HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting December 1, 2020
REGULAR MEETING VIRTUAL/TELECONFERENCE
DECEMBER 1, 2020
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., December 1, 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.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay. All right, so we’re calling this meeting to order. Here is our posture.
In the old church they would say that it’s late in the evening and the sun is going down. It’s 5:17
and I suspect that the sun will go down in about 13 minutes. We have a lot of business in front of
us and what I would like for the Commission to do give consideration to is the following. We
have alcohol licenses under Public Services that are important but we’ve also got a host of
recognitions that are equally important that have been brought to this body. In particular we’ve
got some outgoing members of the Augusta Commission that we want to recognize. In light of
where we are with COVID-19 I think it goes without saying that 2020 has been an extremely tough
year for all of us and continues to persist while there’s no end in sight for COVID-19. And so as
COVID continues to ravage communities all across the nation certainly we see the effects of the
pandemic in Augusta. We’re committed to keeping our Augustans informed, safe and healthy.
And with that I propose that we do the following. Honor our outgoing Commissioners, recognize
individuals to include our Years of Service and I’m going to propose this list, I started just a
moment ago, a list of consideration for consent items. I’m going to go through that list once more
for consideration and that is Items 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 30, 35, 36 and 39.
Mr. Sias: Run through it again.
Mr. Mayor: 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20 through 23, 26, 27, 28, 30, 35, 36 and 39.
Mr. M. Williams: You can stop at 15, Mr. Mayor, but past that you ain’t going no further.
I’m holding up 15 on back. I know we’ve got a lot of business at hand, we got a lot of stuff to do
but that’s part of the job. Anybody don’t want to work don’t run for it. Stay on the porch.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I’ve got, need some more information on 8, 13, 14, 15, 20 ---
Mr. Mayor: All right, so all right, suspend. All right, there’s objections at adding items to
the Consent Agenda and we will sit here and we’ll do the business of the people. All right, the
Addendum Agenda that is before us, Madam Clerk, we’ll receive the Addendum Agenda without
objection. All right so at that point, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: --- it’s certainly fitting and proper we probably should’ve prayed before we
got started earlier today but it’s equally fitting and proper for us to do it right now. So we’ll do
our Invocation and followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and then we will go from top to bottom.
Mr. D. Williams: I ain’t sitting here all night with this (inaudible).
Mr. M. Williams: Wait a minute ---
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- What did he say, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: --- we’re going to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance but before we do that
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we’ll have our Invocation by the Commissioner from the 8. All right, Commissioner from the
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8 with our Invocation and our Pledge of Allegiance.
The invocation is presented by Commissioner Brandon Garrett.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America is recited.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right here’s what I’d like to do. If we can go to our public space with
Ms. McFarley. Ms. McFarley, if you can let’s address the Public Service matters first and then
we’ll come back to Recognitions.
The Clerk: Thank you, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem, I’m going to turn it over to you for a moment.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. Ms. Walton and Ms. Walton, we’ll go through all the applicants and
then the Commission will take a consent vote on those and please advise if there were or were not
objectors during your presentation.
Ms. Walton: Yes, ma’am. Good afternoon, Mayor and Commissioners:
PUBLIC SERVICES
3. Motion to approve New Location Application: A.N. 20-47: A request by Marissa Nimmala
for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Olive Mart LLC
located at 1499 Gordon Highway, District 2. Super District 9.
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Ms. Walton: This application has been approved by the Sheriff’s Office and Planning and
Development. There were no objectors to this application. Ms. Nimmala was not able to be
present today due to COVID conditions. She did send someone here as a representative but she
was not able to come herself.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, is the individual there to state their name and address for the
record?
Mr. Speaker: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, thank you, Ms. Walton.
PUBLIC SERVICES
4. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 20-48: A request by Ameen
Mohamed for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with EZ
Grocery located at 1675 Olive Road. District 2. Super District 9.
Ms. Walton: This application has been approved by the Sheriff’s Office and Planning and
Development. There are no objectors to this application.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Please state your name and address for the record. Speak loudly,
please.
Mr. Mohamed: My name is Ameen Mohamed. My address is (unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, thank you so much. Ms. Walton, if we can get them to stand
a little bit closer next time. We can hardly hear, appreciate it.
Ms. Walton: Yes, sir.
PUBLIC SERVICES
5. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 20-46: request by Jason Netzler for
an on premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with
Garden City Social located at 1157 Broad Street. There will be Dance. District 1. Super
District 9.
Ms. Walton: This application has been approved by the Sheriff’s Office and Planning and
Development. There were no objectors to this application.
Mr. Netzler: My name is Jason Netzler. My address is 703 Hickman Road, Augusta
Georgia 30904.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you.
Mr. Garrett: Motion to approve.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: We’ve got one more.
PUBLIC SERVICES
6. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 20-49: request by Yeng Seok Sohn
for a retail package Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with KC Package
located at 3725 Mike Padgett Highway. District 8. Super District 10.
Ms. Walton: This application has been approved by the Planning and Development and
the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. There were no objectors to this application.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Please state your name and address for the record please.
Mr. Sohn: My name is Yeng Seok Sohn. My address is 443 (unintelligible) Court, Augusta
Georgia 30906, thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a question, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yep, Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, for Ms. Walton 3 and 4, have we ever and I’m not opposed to
these that’s coming up. I mean going to support them but have we done anything, question anything
about the closeness of these other alcohol, it’s concentrated in one area. When you look at Olive
Road and the Gordon Highway I mean it’s concentrated in one side of town with these liquor
stores. I mean and I know that’s big business but something’s got to happen. We can’t continue
to just act like it doesn’t exist and it's going to go away. It’s affecting one area on one side of this
community with so much alcohol we approve in this area. It’s not like when you can walk across
the street from one to another one. So I ask Ms. Walton a question has there been any consideration
of the distance between these business locations. I’m not opposed to these, I’m going to support
these but we need to look at from now on they come in here the closeness of the vicinity of one to
another one, they open up on every corner.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Duly noted, Ms. Walton?
Ms. Walton: Do you want me to move on the next ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Well, can you speak to that? Can you speak to Commissioner
Marion Williams?
Ms. Walton: If I’m correct, Mr. Williams, there is nothing in the ordinance which states
that the convenience stores have to meet a certain distance requirement. Liquor stores do, they do
have to meet a distance requirement but not from each other.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay well ---
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Ms. Walton: And these locations are existing locations. They’re not brand new. These
are existing locations that are just getting new ownership. They sold out the business to another
owner, they’re not new.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay that helps me a little bit but I think we need to look at that in
the future but the concentration of alcohol sales and just making it so convenient for these guys to
go and get one beer, one whatever and walk out the door I mean it just creates something that’s
why the people are strung out the way they are because we make it so convenient. That’s not on
you, it’s on the Commission. I’m going to support this, Mr. Mayor, so I’m going to make a motion
that we approve these.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ve got a couple more.
Ms. Walton: There’s one more.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Go ahead.
PUBLIC SERVICES
7. Motion to approve New Ownership Application: A.N. 20-50: request by Earl B. Culver
for a retail package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with Sun Food Mart
located at 3995 Old Waynesboro Rd. District 6. Super District 10.
Ms. Walton: This application has been approved by Planning and Development and the
Sheriff’s Office. There were no objectors to this application and it is an existing location.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Please state your name and address for the record.
Mr. Culver: My name is Earl B. Culver, address 3615 San Sebastian Drive, Hephzibah
Georgia 30815.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, any other further discussion, colleagues? Can I get a
second for agenda Items 3-7?
Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem, let me say something in regards to what the Commissioner
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from the 9 has stated. This is a long standing issue that left unaddressed, unabated will persist in
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our community and the Commissioner from the 9 what he could ask for is a moratorium on all
corner stores for alcohol. That’s certainly well within our purview, you can ask for that. Without
question we know the communities of interest that these persist in and I would encourage you to
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give strong consideration to that to the Commissioner from the 9 if you want to effectively
address or begin addressing this issue. You can ask for a moratorium.
Mr. M. Williams: Well noted, Mr. Mayor, and I plan to send that to the Clerk to ask for a
moratorium through License and Inspection, get it back on this Commission to deal with.
Mr. Mayor: Well, I’m suggesting you can do that today.
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Mr. M. Williams: Well, I’m doing that today then. I’m going to do that as we speak to the
Mayor Pro Tem or the Mayor whoever’s presiding now since you’re back. You need to get a
moratorium on the alcohol sales because it’s, I mean we act like it don’t exist but we keep opening
up the door for people to walk into that situation. And we talk about getting people off of it but
we always keep making it so easy to get on to it. I’m not against the alcohol sales, I don’t purchase
it but at the same time I know we make it convenient these convenience stores and these liquor
stores that got too much access to our young people so the moratorium is what I’m requesting, Mr.
Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right so what I would suggest you do then is include that as part of
the motion. You’ve got a motion to approve these with a moratorium effective January 1, 2020
for a period of six months. That’s just my suggestion.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, the Attorney has his hand up.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Mayor: All right.
Mr. Brown: Well, two things. I do not believe that’s proper notice for such a vote because
there is not an agenda item, it has not been added to the agenda and the public would certainly
have great interest in this has not would not have been given due process even to note the matter
was up for debate or decision so I think that matter, that would not be a proper motion to include
a moratorium on alcohol. Programatically it would seem better that if this matter is a concern of
the Commission is for the Commission to task the Administrator to do some analysis of alcoholic
stores, the concentration of them throughout Augusta and then hold some public hearings because
the public certainly would have some interest and should have some input in such an important
decision.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay ---
Mr. M. Williams: If I can respond, Mayor Pro Tem?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- sure.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay and I can agree with that but it’s just not the convenience stores.
When you look at the concentration of alcohol from the liquor stores to the gas stations to the
convenience stores, it’s all over the place and it’s really getting out of hand in my opinion so I’ve
got no problem getting the Administrator to do a survey of whatever he needs to do to see what
the concentration’s like. But if you look around everybody can be able to sell alcohol and not
necessarily hard liquor not a liquor store but alcohol whether it’s beer or wine it’s still alcohol and
there’s a big concentration of that. So I can agree with what you’re saying but we just need to task
the Administrator to look at it and do an analysis of the whole city but you’re going to see where
it’s concentrated at in District 1 and District 2 is where most of those are.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I’ve got a motion for agenda Items 3 through 7. Can I get a second?
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Mr. M. Williams: I’ll second it.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: You motioned ---
Ms. Davis: Second, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- thank you, Ms. Bonner, voting.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Fennoy?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: He’s muted.
The Clerk: You’re muted, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: No.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
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. Marion Williams.
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Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams, I’m sorry, came out of order.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Fennoy votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1.
PUBLIC SERVICES
9. Update from Mr. Bennish Brown, President/CEO Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau
on the planning for the International Soul Festival. (Requested by Commissioner Dennis
Williams)
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Commissioner Dennis Williams, your agenda Item #9,
Bennish Brown has asked to be moved to another agenda as he had to leave the Chambers at 5:00
---
Mr. D. Williams: No problem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- so move it to a future agenda, until the Mayor gets back can we
go to agenda Item #8 then?
PUBLIC SERVICES
8. Motion to approve the renewal of Sec. 5311 Rural Transit grant application between the
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Augusta, Georgia for July 1, 2021 to
June 30, 2022.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Clarke: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Got a motion, can ya’ll please mute your devices, Attorney Brown,
please mute.
Mr. Hasan: He ain’t got enough folks for lamb chops for everybody.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I know.
The Clerk: Okay, I’m sorry, sir, I was, where ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Agenda Item #8.
The Clerk: Eight, that was Mr. Hasan and Mr. Sias?
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Mr. Clarke: No, Clarke on second.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke, okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Hold that vote for just a second, Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, is there someone here to address that item? I have some questions about
it.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, who’s here to speak ---
The Clerk: Ms. Dottery, is she in? Is she on, sir?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- I don’t have oh wait (inaudible).
The Clerk: The Administrator ---
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: They just gave me access. Let me see if she’s in.
The Clerk: --- oh okay.
Mr. Donald: Actually reaching out to Director Malik now to get some insights on Number
8.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Ms. Dottery, I don’t see her in the queue.
Mr. Hasan: Can I (inaudible).
Mr. Donald: I’m sorry, that was for the Transit Grant, yes.
Mr. Lewis: Ms. Dottery is in the queue if you want to bring her in, coming up.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: (Unintelligible) see her, okay, Ms. Dottery, can you unmute yourself?
Ms. Dottery: All right, I’m sorry.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Fennoy has a question for you on agenda Item
#8.
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, is this the first time that we have received this grant?
Ms. Dottery: No, sir, this is a renewal. We receive this grant every year.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, and is the grant ---
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The Clerk: Do you have the You Tube on?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- can you take the You Tube off, Ms. Dottery?
Ms. Dottery: Okay, sorry about that, as I was responding to you, sir, no, sir, this is a
renewal we get this grant every year from GDOT.
Mr. Fennoy: --- okay. And is the grant used for the same purpose every year?
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir, it is for the operations of the Rural Program where we have six
vehicles that we get from GDOT and then some capital projects and this time we did capital
projects for our (unintelligible) callback system because we didn’t have one in the Rural Program
and also the replacement of vehicles and some cameras.
Mr. Fennoy: So you’re going to replace some vehicles with this grant money?
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: And how many vehicles do you plan on replacing, Ms. Dottery?
Ms. Dottery: Three.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay and what’s going to happen to the vehicles that you replace? They are
no longer serviceable?
Ms. Dottery: They will be returned to GDOT. They purchase the vehicles for us through
this grant and when it’s time to replace them then the vehicles that we have we return them back
to them and then they give us the new vehicles.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay, do you know about how many miles we put on these vehicles before
we replace them?
Ms. Dottery: Approximately 3 to 350 depending.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we appreciate those questions. We’ve got a motion and a
second, Ms. Bonner, if we could please vote.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
Mr. Sias: Mayor Pro Tem, you didn’t see my hand?
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Sias, hold the vote, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. I just got a, Ms. Dottery ---
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: --- you know in the past I’ve talked to you quite a bit about the Rural Transit
Program. Are we at the point now where we can expand that program a bit?
Ms. Dottery: What we’ve been talking about now with the Rural Program because there’s
a possibility based on the 2020 Census that it can even get smaller through GDOT so we have
started discussing Micro Transit to see if we can supplement our six routes so that we can still
service the people in the Blythe, Hephzibah-McBean area.
Mr. Sias: So with that Rural Transit do you still have a waiting list of folks who want to
get a ride?
Ms. Dottery: No, sir, right now we don’t.
Mr. Hasan: Ms. Bonner, Ms. Bonner, we can hear you.
Mr. Sias: All right, that’ll work then. I guess that might be part of COVID-19. I knew at
one time there was a long waiting list.
Ms. Dottery: Yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: So I hope we keep (inaudible). I just needed to know that for my reference. Let’s
move on, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, Ms. Bonner, if we could please vote. Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: No.
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. Dennis Williams, Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams appears to be muted so I don’t know, we’ll have him out.
Mr. D. Williams out.
Mr. Fennoy votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right back to you, Mayor, for the Recognition portion of the
agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. All right, Madam Clerk, I’m going to come to
you and I’m going to come to you we’ve got we’ve got an opportunity to recognize our colleagues
as they come to the eve of their service to this great city. I have had the pleasure of knowing our
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three colleagues the Commissioner from the 3, from the 1 and the gentleman from the 9 that I
refer to as the Dean of the Commission for a very long time. And so what I’d like to do is put it
in the hands of Madam Clerk to begin this process and we’re going to after we hear from Ms.
