HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting August 18, 2020
REGULAR MEETING VIRTUAL/TELECONFERENCE
AUGUST 18, 2020
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., August 18, 2020, 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.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ll call we call the August 18 full Commission meeting to order
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with our invocation being led by the distinguished Lady from the 3 Commissioner Mary Davis
and followed ---
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Sorry, I think someone’s phone is on.
Mr. Mayor: --- and followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. If we’ll have everybody to mute
their devices except for Commissioner Davis.
Invocation given by Commissioner Mary Davis.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America was recited.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, the matter of Addendum Items, I’d like to address that first. If
you could walk us through the Addendum Items as they’ve come in so we can take action on
whether we’re adding those or not.
ADDENDUM
41. Mr. Keith Henry regarding maintenance issues on Henry Street. (Requested by
Commissioner Mary Davis)
The Clerk: Okay, under the Addition portion of the agenda subsection delegation is the
request from Commissioner Mary Davis to have Mr. Keith Henry added regarding maintenance
issues on Henry Street.
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Ms. Davis: --- Mr. Henry called me today. We’re going to postpone that for two weeks -
--
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
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Ms. Davis: --- Madam Clerk, sorry, I meant to call you on that. I apologize.
The Clerk: So that will be forwarded to the next meeting, okay.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next one.
(It was the consensus of the Commission that these items be added to the agenda without
objection)
ADDENDUM
42. Motion to approve request from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to purchase 460
Sig Saur P320 pistols plus additional accessories for use as the official sidearm of certified
personnel. This purchase will involve the trading in of the existing Clock handguns and an
additional amount of money.
The Clerk: Public Safety, is a request from the Sheriff’s Department to add for purchase
of additional weaponry with existing funds in their current budget.
ADDENDUM
43. Motion to approve additional position to increase the number of cases directed to
mediation and add a Family Law component to assist self-represented litigants throughout
the Augusta Judicial Circuit courts.
The Clerk: Item #2 is a request from the Superior Court asking for addition position to
increase and to direct mediation and add a family law component to self-represented litigants
throughout the Augusta Judicial Circuit Courts. Funding has been available, has been identified
to fund this additional position in your materials that were sent out earlier.
ADDENDUM
44. Motion to approve Memorandum of Agreement between The Georgia Department of
Public Health and Augusta, Georgia to serve as a Closed Point of Dispensing in the event of
a Declared Emergency. (Requested by the Administration)
The Clerk: Item #3 is a request from the Fire Department through Administration is to
approve a Public Health Agreement with Augusta, Georgia and the Georgia Department of Public
Health to serve as a Closed Point of Dispensing in the event of a Declared Emergency.
ADDENDUM
45. Motion to approve RFP 20-177 – 2021 Disparity Study award to Griffin Strong subject
to the execution of the attached contract.
The Clerk: Item 4 under Additions will be Administrative Services to add the Disparity
Study for approval award of contract.
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
20. Motion to Receive as Information Housing and Community Development’s FY2019
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).
The Clerk: Under Supplemental Information is additional information submitted by
Housing and Community Development regarding Item #20 Consolidated Annual Performance and
Evaluation Report.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- was there a timeline on this CAPER report? If it’s not time-sensitive and
I’m sure it’s easy to say it is I’d rather we push that to our next meeting September 1.
The Clerk: --- HCD did not indicate that to me. The item on the agenda is to receive it as
information so they were not asking for the declarative action on the Commission.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so we’ll push that to September 1.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a question as well.
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to come to you. I remember you had your hand up.
Mr. Hasan: All right, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, all right ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: --- okay Commissioner go ahead, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- on the courts issue I have a couple of questions about that and I how that
Madam Clerk she mentioned this there’s some figures there for us. I didn’t see the figures, Ms.
Bonner, were some figures there?
The Clerk: They had covered it with a revenue stream that’s within the court system itself.
We have the Court Administrator available if the Commission decides to add this they will make
themselves available to answer your questions.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’ll let you decide whether you want to let my colleagues decide
whether they want to add it or not. Also I see it for the circuit you know the whole Judicial Circuit
and so I don’t know are we paying a portion of the cost, all of the cost, some of the cost or what
have you.
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The Clerk: Those questions, yes, sir, those are the questions they will be able to answer
for you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so what’s in front of us right now really I asked Ms. Bonner to just
iterate those for us so we could decide what we were dealing with as so many of them were coming
in. You’ve got again there were five items, one we’ve taken off and pushed that to September 1.
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You’ve got the matter that the Commissioner from the 6 brought forth, the Disparity Study, and
then of course these other matters. Do we have general consent to add Items 1, 2, 3 and 4 the
weapons Superior Court conversation, Fire Department and the Disparity Study? Okay, all right,
without objection. All right, Madam Clerk. All right, so we will debate those matters. All right,
while we’re talking through this, Madam Clerk, looks like everybody wants to talk about Item
Number 9 on the agenda so they came in the form of a delegation. Are there any folks who decided
not to speak on the Delegation today before we move forward, any one call and said they didn’t
want to speak?
The Clerk: No, sir, we have not received such notification.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. All right, Madam Clerk, back to you in the matter of
consent adding or removing.
The Clerk: Our Consent Agenda consists of Items 1 through 8, Items 1 through 8.
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The Clerk: All right, Madam Clerk, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. Just want to request that we delete Item 24 ---
The Clerk: Delete Item 24 ---
Mr. Sias: --- yes and also delete Item number 34.
The Clerk: --- Item number 34
Mr. Sias: And did we agree to move Item 20 to September 1 and the reason I’m asking
that just to make sure the I had a question ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: --- that’s correct?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
The Clerk: Number 24, you said?
Mr. Sias: Delete, we’ll move Item 20 and delete Item 24 and requesting to delete Item 34
as well.
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The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, everybody just hold for a moment. All right Commissioner from
ndnd,
the 2, Commissioner from the 2 you’ve got to unmute yourself sir.
Mr. D. Williams: I’m sorry. I’d like to delete Item number 26, consent Item 28, consent
Item 25.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’d like to consent Item 30.
Mr. Sias: I have a couple of questions on that one, sir. No, I’m sorry, I can get that out of
32, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d to consent Item 13 and 15.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner from the 8 unmute yourself, sir.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, sir. I apologize for that. Might I consent 23?
Mr. Hasan: I have a question about that one.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hasan: That’s okay, Mr. Mayor, let it go ahead, I’m fine.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Yeah, I’d like to consent a couple of items under Administrative Services portion
of the agenda. Item 18 these are kind of minor, Item 19, Item 21, Item 22 ---
Mr. Hasan: I have a question for 22.
Mr. Sias: --- okay, 18, 19 and 21.
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Mr. Mayor: And Item 20 has been moved to September the 1.
Mr. Sias: Correct.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right the distinguished Lady from the 3, Commissioner Davis.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mayor. I’d like to consent, I don’t think we have yet 16 and 28.
The Clerk: That’s already been added, ma’am.
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Ms. Davis: Okay, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: My question on 16, that wasn’t the protest we just had was it?
Mr. Mayor: No, sir.
Ms. Davis: No, sir.
Mr. Mayor: No, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I’ve got no problem.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, state your inquiry.
Mr. B. Williams: --- can we go ahead and consent 29?
Mr. Hasan: No, sir, I’ve a question about 29, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: All right, give me just a moment everybody. All right, Item number 35 we’ve
had this conversation before I believe ---
Mr. Hasan: It’s deleted, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- Item 35, I’m talking about 35.
Mr. Hasan: Deleted?
Mr. Mayor: No, 34 is deleted.
Mr. Hasan: Check with the Clerk if you don’t mind for clarity.
The Clerk: Yeah, I don’t have that sir, 35.
Mr. Mayor: It was Item number 34, Item number 35, I’d like to consent that. All right, the
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Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Starting with Item 36 can we consent Item 36, 37, 38 and 39? 39 is part of the
TIA Project.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, it is. All right, sounds good. All right very well. Okay all right, Madam
Clerk, as we have it I’m just going to go down the list. Item number 13 consent, 15 consent, 16
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consent, 18 consent, 19 consent, 20 consent, that’s September the 1, Item 21 consent, 23 consent,
24 delete, 25 consent, 26 delete, 28 delete ---
Mr. Hasan: 28 is approved for consent.
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah, I said consent ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay, all right.
Mr. Mayor: Number 20 consent, number 30 consent, number 34 is deleted, number 35
consent and 36, 37, 38 and 39 for consent. And, Madam Clerk, from the Addendum Agenda Item
number 1 the weapons purchase from asset forfeiture funds I’d like to consent that as well.
The Clerk: And we’re also consenting to move Mr. Keith Henry to the next meeting under
the Delegations.
Mr. Mayor: That is correct.
Mr. M. Williams: Is 37 consented as well?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: 6, 7, 8 and 9 is that right?
Mr. Mayor: That is correct, I’ll entertain a motion.
Mr. Sias: So moved.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, motion from the 4 second from the 6.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. FINAL PLAT – CUSHENDAL ADDITION – S-874 – A request for concurrence with the
Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by C.E. Dudley, on behalf of
Southern Meadows Development LLC., this subdivision is located on Cushendal Road off
Belair Road and contains 6 lots. (Reviewing agenda approval under Performance Guarantee
7/31/2020)
2. FINAL PLATE – KINGSTON SUBDIVISION – S-2019-021 – A request for concurrence
with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Cranston
Engineering Group, on behalf of Antioch Ministries Inc., in partnership with Augusta
Housing and Community Development Department, requesting final plat approved for
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Kingston Subdivision. This residential subdivision contains 5 lots, one new cul-de-sac and
one access lane and is located off Holley Street. District 1
3. FINAL PLAT – SIMS LANDING PHASE 1 – S-912 – A request for concurrence with the
Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Cranston Engineering
Group, on behalf of D.R. Horton LLC, requesting final plat approval for Sims Landing Ph.
1 adding 3 new lots to a previously approved plat. This residential subdivision is located off
Gordon Highway. DISTRICT 3.
4. FINAL PLAT – SOUTHAMPTON SEC. 7 – S-910 – A request for concurrence with the
Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by Southern Partners Inc., on
behalf of Coel Development Co. Inc., requesting final plat approved for Southampton Sec. 7.
This residential subdivision contains 86 lots and is located off Bellingham Drive adjacent to
Southampton Sec. 6. (Reviewing agency approval 7/28/220) DISTRICT 4
5. Z-20-39 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the condition below, a petition by Andre Largent, on behalf of Doug Frohman,
requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to Zone B-2 (General
Business) affecting property containing 1.27 acres and known as 3110 Washington Road.
Tax Map 011-0-277-00-0 DISTRICT 7 1. The business must obtain a license and comply with
all applicable City codes and regulations.
6. Z-20-41 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve a petition by E. Marlow McIntyre Jr., on behalf of MacKenna Holdings LLC, &
Rick Alben, requesting a change of zoning from Zone R-1A (One-family Residential) to Zone
R-1C (One-family Residential) affecting property containing 0.47 acres and known as 3207
Peninsula Drive. Tax Map 039-0-210-00-0 DISTRICT 3
7. Z-20-42 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve, with the conditions below, a petition by Hillpointe LLC and James Overstreet,
Attorney, on behalf of Belair Baptist Church Inc. and Georgia Vitrified Brick & Clay Co.,
requesting a change of zoning from Zone A (Agriculture) to Zone R-3C (Multiple-family
Residential) affecting property containing approximately 27 acres and known as part of 3947
Harper Franklin Avenue (aka 1187 George C. Crawford Drive) and 4005 Jimmie Dyess
Parkway. Tax Map part of 066-0-056-03-0 and 066-0-055-00-0 DISTRICT 3 1. This approval
is for no more than 300 units, limited to 3 stories or 55 feet and shall substantially comply
with the submitted plan. 2. The final site plan shall include walking trails and/or bike paths
within the development and connect to adjacent tracts where possible. 3. This by the City of
Augusta, GA. 4. Vehicular access from Jimmy Dyess Parkway shall consist of a break in the
median to allow a left turn lane with 100’ of taper and 250’ of storage if possible. 5. A
deceleration lane shall be provided at the intersection of Georgie W. Crawford Drive and
Jimmy Dyess Parkway. 7. Sidewalks shall be provided throughout the project and along both
sides of George W. Crawford Drive. All new sidewalks must meet ADA standards. 8. The
development must comply with the provisions of the Augusta Tree Ordinance.
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
8. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on August 4, 2020 and the
special called meeting on July 21, 20202.
PUBLIC SERVICES
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13. Motion to approve the Daniel Field Airport Environmental Assessment Tentative
Allocation and approve the mayor signing the response letter to GDOT.
15. Motion to approve Bid Item 20-178 to Poolside Inc. and payment for work performed
and to include additional work requested under a change order for the re-plastering of the
Bernie Ward Swimming Pool. Bid Item 20-178 - $43,775.00 plus the change order for
$9,323.46 for a total of $53,098.46.
16. Motion to approve the contract with Roofing Professional Inc. Airport’s Skyworx
Building Roof for $11,150.00. Bid Item 20-198.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
18. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide HOME funding to Sand Hills Urban Development to develop one (1)
single family housing unit for a low to moderate income family.
19. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide funding to assist two (2) low-to-moderate income homebuyers with down-
payment assistance to purchase a home.
20. Motion to Receive as Information Housing and Community Development’s FY 2019
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER).
21. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide HOME funding to assist two (2) low to moderate income homebuyers with
gap financing, down payment and closing cost to purchase homes through the Homebuyer
Subsidy Program.
23. Motion to approve HCD’s request to develop a farmer’s market, in the Laney Walker
Bethlehem (LW/B) area in partnership with the American Heart Association and Augusta
Locally Grown, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
24. Motion to approve request to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between
Augusta Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) and a) the Greater
Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce, b) Antioch Ministries, Inc. c) University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center and d) the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce, in
support of HCD’s Micro-Enterprise Technical Assistance Program.
PUBLIC SERVICES
25. Motion to approve the purchase of the Application Program Interface (API) system
integration with the 911 Logging Recorder for the new P25 radio system from Motorola
Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $104,500.00.
