HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting August 20, 2019
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
AUGUST 20, 2019
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., August 20, 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: Okay, good afternoon, everyone. We’re going to go ahead and get started and
call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, before we go too far I want to raise attention to the
Addendum Agenda. We sent out a notice informing everyone of these items and I’d like to add
these by unanimous consent, without objection.
Mr. Fennoy: You’ve got an objection, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, without objection ---
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, we’ve got an objection here.
Mr. Mayor: --- you’ve got an objection? Okay, all right, all right, okay.
The Clerk: All of them, sir?
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, all right okay, okay all right. Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. I call your attention to the invocation portion of our agenda which
will be delivered today by Bishop Booker T. Hayes, Jr., oh, I’m sorry he wasn’t able to be here,
by Dr. Victor, I’m sorry Dr. Thomas, Dr. Victor R. Thomas, Pastor of the Great Mt. Canaan Baptist
Church after which we’ll have our Pledge of Allegiance by Interim Deputy Administrator Mr.
Maurice McDowell. Thank you.
The invocation was given by Dr. Victor Thomas, Pastor, Greater Apostolic Holy Temple.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
The Clerk: Reverend Thomas, yes, sir. Office of Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr., by these present
be it known that Dr. Victor R. Thomas, Pastor of the Great Mr. Canaan Baptist Church is Chaplain
of the Day his spiritual guidance and civic leadership serves as an example for all citizens of
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Augusta. Given under my hand this 20 Day of Augusta 2019, Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor. Thank
you so much.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much. Would you join me in congratulating Dr. Thomas for
his services, our Chaplain of the Day. (APPLAUSE) Dr. Thomas, I was getting a little nervous
when you were walking up. I thought that was the Philadelphia Eagles pullover and I’m happy to
see it’s Michigan State.
Dr. Thomas: (Inaudible) Dallas Cowboys.
Mr. Mayor: I know, I know, that’s right. That’s another Cowboy in the house. Madam
Clerk, I’m going to revisit the requested addendum agenda items and I want to make sure we
calibrate ourselves. There were items that again from a consent agenda standpoint and then there
were regular agenda items. Madam Clerk, would you take a moment just to speak to these items
as to how we got them and it may maybe just a little bit more insight will add some value to how
we got here.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. The items request from the Planning and Development Department
are for three items: a FINAL PLAT – HAYNES STATION, item number two a request for a
Special Exception Personal Care Home and item three approve zoning change from a Light
Industry to a Multiple-family on 1812 Slaton Street which was reviewed and approved by the
Planning Commission at their meeting on last Monday. However when placing the items in the
agenda, electronic agenda process the wrong date was selected for the items to be considered by
the Commission which would’ve been at our first September meeting. It was done in error. The
next item number four is an oversight from the Clerk’s Office that Mayor Pro Tem Frantom had
requested that an encroachment permit for 916 Greene Street be added to the agenda. Item number
five is supporting documentation for Item Number 29 that was approved through our Executive
Session for today, however the documentation was omitted from the agenda.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so I’m going to go in reverse order. All right, I’d like to get
unanimous consent to add Number 5. As Madam Clerk indicated, we approved this matter for
today’s meeting in light of bringing the additional documentation. This is for the DFCS Building
that we wanted to see move forward as quickly as possible so I’d like to get unanimous consent to
add that to the agenda.
M. Clarke: Motion to add.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 1 still objects. All right, so let me just
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ask the question. All right, does the Commissioner from the 1 object to all being added?
Mr. Fennoy: I do.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very well, okay all right, thank you.
Mr. Frantom: Can I ask ---
Mr. Mayor: All right directives, the Chair recognizes ---
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Mr. Frantom: I mean my concern is I submitted my agenda item and it was before the time
so why will we not be able to discuss it today if it was just an error? I mean why do we have the
right to stop that?
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, these items will be moved to the August 27 Special Called
Meeting Agenda. To those petitioners who are here for the Planning Commission items if you’ll
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be prepared to attend the August 27 1:00 o’clock meeting.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: That is correct ---
The Clerk: At 11:00, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- I’m sorry?
The Clerk: The 11:00 o’clock.
Mr. Mayor: At 11:00 o’clock.
The Clerk: 11:00 o’clock, 11:00 a.m.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, so we want to clarify on 27 August at 11:00 for the Special
Called Meeting Agenda only these items as read by the Clerk, items that were be on the consent
agenda, Madam Clerk, would you please just restate them for the record?
The Clerk: FINAL PLAT – HAYNES STATION Item number 2 is a request with
conditions a Special Exception to expand a Family Personal Care Home on property located at 921
C Hephzibah McBean Road. Item number 3 is a petition requesting a change of zoning from a
Light Industry to a Zone R-3C (Multiple-family) affecting property known as 1812 Slaton Street.
Item number four a motion to approve an encroachment permit for 916 Greene Street and the
supporting documentation dealing with Item number 29 for the DFCS Building.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you.
The Clerk: Now do we want to forward Item number 29 to ---
Mr. Mayor: We’ll do the same to the Special Called Meeting as well.
The Clerk: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: If you’ll approach, if you’ll just come up and The Clerk will give you some
direction.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: Everybody just suspend, everybody just suspend. Okay, all right, it’s a
wonderful day in the neighborhood. All right, here’s our posture. These were again the items that
were related to the addendum agenda. It is this body’s rules and we keep going back to this
conversation about the rules. All right, your rules say you need unanimous consent. That’s a
nondebatable matter. You have the ability to change the rules at any moment at any time. All
right, so I see a series of hands all right direct your questions to the Chair. State your inquiry the
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Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, just for clarity well, I think Item number
29 are we going to address it because this is already on the agenda so that’s my, we can deal with
it. We had a couple of executive question, Executive Session updates around this issue. It is
already on the agenda and we don’t have the supporting documentation to go with it but we do
have it as a result of yesterday being sent out to us so Item 29 should be addressed as it’s already
on the agenda.
Mr. Mayor: I believe the gentleman knows of what he speaks and I think that’s an accurate
statement. It’s on the agenda, it’s not being added, this is just the additional information. All right,
thank you for that. All right, I like that I’m going to give you another one in a minute. All right,
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the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- my sentiments exactly. It belongs to the body. Now since it’s on
this agenda we can’t ---
Mr. Mayor: Item 29 ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- 29 ---
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, I think we’re all, yeah we’re tracking it.
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Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m just the Commissioner from the 6 brought the point out but I
was just reiterating that since it’s on here and it belongs to the body we just can’t arbitrarily send
it back and bring it another time. It can be discussed if we don’t have those supporting documents
it still can be discussed I thought so that was my thought as well I just wanted to.
Mr. Mayor: I couldn’t agree with you more and we’ll proceed with Item number 29. It is
already on the agenda. This is just supporting documentation. Okay all right, thank you. All right,
so Madam Clerk again a Special Called Meeting Agenda for 27 August at 11:00 a.m. will be those
other items minus Number 5.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, Items 1 through 4.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, okay, all right.
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The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
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A. Mr. Bennish Brown, Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau, presentation of ACVB 2
Quarterly Report of 2019 and review of Film Augusta mid-year report.
Mr. Brown: My apologies, Mayor and council, thank you so much for allowing us to again
present before you and you are being handed and you should’ve already received by emails our
quarterly report and also a mid-year report from Film Augusta so those are hard copies in case you
need to refer to them. But these documents update you on our activities and on our progress against
goals we’ve set for this year. Ultimately, what we’re aiming for is success in what we do because
success of our organization means success for Augusta. But today I’m not going to walk you
through those outcomes. I’ve actually was thinking about it. I’ve just completed my first year just
a few weeks ago. I’ve been here for one year and I thought it might be beneficial to put some focus
as Commissioner Marion Williams says sometimes talk about where the sausage is made and my
Dad was a pig farmer so I get it. But you might still be a little bit fuzzy about exactly who we are
and what we do at the Augusta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau so I’d like to put that in
perspective. We live in a globalized network world where every community is competing with
every other community for visibility, for attention, and for respect. Augusta’s actually competing
against other cities, we’re competing against other states, we’re competing against other countries
to get our share of tourists, get our share of consumers, filmmakers, businesses and even talent for
our workforce. So it’s important to understand that those communities who fail to compete will
lose ground so our job at the CVB is to ensure that Augusta isn’t left behind at least in the tourism
side of economic development. When we talk about Augusta competing, first people have to be
aware of us. They need to hear about us, they need to be able to find us when they’re searching
for us and that’s where we come in. We are the destination experts. We manage the brand and
the people on the team that I’ve ben fortunate to join know what they’re doing as we promote,
market and sell this city. We are deliberate in our efforts to help build and sustain an attractive,
culturally rich, diverse and welcoming community. We truly believe that what we do is for the
benefit for the common good and I know that’s a word you use as an elected body and the truth is
we can’t do this work alone. The CVB is interdependent in working with other individuals; we
have to work with other groups, other organizations and other businesses throughout this region.
The work we do in tourism is an essential investment to open doors of opportunity and to build the
quality of life to benefit the people who call Augusta and the Augusta region home. I’ll end with
these next few slides just really getting to what I call the Four Pillars of our work. It’s divided into
four pillars and a team of 14 skilled fulltime professionals help get this done. The first pillar is
Destination Marketing. That’s where our ultimate goal is to help make an emotional connection
between Augusta and decision makers whether it’s individuals in groups trying to influence their
decision to travel here. Our second pillar is Destination Sales. That’s about uncovering prospects
and decisions makers ranging from those looking for a place to host their meeting or convention
or to film producers looking for a place to make their film, their TV series, their music video or
their commercial. We share these leads then with and prospects with our local stakeholders
because we really again need to work with them to help us convert the decision to yes. Our third
pillar at the CVB is Destination Management. That’s where you hear about destination blueprint
where we have an innovative strategy to enhance our infrastructure and create experiences and
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events that keep us unique and make us appealing. And then our final pillar is Organizational
Accountability. It’s important that our stakeholders, it’s important that our partners find us to be
trustworthy, responsible and transparent and we’re particularly sensitive that Augusta-Richmond
County have confidence with our independent contract relationship. This last slide just represents
some of the priorities that we will focus on between now and the end of the year and these come
from our Destination Blueprint. You see them going clockwise the golf cart tours, downtown
shuttles, defining our districts for visitors and the International Soul Music Festival. So that is our
report. I thought I’d just start at the beginning and as we meet for the third quarter of the year the
last part I guess it is we’ll dive a little bit more back into our report to you. Thank you, Mayor,
thank you, members of the Commission.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, are there any questions? Okay all right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 1, would you speak into the microphone?
Mr. Fennoy: This is not a question, Mr. Mayor. Just want to welcome Mr. Brown to his
first year in Augusta and I think in a year’s time you have down a outstanding job and we’re
looking for more great things out of the Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Mr. Brown: Thank you, Commissioner.
Mr. Mayor: Outstanding, all right, continue.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
B. Ms. Ashley Brown, Senior Manager of Community Outreach at Goodwill regarding a
need for a covered Transit Bus Stop on Washington Road at Fury’s Ferry Road. (Requested
by Commissioner John Clarke.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Brown.
Ms. Brown: Hi, thank you for having me here today. Again my name is Ashley Brown
and I am the Community Outreach Manager of Goodwill of middle Georgia and the CSRA. We
are 35 counties from Augusta to Macon to Aiken. I specifically go to all those areas but I work out
of the Washington Road and Fury’s Ferry area. We serve those in our community that have some
sort of barrier to employment. We serve them through our retail store where .86 cents of
everything that is sold or donated goes back into training and pathways of careers for those in our
community. I just, I see this every day. There’s no bench, there’s no covering. 90% of those that
visit the Job Connection which is free it’s free, they come in, you can use the computer. Someone
will help you with your resume. They will show you job fairs that are coming up. It’s free and
90% ride the bus and this is what happens. So I’m asking you to consider this location as a place
to help our community, that’s it really.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
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Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I don’t know if we have someone from Transit. We
have on the agenda item was that last Commission meeting when we approved ---
Mr. Hasan: We’re going to approve it today.
