heroism like this then we could at least say thank
you for the work that you have done.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, thank you very much, sir, thank you very much. All right at this
time I’ll entertain motions to add or remove from the Consent Agenda. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I want to pull Item 20.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to pull Item 5.
Mr. Hasan: Did somebody pull Item 5, Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: I’m pulling or adding. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, you say you pulled five somebody pulled ---
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Mr. Mayor: I did.
Mr. Hasan: --- okay all right can you pull Item 39? Item 3 as well, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. On the additions to the agenda, can we add back to
consent Item 1?
Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right and Number 2?
Ms. Davis: Yes, I was going (unintelligible) Mayor Pro Tem but yes but I would like to
add that as well.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ve got several here that I want to at least get a
conversation on or get some information. Item 8 is one, Item 11, Item 23, Item 28 ---
The Clerk: Items 23 and 28.
Mr. M. Williams: --- Item number 36, Item number 42, Item 46 and can I add Item 51 to
the Consent?
Mr. Sias: No.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I can’t add it. Let me pull some more.
Mr. Sias: You can pull all you want.
Mr. M. Williams: Well I mean I can’t add. I know I can subtract. I can do some of that.
I’ve got one more, Mr. Mayor. Let’s see which one that is I pulled Item 42 is that right?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: You did.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m going to let the other ones go, 15, 16 I’m not going to pull those,
Mr. Mayor, I think that’s it.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: I’d like to add Item number 52.
Mr. M. Williams: You don’t have consent to do that.
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Mr. Mayor: All right objection, there’s an objection.
Mr. D. Williams: Say again?
Mr. Mayor: There is objection.
Mr. D. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Hasan: Add 49, Mr. Mayor.
Ms. Davis: It’s already on there.
Mr. Hasan: It’s already on there, okay ---
Ms. Davis: 49’s on there.
Mr. Hasan: --- thank you.
Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve as stated on the screen.
Ms. Davis: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PUBLIC SERVICES
1. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 19-13: request by Alphonso Daggett for an on-
premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Gravity
Lounge & Restaurant LLC located at 2510 Peach Orchard Rd Unit G. There will be Dance.
District 2. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 30, 2019)
2. Motion to approve New Application: A.N. 19-14: A request by Brett Summers for an on
premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with TDT
Augusta LLC dba Top Dawg Tavern located at 2821 Washington Rd. There will be Sunday
Sales. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 30, 2019)
4. Motion to approve Change Order #3 McCarthy – Taxiway A Project – Augusta Regional
Airport. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 30, 2019)
6. Motion to approve the award of runway 5/23 and airfield pavement renovations at Daniel
Field Airport. (Bid Item #19-210) Reeves Construction Company. (Approved by Public
Services Committee April 30, 2019)
7. Motion to approve the procurement of one additional LED Digital Display Message Board
for Lake Olmstead based off of Bid Item 18-204 (approved 8/21/2018). (Approved by Public
Services Committee April 30, 2019)
9. Motion to approve the Lykins Oil Company Contract for Gas & Diesel Supply – Augusta
Regional Airport. Bid Item 19-010 (Approved by Public Services Committee April 30, 2019)
10. Motion to approve the Newsome Electrical Contract for LED Lighting at the Augusta
Regional Airport. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 30, 2019)
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
12. Motion to approve request to replace two Ford F250’s, funded by General Fund Capital
Outlay. Bid Item 18-186 – Allan Vigil Ford. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee April 30,2019)
13. Motion to approve Fleet Management request for the replacement of five Marshal’s
Office vehicles using SPLOST Phase VII – Public Safety Vehicles. Bid Item 19-172 Thomson
Motor Centre $58,941. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
14. Motion to approve the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office request to approve the
replacement of 24 Road Patrol, 4 Traffic, 6 Civil, 3 Administration and 9 Criminal
Investigation vehicles using SPLOST VII – Public Safety Vehicles. Bid Item 19-172 Thomson
Motor Centre (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
15. Motion to approve the District Attorney’s Office request the purchase of two Dodge
Chargers. Bid Item 19-172 – Thomson Motor Centre (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee April 30, 2019)
16. Motion to approve recommendations to update the online version of the PPPM; 2) make
(declare) all hard copies of the PPPM obsolete and to authorize only the use of the online
version of the PPPM. (Approved by the Administrative Policy & Procedures Subcommittee
March 25, 2019 and Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
17. Motion to award the contract to provide and install furnishings for the new Augusta
Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility project to the low bidder, Weinberger’s
Business Interiors of Augusta, GA, in the amount of $114,684.09. Bid 19-230 (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
18. Motion to approve tasking the Law Department to determine if local governments can
be involved in growing marijuana for medicinal purposes or if they can lease property to be
used for that purpose. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2018)
19. Motion to approve appointing the Chair and/or their designee from each committee to
serve on the advisory committee for the Lake Olmstead Feasibility Study. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
21. Motion to approve/accept the recommendation of the Administrator to cancel the bid
award of ITB #18-278 Articulated Dump Truck for the Environmental Services Department
and rebid the project with enhanced specification and notify all prospective vendors.
(Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
22. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to amend contracts for construction of five (5) affordable housing unites (single
family). (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
24. Motion to approve the revised drafts of the proposed dedication plaques for the following
projects: (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
Augusta Records Retention Annex
Jeff Maxwell Library Additions and Renovation
Augusta Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility.
25. Motion to approve Trance, Inc. to proceed with a Phase 1 detailed investment grade
facility assessment to evaluate and assess the overall condition of Augusta Georgia’s various
facilities while locating and recommending energy performance savings in the amount of
$590,000 as described in RFQ #18-164. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee
April 30, 2019)
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26. Z-19-06 – Motion to approve the withdrawal of this petition; concurrence with the
Augusta Planning Commission to deny a petition Joseph Edge, on behalf of Edge Property
Management, LLC, requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone B-1
(Neighborhood Business) affecting property containing 0.48 acres and known as 2665
Tobacco Road. Tax Map 140-0-008-00-0 CONTINUED from February 4, 2019 meeting.
DISTRICT 4 (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
PUBLIC SAFETY
27. Motion to approve the award of Bid Item #19-154 Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator to
Physio-Control, Inc., authorize the Mayor to sign the contract to purchase the Cardiac
Monitor/Defibrillators through Physio-Control, Inc., and authority the Fire Department to
immediately purchase on Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator pursuant to the terms of the
contract. (Approved by Public Safety Committee April 30, 2019)
29. Motion to authorize staff to draft a Code amendment to modify the Personal
Transportation Vehicle provisions of the Code so as to only require hydraulic brakes on
commercially used PTV’s. (Approved by Public Safety Committee April 30, 2019)
30. Motion to approve the acceptance of the one-time commission bonus check in the amount
of 35,000 and adjust the budget accordingly. (Approved by Public Safety Committee April
30, 2019)
FINANCE
31. Motion to approve request from Delta House, Inc. which operates the Lucy Craft Laney
Museum of Black history an extension to complete the renovation of the Museum that will
be partially funded with SPLOST VI. (Approved by Finance Committee April 30, 2019)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
32. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for permanent
easement and temporary construction easement (Parcel 166-0-381-00-0) 4219 James Drive.
(Approve by Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019.
33. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for permanent
easement and temporary construction easement (Parcel 153-0-129-00-0) 2419 Travis Road.
(Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019)
34. Motion to approve contract with Cranston Engineering Group to provide services related
to FERC license as well as design services for the Augusta Canal in the amount of
$209,380.00. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019)
35. Motion to approve contract with Kleinschmidt Associates to provide FERC mandated
Part 12 Independent Consultant Dam Safety Inspection Services for the Augusta Canal in
the amount of $113,500.00. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019)
37. Motion to approve and award Streambank Stabilization Design, Permitting and
Construction Engineering Services Agreement to Goodwyne, Mills & Cawood (GMC), Pond
& Company and Johnson Laschober & Associates, PC as requested by the AED. Award is
contingent upon receipt of signed agreement. RFQ 19-152. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee April 30, 2018)
38. Motion to accept/approve proposal from Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. (GMC) to
amend their engineering services contract in the amount of $79,000.00 for Utilities
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Department’s Fort Gordon Cross Basin Lift Station and Force Main project. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019)
40. Motion to approve the deed of dedications, maintenance agreements, and road
resolutions submitted by the Engineering Department and the Augusta Utilities Department
for Haynes Station Phase IX. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019)
41. Motion to approve entering into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Georgia
Department of Transportation for inclusion into the statewide NaviGAtor Program as
requested by AED. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019)
43. Motion to approve and award Preliminary and Final Engineering Design Consultant
Services Agreement to Goodwyne, Mills & Cawood (GMC) in the amount of $1,076.541.90
for the Telfair Street Improvements Project as requested by the AED. Award is contingent
upon receipt of signed agreement. RFP 18-266. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee April 30, 2019)
44. Motion to approve the installation of thirteen streetlights in Haynes Station Section 9
with a cost of $4,056.00 per year. This is also to approve a new lighting tax district for the 45
lots associated with the above section. Funding is available in the Street Lighting budget
account #2760416105312310. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019)
45. Motion to approve the installation of fifteen streetlights in Spirit Point Section 3 with a
cost of $2,106.00 per year. This is also to approve a new lighting tax district for the 51 lots
associated with the above section. Funding is available in the Street Lighting budget account
#2760416105312310. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019)
47. Motion to approve On-Call Engineering Services with Infrastructure Systems
Management, LLC with an Initial Budget of $200,000. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee April 30, 2019)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
48. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held
on April 2, 2019 and Special Called meeting held April 30, 2019.
APPOINTMENT(S)
49. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Kelby Walker to the Augusta Transit Citizens
Advisory Board representing District 5.
ADDENDUM
54. Request to approve a two (2) hour extension to regular rental hours for a Banjo-B-Que
Kickoff event at the Julian Smith Casino on Friday, May 24, 2019.
55. Request approval of the installation of public art at Hillside Park and at McBean
Community Center.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, voting.
The Clerk: Motion carries 9-1 with Mr. Fennoy voting No.
Mr. Fennoy: I hit the wrong, I had eye surgery and I’ve got to put on my reading glasses.
The Clerk: It can happen once today.
15
Mr. Sias: Do you want a reconsideration?
Mr. Fennoy: Yeah make that, let’s get there’s not going to be many things you could vote
unanimously one.
The Clerk: That motion carries nine plus one with Commissioner Fennoy makes ten.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Okay.
Motion Passes 10-0. \[Items 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12-19, 21, 22, 24-27, 29-35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43-
45, 47-49, 54, 55\]
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, Judge Wright. has arrived if you want to go back to that first,
back to our delegations actually –
RECOGNITION(S)
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St. Paul’s Church 100 Anniversary
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D. Congratulations! Saint Paul’s Church 100 anniversary. (Requested by Commissioner
Bill Fennoy)
The Clerk: Under our Recognition portion of the agenda we would like to offer our
congratulations to St. Paul’s Church. Judge Wright, would you please come forward, Mr. Mayor,
Mr. Fennoy.