26. Receive an update regarding the Gold Cross ambulance services. (Requested by
Commissioner Dennis Williams)
FINANCE
28. Approve funding for the August 11, 2020 Nonpartisan Runoff.
30. Motion to Approve “Resolution Adopting 2020 Mill Rates for All Taxing Districts.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
34. Motion to approve Mr. Bruce Logan request for reimbursement for sewage analysis that
determined a sewage problem at his property was caused by a faulty city sewage line.
(Requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias)
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35. Motion to approve CV Foundry Apartments, LLC., Encroachment request to Place
Concrete Retaining Wall in Augusta, GA Right-of-way as part of 1480 Wrightsboro Road
Residential Development Project. Also authorized Augusta Mayor to process and sign all
associated documents with consultation of Augusta Legal Counsel. Requested by AED.
36. Motion to approve Tas Order Two and Concept Phase funding for Forest Hills Drainage
Basin Dirt Road (Bussey Road) Paving and Drainage Improvements Engineering Services
Agreement to Alfred Benesch & Company (Benesch) in the amount of $62,329.00 as
requested by AED. RFQ 19-148.
37. Motion to approve to Supplement Construction to E R Snell Contractor, Inc. in the
amount of $546,473.00 for Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Project, James Brown Blvd.
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(9 Street) Improvements Project, subject to receipt of signed contracts and proper bonds
as requested by AED. Bid 19-292.
38. Motion to authorize condemnation to acquire title of a portion of property for permanent
easement (Parcel 154-0-011-01-0) 4119 Woodard Avenue.
39. Motion to approve Supplement funding (SA2) for Engineering Preliminary Design Phase
(design phase 2) of the Design Consultant Services Agreement to CHA (formerly Wolverton
& Associates, Inc.) in the amount of $1,441,833.55 for the Willis Foreman Improvement
Project as requested by the AED. RFQ 17-2656
ADDEDUM
41. Mr. Keith Henry regarding maintenance issues on Henry Street. (Requested by
Commissioner Mary Davis.)
42. Motion to approve request from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to purchase 460
Sig Saur P320 pistols plus additional accessories for use as the official sidearm of certified
personnel. This purchase will involve the trading in of the existing Glock handguns and an
additional amount of money.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
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The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Motion Passes 10-0. \[Items 1-8, 13, 15, 16, 18-21, 20, 34-39, 41, 42\]
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, everyone if you’ll give me just a moment just one brief
moment, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- Item number 17.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, before you proceed could you consider under Public Services the
Alcohol Petitioners, those are routine petitions. There are no objectors.
Mr. Mayor: Be happy to.
The Clerk: Okay, all right. That would be Items 10, 11, 12, 14 so we’ll get License and
Inspection cued up to make those presentations.
Mr. Mayor: All right, please do.
The Clerk: --- thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, yes, sir, Ms. Walton is at the podium.
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Mr. Mayor: All right and again there are no objectors.
The Clerk: We’ll have Ms. Walton confirm that.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Ms. Walton, can you confirm that for Items 10 through 12? There are
no objectors?
Mr. Lewis: We need her to unmute.
Mr. Mayor: You are muted, Ms. Walton. You’re currently muted.
Ms. Walton: There are no objectors.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. So if we can, Ms. Walton, again we’ll read the caption for
the record. We’ll have the petitioner to give their name and address and then we’ll proceed through
that each one in that manner.
PUBLIC SERVICES
10. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 20-28: request by Pragna Patel for
a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with DPP Gas, LLC located
at 3735 Mike Padgett Hwy. District 8. Super District 10.
Ms. Walton: Alcohol #20-28 is a request by Pragna Patel for a retail package Beer & Wine
License to be used in connection with DPP Gas, LLC located at 3735 Mike Padgett Highway. This
application has been approved by Sheriff’s Office and Planning and Development.
Ms. Patel: Pragna Patel is my full name and my address is 646 Emerald Crossing, Evans,
Georgia 30809.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
11. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 20-29: request by Ashfaque Khan
for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Fuel Express located
at 2700 Peach Orchard Rd. District 2. Super District 9.
Ms. Walton: The next item the applicant is not here due to illness. Would you still like
for me to read it?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, please. All right hold on a minute. I don’t know who’s talking,
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Commissioner from the 9 is that you?
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I made a comment, yes, Mr. Mayor, so ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, go ahead.
Mr. M. Williams: --- you weren’t supposed to hear that.
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Ms. Walton: Alcohol 20-29 is a request by Ashfaque Khan for a retail package Beer &
Wine License to be used in connection with Fuel Express located at 2700 Peach Orchard Road.
This application has been approved by the Sheriff’s Office and Planning and Development.
12. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 20-30: request by Maria F. Singh
for a consumption on premise Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with El
Veracruz located at 1077 Stevens Creek Rd. There will be Sunday Sales. District 7. Super
District 10.
Ms. Walton: The next item is Alcohol #20-30 a request by Maria F. Singh for a
consumption on premise Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with El Veracruz
located at 1077 Stevens Creek Road, there will be Sunday Sales. This application has been
approved by the Sherriff’s Office and Planning and Development.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, do Ms. Walton have the one who’s not showing up, does
she have the address to be read into the record, the home address?
Ms. Walton: Yes, sir, can I step away for a minute? I’ll get it for you.
Mr. M. Williams: All right.
Mr. Mayor: All right, ma’am please proceed. Ms. Singh if you’ll state, yes go ahead.
Ms. Singh: Yes, sir. My name is Maria Singh, my home address 1428 Hickman Road,
Augusta, Georgia 37904.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you.
Ms. Singh: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Walton.
Ms. Walton: Mr. Khan’s address is 1955 Bells Ferry Road, Apt. 1724 Marietta, Georgia
30066.
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Mr. M. Williams: All right, Commissioner from the 9.
The Clerk: Item number 14, okay, I’m sorry.
Mr. Mayor: You’re satisfied, Commissioner?
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, it was read into the record, it’s in the record. I’m good.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Walton #14.
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PUBLIC SERVICES
14. Motion to approve a request by Angela Dumas Reed for a Massage Operator License to
be used in connection with Salon 419, LLC located at 2368 Barton Chapel Rd. District 5.
Super District 9.
Ms. Walton: We have a request by Angela Dumas Reed for a Massage Operators License
to be used in connection with Salon 419, LLC located at 2368 Barton Chapel Road. This
application has been approved by the Sheriff’s Office and Planning and Development.
Ms. Dumas Reed: Angela Dumas Reed, 2602 Kennedy Circle, Augusta, Georgia 30909.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Ms. Walton ---
Ms. Walton: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, is there any other business before us?
Ms. Walton: That’s the last one, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. M. Williams: So moved for approval.
The Clerk: That was Marion Williams?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 6 with a second, voting.
The Clerk: That would be Items 10, 11, 12 and 14, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
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The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: That motion carries with the approval of Items 10, 11, 12 and 14.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Item 17.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
17. Abolish the Augusta Land Bank Authority/discuss/receive information consisting of a
total list of all properties, when they were purchased and a copy of the rules governing the
Land Bank Authority. (Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
PUBLIC SAFETY
27. Discuss duties and responsibilities as it relates to the ARC Code Enforcement illegal
dumping/litter Division placed under the Marshal’s Department. (Requested by
Commissioner Marion Williams)
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 9.
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Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This item is still on the agenda because we have
not addressed this. The Land Bank Authority has property that we’ve been told that Housing and
Neighborhood Development owns those properties and they do own some but they’ve maintained,
I checked that but the Land Bank is holding property in certain neighborhoods. We need to look
at our code of revamping that and start over again because when we sell a piece of property out of
the Land Bank and it remains the same as it was for the last 10/12 years and we’re really not doing
anything we might as well let it stay where it is. So my proposal is to revamp the Land Bank
Authority and put up some new I guess ideas would be a good word or a new structure for it so
when a property’s being sold it won’t remain the same as it was for the last however many years
it’s been sitting there. I know we probably can’t revamp it today but I think there should be
something done to bring that back in-house so we can look at what can we do. There’s too many
overgrown properties and we say we don’t know who it belongs to. If the Land Bank is the holder
or the property owner at that point then it’s up to them to make whoever they get it from or whoever
ever it come from to maintain it. There’s just too much of that going on. So my motion is to either
sit down with our Code Department, Rob Sherman and the Land Bank Authority and get something
that’s going to work for the City of Augusta because it’s not working right now.
Mr. Mayor: All right, what are you proposing, sir?
Mr. M. Williams: I’m proposing to have a meeting with the Land Bank and even the
Marshal’s Office and Code Enforcement to look at how we can revamp because there’s too many
overgrown properties that we don’t say we don’t know who owns it so what we’ve got there is not
working so we need to ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, let’s ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- (inaudible) with those departments.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, so I’m going to recognize if ya’ll would just raise your hand I’m
promise you I’m going to see you and I’m going to recognize everybody. All right, Commissioner
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from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Mayor, what my colleague Commissioner Marion Williams just said,
Commissioner Williams, if you don’t mind I’d like to walk hand in hand with you with meeting
with all those principals and tie Item number 27 with that and we meet with all the respective
departments whether that’s the Marshal’s Office to be there, Code Enforcement, you’re talking
about Keep Augusta Beautiful, we’re talking about Environmental Services, we’re talking about
the Warden let’s meet with all of them and see can we give it all because all of them are connected.
Can we agree to do that and try to get our arms wrapped around all this?
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Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got no problem added ---
Mr. Hasan: --- (unintelligible) part of the meeting as well.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I’ve got no problem adding both together but let me comment on 27.
There’s too many situations in Augusta where it looks like this department needs to be handling it
versus somebody else handling it. Now when you’ve got abandoned cars and you’ve got
overgrown properties we’ve got people saying well I deal with overgrown properties and then
somebody else deals with abandoned cars but the neighborhood is still staying like it is. So in
order to change that we need to have a conversation. I ain’t got no problem walking with you
talking to them trying to see can we revamp this thing and put something together where it’s going
to be effective and not let people ride by and say but that ain’t my problem if there’s another option
---
Mr. Hasan: I’m sorry (unintelligible).
Mr. M. Williams: --- if there’s a problem we need to address it. I’ve got no problem adding
them both together 27 and 17.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, sir, and I agree with you absolutely what you’re saying and as we
ask those individuals to come together and we meet with them and take about 5 to 10 minutes to
identify who they are and what they do and we try working from there for a plan of action. But I
agree with you wholeheartedly sometimes we don’t know and obviously they seem to know
exactly what it is they are and what they do. I agree my sentiments exactly.
The Clerk: Are you seconding that, sir?
Mr. Hasan: Ma’am?
Mr. Mayor: All right, hold on ---
Mr. Hasan: Yeah, I’m seconding it, yes.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right so I want to get clarification on what we’re motioning and/or
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seconding but I want to recognize the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I too wanted some clarification on how that’s all going to
look and I’m hoping that the full Commission would be part of that process too because you know
that’s a question that we always get when people call in regards to properties that aren’t being kept.
And we start making phone calls trying to get those addressed you know it’s always we deal with
the building not the grounds and vice versa so I think this is really a conversation that we need to
have in the full commission to get everybody on the same page and to give some firm direction on
the better upkeep of our communities.
Mr. Hasan: Absolutely.
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Mr. Mayor: My caution, my caution in the midst of this conversation is the following.
This is a long-standing issue and joining them together is the right approach. Everything’s been
said thus far is spot on but I think you’ve got to have some clear actionable items as we approach
this conversation. You can talk about this but then you can completely miss the fact that this was
also a few weeks back the discussion about right-of-way cutting which you know we talked about
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that so there’s a host of things that we’re just not getting after. The Commissioner from the 3 is
going to raise the issue around trees likely and ‘the lack of upkeep and cleanliness that generally
people have about Augusta’. So I think that this high time for us to do something to the Dean of
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the Commission, Commissioner from the 9 but have some clear action items of what you want
to accomplish beyond understanding what the departments do. We’ve been down that path and
maybe this is the time for us to not only have an understanding but to have a clear flowchart of the
process of addressing the issues of blight and vacancy because what’s being talked about more
importantly is the issue of cleanliness, how do we upkeep these things. That doesn’t even address
the issue of redevelopment of these said properties so I think ya’ll need to look at that holistically
if you’re going to work on that.
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Mr. Hasan: All right. All right, the Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I agree with what you just said but when you look at other
communities and how they are maintained this shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to do this. We
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have been slack with this around the inner city especially. The Commissioner from the 3 talked
about the trees and stuff and I agree there’s a lot of issues with that as well but when you talk about
the overgrown and the abandonment and neglect that’s not just talking about trees and bushes
that’s a part of it. I think the conversation needs to start first and have that conversation. We’re
not somebody making any decision we need to bring it back to the full body. I grant you I don’t
want to make that decision but I think the body needs to understand what we’re trying to deal with
and how we’re going to approach it versus all these departments and all this money we’re spending
and it’s not getting done. We’ve been throwing money after stuff for a long time and it’s still not
working so that means that we’re not doing something that we need to be doing so.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so I agree we’re all saying the same thing. I’m going to go back my
old overarching caution. Right now there’s a culture called doing nothing and it’s predicated on
well the Commission doesn’t know what it wants to accomplish. That’s why I’m saying the
Commission in this discussion needs to go into the conversation with here are the clear actionable
things that we want to see on a consistent basis otherwise it becomes extremely easy to say well
the Commission didn’t give us any guidance, they didn’t give us any direction because they’re not
sure what they want to do.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I respond?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, state your (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: I think you’re absolutely right, Mr. Mayor, I think the very first meeting will
be a Special Called Meeting that with all our colleagues can be there where everybody formerly
introduce themselves who they are and what they do. From there we take that information then
we begin to make a plan of action from there to see exactly what we’ve got because sometimes
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what we think we’ve got we don’t have, you know? So as a result of that we can make a decision
going into the second meeting. The first meeting is an introductory meeting and make sure we
clearly understand who these departments are, who these entities are, who they are and what they
do and from there we strategize.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. All right, Madam Clerk, are you going to ask the question
again of what is our motion?
The Clerk: Okay, our motion is to schedule a meeting with the Code Enforcement, Land
Bank Authority, Marshal’s Department, Warden, Environmental Services, Keep Augusta
Beautiful to discuss the list of vacant unkept properties throughout the city, and I’m summarizing.
Mr. M. Williams: And what their job duties are, what they do now. We need to know
they’re supposed to be doing.