The Clerk: Committee, it’s on today’s (inaudible).
Ms. Davis: --- that was from Committee ---
The Clerk: It is on today’s agenda.
Ms. Davis: --- I just didn’t know if someone from Transit could kind of give us an update,
Mr. Mayor, and see because yeah, I agree with that that’s not a good location ---
Mr. Mayor: All right (unintelligible) ---
Ms. Davis: --- to be sitting out there.
Mr. Mayor: --- because it’s on the agenda today, let’s have that debate ---
Ms. Davis: Wait on the agenda item?
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah, when we have it so Ms. Dottery is here and let’s have that
conversation at that time.
Ms. Brown: Okay, well, thank you for your consideration.
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely.
The Clerk: I call your attention to our Consent Agenda which consist of Items 1 through
25, Items 1 through 25. For the benefit of any objectors to our Alcohol petitions would you please
signify your objections by raising your hand once the petition is read. I call your attention to:
Item 2: Is a request for an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be
used in connection with the location at 2803 Wrightsboro Rd Ste. 20A.
Item 3: Is a request for a retail package Wine License to be used in connection with the
location at 3150 Wrightsboro Rd.
The Clerk: Are there any objectors to either of those alcohol petitions? Mr. Mayor,
members of the Commission our Consent Agenda consists of Items 1 through 25 with no objectors
to our Alcohol petitions.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Madam Clerk. All right, let’s pull Item number 6 so that
we can have that debate and include the request of Ms. Brown. All right, the Chair will entertain
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any additional item requests. All right, the Commissioner from the 4.
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Mr. Sias: I’d like to pull item, thank you, I’d like to pull Items 8 and 12 and also to add
Item 27, I’d like to add Item 27 to the Consent Agenda.
Mr. Hasan: I object to that.
Mr. Sias: No problem.
Mr. Mayor: All right, any other request to add or, all right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I’d like to pull Item number 4, Item number 7, Item number 9, Item
number 11, Item number 14, Item number 15, Item number 16, Item number 17, Item number 18,
Item number 19.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just need some clarification on Item 21 I guess.
Mr. Mayor: Pulling Item number 21.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, I need some clarification as some of these reappointments and
some of them are appointees and I’m just trying to get some clarity on --
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to pull 22, 23, 24 and 25.
Mr. M. Williams: That was good, Mr. Mayor, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Motion to approve whatever we just pulled, every one of them.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a question.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: --- the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. What I would like is just a clarification if we can from The Clerk
which items still remain on the original consent agenda so we’ll go to approve so we’ll know, we
just want to be sure.
Mr. Mayor: All right, hold on, all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the
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6, Commissioner?
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Mr. Hasan: --- oh, I’m sorry, thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor, if I’m not mistaken Item 22, 21
through 25 all of these seems to be personal Commissioner’s appointments and so they’re not
consensus appointments and historically we you know we normally acknowledge that and respect
that unless there’s some very compelling reason that we chose not to. So I would suggest and I
think Commissioner Williams had a question about it but I would suggest that we put those items
back on the agenda on this consent agenda because these are personal appointments.
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Mr. Mayor: Well, they are and the Commissioner from the 9 indicated that he had some
questions.
Mr. M. Williams: No, a question, Mr. Mayor, not some.
Mr. Mayor: A question?
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right on Item 21 is what I spoke about. You added ---
Mr. Mayor: You said 21 and 22.
Mr. M. Williams: --- no, sir. I said I told you 21, 22 says reappointed and one said
appointed but I had a question to ask about 21 because I was getting some clarification whether
they have, whether they’re just carried over or these are brand new reappointments because I’ve
got some I hadn’t moved on that’s been there for quite some time and I need to know do they need
to be reappointed or do they just stand there, you know, continuously unless somebody pulls them
off but you didn’t give me that opportunity to ask that question so I had to put that out there now.
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay ---
Mr. Mayor: --- so you have a question about Number 21 only.
Mr. M. Williams: --- a question about reappointment and I’ve got some ---
Mr. Mayor: So your question is about reappointment of individuals not about any of these
that are on the agenda today.
Mr. M. Williams: --- not about any of these on the agenda today ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay, well, that’s a separate matter.
Mr. M. Williams: --- reappointment I had a question.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we can talk about that offline. It has nothing to do with these items
then you’re stating ---
Mr. M. Williams: I stated, Mr. Mayor, I said I had no problem. I had a ---
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Mr. Mayor: --- well, you went to Number 21.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I mentioned 21. I had a inquiry and I could’ve simply asked that
question and we could’ve been on through with this business by now ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, so ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- had some not tried to direct me which way to go.
Mr. Mayor: --- so what I’m hearing is that Items 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 remain on the
consent agenda. That’s what I just heard. Is that not true?
Mr. M. Williams: My question was the reappointments and that’s all I had.
Mr. Mayor: All right. Items 21 through 25, Madam Clerk, remain on the Consent Agenda.
All right, voting.
The Clerk: Well, did I get a second on this Consent Agenda I heard. Who seconded that?
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Mr. Mayor: The Commissioner from the 4.
The Clerk: No, he asked that the Consent Agenda be recognized but I didn’t get a second
so.
Mr. Fennoy: I’ll second it.
The Clerk: All right, thank you.
Mr. Sias: So did we clarify those items that remain?
Mr. Mayor: You did.
The Clerk: I will. Items 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. That is our Consent
Agenda.
Mr. Sias: Well, if anybody hadn’t seconded I will.
The Clerk: We have a motion and a second. Are we voting, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias vote Yes.
Ms. Davis, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, Mr. M. Williams and Mr.
Clarke vote No.
Motion Fails 3-7.
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Mr. Sias: Well, I guess we’ll just run through them.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to start with Item number 6.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
6. Motion to approve the purchase of Seventeen (17) New Bus Shelters from Austin Mohawk
and Company, LLC. (Approved by Public Services Committee August 13, 2019)
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Dottery, will you come forward? If you’ll speak to the matter that Ms.
Brown raised okay.
Ms. Dottery: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Ms. Dottery: Commissioner Clarke had brought that to my attention ---
Mr. Mayor: Right, let’s address Number 6 please. Speak to Number 6 and then we’ll add
that to it.
Ms. Dottery: --- okay. As far as the shelters you all approved that last week in Committee
for me and as soon as it is approved in this full body today and I get my approval letter then I will
be moving forward with getting the shelters ordered and I will submit to Procurement so then we’ll
be expecting the seventeen shelters to come in.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: I’d like to make a motion for approval.
Mr. Clarke: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second for approval. All right, regarding
the item from the delegation portion about the bus shelter there. Can you speak to that?
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir. As I stated Commissioner Clarke had brought that to my attention
and he showed me the same picture that the lady had up on the screen. At this current time we
have a bus stop there, yes, but nothing else. So I had a brief discussion just now with Mr. Clarke
I mean Mr. Ussery about being able to do that because the first round we brought to you using the
SPLOST dollars to do all the padding and everything we needed to do. We’ve utilized those
dollars so I was asking for a way we could do it for that one. At this time it is a funding issue.
The shelters will be coming in so the shelter wouldn’t be a problem but we have to have all of the
padding, ADA Compliance completed before we can put the shelter itself down.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay so again if we could have Mr. Ussery, we generally know what these
cost in terms of being able to stand one up. Mr. Ussery, can you approach please? Can you speak
to what this would tentatively cost?
Mr. Ussery: I haven’t visited the site but they’re averaging about $10 to $12,000 dollars
per site in concrete work.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m going to try something today I hadn’t tried
in a long time and that’s restraint. I don’t have very much of that but I’m going to try hard because
I’m really disappointed not about the shelter, Ms. Dottery, but I had brought information over the
years where we’ve got numerous locations that don’t have anything at all, anything at all. And I
brought a picture I think, Ms. Bonner, of an old obese lady sitting on the ground because she had
no place to get out of the sun, the rain or nothing else. This is a very touching situation this lady
sitting in her mobile type chair to sit there. But this is not the only one. Now if we’re going to
start picking and choosing where we’re going to put them at because of a photograph I brought
some photographs earlier that hadn’t gotten yet to those shelters that we’ve been approving, Ms.
Dottery. So I’m taking issue now are we going to try to find some money to go on any side of
town when there’s people who have been standing in the rain, sitting on a wooden board with a
block up under it holding their groceries in their hands in the scorching hot sun. This ain’t no new
dance; this is an old one here. So I sympathize what this lady who’s in that position but when you
start skipping and jumping and picking where you’re going to put them at that bothers me. I said
earlier today about (unintelligible) of waiting for 30 minutes then you walk in and he sees you
right away and I’ve got a problem because I’ve been waiting. These folks, we’ve got a serious
issue with the Transit. We understand that but I ain’t going to let Ms. Dottery or this body or
anybody else think that it’s okay to just overlook those who’s been in line first. Now if the bus
can’t pull in the parking area where the service is being held and pick people up and come out of
there I sure can’t afford to take $10,000 dollars and put it in a spot where other folks have out there
for years.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. M. Williams: So, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: --- I’ve got you.
Mr. M. Williams: --- all right, well I mean I’m going to have this one now. We can keep
it on this agenda but I think it’s important for us to understand that we just can’t decide one day to
the next who’re going to put something for. Now if you think, Ms. Dottery, you need to say
something now because I kept you out and showed you some similar situations and this lady did
have a chair to sit in but when there’s supposed to be nothing but the grass to sit on in this type
weather we’ve been having, we’ve got some issues and I think we ought to be addressing them but
now if we’re going to do that one let’s do them all now.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner if you, let’s do it this way. I’m going to ask you a question ---
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Mr. M. Williams: That’s right, we ain’t going to pick and choose. I mean that’s, that’s ---
Mr. Mayor: --- let’s, I appreciate you demonstrating restraint. Do you remember the
location in particular that you’re talking about? What’s that location?
Mr. M. Williams: The location is on the 2900 block of Deans Bridge Road where the lady
was sitting on the ground there right next door to Auto Zone. The other location is on, right next
to Bi-Lo, the Hardee’s right there on Tubman Home Road where there’s one bench sitting in the
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sun. The other location is right there at 15 Street across from the, Mr. Mayor, if I need to go
through all this for you I don’t need to have this job. I need to have another job. Ms. Dottery got
those information. She’s got the addresses; I don’t need to put them out there.
Mr. Mayor: All right so ---
Mr. M. Williams: Is there, if I’m lying about those locations I’ve got somebody to verify.
I’ve got somebody that’s been there. Ms. Dottery, you need to say something right now.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so hold on just a minute. I don’t want you to ---
Mr. M. Williams: You asked me as if I’ve got the locations as if I’m sitting here telling
you a lie about those situations, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: --- no, I’m asking you ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- that’s insulting to me.
Mr. Mayor: --- well, I want you demonstrate a little more restraint because if you turn to
Tab 6 my question was specifically for the purpose of trying to determine if it was already one of
the seventeen being considered, that’s all I’m asking. And so you started calling out Gordon
Highway at Tubman Home Road and my question is is that one of the ones you had?
Mr. M. Williams: Any of those who have not been serviced before. I’m not picking and
choosing. I think the list has already been established. Let’s get those first who’ve been waiting
the longest. Let’s get those who are taxpayers as well, who need the service and let’s do that. Let’s
be fair about this government. That’s all I’m saying.