Ms. Davis: You know we’ll be 100 years. I’m not going anywhere.
The Clerk: Office of the Mayor, City of Augusta Proclamation in recognition of St. Paul’s
Church. Whereas St. Paul’s Church has ministered to the people of Augusta since 1750. And
whereas churches throughout our community have used St. Paul’s Church as their gathering place
prior to building their houses of worship. And whereas the community of Augusta continues to
use St. Paul’s Church as a place to gather for Thanksgiving, celebration and mourning. And
whereas St. Paul’s Church was called the most tragic and symbolic loss in the Great Augusta Fire
of 1916. And whereas the parishioners of St. Paul’s Church and the Augusta Community gave to
rebuild the venerable parish building in the midst of the devastated downtown. And whereas the
new St. Paul’s Church was consecrated for its continued mission to the greater Augusta community
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on May 7 1919. Be it resolved that Augusta gives thanks for the ongoing presence of St. Paul’s
Church as a symbol of our unity and God’s presence in our midst. Now therefore I, Hardie Davis
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Jr., Mayor of the City of Augusta, do hereby proclaim May 7 2019 as St. Paul’s Church Day in
Augusta, Georgia and urge all citizens to recognize and applaud the efforts and achievements of
St. Paul’s Church notable, spiritual and civic leadership. In witness thereof I have caused my hand
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and the Seal of Augusta Georgia to be affixed this 7 Day of May 2019. Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor.
(APPLAUSE)
16
Judge Wright: Thank you so much for letting us be a part of Augusta’s history for the last
100 years. Our doors are open to everyone and we’d be honored to have you present at any time.
And I thank you both very much for this recognition on behalf of the church it truly is inspirational
to continue to be a part of this community, thank you. (APPLAUSE)
The Clerk: I call your attention to the Other Business portion of our agenda Item number
53.
OTHER BUSINESS
53. CONSIDER RESOLUTION FOR THE EXEMPTION OF THE VEHICLE ASSIGNED
TO THE MAYOR FROM THE STATE DECAL STATUTE AND RENEWAL OF
EXEMPTION UNDER AUGUSTA DECAL
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the
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6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor and to my colleagues, as a result of having the hearing last week I
think at this time I make a motion that the Mayor’s vehicle be decal-less.
The Clerk: Exempt?
Mr. Hasan: Exempt. I’ll say exempt, same thing, no decal.
Mr. Sias: Second for the exempt part not the decal-less.
Mr. Hasan: It’s got a decal on it now so take it off.
Mr. Sias: Now we said exempt, we didn’t know what decal-less meant.
Mr. Hasan: Oh, they didn’t? Okay I just looked that one up myself.
Mr. Mayor: Voting. All right, Madam Clerk just brought up a good point. So, the matter
that’s before you is simply adopting the resolution that has been used previously and that is
consistent with local law. It is to exempt the vehicle, that’s what the current ordinance provides
for. The public hearing was an opportunity to inform the public that this is consistent with current,
local law and that is what you would’ve been voting on just then okay?
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams and Mr. Hasan vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Motion Fails 5-4-1.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Move to reconsider.
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Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: This is a motion to reconsider the previous action, voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan and Mr. Garrett vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Motion Passes 6-3-1.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: To my colleagues and to the public I would hope that we can move forward and
focus on some other items that are really important. I’m not saying any item is unimportant but we
have a whole bevy of things that we need to be working on. And I just ask that we move forward
on this issue and get it behind us and let’s go on about the real business of what we’ve got to get
done. I’m not saying this is not real business. I’m not saying that at all but let’s move on to the
critical business. Move that we approve the exemption.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second. In all previous examples from
McIntyre to Young all previous Mayor’s vehicles are provided by the City of Augusta were
exempted from a decal, all previous. And again this resolution is consistent with previous Mayors
and administrations it’s consistent the same efforts that have happened prior is what’s before you
right now, voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan and Mr. Clarke vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Garrett vote No.
Mr. M. Williams abstains.
Motion Passes 6-3-1.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
3. Motion to approve the award to Bid Item 19-138A to Hammett Electric Company, Inc.
for the lump sum bid of $139,788.67. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 30,
2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I’d like to ask Mr. Parker a question if
you don’t mind.
Mr. Mayor: Certainly.
18
Mr. Hasan: And my question and I can state the question as he’s coming up, but what I
did is I went to the soccer field to kind of kind of look at this but if you look at the information in
the back, it makes very clear there’s about seven soccer fields there and this will be the final soccer
field that will upgrade the lighting with this I think it’s whether it’s Mucus or Monaco whatever
this type of lighting. And I just want to know for the record moving forward is this the lighting
that ---
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hasan, could you just state for the record where these soccer
fields are?
Mr. Hasan: --- well where the soccer is upper Wrightsboro Road I think, Flowing Wells
Road, Flowing Wells Road. And there’s seven soccer fields there and obviously from reading the
information in the back all the other six soccer fields lighting has been upgraded and this one is
now here for the $140,000 dollars is going to be the final field that’s going to be upgraded. So my
question is number one is if the lighting here is going to be the lighting that’s probably going to
look at other facilities moving forward, I know you may not be able to see those things but is this
the lighting here that’s going to be sufficient for us moving forward through the rest of our
organization.
Mr. Parker: The company you’re referring to is called Musco.
Mr. Hasan: Musco.
Mr. Parker: Musco’s an industry leader in sports lightings so they would typically be one
who would submit a bid or we would develop our specifications around Musco’s specs. They’re
the quality of the industry today, yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to make sure that this was going to be where
we was headed in that direction. I wish we could’ve you know kind of looked at this in another
fashion but as the final fee I can live with that it was more important that we have a lighting that
we could identify potentially moving forward, thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: The Chair will entertain a motion.
Mr. Frantom: Motion to approve.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay we have a motion and a second, voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
19
5. Motion to extend the Management Agreement with Cypress Golf Management, LLC for
an additional period of sixty (60) months. (Approved by Public Services Committee April 30,
2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3 to speak to this the
Chairman of Public Services.
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, I know that you just asked me some questions because you weren’t
able to be here for the presentation the other day. And we did talk about all the improvements that
they’ve done this company has done Cypress and especially the improvements to the course itself
and we were able to see a lot of before and after and current pictures. And from you know what I
keep hearing from the public and especially the schools that are using the course they’ve been
pleased with the management and pleased with the course and then of course the ongoing plans to
continue improvements. We did mention that there is a need maybe to look at some improvements
to the clubhouse. Commissioner Marion Williams and I want a rooftop bar added to it.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right.
Ms. Davis: But we just think that there’s some opportunity there to make some
improvements and make it larger and improvements with the kitchen as well and then possibly
that would be a good facility for a lot of organizations and families to use for different gatherings
so we kind of threw that idea out to talk about possibly at the next SPLOST. But overall it seemed
very positive and we seem confident that you know this company was the right thing moving
forward.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: --- thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, per this conversation last week to kind
of give you perspective of what I’m going to ask about it’s not so much about the management
extending this lease. I think some of my colleagues last week as we was entertaining this here we
also had some questions that were going to be around the veterans group that was going to be there.
And I had one or two questions around that, Mr. Mayor, if you don’t mind I know it’s kind of ---
Mr. Mayor: They didn’t get answered, okay.
Mr. Hasan: --- well I didn’t, I’m kind of asking but I’ve got some more pertinent questions
because he put the information in the agenda book. He sent some information out, Mr. Parker did,
I’m sorry.
20
Mr. Mayor: Very good that’s fine all right so everybody just suspend for a moment, all
right, Mr. Parker.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Parker, how are you doing once again, sir. My question is really around
the veterans group that’s going to be doing the program so my question is have they provided you
with a list of their board members thus yet?
Mr. Parker: I believe they have, yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Okay have they given you the financial statements and the documented amount
of cash and the things they have on hand thus far?
Mr. Parker: They have not.
Mr. Hasan: They have not, okay. Have they given you with the plans for the Double Eagle
Performance Center what that’s going to look like?
Mr. Parker: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: They’ve given you that but not, but back to the financials, you haven’t gotten
the financials.
Mr. Parker: We have not.
Mr. Hasan: Well there’s several things, Mr. Mayor, a couple more some of them more
substantial than that that would concern me because these things what we just asked about was
supposed to have been done in a two-week time frame of the signing of the contract. It has nothing
to do with the contract with the Cypress but it was something to bring aware of there’s some other
things outstanding around the veterans group that we need to be mindful of moving forward. Not
pertaining to this conversation but I thought it was a good time to ask as some of my other
colleagues did last week and I just want to follow up and put that on the record as more information
we need to look into around the veterans group.
Mr. Parker: Can I address one point, based on your comments and some of the concerns?
We have asked them to be here next week for committee to update you and make a presentation
to you about where they are because we have a lot of the same questions I think you do.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, all right thank you, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Parker ---
Mr. Parker: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Fennoy: --- is it not true that the group that wants to do the veterans that they just can’t
make that change, those changes anytime on the golf course because there has to be a certain part
of the year when those changes can be made so that it won’t affect the grass and?
Mr. Parker: That’s correct. And the only thing just very briefly I’ll share, the only thing
they’re doing right now is their Double Eagle Performance Center that’s essentially the training
area that they’re going to be developing so that they can train the veterans prior to starting any
renovations to the golf course. They have to provide as Commissioner Hasan mentioned they’ve
got to show us first the funds are in place for the Performance Center then the funds in place for
the golf course.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair will entertain a motion.
The Clerk: We have one.
Mr. Mayor: We have that, okay all right, voting.
Mr. Clarke out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
8. Motion to approve the current preliminary design and proceed to final design and bid
documents for Lake Olmstead Park improvements. (Approved by Public Services
Committee April 30, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Knowing that we discussed this in committee a
little you know somewhat my question is though with the amount of work that needs to be done at
Lake Olmstead, are we going to spend this money to do the changes the necessary changes and
then turn around and do additional changes to it later? I mean it was brought up that everything
up there needed to be done so I don’t want to spend this money twice I guess what my question is,
Mr. Mayor. So can Ms. Douse or someone Mr. Parker can address that.
Mr. Frantom: Ms. Douse.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, whoever, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Parker: Can I ask that you restate that?
Mr. M. Williams: Well, what I’m asking is that with the amount of work that was proposed
to us to be done with this bid and design of Lake Olmstead are we going to do this work now and
then turn around later and do additional work on it again like working on it twice I guess is my
point. There’s a bunch of stuff that was brought out in the committee that needed to be done up
22
there and the facility’s an old facility so why would we remodel that facility and then end building
another facility or going back in there and doing it again and building a situation I’m just trying to
see where we are.