The Clerk: Okay let me back up, let me just say this. This is a meeting to address duties
and responsibilities as it relates to the Augusta Code Enforcement of illegal dumping, litter with
Code Enforcement, Land Bank Authority, the Marshal’s Department, Environmental Services, the
RCCI and Keep Augusta Beautiful.
Mr. Hasan: And HCD.
The Clerk: HCD ---
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: --- okay.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mayor. Like you said a holistic approach is what we need to do
here if we’re going to handle all of the issues that we’ve been talking about with maintenance and
abandoned houses and that type of thing and of course trees too but if we could also get a good
feel for Engineering exactly what they have to maintain in the city and then also compare to what
the Recreation Department maintains because Recreation does some medians, downtown areas but
I don’t think we even have a clear picture of that. And it just doesn’t feel like there’s one
department head or staffing that’s in charge of maintenance period like the medians, Marion.
Mr. M. Williams: You’re right.
Ms. Davis: If we could also throw that in let’s just get the real big picture and see which
direction we want to go in.
Mr. Hasan: Well, that’s et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Ms. Davis: It is but there’s a problem.
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Mr. M. Williams: Well, it is but other cities other communities are doing it a lot better
than we are because we’ve got too many Chiefs I guess, Mary, anyway let’s talk about it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’ve got a motion and a second we’re going to vote
now.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Oh yeah.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
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Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, before we move forward can I ask Commissioner Hasan I’m sorry
Commissioner Fennoy a question?
Mr. Mayor: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: I’m just kidding. Right now I need some humor in this thing, Commissioner
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from the 1, where are you?
Mr. Fennoy: I’m here.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Vaughn is on deck I didn’t know if he wanted to ask the Mayor for
consideration to allow him to come forward with his presentation. He’s been online since 2:00.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I’ve got him on my list right here and I’m trying to decide where he’s
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going to be in the queue. Commissioner from the 1 I would like for you to be present in this
meeting. I’d like for you to be seen as well as the general public if you don’t mind. All right,
Madam Clerk, we’ll go ahead to Item #33.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
33. Presentation from Mr. Campbell Vaughn, Richmond County Extension Agent (UGA)
regarding control methods of Johnson grass on vacant/abandoned city lots. (Requested by
Commissioner Bill Fennoy)
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Mr. Mayor: The Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor, the reason I called him because we have the same lots that
we cut over and over and over again and what’s disappointing to me is that the lots, the grass are
usually 5 feet or higher before we could cut them. So if we are cutting the same lots over and over
again there’s got to be something that’s environmentally safe that we could put down on these lots
once we cut them to reduce the frequency that we have to cut them.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got Mr. Campbell Vaughn, we have him here. Let’s let him give his
presentation, Commissioner, and then I will come back to you, okay?
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Campbell Vaughn ---
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Mr. Vaughn: Can you hear me okay?
Mr. Mayor: --- we certainly can hear you sir.
Mr. Vaughn: And do ya’ll have my presentation or did you ---
Mr. Mayor: Do we have it (inaudible) presentation, I believe we do have your presentation.
Mr. Vaughn: --- I sent it over I didn’t know that (unintelligible) ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to bring it up here in just a second. All right, it’s in the
book so everyone has it, sir.
Mr. Vaughn: Okay so ya’ll reached out to me about talking about working with Johnson
Grass and it is, it’s a tough weed that does get pretty big and you see it a lot in the medians and
along the side of the road and it’s hard to mow. I talked to the Engineering folks a little bit about
how we might be able to control it and I see that Commissioner Hasan was concerned with it in
terms of some of these empty lots that are there. So I put together this program that would let you
kind of give you a little bit of a background on how Johnson grass operates and how to manage it
better. I kind of made the presentation a little bit more for roadways because that’s kind of where
we see it. We talked about it in the past with the Engineering Department about doing some of
our entrance corridors going into going into Augusta and mainly kind of one of the things we’re
looking at was down there on Laney Walker going towards Sand Bar Ferry was one of the reason
we brought the Johnson grass up. It’s hard to mow and it’s difficult to get rid of it chokes out
things. It just beats you up pretty bad. So I don’t know if you need me to go through the entire
presentation. I’d be more than happy to I know that ya’ll have a time limit and I could certainly
talk to you all in person if you need me to at any given time. Essentially we can manage Johnson
grass fairly easily in areas that that we can eradicate just Johnson grass and keep some of your
base grass it’s just erosion control mainly but if we need to but you have to be a little bit careful
of it just because aquatic environments and the labeling that goes along with the product that I
recommend to eliminate the Johnson grass. There’s some other products that are out there than
you can use to spray it it’ll pretty much, we call it non-selective they’ll kill most anything that are
available that’s out there you know it won’t kill trees but it’ll pretty much kill everything on the
ground it’ll clean it out and it’s fairly safe for water environments or really any kind of
environment. I’ll, I would say Johnson Grass is a bad one just because it’s hard to mow. You
can’t see what’s under it. It tears gears up, it’s a real slow about mowing it, it’s invasive, it’s
perennial, that’s another thing about it, it’s very year-round. So if you can find a way to eliminate
it chemically I think you can save yourself a lot of time on mowing, labor costs and probably
equipment costs in terms of wear and tear on your instruments on your equipment. And I think
you could probably come up with a plan, we can come up with a plan to go in and selectively spray
certain areas and eliminate having to mow it. I can’t hear you, Mr. Hasan.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, hold on a minute. Commissioner from the 1, all right do you have
anything else?
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Mr. Fennoy: Are you talking to me?
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Mr. Mayor: Yes, I’m talking to you, Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, I heard him talking about (inaudible) can we spray this chemical on
lots because that’s where I see the biggest problem in my neighborhood it’s on lots and it’s on
(unintelligible).
Mr. Vaughn: You know we can do that for sure, I think we can come up with a program,
We can basically make a cocktail that’ll keep, we can use growth regulators to keep the stuff from
growing back up, we can do things to eliminate the Johnson grass all together. We just have to be
cautious about what the labeling of the chemicals are just with the environment around it. But I
think we could come up with a solution for most flat lots to eliminate Johnson grass and keep stuff
from growing back so fast. We can come up with a program to figure out the best ways to drive
in and spray it and do it safely.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and I guess my next question would the vendors or the contractors that
cut these lots would they have access to the chemicals so they could spray after the cut?
Mr. Vaughn: We need to coordinate that. When we did a big project with the Board of
Education and we used actually used a growth regulator for a lot of their open areas and we use
contract sprayers to do that. If we had to, if push came to shove, it is ideal to spray that stuff after
you mow it three weeks after you mow it but we’ve got, you know if you’re limited on what you
can do. I try to give you the most ideal solution would be to mow it. You don’t have to mow it.
We could go in and spray it. You would get moderate control, you would get more effective if it
gets mowed but is it worth the cost to take $50/$60 a hundred dollars an acre to mow something
and then come in and spend the amount, I mean you’d kind of have to weigh those options. If
you’ve got a bunch of lots to do we could certainly try without mowing and see what kind of real
control we’re getting and not have to mow it anyway. But you are going to have to you know once
it’s, it takes a long time to die down after you spray (inaudible) so if we can find a way to mow it,
spray and coordinate it we just need to have all ducks in a row to make it happen. And like Mary
was saying earlier just have a big plan about how to attack it.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, so let’s do this. I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 6 I
believe he’s going to speak to this matter. But once again this needs to be included in the
commission’s previous action regarding Item 17 and 27. That’s where it needs to fit at,
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Commissioner from the 6it’s yours, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Exactly that’s what I was going to recommend to Commissioner Fennoy if he
didn’t mind that he can attend that meeting and just listen to the broader conversation and he can
find out how he can a part of that process, but that’s what I was going to be suggesting if he didn’t
mind. We’ll reach out to him and let him know when that meeting’s going to be and he can come
and just listen to the overall concerns about those lots and things of that nature.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic. All right, Mr. Vaughn, thank you, thank you for your time
and your presentation.
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Mr. Vaughn: Thank ya’ll. Call me anytime, glad to help.
Mr. Mayor: All right thank you, sir. Okay, Madam Clerk, Madam Clerk, we’re going to
deal with, I’ll tell you what, Madam Clerk, are you with me?
The Clerk: Yes, sir. I just want to ask one question, Item Number 2 do we need to get
Superior Court on deck to ---
Mr. Mayor: We do, I’m just not ready for them yet.
The Clerk: --- I just wanted to make sure we need to go on and contact them to be on deck
to answer questions, okay.
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely, you can do that. Let’s calibrate just so you can kind of get a sense
of where I want to go. We’ve got a number of other key matters that are in front of us. We’ve got
some citizens who came on the Delegation, Mr. Randy Walden and Ms. Edith Peebles. Let’s go
ahead and get them heard now so that we don’t have them waiting any longer.
DELEGATIONS
A. Mr. Randy Walden, remove trees at 1833 Fenwick Street, right-of-way from the sidewalk.
The Clerk: Okay. Ms. McFarley, is Ms. Walden in the Chamber?
Ms. McFarley: No, ma’am.
Mr. Mayor: No, it’s a Mr. Randy Walden under Delegations.
The Clerk: Yeah, I was asking if he was in the Chamber. She’s indicated he’s not.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right what about Ms. Peebles? That’s Letter B, Ms. Edith Peebles.
Ms. Peebles: I’m here on behalf of Laney Walker Development we’re asking for a final
approval from the Commission on the Final Plat for Wrights Point the project that we have ongoing
on Wrightsboro Road. We have approval ---
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Peebles ---
Ms. Peebles: --- yes.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay if you would state for the record your name and your address and
then you can speak to that matter. You’ve got five minutes, ma’am.
DELEGATIONS
B. Ms. Edith Peebles regarding the Final Plat for Wrights Point – S-903.
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Ms. Peebles: Edith Peebles, 2423 Apricot Lane, Augusta, Georgia. I’m speaking on behalf
of Laney Walker Development Corporation. We’re seeking final approval for the plat on Wrights
Point. We have approval from Planning and Development, we have approval from Augusta
Utilities and from Augusta Engineering.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, if you’ll pause for a moment. Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Mayor: --- so ---
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The Clerk: --- this item was denied by the Commission in your January 21 meeting.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
The Clerk: This request I’m assuming Ms. Wright is coming forward to ask for a
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reconsideration of your denial in the January 21 meeting. Mr. Sherman and Planning and
Development is available to answer any questions regarding the plat. They had recommended
approval but the Commission went another direction in denying the plat.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, do you have any background as to why the
Commission, what the intent of the Commission was at that time?
The Clerk: In researching that there was very little discussion however the action was put
up for reconsideration. The Commission indicated they had gotten additional information
regarding the project. A motion was put forward to deny and the Commission concurred with that
action.
Mr. Mayor: All right, okay ---
The Clerk: There was no discussion on what the additional information it had received.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right so, Madam Clerk, here’s what I want to do then. To Ms. Peebles
we appreciate you coming and bringing this matter forth I’d like for us to put this on the September
1 agenda to give us time to get additional information from Planning and Development.
Ms. Peebles: May I give you a response to what Ms. Bonner just said? Initially the
Commission approved the plat then it was pulled because there was an item that had not been
completed on site and Augusta Utilities requested that the vote be reversed until that item was
done on site. It’s been completed now and we have approval from Augusta Utilities and from
Engineering and from Planning and Development.
Mr. Mayor: I appreciate that, Ms. Peebles, in you sharing that with us. We’ll take this
matter up on 1 September at our next Commission meeting and that will give us time to have
sufficient data background for the Commission to review.
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Ms. Peebles: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Are we going to the next Delegation, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: No, ma’am, not right now. I want to hold that one and do Item #29. Madam
Clerk, you muted yourself.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
29. Motion to approve $50,000 funding request to assist Greater Augusta’s Interfaith
Coalition’s Total Census Count Initiative. To support census responses from hard to count
citizens and the support of 15 sites of activities for respondents of the local Census Count.
(Requested by Commissioner Bill Fennoy)
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I think Reverend Johnson should be waiting to address that
issue. Could you hear me, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: I did.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so he is downstairs ---
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, Ms. McFarley ---
Ms. McFarley: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, Chris Johnson, all right that doesn’t look like Reverend Chris
Johnson.
Mr. Jackson: It’s not, it’s Bishop Willy Jackson. Chris had to leave because he had to go
and relieve some people from work.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, are you speaking on behalf of ---
Mr. Jackson: The Greater Augusta Coalition and ---
Mr. Mayor: --- okay.
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Mr. Jackson: --- and what we’re working with we’re working with the Census Bureau
obviously and we need funds because we have several sites that we need to reach and we don’t
have the funds to do it because, I mean the Assessors’ Office obviously brings money to the city.
And so therefore we need to get as many people counted as possible but we need to have the
allocation of monies so that we can at least reach these vital areas so that we can get the people
knowledgeable and cognitive of what they need to do to be voted, I mean to be ---
Mr. D. Williams: Counted.
Mr. Jackson: --- so that they will be aware that their count into the census brings money
to the city.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to go to, all right, Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, just to follow up on what he just said you know to me it is
imperative that we get an accurate count. If we don’t, we’re going to leave a whole lot of money
on the table. I think the last I heard as far as accuracy in Richmond County we were about 50/55%.
And we need to reach that other 45% of the population because it’s going to impact our schools,
it’s going to impact our representation in Congress, it’s going to impact how much federal money
will be coming into this government. So I think that $50,000 dollars is small investment to assure
that we get an accurate count in Richmond County and that we get all of the funds that’s available
for Richmond County.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, all right, Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I know you sent us all out that you’ve got a meeting tomorrow
with the Census Committee and to try to see exactly where we are. Also saw on the news I think
that you also sent this out yesterday to get some teams involved so we need to know how all of
this is going to be working in conjunction with you all. And we can’t hash all this out today but
you know for the sake of time because we’ve got a large contingency of personnel persons working
on this but we need to get an idea of exactly what they’re doing and then if we come into your
(unintelligible) line committee and try to see exactly what they bring to the table for your particular
person I don’t know. I just saw it on the agenda. I didn’t know who was involved with the census.
I agree with my colleague about how important a headcount is but I think we should have some
kind of description of exactly what they’re doing and where they intend to do it from. But like I
say I don’t think we’re in a position to do that right now. They can come to your committee
meeting tomorrow and if they formerly introduce themselves that because we’ve got people
waiting on us who was at the top of the agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I’m saying all right, all right let me go to the Commissioner from the
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10 and then I’ll speak to what you just raised, sir.
Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Reverend, what plan of action do you have or will
you have in place to go out to the different communities and sections to get a correct headcount
because it is important for every citizen to get a correct headcount on our census so that we can
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take advantage of the programs that we need. So could you tell us just briefly what is your outline
and plan in doing this?
Ms. Smith: Okay, my name Carrie Smith and I’m also a board member on the Greater
Augusta Interfaith Coalition. Currently we have sent out letters to our local stores within the
Richmond County area, our KJ’s, IGA, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Kroger, Bi-Lo and Walmart
to set up booths out in their areas to be able to hit our local communities right up front where we
can have hands on with our communities. We’ve already set up booths here in the Municipal
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Building, we have a station we will be setting starting the 24 in our Courthouse. We will also be
setting up a station in our Tag Office starting next week. We are out doing milk drives in the
community and in our high-risk areas in our areas where are, our churches we’re doing food drives
we’re sending, we’re out in the community where we’re touching individuals that are not getting
out. We’re touching the ones who’s not getting the opportunities. That’s what we’re doing.
Logistically we’re out as volunteers out touching the ones who’s not having the opportunity to get
the census. We’re touching the ones who’s saying they haven’t received the census form as well
as those saying they received them and just haven’t sent them in, don’t feel as if they having the
opportunity to be able to do their census. That’s what we’re doing, that’s our plan and that’s what
we have done thus far in regards to the census. Logistically this is we have done on our own
without support from the county so this have we done without any support already.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, Mr. Mayor, may I ask one more question?
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Clarke: Okay and you know I can appreciate your efforts. It sounds like you’re really
being proactive with what you’re doing and I congratulate you on that. But my question also is
we have situation in Augusta that we do have a homeless population. They’re the unseen. How
are we going to reach out to them and get them counted because they are of us, our community.
So do you have any plans on how to do that, ma’am?
Ms. Smith: Well, being that the census is counted based on your home where you reside
in, it’s going to be kind of hard for us to be able to give them a resident location because they are
homeless. So unless the county has the means of being able to identify a location, I’m going to
turn that over to our ask the census individual who’s here and maybe he has some more information
he might be able to provide to you so we as volunteers can’t give you that information.
Mr. Speaker: Yes, John, I’m an accountant. I’m a partnership specialist with the census
and basically what will happen is the census will count the homeless on in a one to two night
census. So that is not a portion, that is not what they’re asking to do because that’s going to be an
operation within the census. That operation should’ve already taken place but it has been pushed
to the right due to the COVID. So that is something that you don’t have to worry about as far as
providing the money for that.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, thank you very much.
28
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Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to go back to the Commissioner from the 6 who talked
about the meeting. Each of you were invited to tomorrow’s WEBINAR through ZOOM of the
Augusta Complete County Census Committee Meeting. That will take place at 10:30. A
gentleman who was just at the podium Mr. LaCount Bly who is our representative from the Census
Bureau is a part of that. On yesterday I engaged Mr. Bly as well as our two cochairs Clint Bryant
and Robert Osbourne of who this commission very well aware of and familiar with. I’m going to
bring us up to speed to where we are in Augusta. Currently we have a self-response rate of 57.4%,
the State of Georgia has a self-response rate of 59.1%. Unfortunately the Secretary of Commerce
Wilbur Ross as well as our federal partners they moved the census completion date up from
October 30 to now September. We’re operating under a compressed timeline and as everyone is
aware those efforts that were launched successfully through the Augusta Complete Count
Committee early on were brought to a screeching halt because of COVID-19. In my conversation
yesterday with Mr. LaCount Bly as well as our two cochairs coupled with the conversation that I
had on Friday with the Governor’s Complete Count Committee, initially there was concern that
the enumerators who are hired by the Census Bureau were not going to be able to go into the street
because Augusta-Richmond County is a hot spot county regarding COVID. There are some efforts
on the way as I understand it to augment that now and there are those individuals who will be
doing some work. The young lady mentioned a moment ago about milk drives. I think that most
of us on the Commission are familiar with the fact that Bethel AME Church I believe the church
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that the Commissioner from the 5 attends they received milk and began giving out milk in the
community. On this coming Thursday Good Hope will have a milk drive and then on Friday
Bethel will have their third mild give away of which I understand the Census Bureau and their
enumerators will be on the ground at those events working in an effort to try and get folks to
complete the census and so again in light of COVID these things are underway. The Augusta
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Complete Count Committee has a activation plan that will take them through September the 30
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that will take them through September 30 that they’re going to be sharing on tomorrow and that
activation plan takes the efforts that have already been done in terms of getting us to this point
working in coordination with the Census Bureau and I believe Reverend Chris Johnson had been
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a part of those discussions as well. And so I think I share the Commissioner from the 6 point that
let’s get our arms around holistically this issue on tomorrow and then we can come back and revisit
this agenda item as needed whether that be in a Special Called Meeting or if there are resources
already to help support some of these things that are already in place.
Mr. Fennoy: Is there a motion, Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, Commissioner, Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I, you know, based on I mean if they need the resources to
keep going I see I do with Mr. LaCount, I think I met him before, so that means and no disrespect
to anybody else that means I think he’s here by way of the Federal Government if I’m not mistaken,
correct?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Mr. Hasan: That means we have a federal person on the ground so they make a presentation
tomorrow and we can make a motion to deny or approve based on what you’d like tomorrow and
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then you know either way it goes if ya’ll want to wait until tomorrow I don’t want to deny and stall
this ---
Mr. Mayor: I think, I’d like for us to wait on until tomorrow ---
Mr. Hasan: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- and have that conversation because what we don’t need is competing
efforts. We need to all be working together and the original umbrella was the Augusta Complete
Count Committee of which many of these individuals were a part of that conversation and process.
So I’m not sure where we broke off at so I want to make sure we get our arms around that.
Mr. Hasan: All right, thank you.
st,
Mr. Mayor: That’s your motion, Commissioner from the 1 that we just simply hold this
until tomorrow meaning that if we need to call a special meeting and do something because this is
an urgent matter. Once again what I heard from the state is that at a 59.1% self-response rate I
want to magnify this. Here in the State of Georgia a state of 10.6 almost 11 million people when
you’ve got from a self-response standpoint and we realized, and I believe I heard Mr. LaCount say
this on yesterday the data of normalization is slow and so you’re talking about maybe 6 million
people who have responded in a state of almost 11 million people if that be the case where we
thought Georgia was going to gain a Congressman we could very well potentially lose a congress
person or congress persons if these numbers have to be submitted on 30 September and we don’t
make any improvement across the board. So I think again if we’ll pause on taking any action on
this and then after tomorrow’s conversation we can then have a better understanding of what needs
to be done.
Mr. Speaker: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, fantastic. All right, so thank you to the committee we’ll have
Reverend Johnson he has already received an invite to that meeting as well so he should have that
information.
Ms. Smith: Excuse me before you close I would like to say something. I have worked with
the final count and on the total count and there have been events where they were unable to work
if it was not for us being on the site. I would like to put that out. So it was some events that we
worked that they could not work without us being on the site for them to be able to stand up to do
their job because of the restrictions that have been placed on them because of their federal
obligation.
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
Ms. Smith: That’s all I’m going to say that we have done things that they were unable to
do to make sure that we got the numbers on the ground.
Mr. Mayor: Okay thank you, thank you.
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The Clerk: So there’s no formal action on this, Mr. Mayor, just consensus?
Mr. Mayor: Just consensus. Let me also add this I want to make sure everybody
understands where we are. COVID brought all of the Census related work to a screeching halt.
As of Friday there were only three counties in the State of Georgia that were reporting at 70% or
better. There are only 36 counties out of 159 that were reporting at higher than 50%, okay? So
this is been a challenge. Currently Georgia’s ranked 38 nationally in terms of where we are and
so we’ve got a lot of work to do just in general and it’s because of COVID. And in that same
conversation the majority of the counties around us were red zoned counties or hot spot counties
and they were not letting people out in the streets which is what the young lady eluded to. The
Census Bureau is not allowing their folks to go out into the streets. All right, Madam Clerk, yes,
we’ll take this as consensus and then we’ll deal with this on tomorrow.
The Clerk: Okay, where are you headed?
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to deal with Item #9 and while we’re
dealing with number nine we’re going do it in concert with the Delegations C through G.
The Clerk: Okay, all right, you will identify in which order right?
Mr. Mayor: We’ll go straight in that order. We’ll go C, D, E, F, G and then take up Item
#9.
The Clerk: All right, Item C ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam, before you go on let me say this we’re going to limit debate
on this matter to 35 minutes.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
C. Ms. Deborah Bunch regarding Hale Foundation Zoning Exception.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. McFarley, okay, Ms. Bunch, if you would state for the record
your address, name and you have five minutes.
Ms. Bunch: My name is Deborah Bunch. I live 3033 Hummingbird Lane and I would ask
that the IT gentleman hold off starting my Power Point until I ask him to start.
Mr. Lewis: Okay, sounds good.
Ms. Bunch: Thank you. The Hale Foundation and its supporters have focused on the need
for the facility like Valor Station just like they advocated for the need for an affordable treatment
center for substance abuse last year but the need is not what is at issue here. This is a Richmond
County zoning issue concerning one particular property. They were not granted a zoning exception
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for that center last year because it was not an appropriate use for that property; it was not in
harmony with current land use in that area. If the Hale Foundation had accepted the decision
rendered by this body over a year ago they would be treating patients right now; most likely they
would’ve been treating them for months. Commissioner Marion Williams on more than one
occasion has said that if we could offer specific alternate locations for the facility that he, you
would be willing to entertain that possibility. A quick Google search revealed that there are several
other locations in Richmond County already properly zoned that would be better suited for this
facility. Please start the Power Point. Let’s begin with Gracewood, Gracewood is a state owned
facility and with the significant state support that been demonstrated for this project I’m sure it
would be no problem for the Hale Foundation to negotiate a purchase or a long-term low cost lease
for this property. It has skilled, 40-skilled nursing beds and 163 beds for intermediate care. It
would instantly increase the number of patients that could be treated almost sevenfold. After all
they want to help as many patients as possible, right? There are several other properties also
properly zoned that also show potential. Now we have been accused of opposing every proposed
use for this property that’s been submitted. That is simply not true. There have been three groups
that have submitted zoning exception requests for this property. First West Cure of Georgia
requested to open an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center for troubled youth. We were
opposed and they withdrew their request. Then the Monks of Mt. Tabor submitted a request and
the neighborhood voiced no objection. We even had representatives of the neighborhood at the
zoning hearing as a show of support. Unfortunately they were forced to withdraw their contract
due to some repair issues that their lender required before closing. Hales benefactor was willing
to buy the property as is. By the way The Monks are still interested in buying that property. Lastly
the Hale Foundation has submitted two separate requests both for drug and alcohol treatment
centers. We wanted to be clear that we have no proper objection to this property being used as
long as it is something in harmony with the current land use in this area. A resident of Columbia
County bought this property and gifted it to the Hale Foundation. He knew when he bought it that
it was zoned Residential. He and the Hale Foundation also knew that we the neighbors had
successfully fought the establishment of a similar facility a couple of years prior. They didn’t care.
They didn’t care what the neighbors thought or how this facility would affect them or the Magnet
School right across the road; he bought it anyway. They have never reached out to us and
attempted to open a dialogue about this property. We were unaware of their plans for this property
until the invitation went out to you, Rick Allen and others and even then we had to find out through
a third party. Don’t buy their fairytales of bending over backwards to be accommodating; that is
simply not true. Another issue that needs to be considered is this. If someone is considering
relocating to Richmond County, can they have a reasonable expectation as a taxpaying property
owner that this body of their elected officials will be willing to protect the character of their
neighborhood whether it be now, next year or fifty years from now, that you will protect their
property and peace above those of outside interests? If not we will continue to lose homebuyers
and businesses to neighboring counties. In closing I would like to call to your attention that
approving this zoning exception to allow such a facility in a neighborhood not adjacent to a
neighborhood as has been claimed is creating a slippery slope for the county. Once the gate is
opened it will be much more difficult to refuse the next request. Maybe the requester won’t be a
reputable as the Hale Foundation and maybe it will be in your neighborhood or your Momma’s
neighborhood. I beg you to vote no, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Ms. Bunch, thank you as well. I appreciate it, the Commissioner appreciates
it. Thank you for your time.
Ms. Bunch: Thank you.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
D. Mr. George Hatcher regarding Hale House Foundation Zoning Exception.
Mr. Hatcher: My name is George Hatcher. I live at 3030 Eden Drive, Augusta, Georgia
30906. To the Commission this is not the first time that we have been down here with the same
thing. Our opposition to drug, alcohol treatment in our neighborhood has not changed. We did
not want it in the first time and we do not want it now simply because we feel that having a drug
rehabilitation center in our neighborhood would give us, we would not have our safety, our
security. We’d be nervous because we don’t know what would happen back there. They may put
in precautions and be trying to keep people from coming in and out of there but you never know
what is going to happen and the residents in Green Meadows feel that this facility will be best
suited somewhere else. Most of us are longtime residents of Green Meadows Estate. Some of us
have been over there 30, 40 and 45 years. Our children grew up over there. We have grandchildren
that come by and we don’t want our grandchildren to feel that they cannot play out in the road
because there’s somebody coming down the street from the treatment center. You know that
treatment center is a good. We’re not against the Hale Foundation, we’re not against the Valor
Station. What we are against is the location that they want to put it. We feel that the location is
too close to our homes. Some of our homes are right at the back of that property even if they do
put up a fence they can come right over there with those big old trees that are in the backyard. Our
residents feel that they would be not secure for them or for us to see that the drug and rehabilitation
center is back there. Not the Hale Foundation but any drug and rehabilitation center back there.
thth
Also it’s too close to the school that’s on Augusta Tech Drive from the 8 to the 12 grade that
are over there. We ask our Commissioners, we request that our Commissioner please ma’am and
please sir think about it. Think about your constituents that are asking you to agree with us the
citizens and taxpayers of Richmond County not to approve the special exception for a drug and
rehabilitation center in Green Meadows. It is at the end of Green Meadows, 3042 Green Meadows
and it is at 3042 Eagle Drive in Green Meadows. We thank you in advance for what you’re going
to do and we pray and hope that you consider what we have said and vote no for the exception,
thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, next item, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
E. Rev. James Williams, Jr., H.O.P.E. Inc. regarding Green Meadows: Hale House.
Mr. Mayor: Rev. Williams, state for the record your name and address. You’ve got five
minutes sir.