Mr. Mayor: Well, this list that is in front of us hopefully represents what you believe to be
just and fair and it’s including the ones you just listed. This list was not randomly or haphazardly
arrived at. What this body has decided is that there are so many that they couldn’t all be done at
one time ---
Mr. M. Williams: That’s right.
Mr. Mayor: --- and this body decided that you were not going to appropriate the amount
needed to be able to install of them at one time. And so they’re taking a stab at it which is your
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first seventeen and I think again your concerns are well noted, well noted. And I don’t think Ms.
Dottery or Mr. Ussery have done anything to not step into what you’ve asked and requested so that
list of the seventeen that are here I think begins addressing the issues that you’ve raised, sir. All
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right, I’m going to go down here to the Commissioner from the 1 and then I’m going to come
back down to this side.
Mr. Fennoy: Ms. Dottery and I think I may have talked to you about the shelter that was
removed from the, in front of the VA Hospital ---
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- and is that ---
Mr. Mayor: Wrightsboro at VA Hospital.
Mr. Fennoy: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: Number 4.
Mr. Fennoy: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: I know, I know but what’s not going to happen today is we’re not going to
indict Ms. Dottery now.
Mr. M. Williams: Nobody’s indicting her.
Mr. Mayor: All right, come on.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, areas where we have bus stops that are not being assigned a shelter,
are we going to do anything as far as benches are concerned?
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir, what my plan is we have we need to do advertising so I want to put
out an RFP to do advertising. In that we can also get some benches. There are companies that
will actually place the bench for you in order to put advertising on that bench so you would receive
a bench and you would also receive a trash can to go in that area. So as John and I work together
to try to identify all the locations where we need to place shelters or benches and they’re going to
be able to tell me whether or not I can put a shelter in that location because this is just the first
phase that we’re in. This is not this is it and we’re done. So we want to move on to the second
phase and we still want to do more shelters and they’re going to do more padding for me and we’re
also going to look at is this an area where I can place a shelter or will it be a bench? And if I do
that advertising RFP that I’m talking about and I get some good proposals back where we can get
benches out of it I want to do that. However, if it’s a case of if I can’t do that once they come in
then we will also purchase benches as well but I want each location, there are approximately 692
stops and I’m trying to make sure we do something with each location that we have.
Mr. Fennoy: All right, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir.
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. When we determine these stops the
seventeen shelters that are in the book, was the ridership the reason like you took the highest areas
of ridership and those were the areas that you chose or how were they chosen I guess based on?
Ms. Dottery: They were chosen by ridership ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Ms. Dottery: --- we always look at what is the ridership because sometimes you have an
area that there may be one or two people that ride and then there’s other areas you have fifteen,
twenty or more people riding so you look at what the ridership is in that area.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, because I mean I kind of agree with Commissioner Marion
Williams a little bit on this because we shouldn’t be just because of one issue of someone
complaining and it is in my district but at the end of the day there might, there’s a greater need
maybe in my district where there’s more ridership. And I see one down at Alexander/Kroger I’m
sure there’s more riding to that spot and of this spot so I just think we need to kind of take a holistic
approach of how we’re going to do this and not just because one person brings a complaint up, it’ll
be like okay now let’s just approve it. So I think I agree with Commissioner Marion Williams
probably the first time on something.
Mr. M. Williams: Better late than never.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Mayor, I’d like ask Ms. Dottery.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Ms. Dottery, I want to make sure I didn’t misunderstand you. You started
talking about the first shelter you was making mention that you did not have the $10,000 dollars
to stand one up you know immediately.
15
Ms. Dottery: Yes, with this location that the lady was talking about because we have a
sign there but there’s nothing there. There never was any padding, shelter anything so we’d have
to do that first before we could a shelter there.
Mr. Hasan: So my question is this. For the seventeen shelters that you mentioned, the
seventeen locations you’ve got outlined, do you have a $170,000 dollars for those?
Ms. Dottery: $170 thousand?
Mr. Hasan: You’ve got ten shelters there, $10,000 dollars a shelter.
Ms. Dottery: Oh, you’re looking at, I’m sorry, you’re looking at the old proposal. Actually,
the shelters came in at $5,805 dollars per shelter and that includes the solar power lighting that I
wanted to add to the shelters. So that’s why I was able to utilize the dollars I have to able to get
seventeen and that comes out to like $98,000.
Mr. Hasan: So you have the money to do it ---
Ms. Dottery: Yes.
Mr. Hasan: --- that’s my problem, you have the money to do it?
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, also I would encourage you, it’s just me talking ---
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- if you are going to look at someone to provide those benches for you, you
need to put an RFP on the street immediately to get that done to try to know where you are
(unintelligible) interested vendors because if you don’t have interested vendors then you probably
need to come up with more resources if you don’t have it so that should be immediate and you
should take action on that.
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Right, thank you, ma’am. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, I think we had a motion and a second already to approve this.
All right, voting.
Mr. M. Williams: What are we approving, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: The seventeen that you have and the list that you have behind Tab 6. It doesn’t
not include the conversation around the one, voting.
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Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk: Are we going top to bottom, sir?
Mr. Mayor: For now.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
1. Motion to approve the 2019 Convention and Visitors Bureau Tourism Grant Agreement
for Special Events. (Approved by Public Services Committee August 13, 2019)
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can we make a motion?
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Motion to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I need to hear a little bit from the Director Department for Special Events
and exactly what we’re approving. I mean maybe ya’ll have got an understanding.
Mr. Hasan: It’s just a grant.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Director Houck.
Mr. Houck: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Commission. This was a grant application we made
through the Augusta Visitors and Convention Bureau and we received $15,000 dollars to do digital
and print advertising for events at, we’re trying to get scheduled at Lake Olmstead Stadium for
this fall.
Mr. M. Williams: My question would be any special event or would it be just the Lake
Olmstead or any special event we’re putting on I guess is what I’m trying ---
Mr. Houck: The grant speaks to the stadium, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- just at Lake Olmstead.
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: All right, Donna, you’re with me today. I need you to be with me, all
right? I’ve got no problem, Mr. Mayor ---
17
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. M. Williams: --- as long as I know what we’re approving. I don’t want to assume we
can go somewhere we can’t go. If it’s going to be for the stadium, it’s for the stadium come up
with some project for the stadium then Sean.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
2. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 19-28: request by Heather C. Thompson for an on
premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Cantina
Locale located at 2803 Wrightsboro Rd Ste. 20A. There will be Sunday Sales. District 3.
Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee August 13, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Motion to approve.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second, voting. The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from
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the 4.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, we had a little time to settle down here and for one of these items
that was originally on the addendum agenda ---
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, before we get there, let’s read the vote first.
Mr. Clarke out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: --- thank you, sir. Just in support of our citizens and I, on the items that were
scheduled to go back to our Special Called Meeting one item in particular was Haynes Station. I
request that we revisit that and ask for consent to add it and approve it.
ADDEMDUM
31. FINAL PLAT – HAYNES STATION SECTION 10 REVISED – S-886-REV – A request
for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by
Cranston Engineering Group, on behalf of COEL Development Co., requesting final plat
approval for Haynes Station Section 10 Revised. DISTRICT 3
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The Clerk: Item number one on the Addendum Agenda under Consent, Planning and
Development, Haynes Station Section 10 REVISED FINAL PLAT.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, we’ve added it. If there’s no objection we’re going to add it to
the agenda.
Mr. M. Williams: Add and approve it says.
Mr. Sias: Can we add and approve it? That was the request.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, that was the request. All right, I’m good with it. You got a second from
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the Commissioner from the 9. All right, voting.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Sias: Thank you and thank you to my colleagues.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to see if we could get a consent agenda and I’d like to
propose some items be added to that please.
Mr. Mayor: Please do.
Ms. Davis: Okay, Item 3, Item 4, Item 5, Item 7, Item 9, Item 10 ---
Mr. Hasan: Item 10 is on there.
Ms. Davis: --- okay, sorry, no, we don’t have consent, Item 11, Item 13 ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, so suspend.
Ms. Davis: Sorry.
Mr. Mayor: Item 10 was already on the Consent Agenda and when, okay, that’s right.
Ms. Davis: But we didn’t approve it.
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The Clerk: You voted it down.
Mr. Mayor: You voted it down. That’s right. All right, so you’re adding it, okay, very
well.
Ms. Davis: Item 13, Item 14, Item 15, Item 16, Item 17, Item 18 ---
Mr. Sias: Can you hold on that one? I’ve got a couple of questions.
Ms. Davis: --- yeah, okay, so not Item 18?
Mr. Sias: Correct.
Ms. Davis: Item 19 and Item 20, please, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, Madam Clerk, I’m going to ask you if you’ll read those back
before we close that.
The Clerk: Okay, that would be Items 6, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, she added 15 ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: --- 16, 17, 19 and 20.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have an objection for Number 10 if you don’t mind. I think
you’ve got some comments you want to make on this one.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I think my email, if everybody did see my email, I’m okay with that.
Mr. Hasan: I just, well you some time in the future (unintelligible) what you want to see
that look like?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- yes, sir. If you’re comfortable with that I’ll take that approach.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Second.
The Clerk: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
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Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor I have some questions about Item Number 5, Number 7, Number
9, Number 10, Number 11, Number 12, Number 13, Number 14, Number 15, Number 16, Number
17 and Number 19.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, so, Madam Clerk, we’re at our, we’re at the same posture we
were from a moment ago. Let’s just go from top to bottom, let’s go from top to bottom.
Mr. Clarke: I make a motion to adjourn because we ain’t getting nothing done.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
The Clerk: We have a motion to adjourn, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah ---
Mr. Sias: You weren’t recognized.
Mr. Mayor: --- that’s a superior motion ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: You weren’t recognized (unintelligible) by the rules he can withdraw that
unauthorized motion.
Mr. Clarke: Mr. Mayor, I just said what most of us was thinking.
Mr. Mayor: --- I know you were I know you was just kind of talking out loud, I know, I
know, it’s alright. Okay Madam, top to bottom.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
3. Motion to approve Existing Location: A.N. 19-30: request by Tasneem Hassan Jamil for
a retail package Wine License to be used in connection with H&S Wine & Spirits located at
3150 Wrightsboro Rd. Ste. B. District 2. Super District 9 (Approved by Public Services
Committee August 13, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second, voting.
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Mr. Frantom and Mr. Garrett out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
4. Motion to approve Bid Item #19-217 Downtown Landscaping Improvement Project to
Jacobs Landscaping in the amount of $27,650. (Approved by Public Services Committee
August 13,2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Motion to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second, voting. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 1 for a question.
Mr. Fennoy: Ron, did this go through our Procurement process?
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir, it did.
Mr. Fennoy: How many other companies bid on this?
Mr. Houck: Vendors, I believe just two.
Mr. Fennoy: Just two and have you worked with this vendor before?
Mr. Houck: We have.
Mr. Fennoy: And you feel confident that they can do this (inaudible?.
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir, we do.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Mr. Sias: Quick follow up question?
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Houck, how are you doing ---
Mr. Houck: Good and you?
22
Mr. Sias: --- can’t complain. Hey, with this company doing the landscaping downtown
they’ll be cutting grass and all these other things in the medians, right?
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Mr. Houck: Yes, sir, it’s on Greene Street from East Boundary to 13 and on Broad Street
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from East Boundary to 5.
Mr. Sias: And we briefed them on our Stormwater Program where they’re supposed to be
blowing no debris into that, debris and stuff into our drains?
Mr. Houck: We will before they get started.
Mr. Sias: Will before they get started.
Mr. Houck: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: Okay, thank you.