Bonner with what she has prepared I want to give the members of the Commission an opportunity
those who would like to an opportunity to say some kind words about our colleagues. And those
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who will close us out I’ll give each of the Commissioners from the 3 the 1 and the 9 five
minutes to just share their thoughts with us as they come to this momentous occasion. And what
has been perhaps one of the most unique times of their lives and our lives collectively as we face
this global pandemic called COVID-19 that we’re learning more and more about every single day
that we have been thrown into the arena of social unrest, injustices and all of these things that bring
us to this (unintelligible) moment in our nation’s history. And so with that I’m going to go to you,
Madam Clerk, for recognitions.
RECOGNITIONS
C. I. Commissioner Mary Davis, District 3
January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2020
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II. Commissioner Bill Fennoy, District 1
January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2020
III. Commissioner Marion F. Williams, Super District 9
January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2020
The Clerk: On behalf of the Augusta Commission Commissioner Mary Davis,
Commissioner Bill Fennoy and Commissioner Marion Williams we would like to express our
sincere appreciation for your loyalty, your diligence and outstanding performance during your
tenure with Augusta Richmond County. Thank you so very much. At this time I’ll ask my IT Tech
to please roll it. Well, we hope you enjoyed that presentation we had music assigned to it however
we were advised that it may not be well received by You Tube.
Ms. Davis: Ms. Bonner, was it a James Brown song?
Mr. M. Williams: Should have been.
The Clerk: Can’t share it now.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s the good looking Commissioner in the middle right there.
The Clerk: It is.
Ms. Davis: She’s a lot younger, she was a lot younger, Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Mayor: All right, again I want to open the floor to the members of the Commission
who’d like to say some kind words about our colleagues before we hear from each of them starting
with the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Well, just want to say thank you for your service and I know this is
not an easy job. You’ve done it well. People love you, you’re unique to your district and I wish
you well in your future endeavors. Commissioner Marion Williams, I can tell you the TV stations
are going to be a lot more boring now without you because you gave the best sound bytes in the
city. And so again just thank you for your dedication, thank you for the support you offered me
when you did and I wish you well in the future for sure and thank you for your service.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Sean, thank you.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Sean.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I just want to tell each one of you three that I appreciate
the things that I’ve learned from you. You know the city definitely has been made better by the
service you have given her. And I just want to note we all appreciate you whether we show you
each day or not but you’ve taught us all a lot. You’ve definitely put yourself out there and I hope
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that each one of you will enjoy your time off. And, Marion, my wife says specifically that she
really hates to see you go so I wanted to pass that along.
Mr. M. Williams: Tell her I said I’m not going out of town I’ll still be here somewhere.
Mr. Garrett: She’s listening.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: Yes, I would to say to each one of you thank you for what you brought to the
Commission and to the City of Augusta and thank each one of you for what you’ve given me
personally. It’s been a journey to say the least, it’s been an experience and I’m very thankful for
each and every one of you. And I have some good memories, some bad memories and in between
memories funny memories and memories we can cry over but I want you to know that I have
affection for each and every one of you. All three of you mean something to me and I appreciate
you so much, thank you.
Ms. Davis: Thank you.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, John.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to say to my three colleagues for the last six
years it’s been a pleasure to work with you. I know sometimes we’re on opposite sides of the
spectrum but that’s understandable. But I’ve learned so much and just your personalities as well
as learning a lot about myself as we continue to grow and develop we take a lot of that with us. I
see very, three very distinct personalities but at the same time add a lot of value to the city and
that’s always a good thing to have their own outright personality in terms of what they bring to the
process. And I think this body as a whole has learned a lot from you and we’re going to miss you
so if from time to time be willing to pick up the phone because I think you’ll hear from many of
us myself included. Thank you very much for your service.
Ms. Davis: Thanks, Ben.
Mr. M. Williams: Thanks, Ben.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: You saw me looking down. I really didn’t want to say anything but really
want to say I’ve learned something from each of you and I appreciate everything each and every
meeting. I just want to tell Commissioner Fennoy I know he’s a little perturbed about certain
things that have happened today but you may as well get yourself up and get ready to finish
working since you made us go through the whole agenda now. So I just want to say thank you to
each of you.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. To my colleagues outgoing I appreciate your service. I know
each one of us when we we’re working and doing this business we may not agree but we all really
have the best of Augusta-Richmond County at heart. So I thank you for your service and wish you
the best in the future.
Ms. Davis: Thanks, Sammie.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you so much.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown ---
Mr. Brown: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Mayor: --- give you a chance to chime in as well.
Mr. Brown: --- well, to all three of you I’m filing my objections in the morning to your
departure and on the very serious side Commissioner Fennoy, Commissioner Davis and
Commissioner Williams, I have enjoyed working with you. I too have learned a lot from each one
of you and I know you’re not going anywhere and I’m sure we’ll be in touch. But I hope that you
will continue to be active in the community and that you will continue to have input in our
government, thank you.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Wayne.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Wayne.
Mr. Mayor: Administrator Donald just came but you’ve a chance over a two-week period
of time to get to know (inaudible).
Mr. Donald: No, absolutely, if nothing else I was able to watch you know for an extended
period of time and I think one of the things that attracted me most to Augusta is the leadership not
only that remains on the council but those that are leaving. And as me and my family get settled
here in Augusta we’ve heard amazing things about all three of you so I’m hoping very much so
that you stay engaged with the city. And now that you’re not associated with the city in the same
capacity I hope to be able to lean on you for insight you know that you may not have been able to
give me as a Commissioner.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Donald, I appreciate that.
Ms. Davis: Yeah, thank you. I’ll see you in the morning for our meeting.
Mr. Donald: Absolutely.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk.
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The Clerk: Yes, sir. Thank you so much. It has been a pleasure working with each and
every one, each one of you, all three brought distinctive perspective to the group. And I don’t
know I’m without words, it’s always hard for me because once we get together we form great
relationships and I do consider you friends and but I know you’re not going anywhere so you’re
still here in the city so I look forward to running into you.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Take care.
Mr. M. Williams: I appreciate that Mae Lee.
The Clerk: All right, Bubba.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t think you we’re supposed to say that. So, Madam Clerk, I’m going to
take a stab at it and I’m going to begin with Ms. Beth can I have a Point of Personal Privilege, Mr.
Mayor one more again. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, I got one more thing I want to say.
And you know, Madam Clerk, put that on the agenda again, he don’t know the rules, the horse
done left the barn and you can’t get it back again, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, don’t you
know the rules? Now you crazy you ain’t reading that now, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. M. Williams: I thought there was three of us you just got one commissioner
(inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: I ain’t got to the distinguished lady yet. Madam Clerk, I’d like to put these
following items on the Consent Agenda if it’s okay with the Chairman of Administrative Services
Item Number 12, Item Number 15, Item Number 22, Madam Clerk, at our next meeting can you
make sure that you have Planning and Development here? I’ve got some questions and I’m sure
we can move forward with that but I think we’ve got some questions that we need to make sure
we get answered.
The Clerk: Really?
Ms. Davis: I know who that sounds like.
Mr. Mayor: That sound about right? So to my three colleagues I am just pleased to have
not only known you both or you three personally but also professionally. I wish you well as you
come to the close of this year. I know that you will stay engaged as we navigate to making Augusta
the best place in the nation in which to live, to learn, to work and to raise our families and I wish
you and your families significant quality time together as we come to the close of this year and
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certainly your time on the Commission as we see it today. To the Commissioner from the 1 by
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way of the 8 remember we will welcome you to the south side of town and you can ride your bike
out there without any problems. I encourage you to wear a helmet though and if necessary my wife
she rides 25, 40, 50-miles from time to time so you’re more than welcome to join her. And to the
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Commissioner from the 9 I’ve got a German Shepherd too and he's well trained, so to the
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distinguished Lady from the 3 it would be fitting and proper for me to say the following, Go
Jackets.
Ms. Davis: I wouldn’t expect anything else, Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ll kick it over to the three of you. We’ll start with the distinguished
lady.
Ms. Davis: Well, first of all I want to thank this community because they gave me this
opportunity to serve and I’m honored by that. I’m honored by those who supported me and honored
by those who got upset with me because that’s what we learn from and that’s what we do a better
job because of those people who are our supporters and who fuss at us because they all have a fight
in the city, they all care about it so we do our best to make the best decisions possible as we all
know. This is a tough job and I think that anybody who’s served on this Commission as the Mayor
any elected official realizes that it is just a labor of love and that’s why you do it and you do it for
future generations. We want our children, our grandchildren to have a better place to live. So I
hope that I’ve helped with that in the past eight years. I know I’ve done my best and it might not
have pleased everybody but I know in my heart that I feel like I’ve done my best and I can lay my
head on the pillow every night knowing that so that’s a good feeling. To our employees thank
you, thank you, thank you for keeping this city going every single day. You are really the heroes
so we appreciate all of ya’ll. Sometimes we don’t show it but we get stressed out we put it on ya’ll
and that’s not fair but ya’ll put up with it and you go back to work every day for Augusta. Ms.
Bonner, you are a rock star. You amaze me and I’m just, I look up to you and your staff for what
ya’ll do for us. Thank you. Mayor, I’ve enjoyed everything that you’ve done working with you,
you’re a good friend even though we’re Jackets and Bulldogs. It doesn’t matter in the long term
but I will enjoy these friendships and these working relationships for the rest of my life because it
is very unique. And no one can really have this experience really that we’ve had do I’m proud of
it, I’m proud of ya’ll. I have faith in my predecessor next year and the Commissioners to come.
So keep doing what you’re doing and of course I’m around and Marion maybe I’ll meet you at
Walmart at 4:00 a.m. maybe I’ll be bored and want to go talk to a constituent. But anyway I really
do appreciate each of you. Thank you for everything.
Mr. Mayor: All right, it’s a hard choice but I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the
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1.
Mr. Fennoy: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: You know these past eight years have really been bittersweet for me and
today is really not a momentous occasion for me. And I don’t expect people to see things as I see
it or to do things as I do but I do things the way I do because of my experience and the way that I
was brought up and I’m just assuming that everybody else does the same thing. When I look back
over the eight years that I’ve been in office a lot of people that have supported me are no longer
with us. Frankie, Ms. Gant, my sister-in-law Siobhan Stokes both Mr. Mohammeds but I have
really enjoyed being a Commissioner, I’ve enjoyed getting on my bicycle and see people sitting
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on their porch and working in the yards and I stop and engage with them and they tell me that you
know Commissioners don’t come by until they’re running for office so I tried to bring something
more personable to being a Commissioner. Ms. Bonner has been a pleasure to work with you and
not only but your staff, Nancy and Natasha have been very helpful and in your absence. Mr.
Mayor, it’s been a pleasure working with you. You know we don’t we don’t always agree, Mr.
Mayor, but I try not to talk over you when we disagree and I especially try to respect the position
of Mayor. The employees full and part time I like the relationship that I have built with them and
I believe that everybody that’s on the Commission has the City of Augusta in their heart and they
want to do what they feel is in the best interest of the city. And what I tell people a lot of times
that we could be as divided as the fingers but we could as together as the hand. And looking on
down the road my challenge to the Commission that’s already there and the Commissioners that
are coming in that you all try to work together that you all do not go behind each other’s backs and
make deals with folks. Do what’s in the best interest of the city. And when people ask me a lot
of times why I do what I do I tell them the same thing that Mohammed Ali said. He said he’s just
trying to get to heaven so I’m just trying to get to heaven and again it’s been a pleasure working
with all of you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you so much, Commissioner, we’re excited. And, Madam
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Clerk, I couldn’t resist this moment. The Commissioner from the 9 has spent the better part of
the last month and a half with this Scorched Earth Policy reminding me about the rules and the
Commission rules say that you’re given two minutes to speak on a matter. And so instead of him
getting five I’m going to limit him to what the rules say and the rules say he only gets two minutes.
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Commissioner from the 9 the Dean of the Commission, two minutes.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for the two minutes. Normally I don’t follow
the rules like you don’t so that’s no problem. First of all let me just say that I appreciate the
opportunity to serve this community. I take this job very seriously. I didn’t want to be a
Commissioner. That was something I feel it was the calling of my life. I was coaxed into it and I
tried it and won the seat. And when I ran for office I told the people that couldn’t change things
but I wouldn’t let them trick you. I’d make sure people understood what was going on and I decided
to stay true to that. But because I lived in an era where things were difficult for certain people and
the fairness was not there I wanted to make sure I didn’t lean to one side, I didn’t do black or white,
I wanted to do what I thought was right. I’ve been talking about certain things in certain parts of
this community that don’t seem to get the funds, don’t seem to get the economic development they
should get and for the life of me as an elected official it really bothers me. In fact I said to a lot of
people I told the Clerk I know I’ve gotten tired. I normally say what I got to say and forget about
it but when I started to take it home with me I know it’s time to go, I realized it’s time to go then.
But I have put everything I have into this job as an elected official. I don’t ever so no, I never say
I can’t talk to you, I never said I’m too busy, I don’t try to be a Commissioner who sits high and
looks down on somebody else. I appreciate the opportunity to serve. And I won’t trick you, I
won’t say I’m going to do something if I can do that. My word is all I got and so if I give you my
word if I’m going to do it and I think the Commission will find that out later. But if I’m going to
do it, I’m going to do it. If I’m not I can tell you that as well. People say well you act like you’re
upset or you’re mean or you’re mad I’m not when I get mad when I get upset I don’t say a word.
If I’m not talking, it’s just a serious problem, it just don’t bother me. As long as I’m loud as long
as I’m just raising my voice it means I’m passionate about it. And it really, really hurts me to
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know that we can move some things in a positive direction and we didn’t because of politics and
learned that. Now I’ve been to a lot of training, a lot of sessions but I ain’t learn politics. I don’t
know how to be a politician. I tell people I wouldn’t have made it in Hollywood, Mary, because
Hollywood needs some good actors. I can’t act, I’m just who I am. And so I said that to say I
thoroughly enjoyed serving in this job. To the Clerk of Commission, Ms. Bonner, who is my
friend who I didn’t really know until I got on the Commission but seeing how hard knowing how
she sees how to struggle a lot of people are still struggling in this city and we think everybody’s
got it together. A lot of people don’t have it together like that. So it’s a calling on my life just to
try to make things better than it was. I hope I left the Commission better than I found it. I hope I
made some difference the things that didn’t get by. Folks get tired of my talking I guess, don’t
want to hear my voice but I’m elected by the people. I served with seven Mayors who tried to quiet
me down. Hardie, you’re not the only one but I was sent downtown to talk. I am their mouthpiece,
I am the person they sent to speak on their issues and when you represent half of this city really
the whole city I’m not the Mayor but if you’ve got a problem and I know about it I’m going try to
make sure you get addressed. The Mayor Pro Tem mentioned earlier about some people have been
trying to get some answers and nobody would answer them. I’ve got some serious issues with that
because as an elected official we ought to make sure that department heads don’t handle nothing
themselves but to bring it to this body what we call the Commission. To the employees of Augusta
I love all of you I really appreciate the hard work that you do. I thank God that you’re able to stay
on this job. We’ve got a great city in Augusta. We just got to come out of the box we’ve been in
we’ve been in a box now. You can’t work in a vacuum you can’t, you got to get outside that box.