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Rev. Williams: Mr. Mayor, my name is James Williams, Jr. and I reside at 3408 Pine Hills
Road, Augusta, Georgia 30815. Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, good evening to you and Madam
Clerk. I represent Organization H.O.P.E. who is in support of the Green Meadows Subdivision and
we are here to support them about asking to the request to deny special exception request for 3042
Eagle Drive and I do have a Power Point. As the recent Power Point Augusta, Georgia’s own
Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance does not support the approval of this request and we ask the
Mayor and Commissioners to respectfully and preferably deny, next slide please. Green Meadows
neighborhood area offers the following points to consider and key issues surrounding the proposed
special exception request. The Green Meadows neighborhood, neighborhood area is opposed to
the special exception request for the property currently referred to as Valor Station at 3042 Eagle
Drive. The Augusta Planning and Development Department professional staff rendered opinions
supports a denial based on our city’s rules, regulations and codes. The convent that is there
currently is zoned as residential and we feel that that is an appropriate zoning because it is adjacent
to a residential neighborhood. The proposed special exception requested would be for transitional
housing which is not residential. Are they proposed having enrollees to have a 30-day stay. Some
neighborhoods, communities and immediately adjacent properties have routinely been given
support by the Augusta Commission on zoning related issues they oppose. We hope the Augusta
Commission rejects the inappropriate way the Columbia County legislators have attempted to
influence and Augusta neighborhood livability by taking action through the General Assembly.
Richmond County delegation members are against the request and support the neighborhood. The
neighborhood is also supported and appreciative of the job done by Public Safety and first
responders and equally supportive of those seeking help from drug addiction. Next slide. We
would like to point out Augusta, Georgia’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance which was amended
in 2020 Special Exception Section 26-1. 26-1 specifically states the following Special Exception
Transitional Housing is a category and is a category the Planning and Development Department
used for the request may be permitted in any zone where certain uses are deemed essential or
desirable to the public convenience or welfare subject to be considered. Planning and
Development’s position is at this time this proposed use in not identified as essential or desirable
to the public convenience or welfare and the Master Plan does not identify this use as in harmony
with the district. This use, this use is allowed by is allowed by right in by right in a B-1
Neighborhood Business District where there is an infrastructure in place to support the needs of
the possible clientele. We would like to pull out Augusta Georgia Comprehensive Zoning again
ordinance again Section 21 also says also calls for the Planning and Development to consider this
exception only be transition housing section and a several standards of suitability a review for
decision making. Below is one of the standards which details criteria for transition housing
specifically states the Planning Commission shall determine that the foregoing requirements have
been satisfied and further that the benefits of the proposed transition housing are greater than any
possible depreciating effects and damages to neighboring property. In conducting the balancing
test the merit of the specific proposal shall be determined, shall be determined by, shall be
determined by, shall be determined by evaluating the nature of the clientele, the proposed number
of occupants and the nature of the operating facility. Planning and Development staff’s position
is this section asks to weigh the benefits of 30 patients against the value of over 500 dwelling units.
It has made expressly clear by the residents that their property values will drop dramatically and
that a higher incidence of crime against the residents will occur if this project locates within this
neighborhood. These are valid issues. And finally based on Augusta, Georgia Comprehensive
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Zoning Ordinance we ask the Mayor and the Augusta Commission to deny the request for Special
Exception. I would like to remind you ---
Mr. Mayor: Reverend ---
Rev. Williams: Mr. Mayor, if I may please then I’m through ---
Mr. Mayor: --- your time has expired.
Rev. Williams: --- that you remind yourself of the fiduciary responsibilities that you have
to the citizens of Richmond County and to the citizens of the Green Meadows Subdivision.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
F. Rev. Anthony M. Booker regarding Hale House Project in Green Meadows.
Rev. Booker: Good afternoon, Mayor and Commissioners and Ms. Bonner. My name is
Anthony Booker, Pastor of the Broadway Baptist Church at 2021 Barton Chapel Road, I live at
328 Telfair Street in the City of Augusta zip code 30901. I’m here representing this evening the
Baptist Ministers Conference of Augusta, 67 Pastors and Ministers comprised of over 60,000 in
membership total collectively, I have a Power Point as well. The Baptist Conference of Augusta
along with the Green Meadows request the support that this Commission to deny the Special
Exception request of 3042 Eagle Drive. If you can IT put up my Power Point should be entitled -
--
Mr. Lewis: Yes, sir, we’re pulling it up, give us one second.
Rev. Williams: --- Mr. Mayor, can you give me that time back as they pull it up?
Mr. Mayor: Well, my friend, my friend, we’ve got 35 minutes.
Rev. Williams: I am a Baptist preacher amen. We believe that an unintentional bias is real
is occurring against our neighborhood and community and I respectfully ask that the Mayor and
the Commission consider the bias and deny the request as presented. Next slide. How has the
Augusta Commission usually handled disputes for similar cases? Take Five Oil Change zoning
West Augusta on Washington Road Take Five a local business was looking to locate a shopping
center at the corner of Washington Road and Fury’s Ferry Road. The center tenants including
George Snelling and Goodwill made the complaint that the location would be disruptive to their
business and would not and was not the type of business that needed to go in front of theirs. This
Commission the Commission withheld their approval until the neighbors and requestors had a
meeting of the minds. Next slide. Perko Builders Project, Dennis Road rezoning, West Augusta
off Stevens Creek Road, new apartments development proposal by proposed on Dennis Road with
the opposition of neighbors and community representative Mr. Wesley Brown spoke. He gave the
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community’s position as to why this development was disruptive to their quality of life and asked
the Augusta Commission to deny the request. Augusta Commission denied the request and sided
with the neighbors. Next slide. Tysco community and facility West Augusta on Robert C. Daniel
Parkway Tysco proposed a high end senior complex community for a parcel of land east of Best
Buy between the Social Security Office and Eagle Point and Park Place Neighborhoods. Both
neighborhoods along with their Commissioner lobbied the Augusta Commission to deny the
request as they felt it was disruptive to their lives as proposed with the increased traffic and the
height of the building. The neighbors and the District 7 Commissioner asked the Augusta
Commission to deny the request. The Augusta Commission denied the request and sided with the
neighborhood. Next slide. (unintelligible) Augusta Residential Townhome Project, West Augusta
on Robert C. Daniel Parkway, a residential townhome project was proposed for the Hill Area near
the Augusta Country Club where neighbors opposed due to concerns around increased density and
spot rezoning. The Augusta Commission took special note and asked the Planning and
Development Director how do the neighbors feel about this project? He replied amen. He replied
that there was almost 100 people at the neighborhood meeting in opposition. The neighborhood
and local churches asked that the Augusta Commission deny the request. The Augusta
Commission denied the request and sided with the neighborhood. The Green Meadows
Neighborhood along with the Baptist Ministers Conference respectfully asks that the Mayor and
the Augusta Commission take sides and side with those who elected you to office. We respectfully
request that you deny the request for special exception. We respectfully request that you consider
the unintentional systematic bias against South Augusta neighbors when making decisions. We
respectfully request that every consideration be given to deny and in the event of a valid reasoning
from both sides offer the neighborhood a similar approach and support and to the residents,
citizens, taxpayers, friends of those in Green Meadows. South Augusta matters, Green Meadows
matters, our voices matter. In closing in the words of that (unintelligible) when you ask me who I
look up to and who I admire I have to choose from people that represent what I represent. For me
it’s people as a Preacher as a Pastor and resident of Augusta Richmond County, for me it’s people
who seem to represent those they been called, assigned and elected to represent. Today we ask
you, Mayor and Commissioners, that you be in support of Green Meadows and deny this request.
God Bless You and thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Reverend Booker. All right, Madam Clerk, our final Delegate.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
G. Mr. Harold Jones, II regarding Hale Foundation Zoning Exception.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. All right, we have the Senator from the 22.
Mr. Jones: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you Commission. I’m State Senator Harold
Jones, 3014 Bluefield Drive, Augusta GA 30906 and I just want to elaborate a little bit more on
balancing tests or balance that Rev. Williams earlier spoke of. And I’m here in opposition of
granting the special exemption and in favor of the residents of Green Meadows. But I did want to
elaborate a little bit more on the balance that Rev. Williams spoke of. When we talk about this
balance between the competing interests of the facility and the opposition including the residents,
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elected officials including myself in representing the state district also the district representative
who represents the School Board and also Representative Sheila Nelson who was here earlier who
also represents that district and other community leaders when we’re balancing that interest
opposed to all those myriad voices. To tip the balance in favor of the facility over those interests
it appears that the basis in supporting the facility should be very clear or basically overwhelm the
opposition. There are two areas that I’d like to look at when we’re looking at this balancing test.
One is whether the model and the proposal is effective and then secondly does this proposal
actually meet an unmet met, unmet need. In both situations it should be very clear and resolute
that the interest of the facility is over the interest of the neighborhood. So let’s examine on the
issue of whether this facility or the model that is being used is effective I bring your attention to a
couple of research papers. One done by a person by the name of Mark (unintelligible). He’s a
psychiatrist, former head of the Division of Treatment and Recovery Research at the National
Institute of Alcohol and Abuse. It says the idea of changing the life course of people with severe
recurrent forms of addiction through one-time limited intensive transform rehab is a fatally flawed
relic of ancient times. What other chronic disorder do we treat this way? Or a statement by Dr.
David Lewis who established the first addiction treatment program in the United States Air Force
who stated, treatment programs of 28 to 30 days are still common but this template was never
based on medical evidence. It was created out of military concerns dealing with persons becoming
AWOL. I also bring you to Dr. David Sachs, CEO of Promises and Addiction a psychiatrist who
says there’s absolutely no data to support 30 days is the right number. We no longer have a naïve
optimism that people who reach 30 days and will be free. I bring your attention to Bennett Fletcher
who is a Senior Research Psychologist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse who says that any
program under 90 days and 90 days itself is not a magic number, that anything under there you
normally see increased relapses. And then I bring you to the attention to the District Attorney of
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Augusta Richmond County who in a quoted article in the Augusta Chronicle dated June 6 2018
asked about rehab said it is not something you go to rehab and in 30 days get rid of, said this during
the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Executive Luncheon Series and this statement was
actually posted on the Hale House website. So when we look at the fact of whether it is clear that
the type of facility that is being presented it is so clear to overwhelming meet the needs the interests
of the community. We see that it is not clear at all. Now I’m sure there will be other research that
could be presented to show alternate types of framework but that is not the point. The point is that
there are serious questions whether the model we have being presented is accurate and effective
thus the requirement that their position so overwhelmed the opposition almost complete opposition
in the community of elected officials and so many other community leaders is not met. A second
area to look at is does this actually meet an unmet need and an answer to that also we can see is
no. One the Planning and Zoning Board Rob mentioned the fact that there were other facilities
that actually cater to first responder zoning. That was refuted but I would also point out that just
this morning Austin Gillespie, head of First Responder Services, said that his facility in an email
is actually the first exclusive first responder facility in the United States. The point being not a
battle between who is first and who is not but there are many first responder facilities open and
there certainly are many facilities which at least have a combination to first responders and other
citizens. Which you normally would find is that you may have first responders in Building A and
others in Building B and there’s no intermixing between the two. But to say that this facility meets
some unmet need that no one else in the country that no one else is needing is completely
inaccurate. Certainly there will be evidence to go back and forth but that misses the point also.
The evidence whether property values would decrease, whether the need is completely met,
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whether the model is even effective is mixed and that is the key. Both sides can make compelling
arguments but that is, both sides can make compelling arguments on each particular area but that
is also the key because what is shows is that the requirement to overcome the complete ability of
these neighbors to show the complete ability of the neighbors to continue to show that they are in
opposition of this is not being done. The fact of the matter is that when you have this much
community support against or community opposition against something you have to show more
than just mixed results and the fact is that is the best that this facility can do. And at worst what it
really shows is that right now the model that it’s using is ineffective and outdated. At it’s worse
what is shows is that it’s not nearly the first in the country at all but at best it does not overwhelm
the interests of the citizens of Green Meadows. Thank you very much.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Senator. The gentleman’s time has expired. All right, Madam
Clerk.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
9. Z-20-38 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve, with the conditions below, petition by The Hale Foundation Inc. requesting a
Special Exception to establish an In-patient Medical Substance Abuse Treatment Center for
First Responders per Section 26-1-g of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta
Georgia and O.C.G.A. at 36-66-4(f) of the Georgia State Code on property located at 3042
Eagle Drive containing 20.65 acres and known as Tax Map 109-0-001-00-0. DISTRICT 6. 1.
The Special Exception for this property is for an alcohol, drug and post-traumatic stress
disorder treatment facility for first responders only. If the clientele or treatment program
changes, the applicant/owner must apply for a new Special Exception. 2. Final approval of
this project is contingent on obtaining an easement, in writing, from the State of Georgia to
provide driveway access to the property from Augusta Tech Drive. All egress and ingress to
this property is to be through this driveway. 3. A privacy fence consisting of solid wood board
six feet in height shall be installed along the east boundary line of the property at Augusta
Tech Drive to head south +/-1,772 feet to Eagle Drive, continue across Eagle Drive and follow
the southern property boundary along 3038 Eagle Drive, 3040 Eagle Drive and 2900 Green
Meadow Drive. Access from Eagle Drive is for emergencies only. A 50-foot vegetative buffer
shall be installed along the fence line except where emergency access is provided. 4. Any
expansion, additions or alterations to the property must comply with all development
standards and regulations set forth by the City of Augusta, GA and must receive site plan
approval prior to any changes.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, do we have someone from Planning? All right, the
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Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner, can you, okay go ahead, sir.
Mr. Sias: Just want to make a couple of quick points and then I will make a motion.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, very well.