Mr. M. Williams: Question, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Ron, following that same line of questioning just on the way here this
morning these contractors is doing a good job cutting but a bad job of blowing the debris into the
streets. Is there any kind of fine or any kind of penalty associated when they are caught doing
that? I mean it’s obvious because when you’re weed-eating grass and as thick as much as the stuff
is being going right into our drain system so what are we doing education wise or when we award
these contracts to let them know that there’s a penalty that’s got to go with this because we’re
working against our own selves if we don’t do something about it. Is there any type stipulation in
there?
Mr. Houck: I don’t really know if there is any penalty, sir. I’m not aware unless I just don’t
know but again with our own crews we make sure that’s emphasized when they’re out doing the
jobs and our supervisor follows up and again we’ll do this with this contractual service.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, this contractual service is getting pretty big now. We’ve got a lot
of subcontractors and I think that’s a good thing but from what I see they’re blowing debris into
our drain system; it’s getting right in. This morning I talked with someone about the flooding at
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CVS on 15 Street since they did the road construction how the water you can’t hardly get through
there and with this as much cutting we’re doing and as much grass growing and as fast as it’s
growing we have got to do something. Now if they’re going to be contractors, they need to pick
this up and not just be blowing in the street so if we don’t talk about it how will that get done? Do
I need to put this on the agenda to come back, Mr. Mayor, to find out what we can put in place
with these contractors to know that?
Mr. Mayor: Well, this is an ongoing issue that has been raised not once, not twice but no
less than three or four times and I think it’s a matter of enforcement. I do know that on several
23
occasions the Marshal’s Office has gone out and they have identified violators of this and
responded appropriately. Maybe there needs to be an enhancement of that as they’re moving
forward. Just a moment ago you approved the fees that were being allowed to hire more folks so
this would be certainly part of the work they could be doing.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: And also I’d like to caution that we don’t put in place something that we
can’t enforce, that is very difficult to enforce. I understand I had a complaint about that in my
neighborhood. At the same time I think we need to talk with the contractor and hopefully they do
a good job otherwise nor you, Commissioner Williams, he won’t be back the next year so I think
let’s, you know, make sure we talk with them. But let’s be cautious in adding something that we
can’t enforce or that is difficult to enforce.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Real quick we have a code on the book that prohibits this specifically and also
and that’s the Marshal’s business and any other authorized agency for Augusta-Richmond County
to enforce. But I think where we missed the boat at we don’t put that in the contract. That should
be in those contracts stipulating that that particular ordinance and the violations and the penalties
of it. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Sias: So I’ll move to approve.
The Clerk: We have a motion.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second, voting.
Mr. Clarke votes No.
Mr. Frantom and Mr. Garrett out.
Motion Passes 7-1.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
10. Motion to approve amending Augusta Code Section 3-7-33 Marijuana to reduce the jail
time from 60 days to no time and the fine from a cap of $1,000 to a cap of $150 for the first
two offenses and a cap fine of $300 for the third and subsequent offenses and bringing the
amended Code section back for approval. (Approved by Administrative Services Committee
August 13, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Motion to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Got a motion and a second. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner
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form the 4.
Mr. Fennoy: Is there anyone here to address that, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: There is ---
Mr. Fennoy: May I?
Mr. Mayor: --- yes. All right, if we can have the solicitor and the Senator please.
Ms. Loggins: Good afternoon ---
Mr. Fennoy: Good afternoon. I know the first offense will be $150 dollars and the second
offense will be $150 dollars but what happens if that person does not pay that fine?
Ms. Loggins: --- it’s not unlike any other case. It’s subject to a revocation, probation that
would be up to the Magistrate Court how they plan on handling that. In other words right now if
you have a sentence and if you do not follow through with that sentence there are penalties that
that court can do. They can revoke and bring you back so that would be up to the sole discretion
of the Judge and the Prosecutor of that court.
Mr. Fennoy: So a person that’s given a ticket for possession of marijuana, would they be
given a certain amount of time to pay that fine?
Ms. Loggins: Usually it’s up to 60 days is normal but the court can lessen that time or you
know, (unintelligible) above 60-days with the city ordinance I think limited to 60 days.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Move for approval.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, we have a motion and a second already.
Mr. D. Williams: We have one ---
Mr. Mayor: --- yes, sir.
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Mr. D. William: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, we’re going to go, let’s go 27 next.
Mr. Frantom and Mr. Garrett out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
27. Motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Augusta and the public art
agency, the Greater Augusta Arts Council (GAAC), regarding implementation of three
Gateway Sculptures, with the first to be located at the corner of Riverwatch Parkway and
Alexander Drive. (No recommendation from Public Services Committee August 13, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 9 is on deck to ask a series of questions
regarding this. All right, we’ve got Director Houck and Ms. Durant. All right, Commissioner.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m supportive of the art designs and the
gateways that we’re talking about. My only issue is that in committee we talked about at least I
talked about it is starting at the East Boundary gate entrance versus Riverwatch Parkway. And the
difference is that that area that I feel and hope my colleagues feel that that’s an area that has not
had very much light shined on it I guess is a good way to put it. It’s one of the locations that ya’ll
already picked out and my question to you is that can we and I asked this question in committee
and came without any recommendation, can we assume that we can go ahead and start with that
one first or is there any particular reason why it can’t be done or it should be done at Riverwatch
Parkway?
Ms. Durant: Okay, I just want to make sure I’m answering your question, Commissioner
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Williams. Your question is at this point August 20 2019 with artists coming to town with their
models for Riverwatch Parkway at Alexander Drive next week on Tuesday, you’re wondering if
we could switch to one of the other two gateways for our first project.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, that’s my question in a nutshell but if this has already been, the
artists are coming to town and they already designed, they already know and I’m thinking they’re
going to be of the same cost I mean I’m trying to figure out why we can’t start. And the reason,
I’ve got no problem telling you why because I mean too many times we’ve been promised that
we’re going to do something on one end of town and that’s why the end of town is the way it is
now because we got a bunch of promises. In fact I don’t need no more of those. I want to know
can we just change location, I mean not change location but change order of which they’re going
to be erected, do that one first. Is there any reason why we can’t do that one first? Mr. Brown
talked about some stuff a while ago Bennish Brown talked about some stuff a while ago about
we’ve got to be inclusive in the area that needs the attention, the area that hadn’t had it before
26
ought to be the wow effect for some people. We just hadn’t moved in that direction in a long time
and it’s time, it’s just time. So I hadn’t heard a reason or maybe there’s a reason why it can’t be
done and I’m waiting to hear that.
Ms. Durant: Okay, so there’s a lot of questions in your question. I’m going to try to cover
them all ---
Mr. M. Williams: I just need that one.
Ms. Durant: --- all right the answer is according to Procurement and I think we were
supportive is that because the Procurement, the National Call went out with that location identified
in the call for submittals that we cannot change location. That’s just the simple answer.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay but ---
Ms. Durant: I can talk more ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- I understand, I understand ---
Ms. Durant: --- no one wants to be here until 8:00 o’clock. I can talk more about it
(inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m going to stay here until it’s time to go home. I’m going to do my
job. My job is to try to get you to understand something. But what you just said I hadn’t heard a
reason why if it’s going to be too big, too small, too old, too young. It won’t fit but just because,
you already someone already picked out these locations. So I’m saying now not changing just
start on this one for the first one versus going on the other side to do one.
Ms. Durant: But the location was chosen first in conjunction with the CVB, the Convention
and Visitors Bureau. That one location on Riverwatch Parkway at Alexander Drive and this was
chosen about 18 months ago. We started working with GDOT. It had been identified as a property
that was going to be landscaped, maintained and was a main gateway. The answer of why we
can’t change at this point goes back to the Procurement process. I had checked on this actually two
months ago. I personally was wondering if we could change locations. So Brenda Durant had
gone back to Procurement and said what would happen if we decided to start with a new location?
At one point the GDOT process was a little slow for this girl okay, and I was thinking would it be
easier if we just switched one of the two other properties it’s not a GDOT property. So the answer
I got at that point was it would negate the process and we would negate the call and all the time
we put into this which is about 18 months and we’d have to start from scratch again with a new
procurement call. That was my understanding.
Mr. M. Williams: But, Brenda, ya’ll hadn’t picked, ya’ll hadn’t you only picked one
location in 18 months. These other two locations that you ---
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Ms. Durant: On April 30 in our Public Art Overview presented by Dr. Dennis Skelly, the
VP of Public Arts Council. He presented a bunch of our projects and in that presentation on April
27
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30 you can see him talk, he presented to you the three locations with the gateway at Riverwatch
Parkway at Alexander Drive being the first go.
Mr. M. Williams: On which, you lost me on those when the three locations was picked by
Dr. Skelly and the CVB and your group the same three locations are still there. I don’t want to
change that.
Ms. Durant: Right.
Mr. M. Williams: I mean I’m just saying that we should start, they’re all going to be the
same structure I think. They’re all going to be similar in models. I mean the same funds are going
I just ain’t heard anything to tell me that you cannot start at another location. Is there anybody
from Procurement that can help me understand what Brenda just said because I really don’t
understand why Procurement would tell us what’s the difference in building the same model on
the same or the same size on a piece of land we’ve already got on at a different location. Now if
it’s going to be too big to fit on that spot or if it wasn’t going to have enough money to do it on the
spot or we’re going to change design but everything is the same just location. And I’m not asking
to change that. All I’m asking to change is the one we start with first. That’s all. I mean to me in
backyard stuff I do it all the time in the backyard but this ain’t backyard stuff, Ms. Bonner, so I
understand but I’m not satisfied, Mr. Mayor. I need to hear from somebody from Procurement.
They need to tell me why I need to know, show me the different between the two. If there’s a
great difference I’ll be nice enough to say let’s pass this.
Mr. Houck: Commissioner, the word I got this morning when I talked with Procurement
is if we decide to change locations then we’d have to start this whole process over again.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay but why, Ron? Because it’s too big it’s, and Procurement is good
at what they do but common sense tells me if it’s the same size, the same area I mean if we’re just
going to move the starting point position don’t get me a reason to do a name but just go to another
area to do it. Now if there was going to be a tree that had to be moved, if you had to move it to
another location that may be it but I don’t hear that. Maybe my colleagues understand it but I
don’t understand that.
Mr. Houck: I think it was just the specifics that were surrounding this particular location
and the artist ---
Mr. M. Williams: What are those specifics? I mean because if there’s different specifics
I might be able to get that you help me out now.
Mr. Houck: --- well, I’m just saying the three locations I think and Brenda maybe can talk
to this better than I can but I think the three locations you’d have different, the artist will look at
those areas differently.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, thank you, Ron. Mr. Mayor, I’m going to make a substitute
motion we start all three of them at the same time or don’t start none of them at no time.
28
Mr. Mayor: All right that substitute fails without a proper second. The Chair recognizes
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the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Ms. Durant, you know that I support the arts here in Augusta wholeheartedly
and I support everything you try to do. I’m not against this project. It doesn’t matter to me where
you put one first but I do have two problems with the project and that being that we’re paying a
million dollars for something that we have not seen yet. I think a lot of people would like to see
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but yet we’ve got to vote today and we’re not going to be able to see it until the 27 now that’s the
first one.
Ms. Durant: But you’re not.
Mr. Clarke: And the second thing that I have a problem with is we have so many artists,
great wonderful artists here in Augusta that would love to be a part of this but yet we went National
to get somebody to come in and do this. I don’t understand the ins and outs of it, don’t pretend to.
You’ve got the votes that will get this done. I’m just voicing my concerns and my reasoning for
not supporting it at this particular time, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: I’m daydreaming. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What are the three locations?