Mr. Parker: So what you saw last week is based on the funding we have available for the
casino the gazebo and the barbeque pit. Are we doing a complete 100% renovation? No, sir, we’re
not. We focused on ADA, we focus on safety and we focused on the kitchen areas, bringing those
up to code so that’s, and we focused on outdoor restrooms especially at the barbeque pit keeping
in mind what potentially could be going on at Lake Olmstead Stadium. So our original plan that
you saw last week called for some additional restrooms that could be used eventually by the group
that could be coming into the stadium. So we’re not making a complete 100% renovation but we
are doing about a million/four in renovations to those three facilities, that’s what it’s budgeted at.
Mr. M. Williams: And that was the reason to respond to my question because we’re going
to do such a million/four, a million and a half whatever the number come up to and then I don’t
want to wait a year or two years later then turn around and tear that building down and then do a
$3-million operation to build a whole new facility there. That facility is a very old facility. It’s
served its purpose. I know it’s got some history and I understand all that I was just asking that
question because I don’t us, not you but this body whether it be this particular body or another one
coming in saying you know let’s build another building up there and we just put a million and a
half in that building. So I didn’t want to throw good money after bad money I guess you know
trying to, but I mean I don’t think we have any other plans I guess we’ve got to do those things we
got to do. I’m not against the people doing it. I’m not against the designs, any of that. I just want
to make sure we thought about what we’re doing because we do a lot of road paving and come
back and dig it up and put pipe in the ground when we should’ve put the pipe in the ground initially
but so I didn’t want it to be that same scenario with Lake Olmstead.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, I’m sorry. The barbeque
renovations is what concerns me. I think last week if I’m not mistaken I think there was, if you
wanted to use some semblance of what we currently have I believe in other words if you were to
keep the pit itself out of there and as well if you wanted to keep a full service kitchen, I think it
was a total figure of about $101,000 dollars to do that. And I think that we ought to do it because
the things that are being proposed to us for the $400,000 dollars it takes those amenities away and
I think those amenities are used year round. You can have additional fee to it to keep it in place.
You’re going to have to move out to the kitchen itself to move out the hot water tank, you’re going
to move out that air conditioning unit. You’re going to move it out anyway so you might as well
leave a full service kitchen there which won’t have a $400,000 plan and also encourage us to keep
the pit itself. These are things that are very, very unique to that that makes it attractive and I think
we ought to do that. I think an additional $101,000 dollars would do that. That’s my first question,
is that correct?
Mr. Parker: I don’t want to hold to that number, I’m not sure, I would offer this. Mr.
Mauldin is here today, he heard your comments last week and he has today a presentation to show
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you basically what you’ve asked for and the impact on what that would be to the rest of the building
and some cost estimates we’d like to see that.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, go ahead a couple of minutes, go ahead. I’m fine, I’m not through he’s
going show us what it’s going to cost, Commissioner.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah, I’m just asking (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: Yeah.
Mr. Mauldin: Okay, Rob Mauldin with 2KM Architects. I appreciate your question and
your concerns. Just outlining some of the goals that were here. It was a conflict between how
much space we have today and how much we can renovate. We actually did do a scheme that we
included in the information that was forwarded that should be in your package. One of the goals
was establishing access and storage space. Another was upgrading the kitchen to current codes
and we talked about that as you noted. One of the elements that we end up having to look at is
actually doing an addition. If you see the green area on the screen it’s actually extending the
kitchen out the back. That was the $108,000 dollars that we had outlined. We also showed instead
of the four restrooms off to the far right where the barbeque pit was is redeveloping that barbeque
pit with the amenities that are required. That unfortunately is also about $100,000 dollars just to
upgrade that to where it does everything that it needs to do from a health code standpoint
ventilation, safety and that type of thing. But this scheme does do exactly what you asked about
trying to retain the full kitchen and trying to retain the barbeque pit and a portion of that area plus
support the extra toilets, the extra storage and the extra support spaces that are required for the
building. Does that answer?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, excuse me but can you help me then and I could be wrong and I apologize
in advance for that. Last week I saw a figure of a $101,000 dollars to do some enhancement other
than what was presently being shown to me so what were those enhancements?
Mr. Mauldin: That was adding the area in the kitchen and the extra equipment and hood
and air conditioning to support that exhaust hood and kitchen hood and range.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mauldin: So there’s actually square footage added in that green area that’s at the top
of the sheet there that is building area that doesn’t exist today.
Mr. Hasan: Final question to Mr. Parker if you don’t mind, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem? Mr.
Parker, these funds are these funds coming out of a mixture of SPLOST or just SPLOST 7.
Mr. Parker: Seven.
Mr. Hasan: SPLOST 7 so you normally say that you, this is your money allocated for it
and I know that’s a personal decision based on you and your staff looking at that but for the
SPLOST I mean for the SPLOST 18 SPLOST 7 you had about $18 million dollars that was
24
allocated to the Recreation Department for those kinds of things. So with this additional couple
hundred thousand dollars would that throw your plan all the way off or is this something that’s
doable because you normally say because what you say most times you assume well this is all I’ve
got but you got $18 million dollars.
Mr. Parker: I say this is all we’ve got based on the CIP that was approved by the
Commission which listed each project and an amount that went with that project. So if this project
just bumps up you know a quarter of a million dollars then we’ve got to pull that from somewhere
else if it’s in SPLOST. We’ve got to take it from somewhere, yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: And I kind of agree with that but just be mindful when you show the CIP
whatever that means, I’m going to use it because you said it ---
Mr. Parker: Capital Improvement Project.
Mr. Hasan: --- Capital Improvement Project then those projects was what you thought we
would want as opposed to us approving the project itself in terms of these types of enhancements.
We had no way of knowing what we was going to do at the end so we just have to make some
adjustments on the back end. I think it’s as important to my colleagues and I’m going to leave it
alone. I think it’s important that those things there in the barbeque pit are historical in nature.
People expect that. It is a great facility. There’s an old flavor and I think if we do those
enhancements I really appreciate all the enhancements so I’m not complaining about those but the
pit and the kitchen I think we ought to keep those things.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, sir. Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem. I think everything’s in line. I just wish,
and when this thing first got off the ground you know I wasn’t a part of. The community came in
and gave their opinion on what we should be doing or could be doing but I wish we had added on
to the pit somewhere added out over the, maybe not over the lake there but close to lake up top
another again, Mayor, another lake view. But had we done something to keep what we got and
added something additional to it and then we could’ve eventually renovated the old part later. I
wouldn’t want to see it leave. It’s been there I mean it’s part of the Lake Olmstead. When I hear
Lake Olmstead I see that building; it’s been there just that long. But I wish we would’ve had
talked about doing some creative type stuff making an addition to it versus just going in there and
renovating the same old situation that we’ve got. But, Mayor Pro Tem, I appreciate it. I just wanted
to make those comments. I just thought it should be brought out that we should’ve looked at a
creative way of adding something to that area.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, sir ---
Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a motion.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- I’m just saying, Mr. Parker, does the capacity change in this venue
based on the changes because I mean it looks like we’re cutting into ---
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Mr. Mauldin: Occupancy ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- that’s what I mean occupancy rate.
Mr. Mauldin: --- the occupancy does not get reduced, it’s maintained.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Is the footage of the barbeque pit the same inside?
Mr. Mauldin: It’s cut down but this is the area of the actual pit cooking area if you been in
it recently half of that barbeque pit is nothing but a concrete path ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yeah.
Mr. Mauldin: --- it’s like an elevated shelf and that could be done with tables and carts and
other functions than having a fixed path. I think it was originally a barbeque pit there also but
that’s been long gone and the capacity of this end area for the barbeque pit is what’s actually
functional today. So that would be trying to restore and retain the functional barbeque pit,
upgrading it as needed for finishes and health (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: So are you all asking us today to choose option one or option two?
Mr. Parker: Our initial recommendation was one ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Right.
Mr. Parker: --- but I’m hearing support for two today so, yes, we’re asking for approval.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay and then from a funding standpoint how the extra $100,000 I
guess it’s $200,000 based on what you’ve said how does that fall into your budget with what we
have, sir?
Mr. Parker: We’d have to come back to you at some point you know probably some of the
current SPLOST projects that are 2019, 2020 and on out the end of SPLOST 7 we would just have
to remove some of those projects to make up the difference.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commission, what’s the pleasure.
Mr. Mayor: Can we put Option One back up? So again absent my inability to be a part of
this conversation on last week one of my great concerns with any of our facilities around Lake
Olmstead are the fact that they were built and configured in a way that did not take advantage of
the water at all. And if we’re going to have facilities situated and/or located on the water to include
the baseball stadium down on the end down there they need to be reconfigured in a way that allows
a view, a picture or something that attaches and connects the facilities and the community of
interest to the water that’s there. The housing facility that’s located there as well it’s one thing to
live on the water, it’s another thing to be next to the water and I think we’ve got to be a little bit
more forward thinking in terms of how we can engage and take advantage of that natural feature
26
even though man made or whatever and I don’t see anything that does that unless you want to
speak to that. If we’re going to spend good money, we need to rethink that.
Mr. Parker: Sure, we approached this as I mentioned early on from a safety code that
standpoint with the money and that spent all of our available funds that we had at the time. We
did not address that issue quite honestly.
Mr. Mayor: Well I’m going to take one from the illustrious writing of one Ms. Sylvia
Cooper. Either you go big or you go home and I think this is an example of where if we’re having
signature facilities that we spend a great deal of time at, we need to make sure that we’re at least
leveraging an opportunity to connect them to the resource that’s there. Most people who come to
Julian Smith Casino or the barbeque pit, they’re stuck there as opposed to having a reason a
compelling reason to go out on that concrete pad that you mentioned or walk down to the park and
there’s nothing that connects or brings me to that place.
Mr. Hasan: So what are you suggesting, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Well, I’m not an architect I’m just an engineer.
Mr. Hasan: If you’re an engineer, there ain’t much difference.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so hold on a minute all right ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to see us look at Option 1 but I
mean if we’re going to spend $200,000 in Option 2 why don’t we see what we can do to put a deck
or something going down towards the water. It creates some synergies between the facility and
the water. If we’re going to spend that money, I mean I think that would be more important than
the kitchen that, I mean it basically has everything you need in Option 1. Can we kind of push it
towards the water or something and bring it back?
Mr. Mayor: Well, here’s what I guess I share that sentiment. I think one of the reasons
why how we got here is that we’ve got a dated facility to include dated equipment that’s in the
kitchen and the refrigerators and all of those things, they’re dated. And I think that maybe this is
an opportunity to, and I don’t know who the gentleman is or what his expertise is but I’m confident
that there are folks who are working in his shop who can be very visual and take what we’re saying
and come back with something that allows us to make that connection ---
Mr. Parker: I did ask Rob and he said if given a week and Rob said refer this back to
committee for a week or so but I think it would be good to tell him one or two unless you want
him to go back and look at something with both options at this point.
Mr. Mayor: --- two back up here I don’t know what the differences are.
Mr. Speaker: I’ve got a suggestion (inaudible) full-service kitchen.