The department heads do a great job. I hear people say let the department heads do the job. I believe
in that but I also believe in inspecting what I expect. Now when I ask a question 90% of the time
I already got my answers. I won’t say it’s going to be the same answer because I’d heard something
different but when I put a question on the floor I already know what the answer should be. I’m just
trying to figure out if they’re going to give me that answer then why. So to my colleagues I thank
you for the ups and the downs, the good and the bad. Thank you for allowing me the time to work
with you. I pray for the new Commissioners coming on. I pray that they don’t just come in and sit
down and think this is just a cakewalk because it’s a hard job, it’s a rough job. It may not look
like it from the outside but when you get inside you’re like the cook in the kitchen the food looks
good on the table but when you’re sweating over the stove it’s kind of rough so get ready to get
your handkerchief out and wipe your brow and go to work. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for all you
have done and all you have tried to do. We worked good on a lot of things, a lot of things we
disagreed on. I think they call that politics. My last comment is we had a guy from the Federal
Government to come in once when Bob Young was the Mayor. He (unintelligible) and we was
debating back and forth some people were saying we were arguing but we was debating back and
forth and they asked him a question. Sylvia Cooper asked him say what do you think about the
Commission and the way they are operating today. He said that’s government in work. So when
government at works like that you’re going to disagree. I mean you’re not supposed to, if
everybody thought the same way we wouldn’t need but one person on this board but because we’ve
got so many different problems and so many different views you’ve got to have a variety of people
on this board. So good luck to all of ya’ll who’s still here. Hopefully I’ll be around if I can help
you give me a call, thank you so much.
19
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, thank you, and to each of you we’ll take a moment and give you
the applause that you deserve and thank you for your service, all right, fantastic. All right, the
Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem for a motion.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: What’s the motion?
Mr. Mayor: I just sent it to you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I mean are we still, what about A and B of the Recognitions, what
about ---
Mr. Mayor: We’re going to come back to that I’m trying to (unintelligible) at you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Motion, I’m not approving all items, you have lost your mind.
Commissioner Marion Williams is not going out that way, I can assure you you’re not going out
that way.
Mr. Mayor: You can’t say what Commissioner Marion Williams said. You can say that.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Keep rolling and let’s pause to a future date.
RECOGNITIONS
Resolution of Condolence
A. Motion to adopt Resolution of Condolence for former Mayor William (Willie) H. Mays,
III.
2020 Training for Life Award for Augusta Parks and Recreation
B. Kevin Enright (Special Olympics Georgia) will present the 2020 Training for Life Award
to the Augusta Parks and Recreation Department.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, if it pleases the Commission I’d like to do two things.
One the Item B from Recognitions has left the meeting and we will revisit that in 2021. Item A
the Resolution of Condolences we adopt that without objection. I believe the Commission again if
it pleases the Commission and that we take these remaining items and we move them to a date
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certain December the 8 at which time we will also have our conversation regarding SPLOST 8.
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A date and a time certain, December the 8 2020 at 11:00 a.m.
Mr. Clarke: So moved.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right very well, we’ve got a motion and a second. The Chair recognizes
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the Commissioner from the 1, state your inquiry after unmuting yourself.
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Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Fennoy: --- is there any other items that we want to put on the December 8 agenda
besides the one that is permissible?
Mr. Mayor: No, sir. We will engross this agenda, we’ll engross the agenda and these will
be the items to include the Addendum items, sir.
Mr. Fennoy: We can’t add to the list?
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Mr. Mayor: No, sir. Included in the Commissioner from the 8 motion I believe that was
thth
the Commissioner from the 8 and the second from the Commissioner from the 6 that includes
the motion and engross.
Mr. Garrett: What are you talking about?
Mr. Fennoy: Is that true Commissioner Williams, Marion Williams?
Mr. M. Williams: You’re learning, Bill, you’re learning.
The Clerk: Is he talking about Williams?
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Mr. M. Williams: If the Mayor can put them on the 8 then you can put them on there,
too, Bill.
Mr. Fennoy: Thank you, my Attorney.
Mr. Sias: Ms. Bonner, I vote yes, I’m clocking out.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: No.
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The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Can you repeat the motion please? I’m just kidding, I’m voting yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams, he’s out and Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Fennoy votes No.
Mr. D. Williams out.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, everyone ---
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, before we leave we did have one Delegation from the
Red Cross, is she still in the Chamber? She’s gone ---
Mr. Mayor: She left.
The Clerk: --- she left okay, I don’t know who this group is.
PUBLIC SERVICES
11. Update from Ms. Brenda Durant, Executive Director, Greater Augusta Arts Council
regarding the Sculpture Trail and the sculptures for the Sculpture Trail Festival.
Mr. Mayor: --- I think that’s Ms. Durant and the Arts Council that’s who is left.
The Clerk: Arts Council.
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Mr. Mayor: Yep, so we will have them on December the 8, all right December the 8.
All right, very well, everybody have a great evening.
\[MEETING RECESSED\]
22
COMMISSION MEETING December 8 2020 (continued)
Mr. Lewis: Okay,
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, Jeff ---
Mr. Lewis: --- we’re ready.
Mr. Mayor: --- Okay thank you. Madam Clerk members of the Commission we are
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reconvening our December the 1 2020 meeting. We have a number of items that still are left to
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be debated and dealt with. At the recess of our December the 1 meeting there were a number of
items that we simply did not get an opportunity to address. And so as we invite the public back to
be part today’s meeting and we do the business of the people, the Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, our next item would be under our Recognition portion of the agenda.
RECOGNITION(S)
Commendation for the Richmond County Board of Elections
D. “Move for a Vote of Commendation for the Richmond County Board of Elections
Executive Director, Staff, and Board Members” (requested by Commissioner Sammie Sias)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. One of the things that I thought was very important that
happened this year and the year 2020 we had a tremendous election under the conditions of a very
dangerous pandemic. Our Board of Elections our Executive Director Ms. Lynn Bailey and her
staff did an outstanding and tremendous job to provide the City of Augusta, Richmond County a
how can I say a risk-free election. We had a record number of turnout of folks to come out to this
election under these conditions. It has been extremely troubling to hear our state officials and
national officials saying this election rigged as irregularities and all these things when our folks
put themselves at risk to have an election that was transparent and free. One of the things that
concerns me as well was the fact that one time we were paying our elections officials hazardous
pay and they did a super job, put their lives at risk to get a fair and proper election and for these
folks to be disparaged. I must comment, commend our Attorney our Secretary of State for standing
his ground because with the state office and the local county offices they all worked well together.
Georgia had a great election and so for us to see our officials disparage these people and all they
work that they done that’s just extremely, it’s extremely unfair. So what I would like and request
that this body do is that we recognize our Board of Elections with either a Resolution of
Commendation or a Vote of Commendation for all the work that they did to get our election ready
to have a good election and also for paying for a runoff which begins on next week. So if these
folks that worked extremely hard and they should be recognized for their work and not disparaged.
So with that I ask that we either do a Resolution of Support or a Resolution of Commendation
for these folks and that’s a motion.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
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Mr. Mayor: All right we’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
Mr. Sias: That would be for a Resolution of Commendation.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy. Out, Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
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. Sias: Dennis, you’re muted.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Okay, can we go back to Mr. Dennis Williams, is he unmuted?
Mr. Mayor: He’s off screen now, Madam Clerk.
Mr. Fennoy and Mr. D. Williams out.
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Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: So let me share with the members of the Commission I was informed on late
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yesterday afternoon by the Commissioner from the 1 that his sister-in-law passed away which
may very well be the reason why he’s not with us in attendance on today, but his sister-in-law
passed away.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I have a Point of Personal Privilege please?
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor and to my colleagues last week in our heated discussion in our
Executive Session I made what I believe to be an inappropriate comment to my colleague
Commissioner Dennis Williams and I called him the next day and apologized to him and I asked
him if he didn’t mind I would do it publicly that probably would’ve been back in Executive Session
we’ve had it had one of course we don’t have one but I do want to just let him know I apologize
for the comments I made to him last week and I just wanted to follow through what I shared with
him. Thank you very much.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, you want your Point of Personal Privilege now?
The Clerk: Sure, I’d like to thank Dr. Malik for allowing his staff Ms. Dwella Pope who
worked with us entirely to put on this slide show for the recognition of our outgoing members of
the Commission. I’d also like to thank of course Mr. Lewis along with Reggie Horn and Ms. Allen
for her staff and Michelle Pearman. She also contributed to what I think was an outstanding
presentation for members of our outgoing Commission. So again I’d like to thank Dwella Pope,
Dr. Malik, Ms. Allen, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Reggie Horn as well as Ms. Michelle Pearman for assisting
us with that task, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk, and I think it’s noteworthy that we recognize you
for making that possible on last week as well. Thank you for your effort.
The Clerk: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I believe that brings us to the matter of consent, no, I’m sorry, we’ve
got some more recognitions.
The Clerk:
RECOGNITION(S)
November Years of Service Recipients
E. Congratulations! November Years of Service Recipients.
Randall Kea 25 Years of Service – Augusta Fire Dept.
Ronald Sylvester 30 Years of Service – Sheriff’s Dept.
Gerald Wall 35 Years of Service – Augusta Utilities
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. McFarley, I believe we had someone from H.R. Ms. McFarley,
do we have someone from H.R. who’s going to do years of service?
Ms. McFarley: No, sir, no one’s in attendance from H.R.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, so, Madam Clerk, I guess it’s appropriate for us to at least call
their names.
The Clerk: I was hoping that the H.R. Employee Relations Manager was going to handle
that portion of the presentation.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t see them.
The Clerk: They’re not, okay.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah ---
The Clerk: Well, if we could, sir, if we could just ---
Mr. Mayor: --- we’ll come back to it ---
The Clerk: --- yes.
Mr. Mayor: --- we’ll come back to it. All right, Administrator Donald, if you would touch
base with our H.R. staff ---
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir, they’re logging on now.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay. Madam Clerk, if they’re logging on let’s try to move some stuff
forward. We’ll come back to that item.
The Clerk: Okay.
DELEGATIONS
F. Ms. Susan L. Everitt, regarding FY20 Red Cross Service Delivery for Augusta.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Everitt is going to be in January ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Donald: Mr. Mayor, they are logging on but they’re having some issues right now.
I’m actually I have IT in here with me as well so if they can’t get on in the next minute of so I’m
going to just have them come upstairs and do it from here.
26
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, that’s not a problem. We’re going to move on and then we’ll come
back to Recognitions, we can do that. We’ll give everybody time to get their technology in place
and then we’ll go from there but we’re continuing to move forward in the meeting, okay? Madam
Clerk, that brings us to our Consent Agenda items.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, which is Item 1.
Mr. Mayor: Okay and I think it’s appropriate for us to consider any items for the Consent
Agenda that are currently on the regular agenda.
The Clerk: Keep in mind Items 3 and 7 has already been disposed of.
Mr. Mayor: That is correct.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: And 8.
The Clerk: And 8, yes.
Mr. Mayor: I thought it was 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Yes, all of those have been addressed. All
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right, Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I’d like to consent Item 20, 21, 22 and 23 as well as 26,
27 ---
The Clerk: Just a minute.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re writing them down, Madam Clerk, we’ll come right back to
you.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m not going to do that, Mr. Mayor, now. I’ve got no problem with
some of those he’s trying to consent but he needs to slow it down so we can catch it. We might as
well have no extended meeting if we’re going to do that.
Mr. Garrett: Sorry, Marion. I’ve got too much coffee so I’m talking fast.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, slow it down, slow your roll.
The Clerk: So you stopped at 26, sir?
Mr. Garrett: And I’m going to add 27.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 8 would you start over please.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, sir, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26 and 27.
thth,
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 4, Commissioner from the 4 you’re muted.
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Mr. Sias: All right, thank you, I finally got my clickers on. I’d like to request consent for
Items 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, thank you.
Mr. M. Williams: I’ve got a problem with 14 and 15. I need to get some understanding
about 14 and 15, they can be companions.
Mr. Mayor: All right not a problem at all. We’ve got it, 14 and 15, there’s objection, okay,
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Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: No, I didn’t have my hand up, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, can you offer Item #35 under Pension Committee that Resolution?
GMA is needing that.
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: --- (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Mayor, can I get another bite at the apple?
Mr. Mayor: You mind if I take a slice?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: 33 and 34?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah ---
The Clerk: Who was that, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, and what was that again?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: 33 and 34.
Mr. Garrett: Mr. Mayor, I have a question about 33.
Mr. Mayor: All right so 33 no. Item 30, Madam Clerk, Item 31, Item #29, Item #28 ---
Mr. Garrett: You can add 28 as well.
Mr. Mayor: Item #28 and Item #26 and 27.
The Clerk: 26 is on.
Mr. Mayor: 27?
28
The Clerk: It’s on.
Mr. Mayor: 27 is on ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, thank you.
Mr. Sias: Mayor, what was your question on 28 that was objected to, 28?
Mr. Mayor: No ---
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett ---
Mr. Mayor: There was no objection to 28.
Mr. Garrett: There was but we can take 28 and 33 together when and we come to them.
The question’s the same for both.
Mr. Mayor: All right, sounds good.
Mr. Hasan: I do have one, I apologize.
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Hasan: Item #40.
Mr. Clarke: Objection.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias ---
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: --- Item #36 the Board of Health appointment, they’re replacing Dr. Blackwood
who resigned and they’re asking that Dr. Kierman be appointed to that unexpired term.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am I requested consent for that, request consent for that, 36.
Mr. Garrett: Can we add 24?
Mr. Mayor: Last week #39 that’s conversation about moving that to the Consent Agenda
as well, that’s Item #39.
Mr. Garrett: Can we add 24, Mayor?
29
Mr. Mayor: Sure, sure ---
Mr. Clarke: Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: --- everybody hold on, just hold on. All right, Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. Clarke: Yeah, you know we’ve already given them money. If somebody objects to it
can Ms. Bonner just write it down or something. 40 is ratifying the $25,000 dollars we’ve already
given them, we’ve already given them the check, if we just say I don’t like it or something and we
keep moving on that one.
The Clerk: You’re right, you can vote for the Consent Agenda if it’s added and signify
your objection by voting no on that particular item.
Mr. Clarke: If we give them money without it being approved or voted on.
Mr. B. Williams: They already have the money, John.
The Clerk: There was a letter circulated where there were six signatures authorizing the
signatures to be ratified at the Commission’s next meeting.
Mr. M. Williams: Another rule thing, that’s another rule.
Mr. Garrett: Can you send us that email again?
Mr. Clarke: Yeah, please.
The Clerk: Which one, the one showing (inaudible) ---
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: --- and the one asking you to support it?
Mr. Clarke: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay sure, will do.
Mr. Clarke: And how much money was given to them?
The Clerk: $25,000.
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor ---
rd,
Mr. Mayor: The Lady from the 3 go ahead.
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Ms. Davis: --- concerning that agenda item that was ratified because I wasn’t aware either
that it was for sure approved by six votes. Did we put anything, any ask of any kind of budget or
any kind of paperwork after the expenditures with that gift of $25,000? I’m just curious or is it just
an outright gift and we don’t have to have any paperwork or any accountability with it? I don’t
know who that question goes to, maybe the Administrator?
Mr. Mayor: I’m not sure who that question goes to either.
Mr. Donald: We’ll follow up with (inaudible) to get you a final answer on that but any
time the city provides funding to an initiative we will request some general information and in this
case it wouldn’t be so much around the actual expenditure but the outcomes related to the account.
Ms. Davis: Mr. Mayor, can I just follow up?
Mr. Mayor: Continue, yes, please.
Ms. Davis: All right, thanks, Administrator. I just think when we do any kind of grants or
any monies to nonprofits we do ask for some kind of an audit type something, I don’t know, Ms.
Williams will be able to follow up on that but I’d like to see that please. Thank you.
Ms. Donald: Yes, ma’am, we’ll make sure to get you that. Just a note for this one since it
was related to the actual census count so it will be a specific activity that they would use for
marketing outreach materials etc., and so we’ll get you a follow up on how those expenditures
were or what they did with those expenditures for the county.