Mr. Sias: I received many emails on both sides of this issue and one of the things I did I
asked, I answered a couple or emails opposing it and asked them had they spoken with any of the
members or the residents of Green Meadows. I didn’t get one positive response on that. What has
bothered me even more is for supporters and these folks themselves to try and bully this
Commission and the citizens of Green Meadows to get this done. They resorted to personal attacks
on folks, smear campaigns against elected officials and a permanent citizen and I will quote this
comment from a very public vested citizen who supported The Hale House. I quote, I call upon
you to look beyond the ignorance, mistrust and not in my backyard attitude of the ill-informed,
unquote. So now we are saying that the citizens of Green Meadows are retarded because they
want to protect their neighborhood. I think that is just plain slander. Also we have the long term
elderly citizens who live there, who asked us to protect what they’ve invested in their
neighborhood. And the Reverend also missed one other point. We rejected a rezoning request on
Pleasant Home Road and we denied that based on the request of the neighborhood, the
neighborhoods in that area. There was a business that wanted to expand on Pleasant Home Road
but we denied that request. So I’m just very disappointed that the supporters of this issue had to
result to this and say that if you don’t support this you don’t support first responders, you this and
you that I think that was very ill advised and I think it was downright well I would just say it was
downright wrong. I move that we deny this request.
Mr. D. Williams: I’ll second it.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve got a motion and a second, a little bit more discussion here.
Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I think it would be appropriate now since we’ve
heard from all the citizens to also hear from the applicant and then I have a few questions and
comments after that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, who’s in the Chambers that can help us with that?
The Clerk: Mr. Sherman, his office, I think the petitioner may be present. Mr. Sherman,
there he is.
Mr. Trotter: Thank you, Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Please state your name and address for the record, please?
Mr. Trotter: My name is John Trotter, my address is 3527 Walton Way in Augusta. Look
I’m not going to rehash, we have all been before you before. I don’t have a Power Point, I don’t
have any more videos but what I do have is a couple key points so I want to answer that were
raised. Mrs. Bunch used the phrase to refer how Hale House has outside interests. It couldn’t be
further from the truth. The Hale House has been in operation on Walker Street for 30 years. They
have never in those 30 years have any patient from their facility, any resident of their facility break
39
out, leave and cause havoc in the neighborhood or commit any crimes in the neighborhood. And
that neighborhood is much more densely populated than this property this 20 acres of wooded land
we’re talking about. Reverend Booker mentioned an unintentional bias and I’ve heard that a lot
and I regret that it has become that. I did not believe it was. I was naïve early on that I did not think
this was a racial issue but really and I don’t fault the opponents at all for being concerned. I get it.
I’ve told many, many people this is an outstanding facility for The Hale House in a somewhat
awkward location but let’s boil it down to what it is. It’s not about traffic. We’ve solved that
problem. We’ve required alternative access. It does not require any traffic through their
neighborhood. It’s not about screening or fencing. We solved that, we’ve agreed to all of that.
The property is already heavily wooded and we will install the requested fence that the Planning
Commission suggested and approved. Keep in mind this was recommended and approved by your
Planning Commission two weeks ago. What this boils down to and what they’ve said is they fully
support The Hale House, they fully support first responders and they fully support them getting
treatment for addiction. They don’t want it in their backyard, it’s nimby, not in my backyard.
What they’re saying is we don’t want those people in our backyard. We don’t want those people
close to our neighborhood. Who are those people? Those people are addicts that need help. Those
people are first responders who have become addicted to alcohol or drugs because of issues they’ve
encountered on their job. Those people are the very ones that need help and so those people that
is exactly, this is a perfect case for while the Federal Fair Housing Act was drafted is to eliminate
government action, to eliminate government action that prohibits certain groups of people from
living in certain places and that’s what this has become. I would defer whatever time I have
remaining to Mr. Carrier to address any other questions you may have and Mr. Garrett, I’ll stay up
here as well to answer any questions you may have.
Mr. Sias: Well, Jim, I have a question.
Mr. Trotter: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: (Inaudible) Mayor Pro Tem?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah go ahead, sir.
Mr. Sias: Okay, Mr. Trotter, and you have addressed this Commission on many occasions.
The one question I have you said about the entrance piece, isn’t it that the Eagle Drive Street will
not be closed completely but to be used as an entrance when necessary or emergencies?
Mr. Trotter: We were willing to close it completely, fence it in, wall it in. The Planning
staff made a recommendation that if it be approved that it be a locked gate that were only utilized
for emergency purposes as a second emergency exit.
Mr. Sias: And I’m not being a Smart Alec but those emergency purposes can be whoever
determines those so, thank you, I just wanted to clear up that point. Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, all right, Commissioner from the 8.
40
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor and I thank Mr. Trotter for your comments about this and
you know I just have a few comments about Valor Station. You know I’ve not been quiet about
my support for it and for all first responders since I’ve heard about this and heard their stories of
the help they’ve needed and had to travel long distances to go get it. You know Valor Station will
be the first of its kind in the nation and so this is an opportunity for Augusta to be put on the map
for doing good. Valor Station and The Hale House they, you know, met every obstacle that was
placed before them and they’ve addressed those in accordance with Planning and Zoning and other
issues but it seems like the goal post keeps getting moved. You know as Commissioner Sias
mentioned earlier about all the phone calls and emails that we’ve received I was adding them up
during our meeting today and I’ve received phone calls 3 to 1 in support of Valor Station. And
you know there’s only so much that I can say in support of this because of just the impact that it
will have on the local community and/or Augusta. I make a substitute motion that we approve as
stated on the agenda.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second for a substitute, or rather a substitute
motion with a second. All right, so everybody suspend for just a moment. There’s a lot of
background. All right ---
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, Mr. (Unintelligible) wants to give somebody the rest of his time.
Mr. Mayor: --- I think we’re ready.
Mr. Hasan: No, (inaudible) Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right so I’ll give you an opportunity to say something but I want to, I’ve
got a substitute motion and a second and then I’ve got a motion, Madam Clerk, from the
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Commissioner from the 4 with a proper second as well, is that correct?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I think as one of the Pastors pointed out
those things those different developments in different parts of this city that this Commission has
historically supported neighborhoods regardless of whether it was a good project or an excellent
project we stood with the wishes of the neighborhood and I think this should not be any different.
We can say 3 to 1 some of those very same ones that my colleagues probably got letters of support
from for Valor Station are some of the same ones who come down here and ask us to support their
neighborhood. They’re hypocrites in that regard because they’ve come and they want things in
their neighborhood but have no regard for what we want in South Augusta or in our neighborhoods.
Mr. Trotter went on to say about those people well the very same ones who went to Atlanta,
Georgia, the Columbia County delegation and go get the easement from the state are the very ones
that are fighting the housing development in their neighborhood right now. They don’t want those
people in their neighborhoods. So I think for Mr. Trotter to say that he was naïve to think that race
41
was not (intelligible) but he was really naïve and I don’t see how he could’ve come to that
conclusion. But like I say I can’t tell another person how to think but that just don’t happen. This
Commission has supported communities from day one. If you all saw today most of the
neighborhood the neighbors who spoke from Green Meadows those are seniors. At this point in
their lives they should be enjoying life, enjoying their grands and their great grands but here they
are for the last five years have just had to fight just to live in peace. They have a slice of heaven
in South Augusta called Green Meadows and all of a sudden we’re willing to just ignore them and
force something down their throats that they don’t have to have. They don’t have to have this;
they can live without this. This is the price, they’ve committed no crime. They’ve worked, God
has blessed them with a long life and all they’re trying to do is live in peace and all of a sudden
we know what’s best for their neighborhood. We’ve not been in other neighborhoods, we’ve not
done it and if this was in West Augusta this would’ve been over by now and all of us know it.
There’s not a Commissioner in here did not say if this project was in West Augusta it’d been done,
we’d have been through with it. I don’t care if it’s first responders or not every one of us know if
we was honest and to force this up on that neighborhood because it’s South Augusta yes this is
about race. This is about a section of our city that many constituents have no regard for whether
they’re from Columbia County or other parts of Richmond County. To do what the delegation
from Columbia County did is unprecedented but then again I wouldn’t say that, Mr. Mayor, they
pretty much used a Senator, they drew one Senator in one precinct so they can control Augusta so
now they’ve made a further encroachment upon Augusta. To totally ignore the delegation that
was elected by Richmond County residents to come and do to tell us what’s best for Richmond
County. For me any Commissioner if you was for it that ought to be enough there to say hey do I
matter? Do I matter as a Commissioner? Do I matter? How long will my vote count? How long
will I matter just to Columbia County can just go up there and force and twist the arms of Richmond
County elected officials and disregard them? And at the same time just yesterday two articles not
one article I’ve got two articles here for Columbia County is opposing a housing development who
has the very same delegation members in the state fighting for this not to be in Columbia County
but at the same time fighting for what they want in our community in Green Meadows. You don’t
become a bigger hypocrite than that and we ought not support this, Mr. Mayor. Thank you very
much for your time.
th.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you to the gentleman from the 6 Your points are very salient and very
valid. I have lived through this conversation of encroachment and it is still yet well before us, I’ll
thst
talk about that in a minute. I’m going to the Commissioner from the 9 and then the 1,
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Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate it. I was sitting back just listening.
I understand about the neighborhood and I support the neighborhood but just because Columbia
County and other counties have mistreated people and not treated people as fairly as we think they
ought to. Just last meeting we had an issue on Boykin Road where the neighbors come out against
a home project out there and we voted with the project because it was the right thing to do. One
size don’t fit all. Now I’m concerned, my main concern is about the people who need to be treated.
Now they was going through that neighborhood, going in the neighborhood I said before if they
had an alternate route I would support it and I’m going to support it. I’m saying that we can sit
here and point fingers at each other about who’s doing what but I mean I can go down the line and
on his own commission and point some fingers now if you want to start that. But I’m worried and
42
I’m concerned about folks who want to get help and we are our brothers’ keepers saying but I
don’t want it in my back yard. This is a piece of property it’s adjacent not in the neighborhood but
adjacent to the neighborhood. This is a piece of property that was already there and most people
don’t even know where it is. The average person black or white, blue or green cannot tell you
where it’s even located at. It’s been hidden back there for all these years when the nuns were back
there. So here I am today I’m supporting the effort because I realize how people who are sick
whether it be physically sick or mental sick or drugs or alcohol sick is still sick and if you was in
trouble, if you were down and out, if you meet the people I meet every day on the street who ---
Mr. Hasan: (inaudible) go there.
Mr. M. Williams: --- if you meet the people I meet every day on the street that’s hustling
that want to get off the drugs and got nowhere to go and nobody to depend on. Somebody was
talking earlier about the count of the homeless people. If you’re going to count the homeless
people who are left out so if we can add to the homeless all we want to. We’ve got a motion on
both sides, Mr. Mayor. It’s time to vote now. I’m not up here to playing a game. I say again I
support the neighborhood, I think they ought to be protected and I think it will be. If it wasn’t I
wouldn’t be supporting it. I get sick of people acting on one side and then another side you act
differently. You ought to have the same drive the same effort every time you’ve got an issue. The
issue ought to be the same. Can’t pick the issue when you want to get out there, get in front of
people and say well I’m going to do this. You need to do what’s right, what is right for mankind.
Now if you was going in the neighborhood and disrupting they had not one incident, not one
incident yet at the present location. Now there are people walking the street and homeless. That’s
one thing. I got enough of that and I don’t need no more people walking the street sharing their
problems, throwing trash, breaking in and abandoning. I wouldn’t want nothing to happen in that
neighborhood not one house over there but I believe this facility is a good facility for the
community for those who need the help, for those who are struggling, for those who are down,
those who are out.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor, can we move forward?
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. M. Williams: Move forward when I say (inaudible).
st
Mr. Mayor: --- Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. M. Williams: I had the floor, Mr. Mayor, and I’m going to let this go but you don’t
interrupt me because somebody (unintelligible) say something now. Everybody can have all the
time they want. They had all the time they wanted ---
th,th,
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 9 Commissioner from the 9 your time has expired.
stst
I’m going to the Commissioner from the 1, Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to make this real short ---
43
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: --- I can remember a couple of years ago when there was a proposal to convert
vacant lots into parking lots in the Holley Street, Augusta Avenue area. And there were several
meetings held at Antioch Baptist Church and the people in that community came out and said we
don’t want it in our community. They said we didn’t want it in our community. And the first time
it came before the Commission we voted it down but three, four, five months later against the
wishes of the people in that community we passed it. And the only thing I’m looking for or ask
for from my colleagues is consistency. If you’re going to adhere to wishes of the community in
one neighborhood, you need to adhere to the wishes of the communities in all neighborhoods.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, I think we’ve got a substitute motion as well as the
main motion. We will take up the matter of the substitute first.
The Clerk: The substitute motion is to approve. Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Abstaining.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: No, ma’am.
44
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams, is he muted? He’s out?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams, Dennis, muted, you’re muted. Unmute yourself, sir.
We’ll pause, Madam Clerk, just for a moment.
Mr. D. Williams: Okay I’m back, no, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams, Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. Mayor: Hold on a minute, Madam Clerk, he’s muted.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Hasan, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams and Mr. D. Williams vote No.
Mr. Fennoy abstains.
Motion Fails 5-4-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, back to the main motion.
The Clerk: The main motion is to deny the Special Exception request, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: No.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: I’m abstaining.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
45
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: No.
Mr. Clarke, Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Mr. Fennoy abstains.
Motion Fails 4-5-1.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, we’re going to item, we’re going to go to Item #31 and we’re
going to take up 31, we’re going to take up 31 and 32 in the same conversation, Item 31 and 32
okay?
The Clerk:
FINANCE
31. A RESOUTION OF THE CITY OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA (CITY) TO RATIFY THE
EXECUTION OF THE CORONOVIRUS RELIEF FUND (CRF) TERMS AND
CONDITIONS AGREEMENT; TO AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT
PAYMENTS, INCLUDING ALL, UNDERSTANDINGS AND ASSURANCES
CONTAINED WITHIN SUCH AGREEMENT; TO DIRECT AND AUTHORIZE THE
PERSON IDENTIFIED AS THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY, OR
THE DESIGNEE OF THE CITY TO ACT IN CONNECTION WITH THE GRANT
APPLICATION; AND TO PROVIDE SUCH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS MAY BE
REQUIRED.