27
Mr. Mayor: So it’s the focus around the kitchen okay so I think there are two things one,
we should push this back to committee. All right, that’s number one and then come back with
some additional planning around how these facilities can be connected to the water.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to send it back to committee.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right and there’s still more comment. I’m going to recognize the
thth
Commissioner from the 9 and then the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and that’s why I pulled this item because I
thought we should at least talk about some of things before we do it. I wouldn’t want to spend the
SPLOST money now then have another SPLOST to approve to go back and redo that what we
done spent money on now and we didn’t conversate enough about it to get these ideas or these
entities connected in some kind of way. But I agree that we need to something exciting, close to
the water, a deck across the top over the drive under there or something and then we can come
back and if we have to work on another part and keep the facility the way it is for another 100
years. But I just think that that’s the thing to do send it back to committee, talk about it again so
we can at least listen and have the option. I think the architect is doing a good job in what he
presented to us but we just need to get him some feedback.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I agree with that 100%. All right the Chair ---
Mr. Parker: One quick note this was not in 2KM’s original scope so they will obviously
charge us to go back and do some of the design work that’s small potatoes.
Mr. Mayor: --- that’s expected, absolutely. All right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. What I would say in the fact it is going back to committee I
think we should give Mr. Parker and the other gentleman ---
The Clerk: Mr. Mauldin.
Mr. Sias: --- Mr. Mauldin, the opportunity to visit out at the site with some Commissioners
and the Mayor. We envision here and so I think maybe somebody should be out there to kind of
say this is what they’re visualizing so that we can when the next time he comes up here we’ll at
least have an idea of what they’re talking about, I think that’s important.
Mr. Mayor: I think that’s an excellent idea and we’ll coordinate that with Mr. Parker. It
would be helpful also when we come back at our next committee cycle if we could get an idea of
in the 2015 SPLOST there was an allocation of roughly $18-million or so around Capital
Improvement Projects around facilities. So let’s bring that information forward as well at our next
meeting as well okay, all right that way ---
28
Mr. Sias: Can we have Mr. Parker invite some of ya’ll out there?
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah, absolutely. Okay all right, so I think our motion before us with a
proper second was to refer this back to committee, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
11. Motion to approve Engineering Department-Storm Water Division requests the purchase
of one new Commercial Street Sweeper. Bid 18-291 Cherokee Truck. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I guess my first question would be how many
street sweepers do we have now?
The Clerk: Not enough.
Mr. Sias: Not enough.
Mr. Mayor: Okay so well now, all right so, Dr. Malik, you’re answering?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, we’ve got three right now.
Mr. M. Williams: We’ve got three street sweepers and we’re adding an additional one or
are we replacing one? Where are we with that?
Dr. Malik: We’re adding to the three, there’s going to be four. I’m sure you know
Engineering got this operation about a year ago from Environmental Services and we’re trying to
build up the program.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I just hadn’t seen any street sweepers sweeping in the streets and
I was wondering did we are we getting into the business I’m mean I’m sure if we’ve got three
they’ve been doing some work somewhere. But in the inner city where the streets need sweeping
it hadn’t been swept in a long time so when I saw this item I wanted to know well are we adding
one or are we just getting one or what but that brings us up a total of four. Malik, how are they
used I mean are they on a daily basis or are they as needed or how do we access those?
29
Dr. Malik: The front operation yes on a daily basis primarily you know we’re catching up
as the work progressed and all of those things so but we are working towards building the program
and have some sort of schedule.
Mr. M. Williams: And so by buying one is I mean how are we going to do that because if
we’re going to build this program shouldn’t be buy at least two or three with the stormwater? I see
here with the stormwater drainage process, Mr. Mayor, we ought to have some money to buy some
streetsweepers now and they ought to be rolling, they ought not to be just sitting there. So that,
what are ya’ll laughing at? I mean I serious. I want to I mean why are we buying one streetsweeper
if we’ve got stormwater monies that’s coming in and as bad as it’s needed not just in the inner city
but all over this city, I used to see them all the time, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah I (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: --- in fact but you don’t see it anymore and I’m wondering where we
are with that.
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir. It’s not only getting the equipment you know we have to find
(unintelligible) there’s an ongoing effort to fill the position and operators and all that so we have
to, when we purchase equipment we need to put it into use.
Mr. M. Williams: Sylvia, the hardest part in this government is getting money. Now we’ve
got the money so that, the rest of it should be easy getting employees or getting equipment ought
not to be no problem. Malik, I mean we’re on the same team now. I’m the Engineering Services
Chairman but I just think we should be more aggressive in doing stuff like this versus getting one.
If we get one now we’re going to get another one next week or we just, you know.
Dr. Malik: Again we’re building a program probably will be coming back, yes, sir, we’ll
probably have to add one or two more but you know we have to take a phase approach to build the
program.
Mr. Mayor: Okay so would you like for us to buy two?
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah I mean I’ve been, I mean I need to some work done with the
stormwater money people are complaining about and the trash that we’ve got over this government
I mean I’m ready to see something happen.
Mr. Mayor: Okay so you want to amend this motion and make it two instead of one?
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I mean if we have the funds I’d like to make an amendment.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Sias: Sir, before we do that will we be busting Dr. Malik’s budget. Can we ask him
at least that question?
30
Mr. Mayor: --- well, he’s expecting you to know how much is already in there.
Mr. Sias: How much are we paying for it.
Mr. Mayor: We’re expecting you to know that as well.
Mr. Hasan: The Commissioner is trying to dodge that bullet I think.
Mr. M. Williams: And we sit here and talk about these issues but the people in the
community are still complaining and still not seeing the effects of it and we need, we need to have
this equipment, we need to hold people accountable, we need to do those jobs ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah.
Mr. M. Williams: --- and I know the Engineering Director ain’t going to do them himself
but he needs to have the staff to do it and the equipment to do it.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 for a motion.
Mr. Sias: Not a problem ---
Mr. Mayor: Oh I’m sorry, suspend. All right, this is what happens when you don’t have a
button with lights to tell you who’s next. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Permission to address Dr. Malik.
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. B. Williams: Dr. Malik, would you like to buy one or would you like to buy two?
Right now you would like to buy one?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, I ---
Mr. B. Williams: Motion ---
Dr. Malik: --- would like to buy one because I have to have a driver operator to drive it
too so like I say we have to build up the program as we go. It’s not the equipment without enough
workforce.
Mr. B. Williams: --- all right sometimes when you have somebody that does great work
sometimes you need to support them and get out of the way you said he wants one motion to
approve one streetsweeper for Augusta Georgia.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
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Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, Mr. Mayor, who’s ever in charge ---
Mr. Mayor: I am ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay ya’ll done swapped up on me now.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, have you got the black and white shirt in your pocket.
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah I know, I know. All right hold on everybody suspend. Just suspend.
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There is a motion and there is a second but the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m not trying to hold the department up and I’m not trying to get into
the department’s business but I represent this whole city I represent at least half have voted for me
and I’m trying my best to make sure that we get everybody this equipment. So if he needs staff,
if he needs equipment, we need to give him if he’s got the money to do it. Now this stormwater
fee it’s time to collect. Now if ya’ll want to get serious let’s ask him how much money he’s got if
you want to know what he went with. I’m not trying to I mean this is not a game for me I’m trying
to make sure that the people get what they’re paying for and we sit here and act like you know we
--
Mr. Mayor: Yeah well I think the gentleman’s accurate we want to make sure we’re doing
the right work with the right people. We’ve got a motion and a second for one, okay voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
20. Motion to approve tasking the Interim Administrator to develop the evaluation tool for
the Commission for direct reports and come back with a recommendation in 30-days.
(Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. In conversation with Commissioner Davis who is the original
this item belongs to and communication with yourself, Mayor, I was going to ask that we take this
item and move it over to the Policy and Procedures Subcommittee which will be meeting in a
week. And we also have the opportunity in doing that to get input from the Mayor’s Office and
from the direct reports themselves versus having a direct report duties for him or herself or anybody
else. So the motion was to move it to the, the motion is to move it to the Policy and Procedures
Subcommittee, keep the timeline the same.
Ms. Davis: I’ll second that, Mr. Mayor. Can I make a comment?
rd
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
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Ms. Davis: Thank you and I just wanted to tell the Commission that Commissioner Sias
and I did talk about this and I appreciate him approaching me about it. The main thing I just want
to make sure we get this done and he assured me they would stay on track with this time frame but
I do want us to have input as well as a Commission. I know that you know we the main, I just
want to make sure that it’s easy to use it’s detailed, it gives goals it give good evaluation and good
constructive criticism and we need to keep all of those things in mind and just to make sure that
we all do feel like we’ve had some input of how this is this tool is developed, so thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My grandfather told me don’t try to invent the
wheel when it’s already been invented, just roll it around in your yard. I don’t understand; there’s
tools out there already that the Administrator or this body needs to go and look at that’s already
working. We don’t have to come up with a unique tool that we design ourselves. We need to get
a tool that we can use that will work with this government. So we’re acting like that’s a hard job,
that’s not a hard job. There’s tools in other areas and other governments and even in the private
entities that we can use already. We need to select one and use the tool when we select it. So I
mean we can take it back to Personnel Procedures and Policy Manual and let that subcommittee
who don’t know no more about it than nobody else look at it and talk about it but if there’s some
tools that’s already been used and they’re effective, let’s get one of them.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, so I think you’re accurate in that there are tools that exist today
particularly from an evaluation perspective. But I think what I’ve heard and I too share this
sentiment that there are four direct reports and what needs to happen is that there be consistency
in an application of how any or all of those individuals are evaluated. But the most important work
that has to happen and I think I just heard this is that this body needs to establish a set of goals for
those direct reports. It’s one thing to tell me that I’m wearing the wrong suit and the wrong color
when you didn’t tell me what the criteria was and so I think that’s part of the work that’ll take
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place in this subcommittee meeting. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to say to my colleagues as well as to the Chairman
of the PPM Subcommittee if you have any information in terms from an evaluation tool or any
information will you get that to us in advance if this motion passes.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, we’ll make sure of that, he’s tracking. All right, I’ve got a motion and a
second, voting.
Mr. D. Williams abstains.
Motion Passes 9-0-1.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
23. Motion to approve bid item #19-183, to award the contract for the Municipal Building
Parking Lot Improvements to Contract Management Inc., of Augusta, GA, in the amount of
$293,865.00. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee April 30, 2019)
33
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I guess my first question would be how many
parking spaces, Ms. Douse, is this going to create? We’re spending $293,865.00 dollars without
a change order. How many parking spaces is that going to create because when I first saw this it
said the Municipal parking lot I was thinking about the entire parking lot. So how many spaces is
this going to generate for us if we spend that money?
Ms. Douse: It’s estimated to create six additional spaces.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to make a motion to deny.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second to deny, voting.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. M. Williams vote
Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Mr. B. Williams out.
Motion Passes 6-3.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, can we go to Item number 51?
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
51. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. William Mills to the Richmond County Board
of Tax Assessors due to the expired term of Mr. Bernard Johnson for a four-year term
beginning immediately and ending April 25, 2022 representing Senatorial District 22.
(Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion to approve with a proper second, voting.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote
Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams and Mr. Sias.
Mr. B. Williams out.
Motion Passes 6-3.
Mr. Mayor: All right, back to 28.
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The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
28. Motion to approve the Richmond County Marshal office request to implement new
Marshal’s Eviction Fee Proposal. (Approved by Public Safety Committee April 30, 2019)
th..
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 I see our Deputy
Marshal Scott over there, all right if you’ll approach.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I had a conversation with the Marshal with
Marshal Lamkin and I explained to him I was in support but I didn’t want to put a fee on just the
people that’s evicted. Now there’s a lot of room I guess to improve some things. The litter patrol
or litter in this city has gotten out of hand, abandoned cars; just the other day I had a call a car on
Gordon Highway that was dismantled. And I had the Clerk’s Office to call and get with the
Marshal’s Office and they said they had an ongoing case with the property owner for you know
the car was still sitting there and it sat there for about three weeks and it’s probably still sitting
there now, Mr. Mayor. And it’s right there on Gordon Highway right by the old Horne’s Motor
Lodge but the front end is off of it I mean it’s a wreck and the Marshal said they had an ongoing
case with the property with the business who didn’t even have a business license. I have no
problem increasing the fees and trying to help the Marshal’s Office but I don’t want to increase
the fees just on one entity or people who get evicted because if a man or woman gets evicted they
really don’t have no place to go. That’s got to be the last straw. So if we increase that fee on those
individuals then what about the other people who’s littering and doing other things I think we just
need to have a conversation, sit down and talk with the Marshal’s and try to figure out a way to
improve, enhance the fee but at the same time not just on the eviction process. Someone told me
how many eviction processes they do that just tell me for sure that we just can’t just do evictions.
We’re only specifying one group if that’s the case that’s only going to happen on the southside of
the city or the inner city. That’s not going to happen all over. So I guess my motion would be,
Mr. Mayor, to send this back to committee so we can have a dialogue and talk about what can we
do to help the Marshal get the necessary resources and how that works. My question would be to
you I guess, Mr. Mayor, or to the Administrator if we do that, if we increase those fees would that
fee go straight to the Marshal’s Office or would that fee come back to this body, would that fee go
to our budget? How will we even measure that to know that that fee going to whatever? It’s like
the animal fee now you I’ve got three or four animals and ya’ll lifted that fee off those people and
I’m glad you did but I don’t think you can just target one group to do that.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, so while I can’t necessarily answer your specific question I do share
your concern and here’s why I share your concern. In this most recent legislative session it was
the first time in a long time that renters had relief and support from the General Assembly with
regards to landlords and their failure to have due process in saying I’m living here, I’m paying rent
but you’re not taking care of your end of the bargain in terms of the property. And so to that end
what has happened across the State of Georgia is that you had landlords who had more rights if
you will from a property standpoint and was just unilaterally evicting individuals who even here,
right here in Augusts, Georgia I’ve seen a host of pictures who were concerned and justified that
landlords are not doing their part. And so to that end I’ve not spoken to the Marshal this is my
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first time today this very moment looking at this matter. I’ve not had any conversations but I do
know that this is a concern, I think it’s a very proper concern. And I do want to hear from our
Deputy Marshal because even I haven’t talked to the media, no one has. Not that they had to but
you know again I share your concern. Now here’s what I’m going to do let’s hear from the Deputy
Marshal then I’m going to come back to the two Commissioners okay (inaudible) what’s going
on.
Deputy Marshal Lamkin: A couple of concerns. Where does the money go and the money
goes back to the General Fund but we’re asking for it to be allocated for the additional positions
to deal with mostly the safety concern and also the code, the litter, the blight issues that were just
discussed. And as far as the fees are concerned those fees are charged to the tenant or the landlord
who is filing for the process of the dispossess and the Writ of Possession. So those fees are what
the landlord would have to pay to file for those services.
Mr. M. Williams: If I can respond, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Hasan: Motion ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to give you a chance.
Mr. M. Williams: --- if those fees will be designated to go back through the General Fund
then other entities can raise the same fees on their end of something and say they want it to go
back to their department, then how do we balance the budget then if we do that?
Mr. Mayor: No, I think what you heard the Deputy say the Deputy Marshal say is that
those dollars are returned back to the General Fund ---
Deputy Marshal Lamkin: Correct.
Mr. Mayor: --- this body has jurisdiction over how those dollars are allocated.
Mr. M. Williams: But he was asking that they be –
Mr. Mayor: He was ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- that’s right so ---
Mr. Mayor: --- and have the opportunity to decide whether that happens during the budget
process or not.
Mr. M. Williams: --- well, I mean I’ve been around these lawyers so much, Mr. Brown
told me this now you’ve got to be careful about the wording in what you say now. I heard the
wording that he used and it triggered something in my mind. So I don’t want to sit here and say
oh, I missed that, I didn’t miss that. So if that’s the case then any other entity the Animal Shelter
can say for every animal I pick up and I get reimbursed that money goes back to the Animal Shelter
to be able to keep their equipment and their manpower in line as well. So I’m not against that I
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want to support it but at the same time I want to make sure that we do something in a way where
it’s going to be able to benefit them for doing the work and benefit the community as a whole and
not just --
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, well, I don’t disagree again. Let’s hear from the Commissioner from
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the 6 and 4.
Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a motion to approve ---
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Hasan: --- but, Mr. Mayor, I agree with you wholeheartedly. It was great news in
terms of what the state did around giving tenants an opportunity to have a voice in this process. I
ran into a couple of my constituents over the last year had no idea that those kinds of antiquated
laws exist on the books where tenants basically had no rights meaning that if a landlord was not
taking care of their property on the basic level that if that tenant complained they could be evicted.
And not only could they be evicted immediately but by state statute they also, they had a year lease
they could be one weekend they are legally responsible almost the rest of that lease as well. Many
of those persons had went right here in the Municipal Court here in Augusta-Richmond County
and one property owner in particular for poor people who they had evicted those persons owed
him over $200,000 dollars. Now of course we know he would never get it but the courts awarded
him that money and so now how does that play in what is being asked of us today? Well, the
Marshal’s Department is responsible for serving those eviction notices and making sure when
people have to be sent out there somebody’s on site. Many of us watch television all the time and
see tenants and for other reasons people take on multiple police officers you know when they come
to evict them and what have you and do repossessions and things of that nature and they’re just
trying to beef up their manpower to put some sense of security on the Marshal’s Department in
terms of when they serve those eviction notices. And I think it’s just the right thing to do because
like I said the landlord will have to pay this money the landowner and not the necessarily the tenant
and I fully support this one, Mr. Mayor, I’ve already said a motion to approve.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second Commissioner from the 4 he yields?
Mr. Sias: I just want to say one thing ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’ll recognize you.
Mr. Sias: --- about the money whether it goes back the Marshal’s Office. If you notice in
the Marshal’s proposal they had the fee proposal and then they have a second document making
the request so the proposal itself is not automatically mandatory to go back to the Marshal’s Office.
Do I really think we will honor and hopefully honor that or make by putting additional money in
their budget for those things but that is not part of the fee proposal itself so I want to commend
them for being honest and straightforward and up front with that, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second to approve, voting.
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Mr. M. Williams votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
36. Motion to approve and award Drainage Study, Stormwater System Assessment and
Drainage Improvements Engineering Services Agreement to Goodwyne, Mills & Cawood
(GMC), Alfred Benesh, Constantine Engineering, Inc., and Cranston Engineering as
requested by the AED. Award is contingent upon receipt of signed agreement RFQ 19-148
(Approved by Engineering Services Committee April 30, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got my answer to Item 36. I’m going to yield. I’m
going to make a motion to approve.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Passes 9-1.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
39. Motion to approve authorizing the Engineering Dept. to proceed with a temporary
solution of installing a left turn lane at an estimated cost of $120,000 to improve an extremely
dangerous entrance to the Augusta Regional Airport. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. To my colleagues I wholeheartedly agree that is a
dangerous situation there in terms of trying to get into what it looks to be like a service gate. For
the first time as this came on the agenda I think Saturday as well as yesterday, I took the liberty of
riding out there and take a look at that. Also, I think a little further down the road there going
toward the Augusta Regional Airport Industrial Park I think that’s what you call it further down
about several miles down there. I think I also saw the concern Commissioner Fennoy mentioned
about the road is getting unbalanced there. But I think this $120,000 dollars that we’re talking
about and we are admitting that it is a temporary solution, I think a better temporary solution for
me would be that you just close off that entrance for regular vehicles and not let employees go in
that gate. It may come out that gate but I’m talking once you close it out meaning for employees
and staff who is trying to get in there when they can go through the main entrance there. I think
this $120,000 dollars could easily because it wasn’t budgeted for could easily turn into $150,000
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dollars, $200,000 dollars. I spoke to Dr. Malik I think it was Friday to try to get a handle on
understanding the project and he said actually what they have on the book in that quarter there was
a $30 million-dollar project and they know it’s not going to be $30 million going to cut to back
some. But when you talk about from the main entrance going down to the Augusta Regional
Industrial Park which I suggest may be three to five miles I think all of that needs to be widened
in between and I think you may be suggesting for the long haul. But for me I’m concerned about
putting 120 which I believe in my mind from looking at it, it’s going take more money than that
and we’re going to end up in a place that we’re not prepared to spend this amount of money right
now on the particular project. We can probably find a more simpler solution about redirecting
some of probably the employee traffic they go through the main gate and they can exit out because
I did all of that just the other day to try to get a feel for it because I’m concerned about this project
is going to balloon beyond what we’re willing to pay at this particular time.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, the Chair recognizes, all right, I appreciate that commentary.
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I’m coming in just a minute. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Do we have a motion already?
Mr. Hasan: No, I’m going to make a motion to deny.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: A motion and a second but let me say this too and when I saw an extreme
extremely dangerous entrance, it really set the alarm off on in my mind. There’s a lot of places in
town or in close proximity than the airport. The airport’s important for sure. We don’t want
anybody get hurt anywhere. But what about those areas that inside that we’ve been saying we’re
going to get to. If we approve this, spend that kind of money out there and the people that’s been
asking for this who’ve been living and driving through extreme dangerous situations, I don’t know
how they will receive that. But there’s been a motion already and I second it. I just think that this
is something that we need to look at maybe down the road but right now we need to look at the
things that are at hand over there, the low hanging fruit I call it, to get something resolved.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so I’m going to I’ll comment and then I’m going to let the
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Commissioner from the 4 so he can address this as well respond after that. Having driven for the
better part of 4 years up and down Doug Barnard Parkway turning right on the 4H Club Road
going home and that’s just over the last four years, we’re proud of that, because I drove from here
to Monsanto. The road in question at least as I observe it is right there going into Standard Aero.