Ms. Durant: Riverwatch at Alexander Drive. Is it Marvin Griffin Road, Old Savannah
Road at the Bobby Jones inner path to the airport exit to downtown or to Bobby Jones. Sand Bar
Ferry Road near Bobby Jones to the entrance from South Carolina.
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Mr. B. Williams: Okay and I think the Commissioner from the 9 is more or less is
referring to the Sand Bar Ferry area so do you have an order in which you plan to do these?
Ms. Durant: We have not chosen number two. I’m thinking we should bring it to
Commission for a vote.
Mr. B. Williams: And let me ask you, that was a smart answer and let me ask you what is
your time frame from the first one to the second?
Ms. Durant: The SPLOST money is available now so what we plan to do is one, get this
process done. The artist’s renderings will be in town starting Tuesday. They’ll be up for a week
for public input and your input. We want to make the decision which would go to the Public Art
Panel to be ranked one and two to the Arts Council Board one and two and the Commission for
the final vote to choose the winning sculpture. Once that process is going we want to meet with
Procurement, review the process, see how it went, see if we could refine it, make it perhaps more
user friendly and we are ready as long as it’s after Arts in the Hearts of Augusta to launch into
number two.
29
Mr. B. Williams: Got you and I’m more apt to support this. I do think the Commissioner
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from the 10 brought up something that is important to this as far as what the design will be so
I’m just going to think about it some more.
Ms. Durant: Right and if I could address that. You will see the designs on Tuesday. I put
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the invitations on your desks, podiums last week so you will see the designs on August 27 at 6:00
o’clock in the Linda Beasley Room. But actually today I just want to make this clear you’re not
voting on funding the gateway sculptures. That was voted when SPLOST was voted. This vote is
about who is going to manage this project for you.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Ms. Durant: And can I also say the part of the contract with the artists is that they have to
mentor, apprentice whatever word Procurement allowed us to use local artists who want to learn
how to do sculptures of this magnitude. We know there are not many artists in town who are
trained to do a sculpture of this size from design to implementation to installation and that will be,
that is included in the contract with the artist.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, I want to get an action on this. The Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Durant, I don’t want to bother with you the three
that you just mentioned. My question once again is the one about the secondary sculpture. I’m of
the mindset once again to ask that that be considered because when we talk we keep constantly
talking about three so there should be some leeway on the fourth one. And the forth one I’m saying
if we can get the Martin Luther King Committee to agree to the location because they was here
and I think you was with them the last time they were here. There was talk of putting in front of
Tax Slayer and we was trying to be respectfully opinion I don’t think any us bought in to it what’s
going to happen on Broad Street in the very near future. So my question with the four, the
secondary sculpture here can that be something that we can do because Mother Trinity is going to
be there with the Canal Authority has purchased that is going to revitalize that and make it a tourist
destination that we put a Dr. King statue there near the Mother Trinity there, if the James Brown
Committee will agree to that. That could be that secondary sculpture.
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Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on, hold on, to the Commissioner from the 6 I’m going to rule
in absence of, well I’ve got a Parliamentarian on germaneness you’re asking a question about a
matter that has nothing to do with what’s before us ---
Mr. Hasan: No, that’s not true, Mr. Mayor. That’s in, look at your caption ---
Mr. Mayor: --- all right so the ---
Mr. Hasan: --- the background let me read ---
Mr. Mayor: --- Item number 27 is motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding
with Augusta and the public art agency regarding the implantation of three gateway sculptures.
30
Mr. Hasan: --- can I read can I finish it?
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, that is the only matter that is before us.
Mr. Hasan: That but this is a part, Mr. Mayor. Can I finish reading because you stopped
reading (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: I can’t read more than what’s here it says with the first to be located ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, the background says to we’re to provide framework of cooperation
between the Commission, the Council of Planning up to three gateway sculptures and one
secondary sculpture at key locations.
Mr. Mayor: --- hold on a minute what page are you on, Commissioner?
Mr. Hasan: I’m on the back on the very first page 27 in the back the very first page where
it says background on the fourth line to the right.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so my question is with regards to this, this is under Tab 27 in your
background. My question is the secondary sculpture is that in fact the MLK statue?
Mr. Hasan: No.
Ms. Durant: No, sir, it’s not ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hasan: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor.
Ms. Durant: --- undetermined.
Mr. Hasan: It’s undetermined and I’m trying to help to determine it. See that’s not the
point. I’m asking her to determine that to be the MLK statue with the support of the MLK
Committee and the location be near Mother Trinity Church where the Canal Authority has
purchased the property which is going to be a tourist destination. That’s my request. That’s what
I’m putting before her.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, so I’m going to stick to this conversation around germaneness
because as I understand in the previous Commission meeting this body voted to have the King
Statue Committee put it on Broad Street as I understand and while I categorically don’t think that’s
the right idea but that’s what was done so why are we, I think I understand where you’re going but
I just the matter that is in front of us is just for this express purpose of adopting the MOU and the
link is that you’re trying to draw to the King I’ll give that to you but I don’t think it’s appropriate.
Mr. Hasan: Well, let me say this then ---
31
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- in closing with that, Mr. Mayor, so the meeting can continue it is part of
the agenda conversation. It’s in the background portion of it. All I’m saying and I did qualify my
request if the MLK Committee would allow that I understand what they’ve done. They set it in
front of TaxSlayer’s on Broad Street. We all agree for all intents and purposes that’s not
necessarily a good location so they will allow us to utilize the money for the secondary sculpture
which is yet to be determined that that be the MLK near Mother Trinity Church which is going to
be a tourist destination. It’s going to be built out by the Canal Authority. That is the request, that
is the request based on what’s before us today.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so that’s your request though you want to tie it to this.
Mr. Hasan: Absolutely because the three are spoken for. I’m not arguing the locations on
there, there is no location for the fourth one.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1, well the
thnd
Commissioner from the 8 and the 2 are who I have on my list next.
Mr. Garrett: Motion to approve as this reads.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second ---
Mr. Hasan: A substitute motion?
nd
Mr. Mayor: --- hold on, hold on, the Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: (Unintelligible) depending on the outcome of the vote.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hasan: Substitute motion.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 6 state your inquiry.
Mr. Hasan: I make a substitute motion that the three be respectful of the agenda item in
terms of the three that is currently being determined and the fourth one be the MLK near Mother
Trinity Church. That’s my motion.
Mr. Mayor: Substitute.
Mr. Hasan: Substitute, I’m sorry.
32
Mr. Mayor: All right, that fails without a proper second. Okay, I’m going to bring
everybody back to the main motion and that is to adopt the MOU. All right, the Chair recognizes
the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Is it not true that the second piece that
Commissioner Hasan mentioned would have to come back anyway? Is that true or not true?
Mr. Mayor: That is correct.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, so if we approve this today we can still do what he wants to
do, is that correct?
Mr. Mayor: You can.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Hasan: You need to ask Ms. Durant now, you can ask.
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Ms. Durant: I agreed to that last week that we would put it under consideration what you
said.
Mr. Mayor: --- well, I’m going to go a step further. You decide how the money gets
appropriated, you decide where it goes and that’s pretty strong but at the end of the day it’s this
body’s decision. What’s in front of us right now again if I go back to the base MOU it’s specifically
addresses the three. The caption i.e. the background talks about a secondary sculpture with no
designation as to what that is or what that looks like. That would have to come back to this body,
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okay? It would have to. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Thank you, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- I think that what Commissioner Hasan’s proposing is a great idea but I
would like to see Recreation and Parks, the Greater Augusta Arts Council, the Martin Luther King
Statute Committee and Atlanta Gas and Light sit down and talk about it but we don’t need to be
talking about it at this particular time because we don’t know if that’s something that they want to
do. So ---
Mr. Mayor: They want to support it.
Mr. Fennoy: --- yeah, so we can vote now?
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting. You’re voting on the Memorandum of Understanding and
only that as drafted and placed in your Tab 27 in your books.
33
Mr. Fennoy, Mr. D. Williams, Ms. Davis, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Frantom and Mr.
Garrett vote Yes.
Mr. Hasan, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Motion Passes 7-3.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to go to Number 5, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: One second, please. Ms. Durant, I just want to know when would they
come back for us to decide on the second sculpture.
Ms. Durant: It will be a brand new call.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, so you all won’t decide which one goes?
Ms. Durant: Oh, we can bring that before the Commission for a vote. We actually are
about to do a presentation coming up on some projects we have and some good news with public
art but we could add that to a committee for discussion.
Mr. B. Williams: Right because I’m of the same concern as the Commissioner from the
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9 that Sand Bar Ferry Road is under served and would like to make sure that you understand.
Thank you.
Ms. Durant: Thank you.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
5. Motion to approve a request by Raven Y. Hargrave for a Massage Operator’s License to
be used in connection with Live Life Relaxing Massage Therapy located at 3540 Wheeler RD
Ste. 314. District 3. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee August 13,
2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
34
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
7. Motion to approve Engineering Department-Storm Water Division requests the purchase
of one replacement Dome Style Service Truck at a cost of $72,932.00 using Storm Water
Capital Outlay. Bid Item 19-237-Wade Ford. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee August 13, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second.
Mr. M. Williams: You’ve got a question, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 1, the
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Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: I’ve got it, Ron ---
Mr. Wiedmeier: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- is this a replacement or an addition to?
Mr. Crowden: Yes, sir it’s to replace an F-350 that was previously mechanically disposed
of. It was disposed of because of mechanical issues that the repair exceeded the value of the
vehicle.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and this truck went through the procurement process?
Mr. Crowden: Yes, sir, it did.
Mr. Fennoy: And um, the um Dome Service, have we done business with this company
before?
Mr. Crowden: Yes, sir. Wade Ford is a recurring vendor for us.
Mr. Fennoy: And you are satisfied with the service that we’ve gotten from them?
Mr. Crowden: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, I’m through.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
35
Mr. M. Williams: Ron, this $72,932.00 is this just a normal pickup truck? What kind of
truck are we buying for $72,000?
Mr. Crowden: No, sir. It’s actually three components. It’s got the chassis, it’s a 550
Chassis and on the chassis you put a utility body with the side panels. You still have a portion of
a bed there and you close that portion of the bed and you put shelves in it and put a door on the
back so you can secure equipment in it.
Mr. M. Williams: So this truck at $72 we still have to put the other, add the other stuff you
just mentioned on it, is that right?
Mr. Crowden: When you add all this, it’s $72,000.
Mr. M. Williams: Oh when you add all that together okay I guess I understand a little bit
better I just thought, you know it said service truck cost us $72 raised by eyebrows, you know that.
Mr. Crowden: It’s actually a pretty common truck in our fleet. Utilities construction has
several of them from 450 to 550 range.
Mr. M. Williams: I understand the 253 and 550, that helps me understand a little bit better.
I’ve got no problem.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
29. Award the design/build contract for renovation to 510 Fenwick Street (three-story tower
only) to serve as offices for the Georgia Department of Family and Children’s Services
(DFCS) to 2KM Architects in the amount of $3,088,100.00.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I’m going to support this item today but I have a question that’s
still lingering from all the discussion that we’ve had on this. This is a $3 million-dollar project
and Ms. Douse, my question is and if the General Counsel feels like it’s inappropriate, I hope he’d
let me know. But in our reimbursement back from the State of Georgia for this work have we
reached a conclusive process as to how we will get our money back?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Sias: I’d like to know what that is please.
36
Mr. Mayor: We have a schedule that we adopted at our last Executive Session and a
payment from a lee standpoint that was consistent with I guess what we’ll refer to as fair at market
rate that had unanimous support in Executive Session.
Mr. Sias: Do I need three fingers, four finger or five fingers.
Mr. Mayor: Just one.