32. Receive an update from the Administrator/Mayor’s office regarding funds received from
the Cares Act. (Requested by Commissioner Dennis Williams)
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I want to draw everybody’s attention to your notebooks and the
Resolution. As an aside if you’re downtown or wherever you are you may be able to see, hear and
feel this and there’s a lot of thunder and lightning going on because, Madam Clerk, that God is
moving his furniture around. So I’m not sure ---
Mr. Hasan: Can’t argue with that, Mr. Mayor, because it all belongs to him.
46
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah, he ain’t moving his furniture around so.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor, he was trying to tell us that he was very displeased at our
behavior.
Mr. Mayor: Well, when in the old way whenever he was moving his furniture around
everybody was supposed to sit down and shut up.
Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: All right, again Item 31 and 32 we’re going to have, let’s see here, we’ll get
some folks in the room to help us with this conversation. All right, I’ve got the Commissioner
th
from the 5 go ahead, sir, state your inquiry.
thth
Mr. Hasan: The 6 or the 5.
th
Mr. Mayor: The 5.
th
Mr. B. Williams: He said the 5 but I’ll lead your whatever to you. Look, Mr. Mayor, I’m
looking specifically at 32. I understand that we already have about $3 million dollars that has come
in that we’ve already used. My understanding we’ve got somewhere close to $7 million dollars
left.
Mr. Mayor: All right, suspend for a moment. We don’t have $7 million dollars left, we
haven’t gotten that allocation yet. All we’ve received from the state is a $3 million dollar allocation
at this point.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: If we do right by the $3 million we’re hoping and praying that we’re going to
get the remaining seven.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay, but what I want to request I think I talked to Commissioner Dennis
Williams, I’ve talked to Commissioner Ben Hasan they want to kind of sit down and talk about if
we get this other $7 million kind of want to sit down and talk about it how we can use it to help
the community out.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right let’s do this. I’ve got a lot of hands. All right, let’s, I’ll get
some more hands but I want to get the Resolution, all right I’m going to the Commissioner from
th
the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to make a motion that we put together and have a special
called meeting to discuss this. As you know just yesterday we’ve got some additional information
how these funds could be utilized. And so we know you’re talking about $10 million dollars as of
you know three, seven whatever get that and then potentially more money to come. And so let’s
47
just have a full-throated conversation to understand all this here, all the options. We got money
yesterday not GMA what’s the other one is, the other organization?
Mr. Garrett: ACCG?
The Clerk: ACCG.
Mr. Hasan: Who?
The Clerk: ACCG.
Mr. Hasan: ACCG as well, Mr. Mayor. Let’s do a special called meeting Monday and
let’s do a full conversation around this and not take any actions on this today so we can really
understand exactly what we are doing. I know you’ve already signed the letter for sure we
probably need to do that I think for sure but the rest of this here we need to have a full-throated
conversation about how we’re going to utilize these funds.
Mr. Mayor: So everybody suspend again for a minute. We’re combining conversations,
maybe I shouldn’t have done that at this point but Item #32 the request for an update, I mean the
update is simple. All of the appropriate paperwork to 1, open and establish Augusta’s access to
the portal was done at the point in time that we received it. Our first disbursement was received
st
on the 1 of August and that was $3.1072 million dollars and we have that. This body in our most
recent meeting talked about expenditures up to about $2 million dollars and you voted on that in
our previous meeting that would effectively account for most of the first disbursement of $3.1
million dollars so we can put that in the parking lot in terms of what that update is. All of the
information emails etc. that are being sent from ACCG, GMA let me say this. Those two
organizations are working in concert together. That is how they arrived at this three-phased
approach that the Governor has agreed to in terms of disbursements. That is how we got to that
place, those two organizations working together hand in hand. And so what you all are hearing is
that there are other cities that are taking those additional disbursements and using them to stand up
community efforts around a variety of things. I do not disagree that it’s prudent for us to talk about
that and maybe have some real discussion about that but I don’t want us to put the cart before the
horse. This Resolution, Director Williams, is specific to us moving in concert with the request for
one, receipt of those disbursements and then two; the governing authority resolving that we’re
going to use those in concert with all the rules and regulations, is that not true, Director Williams?
Ms. Williams: Yes, sir, that’s correct.
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, so this is not the Resolution is not how you disburse the
remaining several million dollars. That’s not what that should be.
Mr. Hasan: Yeah and I realize that, Mr. Mayor, that’s why I say I’m not holding up the
Resolution but I’d like to make a motion that we have a special called meeting to discuss a full-
throated conversation about the future potential of the Cares Act funds.
Mr. Mayor: Sure, yeah, I don’t disagree with that at all.
48
Mr. Hasan: For Monday at 11:00 o’clock and can I get a second on that?
Mr. Mayor: Well, I, suspend, suspend, let’s halt before we set a date. Let’s look at the
calendar before you do that, okay?
Mr. Hasan: All right.
Mr. B. Williams: Well I ---
nd
Mr. Mayor: Let me get a show of hands. I’m going to the Commissioner from the 2 then
thth.
the 4 and then the 10 Let me get some hands.
Mr. D. Williams: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: We hear you, sir.
Mr. D. Williams: You can’t?
Mr. Mayor: We hear you, you just muted yourself.
Mr. D. Williams: How about now?
Mr. Mayor: We heard you, go ahead.
Mr. Hasan: He’s still muted.
The Clerk: Commissioner Williams, you’re on, you’re on.
Mr. D. Williams: Thank you, ma’am. One of my concerns is that you know I looked at
the chart that we have back here behind the item number and the numbers are different than the
one I seen yesterday, just a little different. But one of my main concerns is that we do take some
of those funds and set them aside for small businesses, minority businesses and some of the
nonprofits to help them get through the pandemic whatever thing that we have. And that’s
something that I think we really need to sit down and address that and look at how it’s going to be
managed even evaluated because it’s like the grant program that we started here in Richmond
County. There’s been a lot (inaudible) talk about how difficult the application process is and that’s
something that we really don’t want to make it difficult for a small business to try to have an
opportunity to apply for some assistance but yet the application process is so great and since they’re
small they can’t accomplish that. So I just want to make sure that we set aside from there whatever
word you want to use a reasonable amount of money that can help the small businesses here in
Augusta.
Mr. Mayor: All right, let’s do this, let’s do this, because I don’t want us to get off track.
nd,
What you just articulated, Commissioner from the 2 is consistent with what the Commissioner
th
from the 6 is requesting. So in just a second the first motion we’ll take is a motion to adopt the
49
Resolution, that’s what we’ll do. The second thing we’ll do, the second thing we’ll do is then talk
about having a meeting to talk about potential uses pursuant to eligibility requirements of those
nd,
funds, okay? All right the Commissioner from the 2 go ahead.
Mr. D. Williams: The only issue I have with going ahead and approving the Resolution
right now about who it gives directing authority to identify the (unintelligible) city to act in
connection with the grant application so that means that individual would approve the grant or am
I reading this differently? We’ll just we’ll wait until then to make (inaudible).
th.
Mr. Mayor: Let me get the Commissioner from the 4 I’ll come back to you.
Mr. D. Williams: Okay, I’m fine.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. I have one simple request I want to get from the Finance Director’s
Office is I want to get a complete breakdown of what we have spent with the funds we’ve already
received. That includes the Small Business Program or any other expenses that we’ve reimbursed
and paid for from the COVID Fund that we’ve already received. moving forward (inaudible) and
I’d appreciate it if I can get that in an email.
Mr. B. Williams: I just want to make ---
Mr. Mayor: All right very well, okay ---
Mr. Sias: Got that, Ms. Williams?
Mr. Mayor: --- we’ve got ---
Ms. Williams: I will have to get the fees that belongs to the Small Business because that
is administered through Housing and Neighborhood but I can get that from Mr. Welcher.
Mr. Sias: And I’ll know exactly what we spent what money on and the expenses whatever
they are. Thank you.
th
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. Yeah, I’m looking forward to seeing the full amount that
Commissioner Sias was talking about earlier and I’m hoping Donna will be able to get all that
material to us. And you know as Commissioner Dennis Williams stated earlier he’d like to set
some aside for you know helping the small businesses. I think that if end up with more than we
anticipate a great use for these additional funds would be to help pay down the streetlight costs
that we’re currently, you know we’re charging our taxpayers right now to help make up the
difference. This would be a great opportunity to use this to help make that fund whole. I’m not
sure why people are laughing; I mean I’m being dead serious about this.
Mr. Mayor: (Unintelligible) and I appreciate you being dead serious but let’s be serious
on this about eligible uses of those funds. And we certainly cannot discuss this so I’m just laughing
50
th
again. I appreciate your request, Diaper Dan. All right, Commissioner from the 10, I’ll tell you
th,
ya’ll are too much. Commissioner from the 10 go ahead.
Mr. Clarke: You know I was waiting for him to say sidewalks too.
Mr. Garrett: (Inaudible) haven’t been fixed in eight years.
th,
Mr. Mayor: All right, all right, Commissioner from the 10 he waives.
Mr. Clarke: I’m good, I’m good.
nd,
Mr. Mayor: Okay all right, very good. Commissioner from the 2 one more hand.
Mr. D. Williams: I’d like to make a motion to receive Item 32 as information and I’d like
to make a recommendation on Item 31 that we vote on the Resolution after our special meeting.
Mr. Mayor: Donna, is it not true that this is a time-sensitive document pursuant to our
(unintelligible) paperwork requirements that we have to have this in by the end of the month?
Ms. Williams: The expenditures have to be submitted in two phases. I’ll have to submit
around for the first $3.1 in order to turn around and get approved for the seven and this entire
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exercise has to be completed prior to September the 1.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s not what I asked you.
Ms. Williams: I don’t have an answer for the time-sensitivity of the Resolution.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, well then I think that the Commissioners efforts are in order then. We’ll
receive 31 and 32 as information.
Mr. B. Williams: Yeah, I’ll do a second on the two.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, we’ll receive both of them as information.
Mr. Hasan: (Inaudible) meeting Monday at 11:00 o’clock?
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. Hasan: Special Called Meeting.
Mr. Mayor: --- we’re going to look at that, Commissioner. I mean I need to talk with my
Clerk before we just put a meeting on the calendar right now.
Mr. Hasan: We can vote on it, we can change it now that we know we got something in
place when we leave here.
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Mr. D. Willliams: He has nowhere to be.
Mr. Mayor: That’s what it sounds like, that’s what it sounds like. Oh my goodness so
before we take a motion on that, Commissioner, let’s let Madam Clerk and Administrator Sims
and the rest of us get together because I don’t want everybody, we’ve got a series of things that
are going on right now. We postponed a SPLOST work session; that needs to rescheduled. We
have budget meetings that are coming up; that also needs to be scheduled so let’s make sure we do
all of that in a thoughtful way if you don’t mind. I hear your urgency in wanting to do it but give
us just, give us until Thursday to have a date set for certain, okay?
Mr. Hasan: First of this week, yeah, can I say one more thing then, Mr. Mayor, because
the one thing I do understand and Ms. Donna I don’t want to cross your words up there I do know
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by September the 1 I do know you already signed the document and so it does give you the right
to sign it prematurely but the Commission has to ratify it. I think it’s in our best interest if we
done ratify it by the first when it gets there so it won’t be any kind of hangnail out that they may
complain about. That’s why I was trying to get something done by Monday, we sign the document
and all that kind of good stuff. So the early part of the week is fine. I’m fine.
Mr. Mayor: But you’re talking about two different things that’s what I’m saying. We’re
trying to launch too many things together. The first response is toward the expenditures for the
first allocation and we haven’t, we know what that is and so that has to be done by 1 September,
okay? And the hope after that is the remaining 70% or the next two allocations hopefully will be
rolled up and brought forward. That’s where you want to be in terms of having a conversation
about how do we use these resources to do good in the community. That’s a separate conversation,
Commissioner Hasan, and it can happen. The first time, the first milestone is September 1 which
is the current set of expenditures that we have on the books right now. That can be submitted. We
have to ratify what they are to your point but that’s a separate conversation about how you use the
remaining $7 million dollars.
Mr. Hasan: Let me try this a different way, Mr. Mayor. Will we have that meeting if not
Monday one day next week?
Mr. Mayor: Sure, absolutely.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, all right then.
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely, absolutely. So, Madam Clerk, we’ll communicate a date certain
and time Thursday.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: --- will the Administrator bring some examples of what we can use the
money on?
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Mr. Mayor: Sure, we can do that.
Mr. B. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, fantastic.
Mr. D. Williams: Okay, let’s get to moving.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. Hasan: Can we go to the one about the Disparity Study and approve that, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah well if ya’ll, let me finish now. So Items 31 and 32 we’re going to
receive as information, Madam Clerk, okay ---
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- which takes us back to the Addendum items on the agenda.
The Clerk: So the record will show that we’re receiving 31 and 32 as information without
objection, is that okay?
Mr. Mayor: Without objection.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, the matter before us remaining items are Item 40, Addendum Agenda
Item #2 Superior Court, #3 Fire Department, #4 Disparity Study. And again, Commissioner from
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the 4 has got a request out here for the Disparity Study so we’ll go to that one, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
45. Motion to approve RFP 20-177 – 2021 Disparity Study award to Griffin & Strong subject
to the execution of the attached contract.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: How much is it going to cost?
The Clerk: The financial impact is $341,580.00.
Mr. Hasan: You already have the money then we put the money aside on it.
Mr. D. Williams: I know that. I just wanted to know how much.
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Mr. B. Williams: I second it.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second.
The Clerk: From Mr. Bobby Williams, is that correct, sir?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct. All right, Madam Clerk, suspend for a moment. Commissioner
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from the 1 state your inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I don’t have a problem with doing a Disparity Study but the
problem that I have is that whether the Commission is going to be responsive and address the
issues that came up in the Disparity Study. The last Disparity Study we had I think we spent over
$500,000 dollars to have that Disparity Study done and it just sat on the shelf. I don’t want to
spend $300,000 dollars to have another Disparity Study done and no action is taken as a result of
the findings of that Disparity Study.
Mr. D. Williams: I agree, Commissioner, wholeheartedly.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: You know I’m going to have to sum up with what the Commissioner from the
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1 said that how many Disparity Studies have we paid for and nothing is ever done. It’s kind of
nitpicked and never really done anything with. So you know ---
Mr. D. Williams: We have a different Commission today.
Mr. Clarke: --- I just can’t support it.