It’s historically been viewed as a service road for vehicles that come in and out of there so I do
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want the Commissioner from the 4 to speak to that issue. I’d also like to know or have some
sense of understanding about what our traffic, what the traffic data tells us in terms of fatality count
or accident count that’s in that area since we’re calling it an ‘extremely dangerous road’ so I’m
going to yield there, Commissioner, and you’ll close us out, sir.
Mr. Sias: Not a problem, thank you. What I do, we have Ms. Diane I can’t think of her
last name from the Airport Operations and I would like for her to have an opportunity to speak.
But also let me further say is this issue just didn’t jump up yesterday. I’ve been a part of the
39
Augusta Aviation Commission as ex-officio for over four years now and that has been a problem
that they’ve been talking about just like we talk about this streetlight issue. It’s been a problem
going on out there for quite a while. And when this thing passed committee there was almost a
celebration out there at the airport because we have, the amount of traffic that goes in that gate will
not be, how do I want to say it, conducive to going into the main entrance. That just does not work
there. You don’t get to all of that area from the main entrance with the type of vehicles that go in
that area. I commend my colleague for going out there and taking a look but I could’ve invited
him to talk to the aviation folks and somebody from Standard Aero and some of the other folks
out there as well prior to that, I don’t want to say snap judgement, but to get a full view of that. So
at this time I’d like to bring Ms. Diane up to speak.
Mr. Mayor: All right and tell Ms. Johnson as you approach the podium here hopefully you
and/or our Traffic Engineering folks can speak to the issue of what the data tells us out there with
regards to ‘extremely dangerous’ and what that means.
Ms. Johnson: Thank you, I appreciate the opportunity to speak. This intersection let me
just say it’s not just that stuff going into the airport but right after Tobacco Road as you’re going
down Doug Barnard Parkway immediately after the traffic funnels into one lane and that’s a very
busy roadway for some of the logging trucks and for multiple vehicles that have the 18 wheelers,
the rental car vehicular transports and things like that. So by funneling all of that traffic into the
main drive of the airport could be also very dangerous and certainly not conducive to making it a
good customer service experience for those folks that are using the airport. But additionally when
you’re talking the dangerous intersection, I’m sorry about that, just recently within the last two
months there was a vehicle hit that was trying to turn left into the that particular drive and it’s not
just Standard Aero folks that use it which as approximately 200 employees total that use that
entrance everyday it’s also the hangar tenants, the rental car folks, the air traffic control folks, our
folks so there’s a lot of folks that use that every day. And as I mentioned in the last couple of
months there was a vehicle, an SUV that was hit so far, so hard that it actually turned the vehicle
over and the gentleman had to be transported to the hospital. That’s not the only accident that’s
happened there we’ve been very fortunate I guess that it hasn’t been worse than it is but again
when you’ve got those logging trucks and some of those large vehicles and actually the vehicle
that hit this SUV and overturned it was a Mustang that happened to just be speeding down the
road. So I think it’s certainly behooves us to think about not only the traffic going in there but if
we close off that lane, that means that all of the vehicles are going to have to go around the loop
road right in front of the terminal where we’ve got passengers transitioning to and from the
terminal. That can prove to be a very dangerous situation as well.
Mr. Mayor: All right, is Mr. Ussery going to talk about the traffic data in that area again
because this is the road that’s immediately in front of, it’s the service road right in front of Standard
Aero. That’s the road that we’re talking about, not the road at the main entrance into the airport,
okay we’ll come back that way.
Mr. Sias: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right go ahead, sir.
40
Mr. Ussery: Okay, I’m not going to discuss anything about the operations of the airport.
I’m not really familiar enough with that so I’ll tell you what our investigation did find. When we
did the accident, ran the accident reports for this location we found in the last two years there was
three accidents. Two of them were people that ran off the road and then there was one that was
mentioned earlier about the gentleman that was injured that was hit. The volume on this section
of road is very normal for a two-lane roadway; the capacity of the road is okay. One thing that did
stand out to us is the number of trucks. Normally on a normal road you can anticipate about 5%
of the volume of cars or large vehicles like a semi-truck and this one had a much large percentage
of semi-trucks. So the two issues that we identified when we were looking at this from a traffic
point of view that were an issue is there’s a large percentage, a larger than normal percentage of
semi-trucks driving up and down this particular section of Doug Barnard and also has been
mentioned is the speed. So those are the two issues and the speed to be honest is not really an
engineering issue. It’s more of an enforcement issue but you know they are speeding. I think that’s
pretty common knowledge that that is happening out there. So there’s nothing from the numbers
point of view other than the high percentage of trucks that would tell a traffic engineer that this is
extremely dangerous. When I did meet with the Standard Aero folks, they basically said what was
just said was there’s lots of trucks, they’re speeding too fast, the vehicles are going too fast and
there’s been lots of near misses which is very difficult for me to quantify and put it into some sort
of report to say it’s dangerous but that’s, those were my observations at this location.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 8, I’m going
to let you close out, Commissioner.
Mr. Garrett: Permission to address Mr. Ussery.
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely.
Mr. Garrett: And we’re sure that’s our road not a state road because any time I’ve inquired
about it I’ve always been told that Doug Barnard is a state road.
Mr. Ussery: That’s correct. I actually the first time I was at Standard Aero I told them it
was a state highway and needed to contact GDOT which they did and then GDOT sent us all back
a letter that said that the state route ends at the entrance, the main to the airport so Doug Barnard
from Tobacco Road all the way down to Interstate 520 is a state route but this section is just above
that so this is an Augusta roadway.
Mr. Garrett: The condition of the rest of that road, I drive that road weekly. It’s pretty
rough; I’m embarrassed to say that it’s an Augusta maintained road for the condition that it’s in.
So before we even start addressing this one entrance I think that we need to kind of look at the
overall project to see what we can do to make the rest of that road safe.
Mr. Ussery: The pavement is in poor condition I agree and that also could be exacerbating
some of the problems with the speeding is you know it makes you know they’re just tearing it, and
the high percentage of trucks. You can tell there’s a lot of trucks just tearing it up.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you.
41
Mr. Sias: Mr. Ussery, real quick the, any improvements that we make as far as this they
can be incorporated into a final solution, am I correct?
Mr. Ussery: Yeah, the temporary solution that’s been discussed internally and presented
can be incorporated if there’s any sort of larger widening project that happens.
Mr. Sias: We wouldn’t be redoing it, that part could just be part as additionally widening
goes all the way down to the end of that road and approving the whole thing.
Mr. Ussery: That’s correct. The improvements we would make now could be incorporated
into whatever the final version of that roadway is.
Mr. Sias: My substitute motion is that we approve the item as stated.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a question.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Let’s just vote on it. I mean I’ll, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Well, like I say, Mr. Mayor, my concern is that this is and let me be frank and
I don’t mean to be found rude. Ms. Johnson, Johnston or Johnson Johnston, Ms. Diane. But also
looking at the road and I don’t mean to be ugly in saying this. The inside of the fence they’ll
probably look no better than the road did so I can’t say where you know there was concern about
the road. I mean they look the same. You ride on the same type of experience your vehicle is.
And so for us to take on this and they really haven’t made any improvements or anything. I just
don’t know where this is going to go. I’m sure this is going to be a, and I’m not an engineer I’m
not an architect but I think we’re going to ease into a $150,000 or $200,000 dollars just to do what
is being asked of us and that is my concern. Are we prepared to spend that kind of money?
Mr. Mayor: All right, so all right we’ve got a couple of things in front of us here. I’m
going to go back to the comments that I shared a moment ago. I think what I’ve heard from our
Traffic Engineer and all of these are very valid concerns is that we have a lack of law enforcement
in that area, that’s number one that’s a critical piece. When you look at where the road transitions
at the main entrance i.e. Tobacco and Doug Barnard that is where law enforcement has a regular
presence at. At each of the GSP Georgia State Patrol stops where they stop vehicles, they’re
stationed there. They’re stationed on the Molly Pond side of it as well or at the Brickyard Ponds.
And so because of the nature of the work being done on that end of Doug Barnard Parkway, which
is where the old road needs to be surfaced, is a single lane road. You have heavy trucks that is
what they do whether it’s Olin whether it’s Resolute Forest formerly Augusta Newsprint or
whether they’re taking their trucks all the way down to Graphics Packaging formerly International
Paper. That road, the need for resurfacing, the dips in it, etc., is a direct result of the heavy traffic
that you’re getting on that road and it has been that way for a decade. And so to that end ---
42
Mr. Speaker: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah absolutely and to that end, I think that while this is an important and
real concern I would think that we might want to take a more measured approach with how we
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resolve this. All right, we’re going to do two things. The Commissioner from the 4 has a
st
substitute to approve with a second from the Commissioner from the 1 we’re going to vote that
up or down and then we’ll come back to the previous motion.
Mr. Clarke: What was the motion?
Mr. Mayor: The substitute motion was to approve what you see on the screen and that is
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$120,000. The main motion from the Commissioner from the 6 with a second from the 5 was
to deny this request, all right?
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams made the motion, Bobby Williams seconded it.
Mr. Mayor: Okay that’s fine.
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The Clerk: Mr. 6 raised the issue.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s fine. All right, voting. The substitute is voting for the 120.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias and Mr. John Clarke vote Yes.
Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Fails 4-5.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re on the motion to deny, voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Fails 5-4.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
42. Motion to approve $100,000 in Additional Funding for New Savannah Bluff Lock and
Dam and include periodic updates from the firms involved. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee April 30, 2019)
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
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Mr. M. Williams: Before you vote, Mr. Mayor, I pulled this agenda item ---
Mr. Mayor: Oh, I’m sorry.
Mr. M. Williams: --- how long have ya’ll been in here? Somebody pulled it, I think
somebody pulled it, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: You did, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Let them pull, let them approve. I’m waiting to talk; I ain’t got no
problem with that.
Mr. Mayor: Come on now, we’ve got time. All right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: If you ain’t been on the train you ought to sit down and be quiet now.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Tom, I’ve got no problem approving this but I did want to pull it to make
sure that we have talked to the adjacent parties who are involved in this and try to get our fair share
back from them whether it be North Augusta, Columbia County, Aiken or anybody else that’s
involved as far as us just spending the $100,000 dollars ourselves. So I’ve got no problem with
approving it and I’m going to vote for it but I just thought that we should make sure that goes on
the record that we at least ask those, they may not voluntarily give it to us but we’ve got to go to
them and ask them for their fair share of this because I mean we’re all in this together. We know
we want to do everything we can for the Lock but if we don’t go to them and confide we won’t
know nothing.
Mr. Wiedemeier: Okay, I did reach out to Mayor Petit. He called me back, we haven’t
connected yet but I will make that, have that conversation.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I mean I’ve got no problem with that.
The Clerk: We have a motion and a second, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, voting.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
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46. Motion to approve the reallocation of the SPLOST 4 through 6 funded projects to
projects as listed by the Engineering Department. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee April 30, 2019)
Mr. D. Williams: Move for approval.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: --- hold on a minute, hold on a minute, ya’ll are doing it again now.