Ms. Davis: Thanks so much.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, Mr. Mayor, I just want to bring it out it sounds as if we gave out
a gift or it was the work that was done by the census for the Harden Account constituency that we
have in this city that they have really worked hard and I was one of the last ones to support that.
But they had worked hard to get the Harden Account residents to help our city gain the economic
dollars that we should be getting but if they wasn’t counted we wouldn’t be getting. So whether
we understand that, whether we like it or not, that’s exactly what happened. Now I’m sure they
got some paperwork as to what they’ve done and whatever but we wouldn’t take the time to go
out there knocking on doors and going in those back alleys and those corners and streets but
someone else did and I’m glad they did. So I just want to make sure that we understand that we
didn’t just give some money away and don’t know where it went or who got it. I mean I’m the last
one to support anything like that. But I just want to make sure we understand it wasn’t a gift horse
that we gave away and rode out into the sunset. It was for work some people did that I’m
appreciative of them doing.
th,
Mr. Mayor: Very good Commissioner, the Commissioner from the 8 state your inquiry.
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Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor, and I guess the reason that we’re asking these questions
is I remember the email going around asking for support but you know as for me I never saw the
responses or a final tally in regards to that so I’m not sure ---
The Clerk: I’ll be sending that out to you shortly, sir. I apologize if that didn’t make it
because I was quite frankly still waiting on others to support. But once we received the six
confirmation Commissioner Fennoy asked that I proceed which we did, Commissioner Fennoy,
Dennis Williams, Ben Hasan, Marion Williams, Bobby Williams and Commissioner Sias so but I
will get that out to you, sir.
Mr. Garrett: --- okay, thank you, ma’am.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, if you would for the record just
repeat back to us items that we’re consenting today.
The Clerk: Okay, Items 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, there was some discussion on 24.
Was that ever a consensus on that one?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: Okay, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40 and that concludes the Consent.
Mr. Sias: Mayor, I thought I had put ---
th,
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 4 state your inquiry.
Mr. Sias: --- was there objection to 32 being on there? I had that on my list.
Mr. Mayor: No, there was no objection to 32.
The Clerk: Okay, we’ll add 32 too.
Mr. Sias: Thank you.
Mr. Donald: I believe 15 was also on that list as well, Madam Clerk.
Mr. Mayor: There was objection to that one, Administrator Donald, objection to 14 and
15.
Mr. Donald: Okay, okay.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: No, I’m good, Mr. Mayor, ya’ll pulled enough for me.
Mr. Mayor: No, you objected to 14 and 15. You said you had some questions.
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Mr. M. Williams: Oh, yes ---
Mr. M. Williams: We’re not there yet. We’re, just hold on, just hold on. All right, Madam
Clerk, I believe that covers it. All right, voting.
CONSENT AGENDA
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
1. Motion to approve the minutes of the Special Called and Regular Meetings of the
Commission held on November 17, 2020.
PUBLIC SERVICES
2. Receive as information the project update on the HVAC repair and improvements
currently underway at the Augusta Aquatic Center.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
12. Motion to approve BID Item #20-202 Furniture for Housing and Community
Development.
13. Motion to approve HCD’s contract procedural process relative to the authorization of
Agreements/Contracts/HUD Forms related to HCD’s federally funded programs for the first
quarter of calendar year 2021. (Deferred from the November 3, 2020 meeting.
16. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide a local matching funding in conjunction to the federal grant provided by
the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), for the Greater Augusta Arts Council Golden
Blocks Phase II.
17. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to transfer $63,163.55 from Fund 5111110 to Fund 5239112 to support temporary
workforce expenditure.
PUBLIC SAFETY
20. Motion to approve the update to the Augusta-Richmond County Local Emergency
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Operations Plan and authorize the Mayor to sign the plan. (Deferred from the November 4
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and 17 meetings)
21. Motion to approve an emergency purchase for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to
purchase an Access Control system for the 400 Walton Way building. The requisition will be
sent to Procurement as an emergency purchase and the Finance Department was notified for
the budget transfer.
22. Motion to approve and award the Camera System vendor for the Richmond County
Sheriff’s Office to Lightspeed Datalinks in the amount of $118,623.08 for Bid Item 20-264.
23. Motion to approve and accept a grant award for the continuation of the Victims of Crime
Act (VOCA) Grant with funding from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council of Georgia
to provide services to crime victims for the period from October 1, 2020 through September
30, 3030, and authorize the Mayor to execute the necessary documents.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
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26. Motion to approve the purchase of a Caterpillar 740EJ Articulating Truck, Bid Item #20-
2208. There are two responding bidders to the bid, Yancey Brothers and Border Equipment
Division of GJ&L. Yancey Brothers Company (Caterpillar), Augusta GA, met all of the bid
requirements.
27. Motion to approve assigning the honorary road name of Ernest Bowman Jr. Road to
Jack Kelly Road.
29. Motion to approve the Change Order No. 1 to Blair Construction, Inc’s contract to
construct the Fort Gordon Cyber CoE Campus Sanitary Sewer Extension.
30. Motion to remove the moratorium of the purchase of a Mack Granite 64 Grapple Truck,
bid item #19-283.
31. Motion to approve to Supplement Construction Contract with Reeves Construction Co.
in the amount of $965,076.00 to cover additional cost of Resurfacing Aumond Road (Boy
Scouts Rd, to Walton Way). Requested by AED. Bid: 20-164.
32. Motion to approve and award a contract for design and engineering services to Cranston
Engineering Group in the amount of $192,931.25 for the Walton Way Accessible Sidewalk
Renovation Project. RQ 20-138. Requested by AED.
34. Motion to approve supplemental funding for on-call engineering services by Alfred
Benesch & Company for Utilities Department on Fort Gordon.
SUBCOMMITTEE
Pension Committee
35. MOTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT MADE
BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE GEORGIA MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES
BENEFIT SYSTEM (“GMEBS) TO THE RESTATED GMEBS MASTER DEFINED
BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLAN DOCUMENT (“MASTER PLAN”) IN THE YEAR 2020.
APPOINTMENTS
36. Motion to approve the appointment of Dr. Thomas W. Kiernan to the unexpired term
due to the resignation of Dr. Blackwood ending December 21, 2021.
ADMINISTRATOR
39. Motion to approve extending the relaxation of accrual leave limits through June 30, 2021.
OTHER BUSINESS
40. Motion to approve ratifying $25,000 funding to assist Greater Augusta’s Interfaith
Coalition’s Total Census Count Initiative. To support census responses from hard to count
citizens and the support for 15 sites of activities for respondents of the local Census Count
funded from the 2020 Contingency Fund. (Requested by Commissioner Bill Fennoy deferred
from the November 17, 2020)
Mr. Sias: So moved.
The Clerk: We need a motion, that’s right, I need a second.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
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The Clerk: Okay, that’s Mr. Sias and Mr. Garrett, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes with objection to 40.
The Clerk: Okay, Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am, Clerk, with objection to 40 as well.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Fennoy is out. Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
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, is he still muted, sir, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Fennoy out.
Mr. Clarke and Ms. Davis vote No on Item 40.
Motion Passes 9-0. \[Items 1, 2, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20-23, 26, 27, 29-32, 34-36, 39, 40\]
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk, let’s go from top to bottom for right now.
The Clerk:
35
PUBLIC SERVICES
9. Update from Mr. Bennish Brown, President/CEO Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau
on the planning for the International Soul Festival. (Requested by Commissioner Dennis
Williams)
Mr. Mayor: We’re bringing in Mr. Brown now. All right, Mr. Brown, if you would for us
take either your You Tube or your web version and if you’ll mute that completely, thank you, sir.
Mr. Brown: Thank you, thank you, Mayor, I did. I actually just closed it out totally but
thank you, Mayor and members of the Commission, and I’m here today representing the
International Soul Festival Steering Committee. And I do want to specifically thank
Commissioner Dennis Williams for spearheading getting this update on the agenda for us. I’m
here to assure you that the International Soul Festival is still a very important project. It’s included
in Destination Blueprint which is the city’s destination development plan that is coordinated here
by the CVB. It’s also in the city’s Recreation and Parks Festival and Events Plan. The grant I hate
that some snippets came out last week before I could present to you but I thought I wouldn’t be
presenting last week but I’m here to provide a brief update starting with the fact that our vision is
to create a music, food and beverage experience that generates attention and attendance. And
particularly we’d like to see it lead to overnight stays here in the City of Augusta and ultimately I
hope is also that this signature event will bear the name of the legendary Mr. James Brown. The
slide in front of you shows that this work has been a partnership with the City of Augusta staff and
the CVB staff working together. And we brought this to the table, people with relevant
backgrounds and a variety of professional experiences these are people with history people with
what I would call long memories people who speak, out people who question and challenge and
some with an entrepreneurial outlook that will help bring a very bold and fresh ideas to the table.
And with all of this diversity we created a festival steering committee. The committee will help
to find the best path to make this dream and concept a reality. The next slide is a snapshot of some
of the work that has been done. The timeline begins with the conversation that’s had with the
Administrator back in September of 2018 to discuss the possibility of this elected body approving
some seed funding in the 2019 budget. And I do thank you, sincere thanks to the elected body
because the city funded $100,000 dollars as seed money. They approved that in the 2019 budget
and you approved it again for the 2020 budget. So in January of 2019 a group that was what I
called a precursor to this current steering committee was pulled together by then the city’s Rec and
Parks Department Director. It was more of a think tank I would say to generate ideas of what a
planning process should look like. Then in February of last year we stood up a steering committee
then we built a framework for proceeding and the initial target was May of 2020 for an inaugural
festival because we do want this festival to align with the celebration of Mr. Brown’s birthday.
Between May and October of last year we began to clarify the vision and the expectations of what
a festival would look like. I will tell you a key sticking point was that we needed to eliminate any
financial risk to the city beyond the seed money that’s provided and the CVB is also not in a
position to take on any financial risk. It was determined by the committee that we needed to search
for and identify a professional vendor to professionally create and manage our International Soul
Festival under the committee’s oversight. As we continue to meet between October and December
of last year the steering committee reevaluated again the target date for an inaugural event and we
shifted to May of 2021. We had some conversations with a couple of professional management
prospects and then finally we heard about C4 Live. We heard about them after it was announced
36
that the city was entering into an agreement with them to include creating and hosting events and
festivals here in Augusta. So we gathered some background information from the Economic
Development Authority and we felt pretty comfortable that maybe we need to have a conversation
with C4 Live to explore this concept. So by February of this year we initiated conversation directly
with C4 and both parties are just trying to find a way to get to a proposal that we can bring forward
to the steering committee and then to you. This next slide we challenged ourselves to identify
why, why C4, why C4, why should we narrow our focus to C4 Live as the professional entity to
help make this festival a reality and these were some of the key points you see on the slide. Number
one there was already a relationship with the City of Augusta and a commitment to improving a
facility that could possibly work as a venue for the festival. Secondly, C4 will also produce an
event for The Masters so there’s some synergy in having access to their staging and some of the
other infrastructure that they would keep up a few weeks longer to host the International Soul
Festival in May. And then finally there is a willingness to explore a business model that eliminates
financial risk to the city and the CVB but also at the same time initiates and grow a festival that
has global appeal that we really wanted to have. And we informally called the framework The
Crawl, Walk and Run scenario as we seek to create something that will be sustainable. This has
to last. Slide 5, next slide just to share that C4 does have experience and obviously you explored
their background. You know a lot of this they have experience in what they call delivering best in
class, customer and brand experiences and that ranges from Super Bowl, concert series and in a
lot of the major destinations where super bowls have been held to a variety of festivals and events
throughout Las Vegas. The next slide again just loops back to speak to the possibility of a seamless
access to their existing event footprint. This is just a rendering of showing how they could setup
or would setup Lake Olmstead Stadium for their Master’s event. And then this last slide and this
is the last slide just reminding us it is a new day but we continue this journey towards an
International Soul Festival. In reality it’s anybody’s guess about the short term or even the lasting
impact that the pandemic is going to have on large gatherings or even the impact the pandemic
might have on the appetite of performers to travel and perform before live audiences. But we’re
still interested in getting a proposal from C4 bringing it again to the steering committee and then
forward it on to you. We need a plan that confirms who will bear the financial risks but also
clarifies ownership of the festival. We are projecting that the $200,000 dollars in seed funding
from the city will be only a small part of a total budget that it might take to host an event of the
caliber that we envision so we’re still trying to flesh out those numbers and they will come forward
as part of the proposal. We’re also reevaluating obviously a reasonable timeframe and we can tell
you that it won’t be in May of 2021. Finally we’re trying to determine what the success looks like
so even the Destination Blueprint Plan and the Rec’s and Parks Festival and Events Plan
recommends the development of a five-year plan because we need to understand that the first
several years of an event might generate lesser attendance levels than we’d like it to ultimately like
it to generate but as the event matures and expands we expect attendance to grow and that’s why
again we call it Crawl, Walk and Run. So in ending Mayor’s, Commissioners we know that this
effort is still alive and want you to know it’s still alive and we’re going to make sure to keep you
informed of the work we’re doing ultimately again to the point of where we do have a formal
proposal to bring forward to you. So thank you for your patience, thank you for your support and
your interest. I don’t know if there are any questions you might have for me, Mayor or
Commissioners.
37
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Brown. We very appreciate your presentation. We’ve got
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the Commissioner from the 9 with a question, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Brown. I appreciate your comments and your report is
very good. You say Crawl, Walk and Run, you also said that you didn’t see anything for 2021. If
we’re crawling can’t, wouldn’t it be possible to do something in 2021 maybe not on a large scale
but to get moving. And I agree it’s going to take time probably take like you said five years to get
it up and going like it probably should be but is there any plans or any effort being put on doing
something of a small magnitude? We have done something here before. And the reason I’m
saying that, Bennish, because you know Augusta’s been hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait,
hurry up and wait. I mean we got to strike the match somewhere. You’ve got to get started at some
time so I’m hoping that your group have some initiative to get something started if the pandemic
now if it’s allowed. If the pandemic is such of an area we can’t do something is there any
conversation been talked about that? I guess that’s my question.
Mr. Brown: Commissioner, that is a great question and you’re exactly right and we will
lean on both our own research and on C4’s background. I think the big issue is going to be what
will be allowed considering the pandemic. I think a lot of research is saying we won’t see a lot of
comfort out of consumers until probably the second half of the year but it doesn’t mean it’s not
something we can’t continue to talk about. We’ve been talking about that for a while, well I’ll just
throw this in to you know we’re certainly looking at, we’ve got some good examples we can keep
an eye on, The Masters will happen in April we’re kind of trying to keep our ears to the ground
how some of that planning will take place for this year. This year I think is just going to be well
I’m sorry 2021 is a question mark but I will just say we will certainly keep talking about that.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, the Mayor and the Commission approved the James Brown Trail
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from James Brown Boulevard from Reynolds all the way up to Laney Walker and from 8 Street
back down and we have not done anything yet except call it a trail. We looked at the Penny
Savings Bank which is on the corner of Laney Walker and James Brown, Commissioner Hasan
and myself maybe a couple of other Commissioners went by there and looked at that building and
you know proposing doing something to get a start. I mean I mentioned about striking a match
you know a match is something you probably light a cigarette with you know but it’s very small
but once it spreads, once it grows but if you don’t ever strike that match you know we won’t get
any place. But just wanted to tell you I appreciate what you brought to us today. I think that you’ll
continue to work on it. I think we’ll be able to see the economic effect down the road now if this
pandemic let’s us. I think we have been missing the mark a long time on not just Augusta National
but what James Brown’s name will do for our city if we market it right. So thank you again. I
don’t want to prolong it. I just want to let you know that I’m still his number one fan I mean.
Mr. Brown: Thank you, Commissioner.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can you hear me?