Mr. Hasan: I didn’t think so. Can we vote, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Clarke: That was uncalled for, Ben.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’ve got a motion and a second for item the
addendum item regarding the Disparity Study, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: No.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
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The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Abstain.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Clarke votes No.
Mr. Garrett Abstains.
Ms. Davis Out.
Motion Passes 7-1-1.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- Let’s deal with the Superior Court situation.
The Clerk: Would you ask Jeff to bring online the representative from the court in case
the Commission has questions, sir? He’s in the waiting room.
Mr. Mayor: All right, do we know his name?
The Clerk: Mr. Holden Shriver.
Mr. Mayor: He’s coming in now, well, I think he’s trying to reconnect. Jeff, we seem to
have lost Holden. They were being brought in a moment ago and then they disappeared.
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Mr. Hall: Mayor Davis, he was on for a few seconds and then he just disconnected.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, thank you, Glenn, I’m not sure, we’ll try one more time. All right well
if we see them come back we’ll come back to the item. Madam Clerk, we’re going to move on to
the Fire Department. We’ll come back to that issue.
The Clerk: Okay, Item 22 is still open.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got that one as well.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
44. Motion to approve Memorandum of Agreement between The Georgia Department of
Public Health and Augusta, Georgia to serve as a Closed Point of Dispensing in the event of
a Declared Emergency. (Requested by the Administration).
Mr. Mayor: We’ve got EMA Director James, Chief James, if you want to speak to the
matter this is the MOU.
Chief James: Yes, Mr. Mayor and Commission, this is the MOU with the Department of
Public Health dealing with the a closed pod which is a point of dispersion where the federal
government in cases that we’re dealing with like now a national pandemic and they have vaccines,
antibiotics and this type of medications that they want to dispense to the public. A closed pod
means that they will bring it to our location and it is not open for the public but they first administer
it to essential workers, public safety, first responders and essential workers so that they can be
vaccinated so that throughout a pandemic those personnel can continue to do their jobs in
supporting the community as a whole. And so to get this as you know we’re in this Corona 19 this
COVID 19 and at the point where a vaccine is tested and created then that would be dispensed to
communities throughout the country and the first folks they want to do it with would be the first
responders, essential personnel not just first responders but essential personnel within a city to
keep cities operating. And that’s what this agreement was. It would allow us to be a part of that
and when a vaccine or whatever is created that would come to our location. It would not be
mandatory that a person took that shot but it would be offered so that first responders and their
families, essential workers like the utility workers and other things that keep a city moving would
be vaccinated so that they could then continue to do their job.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Chief, I think you might have just said you did say
what I was going to ask you but I want to hoping and praying in approving this document that the
taking of that vaccination is very clear whether they’re firefighters or anybody else it is not
mandatory that you not to take it.
Chief James: Correct it is not mandatory.
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Mr. Hasan: That it be very clear, okay, all right, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right so not only does that need to be clear but more importantly that is
not included in the MOU, is that not correct? That again the distribution of the vaccine that
language is not included in the MOU. It speaks specifically to the fact that you will be a closed
pod, is that not true?
Chief James: Right, right ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Chief James: --- so if you don’t have a closed pod agreement then they won’t consider
your community. ---
Mr. Mayor: Right.
Chief James: --- for it so you have to have this agreement in place upfront so that when
the government does dispense this vaccine or whatever it’s not just for COVID I mean it’s for
antibiotics if it was a different type of event but you have to have this agreement in place before
they will consider bringing you the resources that are used in a strategic national stockpile.
Mr. Sias: Move to approve.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, got a motion from the 4 second from the 6th, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Hasan: You’re muted, Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom out, sir?
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Mr. Mayor: He is muted. The Commissioner from the 3 is gone and the Commissioner
from the, the Mayor Pro Tem is simply muted.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes.
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The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. Sias: Dennis, you’re muted, sir.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams is out.
Mr. Frantom: I’m a yes. Frantom’s a yes, I’m here.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: It’s back to Madam Clerk ---
Mr. Fennoy: Can you hear me?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, we can, all right, what’s your vote?
Mr. Fennoy: My vote was yes.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner M. Williams from the 9.
The Clerk: I believe he’s offline, sir, I don’t see (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: He’s here but he’s something.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk.
Ms. Davis and Mr. M. Williams Out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I don’t see Holden Shriver. I don’t see that individual in the waiting
room. We’re going to proceed with Item #22 and #40.
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The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
22. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide funding for architectural drawing for the façade improvement of the
Armstrong Galleria Shopping Center, identified as 851 Laney Walker Blvd; part of the
Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Project.
Mr. Mayor: I believe ---
Mr. D. Williams: (Inaudible).
Mr. Sias: Hasan has a question.
Mr. Mayor: --- I know he has, everybody suspend. I’ve got it, we’re good. All right, I’ve
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got Daniel Evans by way of Hawthorne Welcher. All right, the Commissioner from the 6 has a
question.
Mr. Hasan: Where is he (unintelligible) ---
Mr. Mayor: Right there, you’re talking to Director Welcher.
Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Welcher, this request here I don’t think, in looking at the information
in the back it’s not spelling out to us, it’s talking about thinking about $45,000 dollars in hiring an
architect but at the same time how many businesses how many locations do we own that you fixing
to do this for the architectural drawings and show me what you’re going to do a façade on.
Mr. Welcher: Currently, Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, currently Augusta
Georgia Land Bank owns four bays, four of the total of eleven bays of the eleven bays seven are
currently active.
Mr. Hasan: I’m talking about, so are we’re talking about on the James Brown side that
you’re doing the whole facility.
Mr. Welcher: We’re going to do a façade improvement on the James Brown side as well
as the internal Laney Walker side as well.
Mr. Hasan: So how many do we own on the James Brown side?
Mr. Welcher: So, okay, so on that James Brown side you would have the Penny Savings
Bank would be probably the only one. The other three that you own would be the next to the
Family Dollar.
Mr. Hasan: Well, the only thing okay let me save time, Mr. Welcher, and get right to my
concern about it is that what you’re not showing here is that you’ve already engaged with those
business owners that are going to allow you to do a façade on their property. We’ve been in
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conversation with them; they are in agreement with it so as a result of that we need to get an
architectural drawing to give them some idea what it’s going to look like. So that’s not in here
because you would normally think when you look at it if you didn’t know you’d assume that we
owned on these properties that you’re about to do a façade on and that’s not the case that we own
all these properties. And that would’ve been if you had that information and say well we don’t
own the properties, we’ll speak with the business owners and get their legal permission to do a
façade on their property. That was nowhere in here and that concerns me.
Mr. Welcher: Yes, sir, could I speak on that if I may?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, go ahead yes.
Mr. Welcher: Okay, so of course the approval is to move forward with architectural design.
We feel like they were helping hands; the service is being provided by the Galleria of Small
Business. As you indicated, Commissioner Hasan, all owners have been informed there was a
meeting in December of 2019 and to date there’s been no opposition that’s been shown. We have
not met with the owners of the Family Dollar. Also there will be no indebtedness to any of the
owners. Merely this is a CDBG Economic Development project and if approved we will move to
create a construction Gant Chart schedule without we will include timelines and we’ll also move
to meet with owners and the tenants to discuss job creation as well as easement granting as you
indicated.
Mr. Hasan: My point was I think that should’ve been in here to let this Commission know
that some of these properties that we do not own that we’re about to do a façade on that we need
to get their permission because even if own these properties, we don’t own all these properties.
That’s all I’m saying. (unintelligible) do a façade in there but that part should’ve been in here as
well, I just happen to know that and I think it should’ve been included in the document.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to chime in, I’ve got a couple of hands I’ve got the
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Commissioner from the 1 and then the Commissioner from the 9. Director Welcher, what’s the
source of funding for this?
Mr. Welcher: CDBG Funding.
Mr. Mayor: In the amount of?
Mr. Welcher: $45,000 for the architect design.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, effectively what we’re doing is we’re giving façade grants to anyone in
the Armstrong Galleria, is that effectively what’s happening?
Mr. Welcher: That’s correct but in this instance we are doing a comprehensive façade
project to include the entire galleria outside of excluding the Penny Savings Bank and the Family
Dollar.
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Mr. Mayor: I understand, okay, Commissioner from the 1.
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Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’ve had, been approached by several business owners who would
like to locate in Armstrong Galleria but if you look at the condition and the way the, especially on
the Laney Walker side, they don’t want to invest in that community. So I think that if we put an
investment into this project I think it will pay out for us in the long run by creating jobs and
bringing businesses to that area.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, we’re going to give everybody a chance to chime in here in
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just a moment, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. (inaudible) okay, thank you, sir. I agree with
Mr. Welcher. I think that to put something together to show the people, let them physically and
with their own eyes see what it could look like, it would enhance. We already got work going on
in Laney Walker now Laney Walker down to I guess Broad, enhancements already being done.
This ought to go hand in hand along with the Penny Savings Bank. We talked about doing some
work inside that building but first you’ve got to have a vision. And if we get an architect to put
something on paper however he puts it down that we can look at would help us understand what
it’s going to look like. So Commissioner Hasan said he knows that people hadn’t been notified
but we’re not doing any work. I mean it’s not going to cost them anything. It’s CDBG money so
the stuff we put together ought to be something they can buy into. So if there’s not a motion to
approve this I want to go ahead and make that motion if it’s not hopefully get a second to go ahead
and get this moving.
Mr. D. Williams: I’ll second it.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very well. Got a motion and a second, Madam Clerk?
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett out, is he muted or is he out?
Mr. Mayor: He’s muted.
The Clerk: He’s muted okay, Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
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The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Ms. Davis and Mr. Garrett Out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, Madam Clerk, I’m going to go back to Holden Shriver.
The Clerk: Is he in?
Mr. Mayor: He is, he’s being brought in.
The Clerk: Okay, he’s in, sir.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
43. Motion to approve additional position to increase the number of cases directed to
mediation and add a Family Law component to assist self-represented litigants throughout
the Augusta Judicial Circuit courts.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Holden, you’re muted at this time. If you’ll unmute and there may
be some questions, if you want to walk us through what’s going on.
Mr. Shriver: Yeah, I will. Sorry for the technical issues. Again my name is Holden
Shriver. I’m a staff attorney for the Superior Court. The position we’re asking for approval for is
part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program and that program within the court has its own
ADR Fund which is comprised of filing fees from cases filed in all three counties. And this
position just like any other position ADR will be paid for out of that fund so there will be no
financial impact on Richmond County. The city will be reimbursed for the whole cost for the
position out of that fund.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: No question, Mr. Mayor. I make a motion to approve.
Mr. B. Williams: Second.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I have a quick question.
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Mr. Mayor: Sure, go ahead, Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, I’m sorry, I was trying to respond to someone else and I heard him say
the funds, the money in that fund the money comes from all three counties.
Mr. Shriver: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: And what’s the salary going to be?
Mr. Shriver: I don’t have the exact number in front of me but I believe it’s about $53,000.
Mr. Hasan: So the money’s coming from all three counties so are ya’ll asking for all
$53,000 to be reimbursed or are you asking (unintelligible)?
Mr. Shriver: It comes from the filing fees of all three counties so that fund is under the
control of the Board of Trustees so it’s entirely separate and fully funded by those filing fees.
There’s no direct ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay, but that’s not my question. My question is at this time are you asking
us even though the money that’s in that account may belong to three counties I’m asking you right
now but you asking us to put up all $53,000. That’s what you’re asking us.
Mr. Shriver: --- well, the entire amount will be reimbursed to the city out of that fund.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, any other questions? All right, we’ve got a motion to approve,
Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke, Ms. Davis, Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Fennoy: What about Fennoy?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Ya’ll jumped all over me.
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Mr. Garrett: He even had his mute off.
Mr. Fennoy: I’m going to say yes anyway.
The Clerk: Well, I appreciate that.
Mr. Sias: Just say yes twice, that’s all.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes.
Mr. Clarke: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams, he’s muted, sir. Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am, Dennis Williams.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Clarke, are you wanting to vote?
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: You’re voting yes?
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Thank you.
Mr. Clarke: You’re welcome.
Mr. Hasan votes No.
Ms. Davis Out.
Motion Passes 8-1.
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Mr. Shriver: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Holden, thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, we’ve got one more matter
that’s before us. That’s Item #40 and going into it there’s a request to waive a second reading and
I object to that.
The Clerk:
SUBCOMMITTEE
Pension Committee
40. Motion to approve Ordinances Restating the 1945 and 1949 Pension Plans and
submission to IRS for favorable determination letter. Waive second readings.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I believe we’ve got Tim Schroer to talk about that but again I object
to the waiving of the second reading. All right, Tim, if you’ll give us a quick update about that I
believe you’re reporting on the Item 40, all right, sir. Tim, can you hear us?
Mr. Schroer: Oh, yes, I’m sorry, I’m just having a little technical difficulty. This is just
an update to the 45 and 49 Pension Plans. IRS regulations come along every time and we have to
update them and this is just a proforma adjustment. There’s no change to the benefits or anything
else. It’s just making sure we’re in compliance with the regulations.
Mr. M. Williams: So moved.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
th,nd
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion, Madam Clerk, from the 9 second from the 2
with a question from the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Mayor, what’s your objection to a formality of waiving the second
reading?
Mr. Mayor: Well, because we turn the second reading into a formality and that’s just not
good practice.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
Mr. Brown: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Brown: --- could you please inquire, Mr. Schroer, is there’s an urgency? I believe
Donna admitted to me a possibility, urgency of a timeline in terms of the end of the month.
Mr. Schroer: We’re not aware of one.
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Mr. Brown: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, I believe the motion is to approve the
ordinances for the 1945 and 1949 Pension and we’ll have the second reading at the appropriate
time.
The Clerk: Yes, at the next meeting?
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
The Clerk: The first meeting.
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Sims: Okay.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
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Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Ms. Davis Out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I believe that that is all the business that’s before us today.
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: You handled it well, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: To the Commission thank ya’ll for your hard work and stay safe, wear a mask,
wash your hands, watch your distance until we meet again.
Mr. Garrett: Hey, what time is that meeting tomorrow, Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: 10:30.
Mr. Garrett: All right, thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Mr. Hasan: It’s all linked now.
Mr. Mayor: I believe you all have received the link already, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
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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 18, 2020.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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