Mr. M. Williams: Let them go. Let them run out there until they get out of breath. They
ain’t going far.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got the horse done left the barn. Pull them all back.
Mr. M. Williams: They ain’t going far.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I talked with the Compliance Director and she
wanted to address something on this and I want her to come up and just tell us what her interest
was. The Compliance Director to, had a question about this item.
Ms. Edwards: Thank you, Commissioner. I had a couple of points that I wanted to raise
for this body to consider.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on a minute, hold on a minute, Ms. Edwards, hold on just one second.
All right, do you have a question or she has questions for us?
Mr. M. Williams: No, no, she had a question about this item. I pulled it you know because
she had a question about this item that I wanted to get clarity on and I thought she would come up
here and bring that, is that not?
Mr. Mayor: Well, you know, normally if she has a question, I would ask that she ask us.
Mr. M. Williams: And that’s what she was doing.
Mr. Mayor: No, no I mean I think that would’ve happened before we even got to this point.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, I pulled the item, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: I want her to ask the question.
45
Mr. M. Williams: --- I pulled the item. I had a question. She can explain it; she’s the
Compliance Director. Now unless you’ve got another way of doing this I mean ---
Mr. Mayor: No, you pulled it on the premise that you had a question but Ms. Edwards just
said I have a question for ya’ll.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay, Ms. Edwards, I’ve got a question I’ve got a question, Ms.
Edwards, what is your problem with this item? I mean hey I’ve been here too long, man ---
Mr. Mayor: That’s good.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay.
Ms. Edwards: Mr. Mayor, thank you. My question if I had to pose it in the form of a
question would be regarding this item of reallocation of sidewalk remediation money that is
unused. Is the body considering reallocating that money for a purpose other than sidewalk
remediation? If that answer is yes, then I have some facts that I would like to highlight to this
body for you to consider.
Mr. Mayor: They wouldn’t be ADA related, would they?
Ms. Edwards: Not really. It’s regarding citizen complaints that we have received through
the Compliance Department that aren’t necessarily ADA related.
Mr. Mayor: Sure, so I’m going to go back to you I’m going to yield. Let’s bring some
brevity to this conversation. We have a motion before us to approve the reallocation of the
SPLOST 4 through 6 funded projects to projects as listed by the Engineering Department. Again,
Ms. Bonner, shame on me today. I have not read what the list of projects are to date and so I don’t
know what’s being proposed in terms of how we’re going to reallocate that money but’s that a
very germane question.
The Clerk: Dr. Malik (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: All right, Dr. Malik, if you’ll proceed then we’re going to come back to you,
okay?
Ms. Edwards: I want to highlight two facts to this body last week ---
Mr. Mayor: Hold on one second, Ms. Edwards, just hold on. All right, Dr. Malik, let him
respond to the issue of the proposed project reallocation and then we’re going to come back to you
okay, all right.
Dr. Malik: Basically, the department responded to the request by the Commissioner. The
update on the SPLOST 4 through 6 and then the plan for using the funds so the department
reviewed the projects and we’re proposing basically consolidating those funds. They are you know
different projects of similar natures and we’re consolidating into increasing the resurfacing
46
program and fielding requests to do road resurfacing in a timely manner. And also adding some
consolidating the money we have in the Traffic upgrade, traffic improvements consolidated that
to fund the ITS and the street lighting operation. And also allocating some money to the trees
because also there is increasing requests for tree management on that. We’re also allocating money
half-million dollars sidewalk rehab and improvement. The Engineering Department would use the
money primarily to complete the design some of the projects we’re planning to do as a part of that
and that’s on Exhibit D which basically was presented in the committee.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, so I’m going to yield to Ms. Edwards you speak first and then
I’ll come back to you okay, you go ahead and ask your question with regards to this. What we
have in front of us and I don’t remember if you’ve seen this list. Have you been provided this list,
Ms. Edwards?
Ms. Edwards: I’m not sure.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, probably not. All right, Attorney Brown, can you hand this to Ms.
Edwards? That’s the proposed ---
The Clerk: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- I’ve got him, I’m coming to him. That’s the proposed reallocation. I don’t
know if anyone else has weighed in on that or had any it’s $9.9 million dollars that’s being
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reallocated. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Permission to address Dr. Malik?
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Garrett: Dr. Malik, on your plan to reallocate these projects, are any of these projects
new projects that weren’t included in the SPLOST?
Dr. Malik: There is a project already in SPLOST. We’ve been doing it so it’s consolidating
those projects so there’s no new projects. We have all those projects ongoing ---
Mr. Garrett: So ---
Dr. Malik: --- there was some projects (inaudible).
Mr. Garrett: --- so Wilkinson Garden, Willis Foreman and the street lighting were already
projects?
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, like we have in Phase 4 for example downtown signal streetlight
upgrades there are a couple of projects in there and we do have streetlights that need to be
addressed in that. And then Wilkinson Garden and Hyde Park are the same projects. We started
with Wilkinson Garden. The Hyde Park is the original retention pond but the actual projects is
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really in Wilkinson Garden and we needed to restart that and actually get in constructing that pond
because Hyde Park is almost wrapping up.
Mr. Garrett: Hyde Park and Wilkinson were connected.
Dr. Malik: Yes, sir, we had the Hyde Park is an original retention facility that will serve
the Wilkinson Garden area and some other areas.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to make a motion we send this back to
committee so we’ll have a chance to vet this again and be able to have some dialogue about what
projects and what costs we’re reallocating ---
Mr. Mayor: I think that’s ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- not to kill it but just to bring it back.
Mr. Mayor: --- I think that’s an appropriate response right now with regards to one how
we arrived here but more importantly how we can best use these resources to get some critical past
items done.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I still would like to know what the Compliance concern was
because for us to do this we still don’t know what the concerns were because she said she made
mention it was not ADA and anything like that so what other concerns.
Ms. Edwards: Yes, sir, the concerns the Compliance Department has consistently received
citizen complaints regarding sidewalks in the city. The complaints are either the sidewalks need
to be repaired and/or there are no sidewalks at all. We’ve received numerous complaints within a
certain period of time. Additionally the 2016 ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan identified
a total of $105 million-dollars that needed to be done in sidewalk and bus stop remediation. So
my point is that the complaints we’re receiving are not necessarily ADA. They are sidewalk
related and if we have sidewalk remediation funds that have not been used then it probably may
be a good idea to consider using it for that purpose since we’re getting numerous complaints. The
ADA Coordinator is present here if you would like her to detail us on the nature and number of
those complaints she can elaborate on that.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I say something? Based on the Compliance Director’s
concerns it seems like those can be addressed moving this issue forward. I don’t see the need to
send this issue back when those comments can be taken into consideration of the funds because if
for all intents and purposes he, Dr. Hameed, seems to have been saying that we was looking at
like-minded projects. So if they were like-minded projects and sidewalks were available and he
was able to consolidate then those sidewalks were going to get done he can take the comments
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himself to the director in consideration in moving forward. And so we’re not going to put the
money in another place because SPLOST money’s very tricky. You’re going to use if for similar
projects so the projects are there it just makes sense to me to take the comments in consideration
and keep it moving as opposed to sending it back.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah so ---
Mr. Hasan: I’d like to make a substitute motion.
The Clerk: We have a motion.
Mr. Mayor: --- hold on, hold on, hold on, the allocation of the $9 million dollars the
sidewalk piece is a very small portion of that. There were other projects that the Commissioner
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from the 9 had a concern about that had been no input that he or several of us shared that we felt
like there needed to be some real input in terms of how we reallocate those dollars. To your point
when a SPLOST project has been deemed not able to be completed, it is within statutorily possible
to reallocate those dollars for other things. And so and I think that’s not the question that’s
necessarily being posed here. It is let’s take a step back, let us look clearly at these projects and
see if we are able to do some things that are maybe more priority. I think that’s what you heard
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from the Commissioner from the 9.
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Mr. Hasan: The Commissioner from the 9 he had he was referring to the Director so
that’s where my comments came from.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, Mr. Mayor, if I can as Chairman of Engineering Services I would
appreciate the opportunity to at least vet some of these and talk about who ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- I mean.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay all right, we’ve got a motion and a second to send it back to committee
to have some more discussion, voting.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir ---
Mr. B. Williams: --- I have a question.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right state your inquiry.
Mr. B. Williams: Will the Commissioners be able to look at the projects and give input --
Mr. Mayor: Yes, absolutely.
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Mr. B. Williams: --- if it’s specific to your district.
Mr. Mayor: I think you can; that’s certainly appropriate in this context. It’s a reallocation
of nine almost ten million dollars, voting.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Frantom, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke
vote Yes.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Hasan and Mr. Garrett vote No.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Passes 6-3.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
50. Require the Augusta Transit Department to display the scheduled arrival time of the
public transit bus at each posted bus stop”. The scheduled time shall be posted at each bus
stop within the next 90 days. (Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias)
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, that’s the Commissioner from the 4. I see Ms. Sharon Dottery.
Please approach, come on up, Ms. Dottery.
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Mr. Mayor: I’ve got you, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you (unintelligible) thank you, sir. Here’s an issue that was seeking a
solution for and when we say signs at the bus stop for letting us know when the buses come here’s
what I see. A simple sign that this is Augusta Transit Bus Route #14 arrival times 6:00 a.m., 8:00
a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 a.m. We got those little signs that they put that other schedule
on that I didn’t feel was worth a flip when I went out to take a ride on the bus. So the bottom line
is we’ve talked about this and we talked about this for years. Now I’ve asked about it and asked
about it so the simple thing is it time for this body to tell them to put the schedule there. So if you
go each one of those bus stops have a number is that right, Ms. Dottery?
Ms. Dottery: That’s correct.
Mr. Sias: So if it’s bus, this is bus route Wal Mart route Stop #8 at this Stop 8 the bus
arrives at 6:40, 7:40, 9:40 or 10:40 so you know what route number it is and you know what time
the thing, you not saying what time it leaves, you’re saying what time it arrives. Now on the other
side of the street almost opposite that stop is that one have the number or is it a different stop?
Ms. Dottery: No, it would be the same number.
Mr. Sias: It would be same number. It’s just on that side of the road say we’re going this
way now, right?
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir, outbound and inbound.
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Mr. Sias: So and that’s all I’ve been asking for to say if you walk out there and you see a
bus stop you know what time the bus comes and you can put that on one of those, what are those
10x12 signs or 9 ½ by 11 the recent ones that were put out there.
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: Okay and I’m saying is why don’t we put a sign like that at each bus stop and if
we ever change the time you go out there and paint the sign out and put the new time on there will
you, so on the average bus stop. One last question, one last thing, on the average bus stop, Ms.
Dottery, just say we’ll take the Wal Mart ride on Barton Chapel, how many arrival times is at one
of those bus stops on Barton Chapel?
Ms. Dottery: How many times ---
Mr. Sias: Yes.
Ms. Dottery: --- does the bus actually come to that stop?
Mr. Sias: Yes.
Ms. Dottery: On average, you would say five to six times.