Mr. Mayor: We certainly can hear you and see you, you have a question, sir.
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Mr. Hasan: Yeah, I’m on my small phone but I need to get back on my IPad if they can
get me some help. But I just want to say I have a question for Mr. Bennish.
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
Mr. Hasan: You said, I think there’s another event that they have in May as well I think
May is James Brown’s birthday time-frame, right?
Mr. Brown: Yes, that’s correct, Commissioner.
Mr. Hasan: There was another event that was up there as well I can’t know when that event
is going to continue I can’t seem to think of the name. It was a couple of years ago now in the
latter part ---
Mr. Brown: Birthday Bash, I think it’s the (inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: --- no, it wasn’t a James Brown event. It was another event it was at Lake
Olmstead.
Mr. Frantom: -- Banjo Joe’s Barbeque.
Mr. Hasan: Barbeque, yes, barbeque event. So my question is are you talking about we’re
seeing folks potentially at Lake Olmstead or you haven’t ironed that out yet?
Mr. Brown: Yes, sir, that would be that is the prime location, yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, do you have a Plan B in the event that yourself and C4 can’t come to
terms because when you’re talking about ownership of the name and everything and those kinds
of things so do you have some other issues, do you have a Plan B and I’m not going to ask you
about that today but do you have a Plan B?
Mr. Brown: Thank you very much. We do have some other entities we have had some
initial conversations with. We’re going to have to start probably a little bit farther back in the
discussion with them than we have with C4 but we do have some other options.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, the one thing I was going to make mention to you I know C4 has a
certain amount of days based on our arrangement with them but also the city has a certain amount
of days too so we’re hoping if you all what you all do would come up under the city days ---
Mr. Brown: Yes ---
Mr. Hasan: --- and you would not infringe upon their days that will give you an additional
cost to that event.
Mr. Brown: --- absolutely.
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Mr. Hasan: All right, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, Mr. Brown, thank you for your presentation today.
Mr. Brown: Thank you so much and we will keep you posted.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- I’m going to bring in Anita Rookard to do the Recognitions for the
Employee Years of Service at this time and then we’ll come back to the rest of the items on the
agenda, okay?
The Clerk: All right.
RECOGNITIONS
November Years of Service Recipients
E. Congratulations! November Years of Service Recipients.
Randall Kea 25 Years of Service – Augusta Fire Dept.
Ronald Sylvester 30 Years of Service – Sheriff’s Dept.
Gerald Wall 35 Years of Service – Augusta Utilities
Ms. Rookard: I can’t hear anyone.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Rookard, we can hear you ---
Ms. Rookard: Okay ---
Mr. Mayor: --- if you’re ready.
Ms. Rookard: --- good afternoon, Mayor, Commission, Administrator and Madam Clerk
today it gives me an esteemed pleasure to recognize our employees for Years of Service. Today
we recognize a total of 90 years of service and institutional knowledge for the City of Augusta.
We have three recipients today. Mr. Randall Kea, 25 years with the Augusta Fire Department, Mr.
Ronald Sylvester, 30 years with the Sheriff’s Department and Gerald Wall, 35 years with Augusta
Utilities so on behalf of the City of Augusta and the H.R. Department congratulations to those
recipients.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Ms. Rookard. To our recipients we want to recognize each of you
and say unequivocally thank you for your commitment to the City of Augusta and her residents
and what you do as a member of our team here in the City of Augusta, thank you. Thank you, Ms.
Rookard.
Ms. Rookard: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir, I’m here.
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, I believe that Items 10 and 11 are ready now?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Ms. Durant is in the public space, are we going to do those as companion I
assume, right?
Mr. Mayor: We are.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
10. Motion to approve a request from the Augusta’s Public Art Agency (The Greater
Augusta Arts Council) the terms and conditions of the sculpture trail contracts.
11. Update from Ms. Brenda Durant, Executive Director, Greater Augusta Arts Council
regarding the Sculpture Trail and the sculptures for the Sculpture Trail Festival.
The Clerk: And I think Administrator Donald sent out some additional information to us
this morning regarding that.
Mr. Mayor: Is that correct?
Mr. Donald: Yes, I did, Mayor. It’s just very simple information that helps supplement
and make it a little easier. I think you had already discussed this these two items before. The one
item that the Commission did want to look at is that the city is taking on the liability for the
sculptures and so it’s not an issue. Finance is prepared to do so with us being self-insured. We did
not take out additional insurance but the total value of these sculptures is a little bit under $300,000.
And so we have cataloged that I provided you some details into the list an estimated cost of the
sculptures and just gave you some history of how we got here. So I think you know staff’s
recommendation would be approval and just providing that insight to the Commission.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, Ms. Durant?
Ms. Durant: So I do have a short slide presentation. I’m talking today about the Augusta
Sculpture Trail again a project with Recreation and Parks that’s been over two-years in the works.
We started with Glenn Parker, switched moved over to Ron Houck (inaudible) and finishing the
project with Maurice McDowell. So in mid-January we’ll be installing ten temporary sculptures
in downtown Augusta centered on the Augusta Common, Broad Street and the entrance to
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Riverwalk on 8 and if you could open the slide presentation.
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Mr. Mayor: Ms. Durant, if you could hold for just a moment please.
Ms. Durant: All right.
Mr. Lewis: Mr. Mayor, I don’t have a slide presentation. Was it sent over to me?
Ms. Durant: Yes.
Mr. Lewis: Okay, let me check that real quick.
Ms. Durant: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Durant, if you’ll just suspend for a moment please.
Mr. Lewis: I apologize, Ms. Durant did send it to me and I do have it. Hang on one second,
okay, can you see that?
Ms. Durant: I can.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Jeff.
Ms. Durant: Thank you so much. If you click the next slide, great. So this is again a
project, this is a City of Augusta project the Sculpture Trail. You have signed an MOU with the
Great Augusta Arts Council to manage this project and we did receive funds from the CVB for
this year to do some advertising. So you see a brochure we’ve developed for the Sculpture Trail.
We’ll be installing in mid-January but we did have to some of the work in 2020. We did not know
doing a sculpturer’s call, a national call for this work if we would receive ten applications from
national sculpturers or 20. We hoped we had, we would have a choice and we were amazed to
find that we had 120 artists submit sculptures to lend or rent to the City of Augusta. Your Public
Art Panel and many employees of the City of Augusta in various departments helped us manage
this (inaudible) process and get it down to the ten sculptures, next slide. So we have ten artists
who were chosen. You see the first five artists and these will be placed, I’ll show you a map again
as I said these will be downtown and they will bring life to downtown Augusta. When we were
planning a Sculpture Festival little did we know that we would be looking in 2020 and 2021 for a
pandemic friendly event and certainly a Sculpture Festival fits that bill perfectly. So this, if you
pause on this slide this is the downtown map. It looks busy but it’s because we’re placing ten
sculptures downtown in a very concentrated, walkable area. So you can see the two in the far right
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9 and 10 they’re at the base to the entrance to Riverwalk on 8 Street. We have four we discovered
the Augusta Common was built to house sculptures in the four corners and then we have them on
Broad Street. And we worked closely with the city and Traffic and Engineering to make sure that
we didn’t put anything on Broad Street that would distract drivers so those are our ten and the ten
locations. And we have a walking map that we’ve developed in partnership with the Georgia
Department of Humanities that people can walk and we also have a gift from a national company
that does maps of public art called Auto Cast and people that have an app on their phone, I have
the Auto Cast map on my phone and I can actually tour public art in Chattanooga and all over the
42
country and when you come to Augusta if you have Auto Cast on your phone or you download it
you’ll be able to use it to take the tour of the Augusta Sculpture Trail. So it’s very exciting, you
can take a peek downtown, we already have laid the pad and we contracting with the artists and
what we’re asking you today is to affirm the contracts with the artists who are working on behalf
on the City of Augusta to get this project up and going for mid-January.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Ms. Durant ---
Ms. Durant: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: --- all right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ms. Durant, can you hear me?
Ms. Durant: Yes.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am. You said today is about the contract and the contract is it different
from the MOU?
Ms. Durant: The contract that we’re talking about it’s a contract with the artists. Each
artist will be paid $3,000 dollars for the loan of their work for the two years that it is installed
downtown ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Ms. Durant: --- and so we are asking to attest to confirm that and that all fits in exactly in
the contract and the MOU budget.
Mr. Hasan: Okay the MOU and the contract they have some different numbers in that
regard. One of them has, I’m looking at the MOU they’re looking at 18 months and 30% sales
commission if the artist sold that would come to the Greater Arts Council. And when you’re
looking at the contract, the contract had a term of exposure, not exposure but term of exhibition is
24 months and at 20% if it is if the come to yourself if it is sold, so which one takes precedent on
this?
Ms. Durant: The contract takes the final. We decided to extend it to an even 24 so that it
would be up, we wouldn’t have to be taking it down during November ---
Mr. Hasan: Okay ---
Ms. Durant: (Inaudible).
Mr. Hasan: --- and so okay when it comes, excuse me I’m sorry were you through because
I have another question. Yes, ma’am, when it says the City reserves the right to make all placement
decisions and make emergency repairs if and when necessary so that is if someone was to destroy
43
it in some form or fashion then we’re responsible for making it back whole or even you know
purchasing that piece of property if it cannot be made whole if it is destroyed?
Ms. Durant: It would be filing insurance for the, if something was destroyed.
Mr. Hasan: And so we’re self-insured so in essence the city that means we’re in a, owning
a piece of sculpture.
Ms. Durant: Yes, yes, that’s exactly right.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, okay all right thank you, ma’am.
Ms. Durant: All right, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 9 Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, yes, Mr. Mayor, thank you I think that’s really nice, I like what I
see. My question is I heard Brenda say that it may be rented may be renting the sculpture now I’m
hearing buying so which sculpture and which way would that go, we would be buying it or we
would be renting it or we rent it and if it don’t sell or how does that work, Brenda?
Ms. Durant: Okay so for the two years the ten sculptures that are installed, I use the term
rent, we are renting the sculptures from the artists for two years, the ten sculptures that will be
downtown, they’re being paid $3,000 dollars. It’s just a minor amount for getting them here and
installing them and we’re paying them $3,000 to thank you for the use for two years. All the
sculptures are for sale so the hope is that local businesses might decide to buy a piece and put it
you know in front of their business or they could donate it to the city. And then also in the
agreement the city will purchase one and at this point we don’t know which one. We have two
years for you to make that decision. So the city will end up starting a collection of sculptures from
this first Sculpture Trail so they’ll purchase one at the very end of the two years.
Mr. M. Williams: Brenda, if you’ll remember the last time we had this discussion I talked
about sculptures that were put around and I think you mentioned that you know we approved
something already. I think Aiken had horses and some other place had I think it was Swanee
Georgia but they had pigs or something out there and they was big sculptures. How large would
these be and can we decide on something or can the city decide on something that they want for
the sculpture around the city? That’s a lot for the first question.
Ms. Durant: These are about 15-feet tall. I mean one if you go back a little over whoever
is running the slide show if you want to go back and you can look at the sculptures. Some are
quite low like there’s a dragon looking one and that is low to the ground and go back again. So if
you look at the bottom left that’s low, a child could sit on that, the rest vary between maybe 10 to
15-feet tall.
Mr. M. Williams: They’re all going to be valued the same way I mean I know the more
material you got the more work you put into it but they’re all going to be valued the same?
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Ms. Durant: For the rental for the two years it’s interesting to think about it. If you choose
to be a sculpturer for your profession just like if you’re a visual artist or if you’re a painter you
don’t sell everything that you create so you have some sculptures that might be in your garage, in
your warehouse, in your studio. And so these artists participate in sculpture festivals or trails like
ours all over the country and so they send us a photo of what they have that they want to rent out
for two years and that’s one way that they make their money and so yes we’re paying them $3,000
dollars each for the ten artists. And then they also they vary in price. Some are as inexpensive as
under $10,000 dollars and some might go up to $50,000 dollars so they vary in price for purchase.
Mr. M. Williams: Vary in price, okay, that answers my question. I’m just trying to make
sure we can afford what we’re looking at or what we’re getting for what we’re buying. When we
do and I don’t do art, Brenda, that’s your field but as an elected official I’ve got enough insight to
know that there’s a difference and I want to make sure that we are meeting it. And I’m looking at
these pictures here and when I look at the flowers though on the right left top up there and then
look at the lower one you’re talking about the child can sit on. Then you’ve got some on a stand
so I know they’re different and uniquely the same but at the same time uniquely different but I just
wanted to make sure that we are getting something that’s going fit Augusta, fit Augusta meaning
that we won’t just have a sculpture. We’ll have something that signifying Augusta. Does that
make sense, Brenda?
Ms. Durant: It absolutely does and we made sure as we journeying that we didn’t just jury
an art that was above the price the city had budgeted to buy their first piece from the Sculpture
Trail. And so there are pieces that we can afford to purchase according to our MOU and the budget
of the Sculpture Trail at the end. You mentioned the top left piece with the pink top. That artist
actually did this piece in honor of her mother and sister who had breast cancer and I think a lot of
times the story of the piece makes you love the piece even more. And as I had a sister who
recovered who beat breast cancer that piece talked to me as I saw it come through for the jurying
process. And I think a lot of these pieces have a story with them and sometimes you see art and
you like it or you don’t like it but then you hear the story or meet the artist and it changes how you
feel about it. But that’s an interesting piece and we were happy with the amount of the strength of
our medical community that we had a strong piece that spoke to medicine and recovery.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, thank you, Ms. Durant. I’m sorry you’ve got one more
st,
question, Commissioner from the 1 state your inquiry.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Ms. Durant, at one time we had sculptures of golfers here in Augusta
and they were damaged and had to be moved to a more secure location. Is there any danger of that
happening to the sculptures that we have now?
Ms. Durant: I think the first thought in mind is there’s always a danger of something
happening in any city in the United States to things that are out. But we feel that this being in our
downtown area which is populated, traveled, visited and in plain view that our sculptures will be
very protected that way. And we have found that our public art our murals have really remained
45
undamaged in the past and that’s common for public art to be respected by the community and so
we hope that follows through with the Sculpture Trail.
Mr. Fennoy: Thank you.
Ms. Durant: You’re welcome.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, thank you, Ms. Durant. All right, the Chair will entertain a motion.
Mr. Clarke: Motion to approve.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right a motion and a second, voting.
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.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sia: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
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The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: You’re voting no okay, Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. D. Williams votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 10, okay, Madam Clerk, we’re going to Item No.
43.
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
43. Motion to approve the Augusta-Richmond non-discrimination ordinance. (Requested by
Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.)