Mr. Sias: Really ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Sias: --- so what I request is an answer to that question in whatever form or format it
can be delivered to me.
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second. All right, the Chair recognizes the
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Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Douse, it says here to serve as office for the Georgia Department.
That’s under this contract we’ve got, right? I mean once this contract is over with then it’s up to
us to do whatever we will this service, right?
Ms. Douse: Yes.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I’ve got no problem, Mr. Mayor. I just wanted to make sure my
Attorney didn’t leave me room.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Ms. Davis, Mr. Garret and Mr. Clarke out.
Motion Passes 7-0.
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Mr. Mayor: Ms. Douse, if you would just share with the Commissioner from the 4 that
draft of the contract. All right, we’ll just go top to bottom, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
37
8. Motion to approve amending the 2019 Commission Calendar to hold budget hearing
between the time the budget is presented until the date that the budget is adopted. (Approved
by Administrative Services Committee August 13, 2019.
th.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4 You had a
question.
Mr. Sias: Yes, sir, thank you and I’d like to address The Clerk please. Ms. Bonner,
compared to what we’ve normally done over the last few years I have a series of questions that
I’m going to put out there. In your perspective because you’ve always been the one that sets these
schedules up whatever meeting, we approve it but you actually set it up so in changing this or
adjusting this the way it’s been presented, is there any advantage to this or disadvantage or is there
a need to change it? I just need your perspective; not your decision on this but your perspective
because you’ve done this for the Commission. That’s my only question.
The Clerk: I would take a playbook from my General Counsel whether you can or not you
can ---
Mr. Sias: Absolutely.
The Clerk: --- whether you need to, that’s a different answer. But nevertheless on
amending the 2019 Commission Calendar those dates are set by the Commission already in our
Code Book which is that the Commission meets the first and third Tuesday of each month and our
Committee meeting the second and last Tuesday’s of each month. Referencing our budget meeting
time, those times are usually handled between Administration and the Clerk’s Office to better suit
your schedules as needed. That’s how we arrive at those schedules as far as the budget work
sessions but the calendar itself is already established through our Code.
Mr. Sias: So ---
The Clerk: And for one other footnote the Code also notes that the Commission at any
time feels the necessity to call additional meetings can by way of the Mayor or six members of
this Commission.
Mr. Sias: --- okay and thank you for that, Ms. Bonner, whether the vote is there or not I
just need my questions answered. So, Mr. Mayor, if you don’t mind I’m not questioning you I’m
just asking something. What is the advantage for the Commission with these changes?
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. Sias: I’m kind of used to what we’ve been doing. It was working in my view so what’s
the advantage?
Mr. Mayor: --- well, it streamlines at least in my mind how I’ve seen us operate where
we’ll add a meeting, we’ll add a meeting here, we’ll schedule something, we’ll reschedule
38
something. Again, I’m looking for efficiencies the same holds true for the item regarding Number
12 that you have similar questions about. It’s the same thing.
Mr. Sias: So when I look at this, Mr. Mayor, if I may respond, when I look at this calendar
that you have set here ---
Mr. Mayor: All right now you’re on the you’re looking at the 2020 calendar, I’m assuming.
Mr. Sias: --- no, I’m looking at, yes, it’d be 2020 since Ms. Bonner clearly stated that ’19
is set. So but we’re talking about changing the budget hearing in part for 2019 according to this
agenda item, correct?
The Clerk: Yes, the budget schedule that was approved by the Commission in May I
believe it was.
Mr. Sias: So where’s the proposed schedule, the new proposed schedule?
Mr. Hasan: It’s in your book.
The Clerk: No, the 2020 Budget Planning Calendar was approved by the Commission this
document here ---
Mr. Sias: Right.
The Clerk: --- in May.
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. Sias: So in the 2019 adjustments where is that posted? Unfortunately I can’t see it.
Maybe I’m slow today.
Mr. Mayor: There were no adjustments.
The Clerk: No, he said adjustments.
Mr. Mayor: There were none to the 2019 calendar.
The Clerk: It says to hold budget hearings between the time the budget is presented until
that is adopted so I’m assuming we’re going to hold these schedules that’s already presented in the
approved budget calendar, sir?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. Sias: All right, I’m just trying to eliminate that confusion so then that will conclude
Item 8 for my questions I’ll wait for Number 12 ---
39
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Sias: --- and I’ll move to approve the item we’re talking.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, very well.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Got a motion well, we’ve got a motion and a second. All right, the
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Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I though the budget process was already
approved like Ms. Bonner just stated through the Code but there are times when the budget is not
final. We have to add additional data because it hadn’t been final because there’s some things that
still hadn’t been worked out. But, Mr. Mayor, I think we had a we still do have a deadline for the
budget to be completed is that right, Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, the budget calendar which you approve allows for work sessions as
needed ---
Mr. M. Williams: As needed ---
The Clerk: --- so there are some dates identified for those sessions. And the budget
according to our ordinance has to be adopted by the second meeting in November.
Mr. M. Williams: --- so ---
Mr. Mayor: And we’ve done it every time.
The Clerk: Yes.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay, so I’m trying to figure the need for the change then because if
we, if it’s working, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Mr. Mayor: I think you’re missing the point here.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, I’m trying to get the point. Change is good but some things if it’s
working you keep it working. So if there’s a reason and I think this full Commission asked to hear
the process to make sure that it’s better or maybe worse but I hadn’t heard that from anybody yet,
Mr. Mayor.
The Clerk: Okay, so we strike that from the motion, the word “amending”, and just leave
it as is?
Mr. Mayor: That’s what came out of our meeting last week, Ms. Bonner.
40
The Clerk: Okay, well, they approved it with that caption ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, I know ---
The Clerk: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- I know.
The Clerk: So we take out “amending”
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
thth
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9, I mean I’m sorry the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, Mr. Mayor, I’m going to get redundant here so I apologize to my
colleagues in advance and to audience. If we’re not doing anything different would you at least
do me the pleasure of explaining to my why this is on the agenda if you’re going to do exactly
what’s already laid out?
Mr. Mayor: What’s different is ---
Mr. Hasan: And that’s Number 8, now I’m not talking about 12 I know there’s a difference.
This is Number 8.
Mr. Mayor: --- again in last week’s meeting we had a broad discussion about it and the
calendar remained the same and we all acknowledged that we would keep our work for the budget
during this time. There is no amendment, there is no change, there’s nothing different about 2019.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, okay, we’ve got a motion and a second and again the change is strike
move to approve that we’ll hold budget hearings between the time that the budget is presented.
We can receive it as information or we can simply vote on it. I think it’s de facto at this point.
The clear change was in 2020.
The Clerk: To receive it as information?
Mr. Sias: I don’t know who made the motion.
The Clerk: You and Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Sias: Hey, I’m on Item 12 now I’m trying to figure out what that says. I change my
motion, my bad.
41
The Clerk: Okay.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
12. Motion to approve preparing a Code amendment to adopt the Commission calendar for
2020 having one meeting in July and two meeting in December. (Approved by Administrative
Services Committee August 13, 2019.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: I’m going to delay my statement and let some of my other colleagues go first
and then I’ll come back, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, the caption reads here about motion to
approve preparing a code amendment to adopt the Commission calendar having one meeting July
and two meetings in December. Obviously that is a part of what you’re recommending to us here
but this calendar here that you’re recommending impacts us at a minimum of six months of the
way we currently do business. And so I think it’s a little broader than one meeting in July and one
meeting in December and that’s what concerns me because you’re changing a minimum of six
months. It could be amended in eight months compared to the way we currently do business and
if you want me to I can go through that very briefly to highlight that. If you look at March, March
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the 24 normally just like Ms. Bonner said much earlier our first and third Tuesdays is Commission
meeting; our second and last is Committee. Anytime that we know there are five Tuesdays in a
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month that fourth week we take off so the 24 so have on the calendar as going to be a Committee
meeting. That’s one way we’re being impacted. When you go to another one I’m going to skip
the April and all that kind of stuff and go to June next. June is the same thing. June has five
rd.
Tuesdays, the fourth has five Tuesdays, the fourth Tuesday is the 23 You have us doing a
Committee meeting on that day. Your next one is in September. You have five Tuesdays. The
nd
22 is the fourth Tuesday. You have us there doing another Committee meeting. Now when I
mention those things those are weeks we don’t do anything. We’re off you know when I mention
those things. And then last but not least when you get into November you asking the fourth week
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which is the 24 you’re asking us to take that off and normally we do conduct business that
Tuesday. That is a Thanksgiving weekend and we have Thursday. We know the holiday and
we’re giving the employees Friday as a holiday so that day you ask us to take off that week that
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Tuesday all together on the 24. And then when you get into December normally we go we have
our Commission meeting, we have our Committee meeting, we have our Commission meeting on
th.
the 15 You’re out of there just having two meetings in December so that’s quite a bit of months
you’re impacting and not even talking about when you talk about the Master’s Week where there
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some discrepancies there as well as the July the 4 for July week.
42
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Hasan: So I recommend we don’t make these changes.
Mr. Mayor: --- well, I anticipated you would do that. I don’t quite frankly know what
you’re about from a standpoint of impacting six months. Let me talk about what you see right
here. The holidays are not the City of Augusta adopted holidays. These are just the national
holidays, okay.
Mr. Hasan: Such as what?
Mr. Mayor: All right, if you’ll, I’m going to draw everybody’s attention to Tab 12, okay?
These dates that you see are the nationally recognized holidays. The City of Augusta takes a
different approach when it adopts its holiday schedule for its employees and for the organization.
All right so you can throw that out the window. It has nothing effectively to do with the calendar.
All I’m doing is just showing what the national holidays are. The effect of what I have proposed
is again one meeting in July and two meetings in December ---
Mr. Hasan: Not true, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- it does not change, it does not change any of the other dates that you have
---
Mr. Hasan: It does, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- how did you get to the six months?
rd
Mr. Hasan: Let’s look at March. On March the 3 you have a full Commission. The next
thth
full Commission would be the 17 and then you go to Committee that’s the 10 and will be the
st.th.
31 You have us doing a committee on the 24 You have us doing business five weeks in a row
when we normally would do four. We do two Commission and two committees. The fourth week
that’s what I’m talking about. If you look at all of those five weeks, you have a full calendar where
the fourth week we would not do business. That’s what I’m talking about, those things and so
you’re looking at March, you’re looking at June, you’re looking at September. You’re looking at
those three months there alone talking about that and then I got into the week of November. I
haven’t gotten into what actually happens in March and whatever happens in at the end of June.
I’m just pointing out now the five weeks where you actually have us working when the Code
doesn’t require that we work.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. In my school year, Mr. Welcher, I was told one
thing you may not learn but you need to be there every day meaning that I didn’t miss very many
days in school and hadn’t missed but one meeting here in this Chamber ---
Mr. Hasan: Two.
43
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay one committee if they keep them like that I guess I can get them
straight. I missed two meetings, one committee and one Commission, since I’ve been elected not
because I’m so eager but I agreed to serve the people. My colleagues and I can take off any time
we want to. There’s no demand that we be here so if anybody don’t want to show up most time
they don’t show up but if you’re elected by the people we need to put in every because we impact
the business of this community when we don’t show up, when we don’t have these meetings when
people are coming in, sitting, waiting to be heard, waiting to get a process passed through. Any
time you choose not to show up I mean you have that opportunity as well so I’m thinking we
impact the government itself when we don’t hold every meeting that we need to hold. Inclement
weather can stop us sometimes. We don’t know what that will be like. It’s really been too hot to
come down here but we still struggle through the heat but if it gets stormy and we don’t hold a
meeting there’s a lot of cases we may not be able to meet at that point. So I’m saying all that to
say that we need to work as much as we can to try to get the citizens and taxpayers of Augusta-
Richmond County service carried out every day of this Commission has. So I don’t see why the
need to change this, Mr. Mayor. I heard about it before it got on the agenda and then we talk you
know but I just don’t think that that ought to be something we ought to be concerned about. There’s
bigger fish to fry than what meeting and who’s going to be off and what month.