Mr. Sias: So that’s my point. It ain’t every hour, it’s not every hour and a half so if you
miss it you and you don’t know, you could be standing out there for a long time. So that’s the
whole point of if the bus comes at 7:00 then if it’s 9:30 after that then if it’s 10:00 or 12:00 and
1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. That’s all I’m asking for, Ms. Dottery, is to get some signs on the bus
stops with the route and the number and time.
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Mr. Mayor: All right okay all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Two things, Mr. Mayor. First of all I’d to know how one Commissioner
can put this on the agenda and have that done when it should’ve came from a committee
perspective where one Commissioner because I’ve got a bunch of orders I want to give out and
nobody won’t take them but I still want to give them. Now the other thing is ---
Mr. Sias: You act like this ain’t a process for putting stuff on the agenda (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: --- well ---
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on.
Mr. Mayor: --- putting it on the agenda and giving orders are two different things, Mr.
Mayor. There’s a lot of stuff I’ve got on the agenda. I ain’t got no problem putting it on the agenda
but giving direction, Ms. Dottery, how many people do you supervise? You’re the Interim Director
right now, right?
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Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: How many people do you supervise, how many people work for you?
Ms. Dottery: Two.
Mr. M. Williams: Two people. So you’ve got two staff people plus yourself or do you
have yourself plus one more?
Ms. Dottery: No, two people plus myself.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, you’ve got three people there with you so if you had to put these
signs out and I had more bus conversations with you than anybody I imagine. In fact called you
from the grocery store and talked about the bus situation so I understand that and I get that but you
don’t have the staff or the funds to get everything we want when we want it, do you?
Ms. Dottery: No, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, well and that’s the first thing. The other thing is that when we
put these signs out there and people don’t have a place to sit or to a place to be, you’re still not
going to get the participation because you don’t have, it’s not convenient for somebody to stand
there when the weather’s like it is, the rain last Friday and the rain Saturday. People are not going
to stand outside. We’ve got to get serious as a body, put some money into the Transit Department
so we can enhance the riders. A lot of people got cars but leave them at home if the bus was
convenient, if we had a place to get in and get out. I agree with the signage but until we do that
then we told you to make bricks without straw, that’s what Pharaoh did. He told the people to
make bricks without straw. And so I don’t agree with what was said I just know that this body has
to get serious about giving you the equipment and manpower you need to be able to get those
things done in a timely manner. The signage you brought, where do those signs come from the
ones that you showed us in committee?
Ms. Dottery: The ones I showed you in committee actually the IT Department designed
them for me.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, IT, was that at a cost to you?
Ms. Dottery: No.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay well, there you go again trying to make straw make bricks without
straw again. You can’t even pay IT to do it so you know you can’t go outside and get it done. But
I mean it acts like you know when I saw this how did this get on the agenda, how did it ever get
there? I mean and want it done by in 90 days. If you start today you wouldn’t get it done in 90
days with three people.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay all right so here’s how we’re going to handle this matter. I’m going to
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recognize the Commissioner from the 10 and then I’m going to come back and speak to it and
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we’ll go from there. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I got a little confused on an earlier vote and I’m sure
I’m going to get crucified by it but I’ve got this one. Aren’t we changing a lot of the bus stops on
some of the routes and we’re ordering new signs that are going up and they’re going to replace the
old signs ---
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Clarke: --- and we’re in the process now of trying to build out some new bus shelters.
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Clarke: Do you think that it would, and I can agree with the Commissioner from the
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4 that’s it’s a good idea to have the times on the bus stops. But do you think it would be better
to wait until we make the changes of the signs or go out there now and do it and then have to turn
around and do it again?
Mr. Mayor: So suspend for a moment. Don’t answer that question.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, I understand but when do you anticipate the new signs going up?
Ms. Dottery: Right now we’re looking at possibly July.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, so that would fall into the timeframe that we could do that so there’s
the answer to it. I appreciate it very much and you’re doing an outstanding job on Transit.
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Commissioner from the 10 since he’s been onboard and on the
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Commission has come on again I know the Commissioner from the 9 as he said nobody’d asked
more questions and been more engaged in Transit than he has. But I do want to applaud the
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Commissioner from the 10 who has come on board to champion Transit and he’s ridden every
route, had an opportunity to see what’s going on and his questions are spot on. We always want
to make sure that we do everything we can to not put our Directors or employees in harm’s way
between the question and this body. Let’s keep that in mind. But to the Commissioner from the
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4’s request here while it’s certainly proper and well within his right to put an item on the agenda,
I think that’s his point it is well within his right to be able to do that. The broader concern is that
this body several months ago asked for a complete plan of not only shelter implementation but
also the logistics around where they would be located, what the cost would be, and signage as well.
And we asked then at the time our Capital Projects Manager to engage in that discussion. As I
understand it that information has been brought back to this body and for us to come back and
unilaterally amend that I think is a little shortsighted. I don’t think we should do that. I think we
need to give this team the opportunity to move forward with the implementation, strategy and the
elements of that as we voted on before and not necessarily add anything to it. So what I would ask
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the distinguished Commissioner from the 4 to do is to maybe yield on this item and let’s see if
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we can get some success around rolling that out because there was a great deal of discussion that
went into getting that putting that together. What we’ve missed in this discussion is the work that
this body meaning Ms. Dottery and her team have been doing with technology ---
Mr. M. Williams: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: --- well, anytime there is more than one it’s a team and so to the good preacher
you know you preach about this Father, Son and Holy Spirit it only takes but three and they work
as one. So I’m coming to him, I’m coming to him, I’ve got him.
Mr. M. Williams: (Unintelligible) knows the work now.
The Clerk: He can’t do nothing with it.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, he can’t do nothing with it yeah and even he believes not. So to that
end there’s yeah, to that end that matter is being rolled up into that where people have the ability
to know when the buses are coming and we cannot lose sight of that. Sometimes we just kind of
keep adding stuff but let’s finish the work that’s in front of us before we start adding stuff to it.
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And so the Commissioner from the 4 he has an item here. I’m going to recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 5 and I’m going to give you a chance to close out, okay?
Mr. Sias: I appreciate it.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, Mr. Mayor, I do believe that he said have these posted within the
next 90 days. I think you with the shortage of the number of workers I think even to happen to
have changes with the schedule I think 90 days is enough. If you need another month, fine but I
think this is something that can go forward. I mean 90 days is three months so let’s make sure we
take that into consideration. But he’s not asking for it tomorrow, he’s not asking for it next week,
he’s saying in 90 days.
Mr. Mayor: I think the piece ya’ll are missing is that the bus route lines are not that, how
can I say this, efficient. On average you’re waiting for a bus and hour and fifteen minutes or may
an hour and twenty minutes in most of the locations. And so absent us having that conversation I
just think that it’s premature to put a sign up that says the bus is going to be here at 8:15 when in
all likelihood that bus is not going to be at 8:15.
Mr. B. Williams: All he’s saying is giving a roundabout, well, give a time but you know
you have to give ten, fifteen minutes from time to time and we put schedules up in three months
or four months, it’s still going to vary.
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Mr. Mayor: All right the Commissioner from the 4 and then we’ll vote on it with no
motion.
Mr. Sias: I’ll make my closing comment here but I want to ask Ms. Dottery a question.
And, Ms. Dottery, this has nothing to do with you, this has to do with getting this done. Are our
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bus routes are our bus stops so when they come to a route are they that far off that they come
anytime of the day as the Mayor just described or do they have a general timeframe that they come?
Ms. Dottery: No, they have a schedule that they have to follow.
Ms. Sias: I thought so and that’s the only thing that I’m saying we should put up on at the
stop. I mean (unintelligible) a bus comes is scheduled to be there at 8:00 o’clock and gets there at
9:15. We ain’t that bad. So the question I’m asking is was saying let’s just put the schedule and
this new rollout that the Mayor mentioned a time schedule on the bus stops are not in it. That was
my concern when it was rolled out, it’s not there. So the point I’ve been asking for for a long time
and other folks say they been talking about Transit for longer than me and that’s fine. I’ve been
asking for the schedule at the bus stop. That’s all I’ve been asking for is that if I’m going to ride
the bus or public transit I just need some idea when it arrive. If I’m standing out there on Sunday,
will I take off before Tuesday? The Mayor says I might have to wait until Wednesday. But I just
want to stand out there and have an idea that if it’s 9:00 o’clock and that’s what time the bus comes
I can give it a few minutes but jeez we ain’t that bad. So I’m asking that we put up schedules, and
I’m not saying you need to use your three people. If we do this than we need to give you the
resources to do it but how are you going to run a transit when nobody knows when it comes?
That’s my simple statement, Mr. Mayor, and I say we need to approve this.
Mr. Mayor: I’m not disagreeing with you, I’m not I just want you to carry all of those
things in mind, okay? All right, do you want to make a motion, sir?
Mr. Sias: I already made it, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right well, you didn’t make a motion ---
The Clerk: Motion to approve ---
Mr. Sias: Motion to approve this and also provide Transit the Transit Department with the
resources to make this happen.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
The Clerk: --- who was that, Mr. Fennoy, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, voting.
Mr. Fennoy: I’ve got a question.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Dottery, how many bus stops do we have?
Ms. Dottery: Approximately 692.
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Mr. Fennoy: Say what?
The Clerk: 692.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, how many bus shelters do we have?
Ms. Dottery: Approximately 180.
Mr. Fennoy: And I guess and at the bus stop that’s not a bus shelter besides the sign on
the pole what else is there, nothing?
Ms. Dottery: There’s nothing but the sign.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and I have a problem with each bus stop because I think that it would
be more workable if we could do it at the shelters as opposed to the bus stops because there’s
nothing there I mean to that’s my only concern, Mr. Mayor.
Ms. Dottery: If we did do that, we would just have to add it to the sign because his request
has said each bus stop so that would mean ones with shelters and the ones without shelters.
Mr. Fennoy: Would you be willing to amend your motion?
Mr. Sias: Just (inaudible) shelters I didn’t want to know when the bus time comes if I’m
standing out there with nothing. I mean come on now. I can stand under a shelter for two hours but
standing out there next to a pole on Deans Bridge Road and it’s raining, I want to have an idea
when the bus is coming. I want to look up there and see what the schedule is. But you know that’s
fine this motion could fail or not. I’ll drive.
Mr. Mayor: Let’s just vote on this.
Mr. Sias: I’m really trying to give folks who need to ride the Transit to know when the bus
is coming.
Mr. Mayor: All right and it’d be good to send electronically the plan of action. Would you
send that out please, Ms. Dottery, and Mr. McDowell please send that out again to everybody.
Okay, voting. We’re voting on this matter.
Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams vote Yes.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Fails 4-5
Mr. Mayor: Okay, there’s one more item that we have before us, there’s one more item
that we have before us. There’s one more item. Shall this meeting be adjourned or shall we
continue until noon tomorrow?
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Mr. Clarke: They gotta catch a bus.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
May 7, 2019.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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