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. We have a number of individuals who have been
identified to speak to the proposal today and I want to thank the members of the Commission that
we had an opportunity to speak to them directly related to this matter. This is an important time
for the City of Augusta and our approach this morning will be the following, I’ll share a few words
and then I’m going to call on some individuals to speak to this matter. And then of course we can
take questions and also hear from the members of the Commission as it relates to this. In 2020
this has been an unusual year for all of us. More importantly in the past several years our local
government and Law Enforcement has been engaged in these matters as it relates to discrimination
and worked very diligently to try to move our city forward. With all of the challenges that we’ve
seen in 2020 notwithstanding the global health pandemic but the issues of racial injustice, social
protests that bring us to this most opportune moment for us to have this conversation. Here in the
City of Augusta the Sheriff’s Department, the largest full-service sheriff’s agency in the State of
Georgia in fact, has appointed an LGBTQ Liaison, our own municipal government took broad
steps to appoint a local liaison as well. In 2015 as a city we became an MBK City, My Brother’s
Keeper City and then in coming days we’re hoping to announce another initiative that will help us
to address the uptick in gun violence that we’ve experienced this year alone. And in 2018 the
Augusta Commission saw fit to unanimously pass an expansion of its internal non-discrimination
protections for municipal employees. With all of the work that has been done thus far there’s still
more work to be done. That was made blatantly obvious to us with the most recent HRC, Human
Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index rating of 28 out of 100 for the City of Augusta. There’s
six all across this nation that are scored annually by the Human Rights Campaign and again
Augusta’s score was 28 out of 100. This proposed ordinance is a move in the right direction
because it offers protections and remedies at the local level for populations of the community that
have historically faced discrimination on the basis of their race, their gender, veteran’s status,
gender identity, age, disability, pregnancy status and religion among other things. This is not about
47
adding additional regulations to businesses. In fact I would submit to you that I think that our local
Chamber would agree that the City of Augusta has been extremely supportive of our business
community. But more importantly I want to personally say this I’ve been a staunch and ardent
champion of the business community in the City of Augusta which is consistent with my track
record from the time that I was in the Legislature where I was recognized as one of the Georgia
Chamber of Commerce’s Business Champions. This also is not about declaring our, this is about
declaring our community as a place where we believe without a shadow of doubt that people should
be treated as human beings regardless of who they are. This about letting people know that this
government and this city is inclusive not just inclusive but also diverse and that we are committed
to treating everyone equally across our entire city. I would also add that this speaks to the very
heartbeat of what it is to be One Augusta, a city of opportunity for everyone. On a day where we
will allocate resources to preserve the history of our Jewish Community on a year that we again
have seen significant racial unrest it is only fitting that we in the City of Augusta affirm our belief
that discrimination in any form has no home in the City of Augusta whether we worship in a
synagogue or a church, whether we identify as a man or a woman, whether our hair is naturally
straight or curly, or whether our head is covered by a hijab we in the City of Augusta believe that
is vitally important for us to make sure that all of our residents understand and know that they will
enjoy the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness regardless of who they are, whether you’re old
or young black or white Hispanic or Asian, Jewish, Muslin or Christian or Beihai or Buddhist we
want you to know that you matter in the City of Augusta. This ordinance says that no matter how
we differ in the City of Augusta when you choose to visit us, when you choose to continue your
education at one of our colleges or universities or when you choose to raise a family there in our
city and call this your place of home that when a situation arises and that someone needs a person,
an entity to step in to intervene to make sure that they’re not discriminated against that you will
have a clear avenue for mediation at the local level. Without this ordinance we’re leaving people
left in the balance with only the help of a federal option. I’ll highlight a few things. Contrary to
the popular conversation that’s going on there are no state anti-discrimination laws on the books.
I want to remind everyone that State of Georgia was one of four states in the union that until most
recently in this most recent legislative session did not have anti-crime laws on the books. South
Carolina’s now considering adopting measures as it relates to hate crimes. With this proposal it
would establish and (unintelligible) citizens’ rights and community relations board. While this is
not an oversight or an adjudication committee, this body will serve as the intake point for any
discrimination complaints that are filed. Currently the only external protections outside of local
government and our employees will be federal recourse. Furthermore, this group of citizens of
individuals will be tasked with developing programming in partnership with other civic and
community based organizations that will help us improve relations and bridge divides that have
been persistent and systematic in our community that hopefully will create understanding and
compassion so that we recognize everyone as equal in the City of Augusta. The importance of
passing this ordinance cannot be overstated and while I do understand, and this is a concern that
has been raised but more importantly we raised this ourselves in the Mayor’s office in the
conversations. We recognize that this draft is being presented to you just as that for strong
consideration with the understanding that it would in fact have to go through a second reading.
We also told you early on that pursuant to the rules that the Commission has established that this
was drafted using model legislation from multiple cities as well as multiple entities with the full
understanding that this did not go to the Attorney’s Office though we made efforts to communicate
it to the Attorney. And so to that end today we’ve asked James Minsk, Melvin Ivey, Takea
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Browning and Matthew Duncan to use one or two minutes to speak to this matter in that order and
should they have questions from the members of the Commission will make sure that you get an
opportunity to ask your questions. Okay, joining us today we have Mathew Duncan, James Minsk,
Ms. Takya Browning and we will be awaiting but we’ll hear from them. All right, I’ve got a
question from the Commissioner from the sixth. I’d like to ask him if wouldn’t mind waiting but
if he wants to ask it now I can go ahead and recognize you, Commissioner Hasan ---
Mr. Hasan: No, I can ---
Mr. Mayor: --- (unintelligible) ---
Mr. Hasan: --- I just wanted to make sure (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- okay, okay all right, and with that James ---
Mr. Minsk: I’m ready.
Mr. Mayor: --- go ahead.
Mr. Minsk: All right, okay, thank you to the Mayor and the Richmond County Commission
for allowing me to speak on behalf of this ordinance. I grew up in Greenville, SC where in 1996
an Anti-Gay Ordinance was passed by the county council that was only recently removed thanks
to long time pressure by local activists. I was a teenager then I remember feeling unwelcome and
fearful of what could happen if I stayed there. I moved to Augusta in 2002 gradually feeling
comfortable to come out and eventually joined the Augusta Pride Committee that has held a highly
attended and respected annual festival since 2010. Each year thousands are able to gather to
promote visibility, unity and provide education for the LGBTQA in the CSRA region along with
providing free HIV testing to the public. Pride festivals have long helped with organizational
efforts for LGBTQUA rights including the efforts of this year’s landmark Supreme Court ruling
that you can’t be fired for your sexual orientation or gender identity. I’m thankful that the Mayor’s
ordinance will make the area more welcoming to current and future citizens of Augusta where they
should not hear discrimination in the workplace. I never thought I would be president of a Pride
Organization let alone Augusta’s Pride president as a teenager 25 years ago when the Greenville
ordinance was wrongly issued. I’m proud to be a part of this process to make Augusta more
welcoming for future generations and endorsing the (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, James. Matthew?
Mr. Duncan: Yes, thank you, Mayor and thank you, Commissioners. My name is Matthew
Duncan and thank ya’ll for giving us the opportunity to speak today. I’d like to start by saying
that I am life-long resident of Augusta minus school. I’m an attorney here in Augusta, small
business owner that would fall under the parameters of this ordinance and I am a member of the
LGBTQ plus community. What I’d like to point out particularly having read some of the
information from the Chamber of Commerce is that the concerns about this being implicative I do
not think are very strong concerns that need to be addressed. As the Mayor mentioned we do not
have state protections and the federal protections under the Civil Rights Act were (unintelligible)
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Supreme Court to include LGBT plus community this summer. They only apply to businesses of
a certain size generally 50 or more so there is that gap between one employee and 49. (Inaudible)
in Augusta anywhere in the state where the city didn’t adopt these proposals would not have any
protections from (inaudible) so there’s no, the only duplication would come for those business that
have that threshold already met by the federal government. Now those businesses and the ones
that are members of the Chamber of Commerce they’re already well equipped to deal with this.
The Federal Civil Rights Act applies to them so they’re required to address those concerns in
federal court. So this is not going to create an additional burden for those businesses you to have
to apply this potentially to local in a local forum. For the smaller businesses I would submit
particularly as a small business owner myself that the ordinance does not appear to create an undue
burden particularly when we’re talking about protecting the rights of the citizens of Augusta. You
know the non-discrimination policy will create a forum in Augusta with mediation. It seems like
it’ll be way less burdensome than federal litigation would be and I would think the Chamber of
Commerce and other business owners would welcome the likelihood that cases that don’t meet the
severity of a federal case would have a forum that they could go to that would not be you know
potentially going at the Supreme Court and cause all this litigation and the expenses of federal
litigation. These are places where and I think this ordinance addresses it the severity of the
infraction can be met by the remedy. You know if it’s a small business where there’s unfortunately
some type of discrimination it might be resolved in mediation and the same thing for a large
company. So to the extent that there’s any duplication I would think it would be welcome because
this is a lower more cost effective resolution for all parties. The last thing I would say is that this
is a matter of competition essentially for the best and the brightest in Georgia and around the
country. Savannah has this non-discrimination protections, Atlanta has these non-discrimination
protections. Augusta does not. And as I pointed out the Municipality Equality Index we score
fairly low and this would increase our score and members of all communities want to know that
if they move here that they’re not going to be discriminated against simply because of who they
are. Their economic livelihood will not be at risk and they’ll have some forum outside of an
expensive federal court system where they’ll be able to address those concerns and find relief. So
I do implore the Commission to push this forward. There might be areas that need to be addressed
and modified but Augusta certainly needs this ordinance. I will be pushing for similar protections
for quite some time and like I said as someone who grew up in Augusta and knew he was gay from
a very young age it’s very heartwarming to be at this point with leaders like you. So thank you
and I do urge you to pass this ordinance.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, our next speaker Ms. Takya Browning.
Ms. Browning: Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Takya Browning, good morning
or good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and the Commissioners, James and Matt I am the one of the past
presidents of Augusta Pride. I am the first black woman who happens to be gay to serve in that
seat. And it was my pleasure and I have known some amazing people but we do have issues that
need to be addressed when it comes to the fairness of how we live our life. I tell anybody for
anything that I’ve ever been able to do or have needed to do somebody has had to march and fight
and scream and holler for me to be able to do it. I am a black woman from South Carolina. I am
from Charleston, SC. It is a slave port, my entire family is from there. Everything that I’ve had
to do somebody’s had to fight for me. I don’t think that this ordinance is any different and it’s one
of the reasons why I lend my voice to Augusta Pride and it’s one of the reasons why I’m lending
50
my voice to this ordinance. It is beyond time. It’s 2020 and a lot has happened in 2020 but one
of the things, one of the positive things that needs to happen is the fairness and the diversity for
people who happen to live next door to you or across the street from you. There’s no reason,
absolutely no reason why somebody should be discriminated against simply because of their race,
their color, their creed, their orientation of anything of that nature. There’s no reason. We are
working, we work every day side by side, people just to get a common goal done no reason to
attack what they do at home when they are with their family, their mates and just trying to make
their lives just as good as anybody else or the next person. So I am for the Commission, the
Commissioners to pay attention to the people who live right next door to you, the people who live
across the street from you, the people who don’t happen to live in the same communities as you.
Pay attention to those people because there’s a need and just because we don’t need it every day
doesn’t mean that somebody doesn’t, so thank you very much for listening. Have a great day.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Ms. Browning. I’m going to close out my comments with the
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following and then I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 6 who had his hand up. I want
to thank each of our speakers James, Matthew and Ms. Browning for your comments on today.
The premise behind this again proposed ordinance is extremely timely and important for us as a
community. A community that again as we talk about equity and inclusion across the entire State
of Georgia as one of the co-chairs of GMA’s Equity and Inclusion Task Force and Commission.
What this ordinance proposes is to offer protections and remedies at the local level for populations
of the community that have historically faced discrimination in employment, in housing and public
accommodations on the basis of their race including hair texture and projective styles, religion,
veteran’s status and sex whether that’s pregnancy, sexual orientation or gender identity. This
ordinance proposed is nothing more than a continuation of the unanimously adopted Personnel,
Policies and Procedures Manual that this Commission adopted in 2018. I want to remind everyone
that our presenters today come from our LGBT community of which we want to make sure that
not only do they know that they have equal rights and access in our city but anyone from these
other classes especially when there are no state laws and your only recourse is federal. I want to
remind members of the Commission that there have been two multiple three events that have
happened recently here in the City of Augusta. Most recently we had the murder of a individual
that we commonly refer to as Felicia in the community. Subsequent to that we had another member
of the LGBT community who was killed Wynan Scott Apena. And then last year in 2019, 2019 a
woman here in the City of Augusta filed a discrimination complaint because she was from the
Muslim community and she had on her hijab. This is not new in the City of Augusta and for our
local chamber to suggest that this is duplicative, it’s onerous that this is not good for businesses
might I not submit to you that this is how cities move forward. This is not only how cities move
forward but this is how you create an inclusive community that is representative of diverse people
from all walks of life and that’s where we want to be in the City of Augusta. And so with that I’m
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going to pause here and go to the Commissioner from the 6, Commissioner Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and to all the presenters it was an honor and a pleasure
to hear your concerns about your personal well-being and well-being of persons of any other
potential discrimination. I empathize with you. As the Mayor just mentioned Felicia, Felicia is
one who was related to me by marriage so I’m very well aware of that, from a religious perspective
I familiar of what that looks like being discriminated against based on religion. So my concern
today has nothing to do with any of those things. It concerns about how we operate internally as
51
a government that’s clearly I want you to understand that. This has nothing to do about anything
you all have said today. It’s more about our internal operations from a governmental perspective.
Mr. Mayor, as you know we had this conversation with yourself and the young man, Mr. Naeem
called me about Felicia and I shared those concerns and those concerns are not necessarily in this
order but those concerns that I asked you had the Law Department looked at this in terms of what
you were presenting and your response was no, you’re the Law Department and I think the other
young man, I forget his name, they have chosen not to look at it. And as you know (unintelligible)
so that was that. I’ll get back to her the realization of that. Another thing I asked you is that the
business community I think it’s unfair for the business community and the public at large to put
this (inaudible) we done had a public discussion about this to get to a better place for businesses
in particular can understand what are some of the consequences that they could face for potential
discrimination. I asked you about that as well. The other thing I asked you what was what expertise
would these nine persons have to be discerned to be able to determine when persons had been
discriminated against. Also I asked you I think I might have mentioned to you also I asked you
had Ms. Irving done something similar but as you made mention that was more internal than it was
external that we’re talking about today across the city. But from an ordinance perspective, Mr.
Mayor, the reason why I think and I didn’t say that today but it has come to my attention my
attention my thought process that is is because the Attorney the Law Department realized the
policy that we passed in ’15 or ’16 probably would’ve been ’15 in terms do we want to take on
actions like this the Commission made a decision first are we going to take this action on and then
we come back and then the ordinance is drafted. The Mayor’s Office are extracting the ordinance
from another jurisdiction is not sufficient as from Augusta until our Law Department looks at it
and may lay it down just as it is so it’s unfair to us until we go through that process, Mr. Mayor,
and that’s what we don’t want to start going down that way. I think the real concern about that is
something you mentioned in your earlier part of your presentation is that in the future you’re going
to bring something else and we probably had not looked at it. I can’t remember exactly what you
said that’s going to look like but from the way we do business internally, Mr. Mayor, the Law
Department has not seen it, it’s an ordinance we did not draft and has not said okay that’ll go. The
nine persons there and also the public the business persons and all have not an opportunity to look
at this and weigh in on this, Mr. Mayor, and I think it’s unfair at this time, it’s premature at this
time even though I support fully but we need to get it done right or do it right. Thank you, Mr.
Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: No, thank you, Commissioner Hasan, and I appreciate that. The three
questions that you posed we addressed them head on and we were very clear with you that the Law
Department chose not to look at what we drafted and they did that in concert with your statement
that in 2016 the Augusta Commission adopted the Hardy Rules and that is where again instead of
us being a policy making at a legislative body you’ve got to have a conversation first before you
would even consider drafting or adopting something. A perfect example of that is what happened
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just a moment ago. The Commissioner from the 4 wanted to recognize in some formal way the
efforts of our Board of Elections but because of the adoption of the Hardy Rules of where you
can’t draft legislation for consideration and for discussion until you have six members of the
Commission agree to it he had to come today when the reality of it is he should’ve been able to
bring a draft to the table for debate and consideration but that didn’t happen. And so now we’re
going to take another two weeks in fact not even two weeks it’s going to happen next year because
we won’t meet again of where you’ll have a Resolution of Commendation for the Board of
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Elections. So I would just submit to you that you are spot on and I again don’t have any problem
with us having the Law Department go through that so let’s agree on that that’s number one, I
fundamentally agree on that if that is the approach that was taken but that’s why because we’ve
said we will operate a function as a legislative or policy making body. Those others matters again
---
Mr. Hasan: That doesn’t say that (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- to the point about the nine members, they’re not an adjudicating body.