Mr. Mayor: All right, won’t you make a motion then?
Mr. M. Williams: I make a motion to deny.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think that as a Commissioner there’s more
work than just coming here on Tuesdays. I think we all get calls, we all have things that we take
care off and frankly I think sometimes we get here and it’s like nobody’s read the agenda book or
done their homework. And so to sit here for three hours every Tuesday in my mind is not the best
thing for this community. I think we looked at that probably our worse days are on Tuesday at the
Commission they way we act up here. I think that the Mayor’s suggestion of losing a meeting
here one in July two in December is a great thing for this governing body, I think it’s a great thing
for the city. The department heads as much as they put in a lot of them are off during the summer
so I don’t understand why this is such a big deal. In my mind it opens up an opportunity for in
July maybe we do something different, a retreat or something that maybe we still do work we just
don’t have meetings or something. So I’m going to make a substitute motion to approve.
Mr. Clarke: Second.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I make a comment of that?
Mr. Mayor: All right so I’ve got a substitute with a proper second. All right, let’s just do
this. We’re going to vote them up or down, okay? All right ---
44
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a comment on that.
Mr. Mayor: --- voting on the substitute.
Mr. Hasan: Well, you’re changing more than just those two things then. You’re changing
the whole calendar for the whole year (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: All right, you’ve got an opportunity to decide that right now.
Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. Clarke vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Fails 4-4.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, now we’re back to the motion from the Commissioner from the 9,
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motion to deny with a second from the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: I thought we just did that.
Mr. Mayor: The substitute failed ---
Mr. Hasan: Oh, okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- you’ve got an opportunity to decide now, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Oh, okay well, good, I appreciate that. Ya’ll got me so confused. You wore
me out (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. Sias, Mr. Hasan and Mr. M. Williams vote Yes.
Mr. D. Williams, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. Clarke vote No.
Ms. Davis out.
Motion Fails 3-5.
Mr. M. Williams: Really that motion passed, Ms. Bonner. It stays where it’s at.
Mr. Mayor: The most significant work that we do revolves around putting the budget
together. This government can’t operate without an adopted and a balanced budget, approved
budget and that’s what this conversation was about, should’ve been about. Once you’ve done that,
our work is pretty much done for the year. Madam Clerk, we’ll keep rolling.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
45
9. Motion to approve award of contract for Annual Ground Maintenance for Downtown
Facilities and Regional Library Locations to Truegreen, Piedmont Landscape Management,
Davis Landscape Company and Jacobs Land Management of North Augusta and Augusta
in the amount of $224,069.89. The base bid is for September 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020
with an option to extend for one year in 2021. (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee August 13, 2019)
Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Motion to approve.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve got a motion and a second.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I just want to reiterate with Ms. Douse then that it may not be in
their contract about not blowing stuff out there in the streets and things but they need to receive
some kind of information, directive or something from you all. That will be my request of you all
to make sure they understand that, thank you.
Ms. Douse: Will do.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Douse, I’m in support but let me ask these
contracts we’re talking about now are to do what?
Ms. Douse: For our monthly grounds maintenance services at the locations listed as you
know right now Central Services currently maintains these facilities and the grounds respectively
and unfortunately our staff does not have, we don’t have the manpower to be able to stay on top
of it so we’re enlisting the support of a vendor to assist with that.
Mr. M. Williams: So what’s going to happen to the staff that had limited amount of
manpower? What do they do now? They go fishing, I mean what happened to those?
Ms. Douse: No, sir, they will still maintain grounds just not at these facilities. We have
several other facilities throughout Augusta’s footprint. We just only decided to outsource the
larger facilities.
Mr. M. Williams: But they’ve been maintaining the larger facilities but now we’re going
---
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Ms. Douse: I don’t feel that the facilities have been maintained adequately.
Mr. M. Williams: --- Mr. Mayor, I’m in support but I’m hearing something in either it
wasn’t being maintained adequately I get that and that’s why we’re going to outsource it. But
these staff, not staff but these employees that have been doing this ought to be assigned to
something else and I’m sure you are going to do that. But I guess my question would be what else
would they be doing? Will they be doing similar work because they’ve been doing this before but
not sufficient. Are they going to be doing something similar to this?
Ms. Douse: Well, over the last over the last three years I could speak to we’ve added
several new facilities to our footprint which has impacted greatly our service levels concerning our
grounds.
Mr. M. Williams: And we still need to maintain the same equipment though, right?
Ms. Douse: Yes, sir, we still have the same equipment just not as much as the equipment
have been phased out. We just haven’t replaced it if wasn’t needed.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s all, Mr. Mayor. That’s all I’ve got.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commission from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Ms. Douse, you said that Central Services personnel has been maintaining
these?
Ms. Douse: Yes, sir except the library. I would like to point out the library’s bid is separate.
Mr. Clarke: Okay. Last week when I was down here I saw the inmates working on this
property. Where do they fit into this scheme?
Ms. Douse: So our grounds team is assigned two inmates and we augment our staffing
levels with those two individuals.
Mr. Clarke: Okay.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Ms. Douse. My question’s in the same line. How many employees
are impacted by this?
Ms. Douse: Well, we currently have four groundskeepers.
Mr. Hasan: And they take care of all of these locations here? How many locations are we
looking at? Just two or three? You said downtown facilities and the regional library locations so
how many facilities are we talking about?
47
Ms. Douse: There’s only four facilities that Central Services currently maintains and so
that is the Sheriff’s Administrative Building, the Public Defenders Office, the Municipal Building
and the Augusta Transit Center. That does not include a host of other facilities that we are still
responsible for maintaining with a staff of four.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, so my question goes back to Commissioner Marion Williams’ question
in particular. Is the employees who was managing where you’re getting this contracts have you
identified placement for them in terms of where you’re going to shift them to if you contract this
out?
Ms. Douse: Yes.
Mr. Hasan: Okay and where would that be if you don’t mind.
Ms. Douse: Sure 401, Charlie Webster Detention Center, the Records Retention Building
out on Marvin Griffin, the Central Services Building out on Peach Orchard Road, the Probation
Office. We’re still responsible for probation and the list continues.
Mr. Hasan: Okay other than the Records Retention and maybe so none of those places
currently have anybody that’s doing anything for them or are you adding to the staff that’s already
there?
Ms. Douse: So each one of those facilities don’t have a person assigned to each building.
They are a team of four that ride in a vehicle and rotate from site to site and they have a schedule
in which they maintain that particular site on that particular day. And so these larger facilities that
we’re going to outsource such as the Municipal Building has been an extremely difficult for them
to maintain a certain esthetic look and so ---
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am. I was talking about the ones now that you mentioned that you
were shifting employees going to shift employees to. My question was do they currently have
anybody that’s providing the service to them currently, that’s what I’m asking ---
Mr. Douse: --- yes.
Mr. Hasan: --- and how does that work with the ones that you’re going to add to this. This
is an additional crew to go with what they currently have?
Ms. Douse: No, sir. There’s four people total and they currently maintain ---
Mr. Hasan: All of those?
Ms. Douse: --- all of the sites ---
Mr. Hasan: As well as this so ---
Ms. Douse: --- as well as these, yes, sir.
48
Mr. Hasan: --- okay, so you’re already undermanned that’s what you’re going for.
Ms. Douse: That’s correct.
Mr. Hasan: Got it, okay thank you. What about, I’ve got one, what about you might of
did mention that you have a place that you might have mentioned it what is that Marvin Griffin
Road, the retention center. What’s that behind that?
Ms. Douse: That’s Traffic and Engineering Sign Shop.
Mr. Hasan: No, I don’t mean that particular property the property where the Planning and
Zoning Business Licenses is in there. Does somebody manage, is that part of, somebody going to
be managing that as well?
Ms. Douse: We will yes.
Mr. Hasan: Okay because ya’ll, I don’t think you mentioned that, okay.
Ms. Douse: It was several that I didn’t mention.
Mr. Hasan: Okay because that’s right to add it that’s why (inaudible) ---
Ms. Douse: Right.
Mr. Hasan: --- okay.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Ms. Douse: But excuse me ---
Mr. B. Williams: Motion to approve.
Ms. Douse: --- they won’t be contracted out. I did want to make sure that was (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
The Clerk: We already had one.
Mr. B. Williams: We already had one?
The Clerk: We had one.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
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Mr. D. Williams, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Frantom and Mr. Garrett vote
Yes.
Mr. Clarke votes No.
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis and Mr. M. Williams out.
Motion Passes 6-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If it’s the will of the body I’d like to
consent the rest of the agenda items except for the two that are Number 28 and 30.
The Clerk: Okay and Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, if we could let the record reflect the deletion
of Item 26.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Deletion of Item 26. Every one but Number 18 I guess you had a
question, every one but 18 and then 28 and 30.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
CONSENT AGENDA
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
11. Motion to approve award of contract to provide professional services to assess the
condition of roofs on Augusta owned buildings to Terracon Consultants of Lawrenceville,
GA in the amount of $85,750.00. Bid Item 19-229 (Approved by Administrative Services
Committee August 13, 2019)
PUBLIC SAFETY
14. Motion to approve the replacement of infrastructure hardware and software. (Approved
by Public Safety Committee August 13, 2019)
15. Motion to approve a change order to in the amount of $30,922 for soil remediation that
will increase the net amount of P362943 to $91,903.30 for Bid #18-285 Demolition and
Reconstruction of Parking and Roadway Entrance at Fire Station 4, awarded to Contract
Management Inc. (Approved by Public Safety Committee August 13, 2019)
16. Motion to approve the transfer of $158,000 from the Augusta Fire Department’s fund
balance for the Engineering Department purchase of EMTRAC for all Fire Department
first-response vehicles. (Approved by Public Safety Committee August 13, 2019)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
17. Motion to approve a one-year extension of the contract for Compressed Natural Gas
(CNG) maintenance services with Atlanta Gas and Light (AGL) Resources. The total cost
for the extension is $75,000.00. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee August 13,
2019)
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19. Motion to authorize a change order to Atlanta Gas Light’s (AGL) current Purchase
Order (PO). (Approved by Engineering Services Committee August 13, 2019)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
20. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Augusta Commission held
on August 6, 2019 and Special Called Meeting held August 13, 2019)
APPOINTMENTS
21. Motion to approve the reappointment of Ms. Carmen Few to the Augusta Animal Control
Citizen Committee representing District 1.
22. Motion to approve the reappointment of Mr. Peter Hughes to the Augusta Canal
Authority representing District 2.
23. Motion to approve the reappointment of Ms. Shannon Rodgers to the Augusta Animal
Control Citizen Advisory Committee representing District 2.
24. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Ben Payne to the General Aviation
Commission-Daniel Field representing District 7.
25. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Charles Byrd to the Augusta Animal Services
Citizens Advisory Board representing District 8.
PUBLIC SERVICES
26. Existing Location: A.N. 19-29: A request by Brenda Thorington for an on-premise
consumption Beer License to be used in connection with Pizza Hut #2020 located at 613 a5th
St. There will be Sunday Sales. District 1. Super District 9 (No recommendation Public
Services Committee August 13, 2019)
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis and Mr. M. Williams.