They are a hearing and the goal is as you heard even Matthew Duncan say to be the first line of
the defense so that you’re not going and having to go EEOC and subsequently end up with federal
courts, law suits and things like that. And I think that’s important for us as a community to begin
addressing this moving forward as a community that is inclusive in nature. And so again I
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appreciate your comments. Commissioner from the 4 and then the 9.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. My concern is a little bit in line with the Commissioner from
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the 6 but not entirely. I had a conversation with you about this and I could be wrong but I’m
going to put this piece in was it going to be a policy? Notwithstanding but if for the ordinance we
have a process for that and you mentioned about the 3PM and as you know we have a Policy and
Procedure Subcommittee that’s been working on those things and for me (inaudible) this ordinance
a request to start this ordinance could’ve started with the Policy and Procedures Subcommittee and
we would’ve went through the same procedure or we could’ve started with whatever the request
to do an ordinance. And I don’t have a problem with supporting an anti-discrimination ordinance
or something to that effect to ensure that everyone is treated fairly but also I think our process
should be treated fairly. We as a body have adopted a policy that I know that not everyone in the
government agreed with but whether you agree with it or not you can’t go around it. And so the
bottom line I commend the law enforcement for standing up and following the policy and
procedures that this governing body has adopted. And so when we do it the way we’ve done it
broad support both from the governing body, the community businesses and everything I think it
can be attained. There are some things that may need to be tweaked, some things that need to be
concerned to folks but at this point none of that has had an opportunity to come to the table. So I
really think we need to I don’t want to say go back to the drawing board but we need to go back
to the process that we’ve established (unintelligible) to the full Commission to get a full
understanding the full meaning of this and an understanding of the ramifications for the future.
As you yourself stated this is extremely important. You didn’t use the word historic but you went
through some historical timeframes so absolutely it’s very important. So I think we need to do it
right and right now at this point I don’t see it as a process of being quite right so thank you for
allowing me to my comments, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, absolutely and again I appreciate the civility of this conversation. I’m
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going to go to the Commissioner from the 9 but let me remind ya’ll of what your policy says.
And we don’t have to couch it I thought it was a terrible idea then and I think it’s equally a terrible
idea now especially when it comes to the legislative process but your policy says that no one, that
the Law Department has to get approval to draft it, that’s what your policy says that you have to
have six votes for the Law Department to begin drafting an ordinance. It does not say that no one
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else can draft an ordinance for consideration. It says the Law Department that is the process, okay?
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All right, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m a stickler for the rules and I call myself
studying them real hard but you first of all you came to me we talked about it and I was in
agreement with this ordinance. I support the LGBT community as well. And I know about
discrimination. I’ve been discriminated against as much as anybody. I know it’s alive and well but
I don’t want to change the process of what we do now it takes six votes to instruct the Law
Department. I can’t instruct the Law Department to write an ordinance and neither can the Mayor.
It takes six votes and the process is what the process is. I’m in support, I’m 100% in support and
I wish there was something that we could do about the complexion of your skin because more
people have been discriminated by the complexion of the skin than their sexual orientation and it’s
still happening today even with Columbia County talking about what it’s talking about with the
new DA. Now we’re not going to talk about but that all that fits right in this same stuff. So when
the black democrat won the election and the white republican lost now everything’s going to
change. That’s discrimination, man. So I’m in support of trying to do what we need to do and I
think the community knows I’ve been in support of them. I met with them and they strongly know
I going to stand for what I believe is right. So all I think we need to do is direct the Attorney to
look at this. I asked you a question when we met, Mr. Mayor, are other cities doing it? Does it
meet the guidelines of the law? It shouldn’t be so hard either. But I can’t tell the Attorney to do
it and you can’t tell the Attorney to do it. We’ve got to go by the process, those are the rules of
this Commission. So what we need to do today I think is direct our Attorney to look at this and
bring it back to us and give us the pros and cons and we ought to vote it up or vote it down. Now
we won’t have another meeting because the Commission decided and I didn’t decide it but it
shortened the month up because of the holiday we won’t meet no more. We’re still working, we’re
still elected to the end of the year but we some smart fool got smart and said we don’t need to meet
no more for the rest of the year. We hadn’t been meeting with the epidemic anyway unless we do
it like we’re doing it today. So there’s some issues here and I think this community needs to know
that we’re behind them we support them we’re not, I am not going to tolerate any discrimination
that I can stop or talk about or bring up and let people do what they want to do and treat people
any kind of way. That’s not going to happen on my watch. So I think the next thing to do, Mr.
Mayor, for us to send it to the Attorney and give him the authorization through six votes whether
it be a letter, whether it be six yeses or six no’s or whatever it is but we can’t give him the authority
through the process that we’re supposed to be following as elected officials that we have not been
following. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner, I really appreciate that and I like your passion. I
thought for a minute there you were about to say some come by (unintelligible) some by water
(inaudible) ---
Mr. M. Williams: No, no (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- but let me ask you this. You were passionate about it and again you were
very clear that you’re not going to tolerate discrimination in this city, you said the Commissioner
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from the 6 said it, the Commissioner from the 4 said it so again I think then if it pleases the
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Commission the Chair will entertain a motion to direct the Attorney to draft legislation around the
non-discrimination ordinance.
Mr. Sias: And one other thing as well ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
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Mr. Sias: --- this motion should also include as what my colleague from the 6 mentioned
we need to have some kind of input from the community or have them an opportunity to weigh in
on this whether it’s whatever process we use to bring it back from the Attorney so that when we
do this when we get this done get it done right whether everybody agrees or not that’s one thing
but if we know we did it right and everybody had their chance to say what they need to say then I
will feel comfortable voting one way or the other on it to say because definitely I don’t support
discrimination but also I think we need to make sure that we are fair to everybody in this
community. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah and ---
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, don’t we have a second reading? If anybody’s got any
problem (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- absolutely.
Mr. M. Williams: We don’t bring the public in to see what they think about it. We put
something out there and then we have a second reading. If there’s an opposer they can come in
and voice their opinion then, right?
Mr. Hasan: No, this is a public conversation.
Mr. Mayor: Let’s pause for a moment because right now what’s in front of us is simply
there is a motion to direct the Attorney to begin drafting an ordinance. During the debate process
that is when the public gets an opportunity to weigh in; that is what historically we have done. We
did the same thing with the Smoke Free Augusta Ordinance as well. We gave the public the
opportunity to weigh in during that period of time ---
Mr. Sias: That’s all I’m talking about (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- so it’s not anything new. Did we get a second for that? We had a motion,
did we get a second for that?
Mr. Fennoy: I’ll second it.
Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Hasan: I make a substitute motion ---
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Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on, everybody, hold on. I’m going to go to the Commissioner
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from the 6, state your inquiry, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to arrange that we have a public meeting so the public can
weigh in on this public business in particular because that’s who’s we have something internal.
This is an external document across the city and at that particular time the public weighs in on it
then the Attorney’s authorized to draft, again to look at the document in the meantime, see what
our options are in the meantime and then officially draft the ordinance once we see fit to move
forward.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hasan, that’s inconsistent with the process. We either direct
the Attorney to draft an ordinance or not and then bring it back to us. At that point if you want to
have the public conversation you certainly can. I think where we are right now is that there’s
already a public conversation going on and the contention before us is that “the process will
follow” ---
Mr. Hasan: Well, let me say this.
Mr. Mayor: --- then the Attorney draft it.
Mr. Hasan: Let me say it this way then. If you want the Attorney to draft something then
you draft it, you post it for the public to see it first and then we start to take a vote and we bring it
back. We’re going to vote it initially for the public to look at it, to weigh in on it and then we start
the voting process at our next meeting. The public should weigh in before we start wasting our
time, Mr. Mayor. This is a public document here; this is not an internal document.
Mr. Mayor: Every ordinance that we adopt has opportunity for the public to debate whether
it’s liquor licenses, whether it’s housing ---
Mr. Hasan: That’s my motion, Mr. Mayor, that’s my motion.
Mr. Mayor: --- it doesn’t matter, excuse me, that wasn’t included in the Commissioner’s
that would be a substitute that you’re talking about.
Mr. Hasan: I made a substitute motion.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, sorry, I didn’t get who made the original motion and I didn’t get
that.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Sias made the original motion and Fennoy second.
Mr. Hasan: Well, Mr. Sias got tied to his that you have a public conversation.
Mr. Mayor: And the public conversation is always after you drafted something for the
public to look at and discuss it. You haven’t even taken a vote at that point. We did the exact same
thing with the Augusta Smoke Free Ordinance process ---
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Mr. Hasan: Well I just ---
Mr. Mayor: --- this is just that’s not the case. We took however many months for that to
happen.
Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Mayor, I don’t have a problem, I just said I don’t have a problem if you
draft the document but we don’t vote it, the document then it’s presented to the public and start a
public conversation then we come back and vote on it, I don’t have a problem with that.
Mr. Mayor: I don’t have, okay so what are we talking about now then? I mean the original,
you don’t need a substitute then obviously you vote on the main motion and that is to have the
Attorney draft the doggone thing ---
Mr. Hasan: No, that is not (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: --- now we’re voting on it.
Mr. Hasan: --- that’s not true.
Mr. Sias: That’s not all I said. Let me restate this motion loud and clear. I move that we
send this to the Attorney for review for construction and review and then we have public
hearing on it as the Mayor has said very similar to the smoke ordinance and wasn’t requiring a
vote. That was a hearing where we allow the public to come in and do input; that was more than
once. So when we get the document, we get the ordinance constructed, we allow the public
comment to come in and then we do whatever revisions. We made revisions on the Smoke
Ordinance during public hearings, so that’s my motion have the Attorney draft the ordinance
and then we have a public hearing.
Mr. Hasan: Second, I second it.
Mr. Fennoy: I still second that, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Fantastic, all right, Madam Clerk, you got that?
The Clerk: I got it.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, voting, I’m sorry, Commissioner from the 1 has a Point of Personal
Privilege.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I support this ordinance and I’m against discrimination in any
form or fashion but as a Commissioner in District 1 I think a lot of times people get discriminated
against because of the zip code. I cannot begin to tell you how many times when there’s an issue
in District 1 when one of my constituents would say if I lived on Walton Way up end of Walton
Way we wouldn’t have this problem or if I lived in another part of the city we wouldn’t have this
problem. And even though that may not be true that’s the perception that the people in District 1
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and district two have. If you look at the blight that exists in District 1 and District 2 you see it
(inaudible) to that degree in any other parts of the city. And a lot of people believe that the reason
it’s the way it is is because of where they live. Again I will, but I probably won’t be here to vote
on it unless I change my mind about coming out of office but I think that, all right, let’s vote.
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Mr. Mayor: We got it, we got it, we got it, Commissioner from the 1 we got it, we got it.
Madam Clerk, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Are we voting on the substitute motion?
The Clerk: We didn’t have a substitute.
Mr. Mayor: There is no substitute.
Mr. Hasan: There’s no substitute.
Mr. Mayor: Right.
The Clerk: This motion is to direct the Attorney to draft a non-discrimination ordinance,
hold a public hearing then be reviewed by the Commission, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Did you hear him, sir?
Mr. Mayor: He said yes.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Clarke yes, Ms. Davis she’s out, Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
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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 out.
Motion Passes 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you and we’re going to ask our guests they can exit now, Mr.
Duncan, Ms. Browning, thank you, Mr. James, thank you so much. All right, thank ya’ll, Madam
Clerk, back to the top.
The Clerk: We’re at Item No. 18 I believe.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, no, we’re at 14 and 15.
The Clerk: Well, we didn’t do 19.
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Mr. Mayor: 14 and 15 the Commissioner from the 9 objected to those and the
Administrator was going to speak to those.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Donald: Yes, Mayor, and ---
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, Mr. Administrator.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
14. Motion to approve HCD’s Laney Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Project contract
procedural process relative to the authorization of Agreements/Contracts/Task Orders for
the first quarter of calendar year 2021. (Deferred from the November 2, 2020 meeting)
15. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
contract between HCD and J. Lovett Homes & Construction, LLC to construct one (1)
workforce single family housing unit identified as 1518 Twiggs Street.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Commissioner from the 9 for a question.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to hear about Laney
Walker/Bethlehem Revitalization Program. It kind of bothers me now as I rode through Twiggs
Street Item 15 and saw the construction of the houses being built across the street from the last
stuff we built. And my question is what are we doing? I want someone from Housing and
Development just to help me out from what we built across the street and what it looks like being
built because it’s not finished, Mr. Mayor, it’s just totally different. And I’m just I just need some
update on that so can Mr. Welcher or somebody help me understand are we building ---
Mr. Mayor: Administrator Donald’s going to answer those questions for you ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- Administrator Donald.
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir, so right now the request that is up is for the construction of that one
workforce house that’s for sale on the Twiggs Street corridor. So this is one of 28 units that either
for sale or under construction and all of the proceeds although we’re asking to fund the construction
of this home all of the proceeds from the home will come back to the City of Augusta. I think part
of some of the confusion is that the Commission actually approves the overall plan and then each
part of the activity comes back before you and so this is just one of the homes that’s being
developed in that corridor.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, Mr. Donald, it’s not necessarily the finances I’m talking about
now though I’m talking about the type structure, and we do approve it, we approve those things
but when I saw the construction compared to what we built across the street compared to what
we’re building now I mean I’ve got some issues with that. I mean the stuff that they’re building
now the first one that I see is really and I don’t know how to describe it because I don’t know how
---
Mr. Donald: Are you saying that the concept in construction is not in line with the rest of
the homes on that street?
Mr. M. Williams: Exactly. The homes on the street on the other side of the street is just
totally different. How do we expect as a government now not just the houses directly but we
expect people to move into an area when you’re going to be buying on one side and renting on
another side? That’s like we had a thing they wanted to put mixed-use income. Mixed-use income
don’t work in my mind now. You’ve got somebody living in a lower to moderate income
apartment then somebody else is paying high rate rent and the lower income properties down there
where people are not being responsible tear down everything else. So we done put good money
across the street. Now we’re coming back building what I saw the other day when I went through
there we setting them up to fail in my opinion, Mr. Donald. Now you and me hadn’t been down
there personally but you need to we need as a city to look at what we’re building and what we’re
trying to get people to do. You have a rental across the street with a car parked on the grass and
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I’m buying a house next door on the other side of the street. That’s a recipe for failure. I got a
problem when we don’t take care of the people no more better than that. I mean it’s been approved
and it’s going to pass and I can’t stop it now it’s already started construction but something just
don’t add up. I’m in the wrong (inaudible).
Mr. Donald: I wouldn’t disagree with you on that topic but I would add a caveat and, Jeff,
if you can you can patch Director Welcher in so he could also give some comments I think he’s
interested in joining. But, Commissioner, what I would say is when you look at the city’s
investment I think that the Commission looked at it holistically and so the properties that are owned
by the city adding a level of investment and kind of raising the bar in that community. You know
you also passed that expectation and those requirements on to the renters in that community so
allowing it to remain in the state that it is and adding those strong structures like the one you’re
seeing built but then also leveraging the city everything from code enforcement, enforcing our
requirements and then demanding a higher level of renter in that community and not so much
income level but responsibility is something that the city is focused on. And so I definitely agree
with you that we’ve got to hold folks accountable and make sure they step their game up to make
the city’s investment a lot stronger but we’re doing both and I think that investment in a house you
know helps to jumpstart it.