Motion Passes 7-3. \[Items 11, 14-17, 19, 20, 21-25, 26\]
The Clerk: Item Number 18, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
18. Motion to approve ESD to utilize the Georgia EPD Local Government Scrap Tire
Abatement Program and authorize the Administrator and Mayor to execute Agreements
and Required Documents. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee August 13, 2019)
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. If you don’t mind I see Environmental Services Director is
coming forward. You’ll have to help me out again, I’m a little slow today.
Ms. Padgett: Becky Padgett.
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Mr. Sias: All right, thank you, Ms. Padgett. Mr. Mayor, I want to ask Ms. Padgett a couple
of questions. Ms. Padgett, this particular program that you’re talking about with the scrap tires, is
this our first implementation of this type of program to try to assist with the tires?
Ms. Padgett: No ---
Mr. Sias: So how did the other programs fare because from my perspective they did not
fare that well.
Ms. Padgett: --- so it was a little bit confusing to me. I think we had some conversation
last week about this but in ’17 we approved for one program for 2018 and then we were trying to
initiate another program which is the reimbursement for the right-of-way tires. So we have our
recycling events which are four Saturday quarterly recycling events and then we also, we’re trying
to implement a new one where we get reimbursed for the illegal dumped and the tires that were
found at the right-of-way. So for ’18 we did four quarterly events and it ranged anywhere probably
$4 or $5,000 dollars per event was for the reimbursement proceeds that we got back.
Mr. Sias: So are you going to be utilizing these programs in combination or just the one I
see here?
Ms. Padgett: So those are for some events, the two contracts are for events for 2019. That’s
what’s coming before you now so they would be $4/5,000 dollars per event so they’re new events.
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We just had one Saturday on the 17 and we have another one coming up in November.
Mr. Sias: Against my own judgement, I’m going to move to approve but I just think these
programs are fairly ineffective. We need to really to get to something new but move to approve.
Thank you, ma’am.
Ms. Padgett: Thank you.
Mr. Clarke: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second, voting.
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis and Mr. Frantom out.
Mr. M. Williams not voting.
Motion Passes 6-0.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
28. Motion to approve that any voting member of this body can make a motion at any point
without being recognized by the Chair. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
52
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Hasan: Is this making a motion or being recognized? Which one is it, Mr. Mayor or is
it one in the same?
Mr. Mayor: All right, I heard a motion but I don’t know if I heard a second.
The Clerk: Yes, Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
Mr. Hasan, Mr. M. Williams and Mr. Clarke vote Yes.
Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams and Mr. Garrett vote No.
Mr. D. Williams abstains.
Mr. Fennoy, Ms. Davis and Mr. Frantom out.
Motion Fails 3-3-1.
Mr. M. Williams: Madam Clerk, put this back on the next Commission agenda please.
The Clerk: Goes through Committee and then (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Whatever it has to go ---
The Clerk: Okay whatever, thank you.
Mr. M. Williams: --- as long as it ends up back on the Commission.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, it will.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
30. Discuss lack of economic growth in the underserved areas of Augusta e.g. the James
Brown Heritage Trail. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is something that we’ve been talking about
quite some time with the previous item Brenda Durant. We have not done anything in the
underserved areas. We talked about James Brown Heritage Trail, we talked about James Heritage
Trace and we talked about economic growth. I can’t tell you anything that we have done on this
body since I’ve been elected that’s going to impact the inner city or the areas that’s not surrounding
downtown. I’m at a loss, Mr. Mayor. I don’t know what why we designated the Heritage Trail,
have not put any emphasis any money any conversation hadn’t been any conversations since we
done that. Can my colleagues or maybe you, Mr. Mayor, help me understand why we have not
done that?
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Mr. Mayor: Well, I have an opinion ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay ---
Mr. Mayor: --- I know it ain’t worth much ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- but it’s yours, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: --- it is.
Mr. M. Williams: --- it ain’t worth much but it is yours. I’d like to hear that. Should I give
my opinion ---
Mr. Mayor: Well, you just did.
Mr. M. Williams: --- no, no not by your opinion. Your opinion wasn’t worth much but
I’ve got an opinion about this item that we have here. It’s been blighted, we’ve been talking about
we move some money, the hotel/motel tax, we talked about the Laney Walker area and doing some
things over there. We built a few homes, very few homes. We tore down very few homes but
other than that it’s totally dead. This body who make decisions on a lot of different things have
not put any efforts on anything to bring life back into the area that’s been blighted. Now we talked
about the James Brown Heritage Trail but where James Brown Heritage Trail is there was the
Lenox Theater, there was the Show Palace there, there was Wilkes Café, there was the Shoestring
Lounge, there was the Red Star Lunch and Hotel but all of that is gone. Every bit of it. There’s
no life there. Even the Church’s Chicken that was there is even gone now. When you go through
it it’s like a ghost town. We get economic dollars come through this city but this governing body
has not done one thing not just in your term, Mr. Mayor, since I’ve been elected on this body I’ve
been singing the same song. It ain’t Kumbaya but I’ve been singing the same song about trying to
get economic growth back into the area. We keep talking about it but we got to the point now we
hadn’t even talked about it. I’m embarrassed to think that you’re riding on those streets and don’t
see any growth at all.
Mr. Mayor: Well, to the degree that my opinion is more than two cents it’s very difficult
to do big things when, you know, we talk about rules for an hour and 45 minutes and we put them
back on the agenda not one time, not two times, but three times. It’s very difficult for us to do big
things when we have our little pet rocks and we talk about let’s say the Administrator’s budget
when the Commission adopts the budget. It’s very difficult to do big things when you’re more
concerned about who’s idea it is as opposed to what can we collaboratively and collectively work
on and get done for this city regardless of what district it’s in, regardless of whose idea it was. It’s
very difficult to get things done when you provide a list of best practices for how we can use
Community Development Block Grant money and we just kind of gloss over that and do the same
thing that we’ve consistently done and you say well we got a few houses here and a few houses
there. It’s just very difficult. And we’re much more enamored with majoring in the minors then
we are in majoring the big stuff that has catalytic and transformative opportunity to change the
city, change the trajectory of the city and it’s very difficult. When we spend again two hours and
54
45 minutes talking about again things that are just routine, how many trucks am I going to buy
when we have already budgeted, the fact that we don’t spend the money at the point in time that
we adopt the budget. There’s a request for how many trucks, how many cars, how many dump
trucks, how many bucket trucks? We’ve already appropriated the money when we adopt the
budget and then we unilaterally spend the next 12 months coming back and voting on it every
month every first, second, every first and third Tuesday and then on the second and fourth Tuesday
we come and talk about well you appropriate the money. Now can I buy the truck that you already
appropriate the money on, we’ll buy 45 Chargers, 35 Chargers. At the end of the day it’s very
difficult and I share your frustration. I do, I share your frustration. I know you and I talked and
we talked about the Heritage Trail. Then there was the conversation about the Heritage Trace. In
fact Brenda Durant and our Director Welcher they came and they talked about grant opportunities.
In fact you even talked about putting record labels in the sidewalk. I remember it like it was
yesterday and this very day we haven’t even moved forward on that because we’re much more
enamored with our pet rocks as opposed as to how do we move this city forward and do big stuff,
that’s my two cents worth.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, let me give mine.
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Mr. Mayor: The Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: Just a couple of comments, Mr. Mayor. We did approve the Marijuana
situation earlier. I think it’ll be coming up. I think we need to go back and visit our policy on that
because I don’t think it’s fair that you pay $150 dollars for, you know, marijuana and then your
first offense with the city you lose your job, that’s one. And then two ---
Mr. Mayor: I couldn’t agree with you more.
Mr. B. Williams: --- and then two I would like for us to look at a schedule, maybe it’s
because maybe I’m a baby newcomer that our schedule allow some type of vacation time for the
Commission because it looks like we work all month in December, all month in July, all month in
June so I don’t know. Maybe that’s just my ignorance, I don’t know.
Mr. Mayor: No, it’s not, it’s an excellent idea. We’ll make it yours this time.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: All right. All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Mr. Mayor, I’d just like to point out that I think we all want economic growth
in every part of our city and I don’t think there’s a Commissioner sitting up here that doesn’t also
go out and communicate with other districts, that’s our job. But we can, you know really preach
economic growth and moving forward and everything but you know something we have to
absolutely understand as a government we cannot tell a business that is trying to locate or open up
in Augusta, Georgia where they’re going to locate. They do things like market surveys and
everything else to find their choice market. And so maybe in order to get economic growth we
have to look at each individual community and see what we can do to uplift and help that
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community and that’s going to take everybody’s involvement. It’s not going to just take ten
Commissioners and a Mayor. It’s going to take every citizen of Augusta, Georgia. It’s going to
take the citizens of those communities to reach out to each other, so that’s the only thing I’ve got.
Mr. M. Williams: My colleague makes a good point and we had a great opportunity to do
just that a little while ago when Brenda Durant came and we talked about doing something to, for
the gateways of this community. When we use the same monies for the same areas for the same
folks all the time, that’s why the other side that you just stated District 10 Commissioner it takes
all of us, it talks all of us to work together. No business wants to come on one side of town where
we have deserted ourselves so why would the businesses come in and go on that side of town when
we had deserted it ourselves. So I’m in agreement with you 100%. I think that we need to
understand that we’ve got to make some decisions to quit putting people because of the side of
town they live on or because of the geographical area that they live in that they’re not important.
When we spend all of the monies on one side of town and you’ve been in this town probably as
long as I have if not longer you see that for yourself. What gets me is why my other colleagues sit
here and act like they don’t see it or they don’t understand that. It really bothers me. Now we
don’t, we shouldn’t be in the business of building hotels or building restaurants and all that kind
of stuff but economic dollars, we talk about the James Brown statue and the James Brown LP
albums and put them on the ground and have people to come and tour something really simple,
something really easy that we couldn’t done that would attract a businessman to that area because
there’s a drawing card for people. You create a designation point and the businesses will follow
that but when we don’t do that, when we leave it bland or we leave it blighted then why should
they come and say I’m going to put the business here because it’s blighted and they need the
business. They don’t look like they need a business so we have to do some things ourselves which
we hadn’t done, so I take issue with that. The Mayor mentioned something a while ago about
voting on the budget and then coming back and asking about the cars and what size motor’s going
to be in them and all this other stuff. That’s politics. These are people’s business. This is what
we’re supposed to do the people need to know not that we approved the budget and we just
approved it and they can do what they want to do. That’s our jobs. My colleague asked about a
vacation. When I filled out the application to run for office I didn’t see nowhere it said vacation
on there, not one time. It said you want to serve the people and if you want to serve the people,
you can’t serve them on vacation. You’ve got to serve them while you’re working. So my point
again, Mr. Mayor, economic dollars that we ought to be spending or trying to get into this city we
have not done one thing. I’m embarrassed to sit up here as long as I’ve been up here and all the
talk about the LP albums, the statue we could do or the WOW effect. Who needs the WOW effect?
Why would people come to your town if you ain’t got nothing different to offer? The same thing
in Waynesboro, the same thing in Augusta. You might as well be in Waynesboro. There ain’t
nothing wrong with Waynesboro. I have a lot of friends down there. I’m just saying and you got
to do something different but we want to sit here and act like we don’t see that, Ms. Bonner. That
really bothers me.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: So I mean I’m embarrassed to be representing the Super District 9 and
got nothing to show the people. Nobody even talks about it. They act as if they don’t even exist,
that they just disappeared. Well, I had my colleagues. You don’t have to be here and sit and listen
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to what I’m saying. I’m telling you the people are going to realize what we’re doing and what
we’re not doing so I think that they’ll be the ones to decide.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I don’t think there’s any other business before us.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Do we have a motion to adjourn? If we’re going to go by the rules, we
have to have a motion to adjourn.
Mr. Mayor: (Unintelligible).
(No action taken on this item)
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
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
August 20, 2019.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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