Mr. M. Williams: Well and I agree. Holding people accountable, Mr. Donald, is one thing
but you’ve got to give them a little bit more and I don’t mean give them I’m talking about you
provide with them, you provide for them a little bit better quality than what they had you put them
back in the same type situation although it’s new. There’s some areas me and you got to ride, I’m
here until December 31. There’s some situations in South Augusta out there that I wouldn’t let
my German Shepherd stay out there and we allow people to build probably 200 homes out there
and they’re so big you can reach out the window and touch the next house. That’s a recipe for
failure. We’re putting people in the same condition there’s another person because the old people
done died on and in another ten years there’s going to be another dilapidated rundown situation.
So I don’t need Mr. Welcher, I don’t need Mr. Welcher. I just wanted to bring that point because
I rode by there and I saw what was on one side it looked very nice and on the opposite side I said
this is what they’re going to put, I wouldn’t buy that house. I wouldn’t want to stay there with
somebody across the street even though it’s kind of bringing the community up but at the same
time you look at who’s going to stay there? How long are they going to stay there? Just as they
get their feet on the ground then they’re going to leave it to somebody else then we’re going to
have to rent it out. So if we’re going to fix it, let’s fix it. Let’s don’t patch it, let’s fix it.
Mr. Donald: Understood. That’s a fair point fully received.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Am I muted Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: We hear you loud and clear, sir.
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Mr. Fennoy: Okay, you know if you ride up Pine Street you have houses that sold from
$150 to $240,000 dollars but also on Pine Street you have people that are renting in duplexes. If
you go to the end of Pine Street on Florence you’ll see a number of renters on Pine Street and they
have done, the renters have complimented the homeowners on Pine Street. I don’t totally agree
with Commissioner Williams and I don’t totally disagree with Commissioner Williams but Pine
Street is a good example of where renters and homeowners can complement each other and coexist.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I’m going to make a motion to approve this but first I want to
make this comment. When we I listened to Director Welcher get jumped all over about
displacement about going in these areas the Laney Walker area and so forth for building houses
that folks couldn’t afford to come back to there. Well, I think he’s done a pretty good job of trying
to accommodate both building new homes, high marketplace homes and low marketplace homes
and workforce houses. So but when we do that you know we get blasted again so we need to
understand what we’re asking for. And I think he’s done a very good job over there in mixing up
rental enough for rental housing and enough of workforce and marketplace so I move to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, hold it, I can’t let this go now.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 9 ---
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir ---
Mr. Mayor: --- go ahead, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- if Mr. Welcher was building them same kind of houses in Jamestown
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the Commissioner from the 4 wouldn’t be saying that now, if he’s doing the same thing he’s
doing now in the inner city in Jamestown out there in South Augusta he wouldn’t be saying that.
I’m not opposed to Mr. Welcher, I’m not saying he’s not doing a good job but there’s some stuff
you got to bring people up from. You can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results
and all we’re doing is building a modern day. It ain’t nothing like they got on Pine Street out there
in South Augusta. I ain’t talking about the Pine Street, I’m talking about the inner city.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’ve go a motion and a second to approve. Voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis, Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
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The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes.
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: No, ma’am.
Mr. Fennoy: I got a yes, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Thank you, sir.
Ms. Davis out.
Mr. M. Williams votes No.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next item.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
18. Motion to approve: A. Change the title of the Information Technology Director to the
Chief Information Officer. B. Change the title of the Deputy Director of Infrastructure &
Communication to the Deputy CIO of Infrastructure & Communication. C. Change the title
of Deputy Director of Business Application Services to Deputy CIO of Business Application
Services. D. Discuss a salary increase for the DIT and DDI&C of 10%. E. Discuss a salary
increase of 5% for the DDBAS. (Requested by Commissioner Brandon Garrett)
The Clerk: Okay, that would take us to Item 19, Item 18 was disposed of in our Special
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Called meeting on the 1 of December.
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
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The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
19. Motion to approve the erection of a Memorial Wall at River Walk in honor of Augustans
who lost their lives to COVID-19. (Requested by Commissioner Bill Fennoy)
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I want to modify that motion for a memorial plaque to
honor those that have lost their lives through COVID-19 to be placed on the River and the
names of the people that would be on the ---
The Clerk: The plaque?
Mr. Fennoy: --- the plaque, right.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Okay, I’ll vote for the plaque, 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: No, 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.
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Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams, we lost him, okay, how are you voting?
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Thank you, Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Ms. Davis out.
Mr. Garrett votes No.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, next item.
The Clerk: That would be item number, are you going to do SPLOST list now, sir, or are
you going to do ---
Mr. Mayor: We’re going to come back to that. That’ll be one of the last things we do.
The Clerk: --- okay, Item Number 28 and I think we had a companion item of 33 for
Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct, 28 and 33.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
28. Motion to approve the installation of 16 street lights along D’Antignac Street between
Walton Way and R.A. Dent Blvd with an upfront construction cost of $150,000 and an
annual cost of $8,570.88. Construction funding is available in Street Lighting Upgrades
SPLOST VI account and ongoing operation and maintenance in annual street lighting
budget. Requested by AED.
33. Motion to approve award of Street Light Poles & Fixtures Annual Contract to Graybar
Electric Company. Bid Item #21-037. The estimated annual cost is $75,000.00. Award is
contingent upon receipt of signed contracts and required insurance documents. Requested
by AED.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you. I actually have a question for the Engineering Director if that’s
okay.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, I don’t have, Jeff, can you bring him into the queue? Mr.
Ussery, can you silence your You Tube? Okay, go ahead, Commissioner Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: You know as we continue to go through approving new street lights that are
being rolled out throughout the city and the cost associated with those and with all of us working
through the budget and seeing the shortfall that we have in our streetlight program one of the
questions that continually comes to mind is what is cost difference of installing solar streetlights
instead of adding more and more to the grid, that way we’re not adding further cost?
Mr. Ussery: That’s a good question. We have recently purchased (inaudible) solar lights
from a company who provide solar lights and they have a good look to them and they match a lot
of what we already have installed especially downtown. And we’re going to put those up after the
first of the year and test them out and see what, we’ll go see how they work basically. For these
two items in particular D’Antignac Street is the street that goes in front of University Hospital, or
you know that but those lights are old, the system hasn’t worked in a long time and that was one
of Commissioner Fennoy’s requests that we try to get all the lights around the hospital working.
And so we’ve already taken care of several of the streets and D’Antignac is one that we
(unintelligible). And then also the other item is just an on call contract to allow us to easier
purchase the materials we need to maintain the system but we are testing solar lights to see how
they work compared to a standard light to see if that’s a direction we want to move.
Dr. Malik: I’d like to add to that actually we have Wrightsboro Road project, it’s under
design (unintelligible) that project we will include solar lights as a pilot project to study the cost
and maintenance costs and savings so that is actually full length project around 185 lights that is
also under design right now.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, next up, Commissioner Clarke then Commissioner
Fennoy.
Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. I was just going to ask where they were going to
be tested out because Commissioner Garrett and I have been pushing for solar lights for quite some
time now and think that it would probably go you know because of the yearly cost of the fee that
it would be more economical if we could even you know consider maybe after we’re testing these
and they prove to be successful that we start installing them pretty much everywhere and especially
in new communities being built and therefore we would you know get away from the streetlight
fee that we keep going in the hole with every year. It would just be a replenishment instead of a
fee. So it’s good to hear that we’re moving forward with solar lighting so that just that I would
like to say thank you.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commissioner Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, I just want to say that I’ve been working with Mr. Ussery for the past
couple of years to get those lights on D’Antignac replaced. They don’t work and when daylight
saving time goes into effect it is pitch black dark. And you have a lot of employees that got to
walk across the street or you’ve got a lot of hospital visitors that park on the other side and walk
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across the street to the hospital. To brighten up that area will make it a whole lot safer for the
employees and the visitors that cross D’Antignac Street.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Yes sir, Commissioner Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, I hope Engineering is considering the
maintenance of these trees. We’ve got streetlights up but the trees blocking the light. It makes no
sense to have these lights that’s coming on whether it be D’Antignac and other streets but I hope
Engineering is, Mr. Ussery is looking at when they put these lights up whether or not they are
putting off the light that we need because of the overgrown vegetation for the trees in the area.
And I guess he can answer if that’s been addressed.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: Thank you move to approve.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Got a motion and a second from Commissioner Garrett. Any other
discussion? All right, Ms. Bonner, to the vote please.
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, he’s muted, sir.
Mr. Garrett: Yes. I just want to say thank you to Mr. Ussery and Dr. Malik for you know
moving forward with implementing solar.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
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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.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Next agenda item, Ms. Bonner.
The Clerk: Okay, I think, sir, that would take us to item, the Administrator Item 37.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay.
ADMINISTRATOR
37. 1. Administrator’s Report.
2. 2021 Meeting Agenda.
Mr. Donald: Yes, this item was very, very quick. Just wanted to highlight to the
Commission that you know we’ve got a lot of different I guess weekly updates and different things
that have come out that aren’t as robust with the information of the activities that are coming to
the city. And so just a notification that to replace that similar as to administrators and managers
in other cities on the last meeting of the month we’ll provide a full and robust administrative report
as a submission to the Mayor and Commission, an example of which will be provided by end of
week after I’ve had an opportunity to coordinate with all of the directors. I think secondly as a
part of that we want to start providing a clearer report on the impact of the Coronavirus on our
operations and so we’ll start updating you on those activities related to number of positive cases
impact on operations as well as how we responded any financial impact that goes along with that.
And I’ve worked with the Clerk, we’ve had a conversation with the Clerk of the Commission just
highlighting that and she’s already talked about that that you have the 2021 meeting agenda. We
want to just make sure that we include as you make the decisions on your January meeting the
impacts of SPLOST 8 and executing that agreement, so that is all for Item Number 37.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, we’ll receive that as information. Next agenda item, Ms.
Bonner.
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The Clerk: Yes, sir that would be, are we going to do the SPLOST now, Mr. Mayor Pro
Tem, or are we going to do those after we complete the agenda?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can we take 38 as its own entity?
The Clerk: We can.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATOR
38. Motion to approve the Intergovernmental sales tax agreement between Augusta and the
cities of Blythe and Hephzibah for the distribution of Special Purpose Local Option Sales
Taxes (SPLOST) generated from the SPLOST phase 8 referendum. Authorize the Mayor to
execute the approved agreement.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Administrator Donald, if you could speak to this real fast on the
totals and then maybe the discussion.
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir, so as we discussed previously the overall cost or the overall
allocation based on population was a little bit under $6 million dollars. After having consultation
with all three Mayors as well as bringing information back to the Augusta Commission the
numbers were up to about $9 million dollars, $7 and a half million as allocated to Hephzibah with
$1.5 million going to Blythe and that would be a part of the overall $250 million dollars allocation.
And I believe that each of those entities approved that last week on their behalf and they’re just
waiting for the Commission to authorize it.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
Mr. Garrett: Second.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Got a motion and a second any further discussion, all right, Ms.
Bonner, if we could please vote.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy, he’s out, Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
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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 Mr. Fennoy out ---
Mr. Fennoy: Yes for Mr. Fennoy.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: All right, turn it back over to Mayor Davis.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem. Madam Clerk, I think we’ve got a few more
items before we get to SPLOST conversation which I hoping that we can move as expeditiously if
possible. I think I owe the Mayor Pro Tem lunch in light of a broad conversation we had about
our timing today. Clearly I was wrong; we’re not moving as fast as I thought we would have. So
let’s take up, let’s take up, let’s take up Item Number 41.
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
41. Discuss proposal for small business relief program for licenses and fees for the 2021
calendar year. (Requested by Mayor Pro Tem Frantom)
Mr. Mayor: All right, the Chair recognizes the Mayor Pro Tem.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and I’m going to ask Administrator Donald
in just a second to kind of chime in because he worked hard on this and I appreciate that. As we
know businesses really suffered starting in March with the pandemic and everything that would
happen and we talked about this back in March as body we would do something to help these
businesses as much as we can. We’re about to lose two restaurants downtown just because of the
times they’re not going to be able to make it, two of the better ones down there. And you know
we talked about what can we do to help and as the Administrator I’ll let him kind of go through
this in a second but for me I think it's vital that we look at reducing the admin fee to all businesses
with either a 15 to 25% reduction. I actually think a 15% reduction with a two-year aspect because
we know that the first quarter is not going to be the same as they are currently in the country.
When we approved the budget we talked about the $1.4 million Cares Act money possibly to help
with discounts to some of these businesses as well but I think we need to revisit that conversation.
That might not be in the Administrator’s recommendation. But I think we owe it to this community
to really have that deep conversation because you know people are hurting, people have reached
out to every one of us I’m sure about this as well as the extension of deadlines. Some of the
stth.
deadlines being extended out whether that’s the alcohol to March 1 and the business to June 30
That would just be an easy thing for us to do to help kind burden the pain of not being able to have
the revenue coming in currently. As far as the alcohol we’d have to submit a letter to those
businesses letting them know that they don’t have their license for the new year but they have a
letter kind of showing it. And I just think that like from a standpoint of the admin fee it’s just not
enough. I think that we have an opportunity to help and the admin fee on the business licenses and
the alcohol licenses will help. And I still say we ought to look at a little bit more reductions to
business licenses across the board not just alcohol licenses, Commissioner Marion Williams, we
talked about that. Everybody needs the help and if we can support these businesses with the Cares
Act money to kind of back bill I think we need to look at that. But I’d kind of just like to turn it
over to Administrator Donald to kind of go through what he’s proposing not because I think it’s a
great start but I think as a Commission we’ve got to look at it holistically and try to help as much
as we can.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem and I think we’ve got some questions before if,
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all right, the Commissioner from the 10 state your inquiry.
Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I am absolutely in favor of helping our small
homegrown businesses with everything and in any way we can but I do have a question as to it’s
going to be kind of, how are we going to do it across the board and you have giant corporations
like Walmart, the convenience stores are never missed a beat, did not lock their doors, did not miss
a dollar on because of COVID-19. Are we going to give them the same break as we’re trying to
give our small businesses and our small restaurants and our homegrown people who are totally
vested their money, their personal money in our businesses? I want to help them but how are we
going to be able to separate our homegrown businesses from the corporate businesses? How are
we going to be able to do that without a backlash?
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner from the 10 I’m going to mention something and
then I’m going to recognize the Administrator. And when we first started the conversation about
small business relief there was a one-page set guidelines that clearly articulated who qualified as
a small business. That would’ve addressed the issues associated with your big box retailers and
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would’ve gave you clear direction about how to navigate through that. And I would submit that
everyone should go back to that document that has really clear and specific guidelines about small
businesses. It also is consistent with what had been used in other communities Atlanta, Athens,
Savannah, DeKalb in terms of how they tried to meet the needs of their local small business
community and not necessarily the big box retailers. So that’s what I would offer and I’m coming
to you now, Administrator Donald.
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir. Well Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, Commission, thank you for the
opportunity to have this discussion. I think the Mayor Pro Tem mentioned that you know right on
par and Commissioner Clarke you know also hit some of those concerns. So I would call this you
know step one of addressing small business relief which is solely focused on the alcohol and
businesses licenses but both to the public and to the Commission I think that the will of the
Commission has been to insure that this is a continuous process that we continue to evaluate just
like we’re continuing to evaluate the pandemic as a whole. And so step one when looking at
st
alcohol licenses and business licenses it would be in the alcohol timeframe to 3 1 March 1 of
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2021 and then for business licenses it would be to extend it through June 30 to effective July 1,
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and I’m sorry it would be through February 28 for alcohol licenses which of course again makes
it effective on March 1. In addition to that you would waive all fees and penalties during that
timeframe and specific to business licenses you would reduce the administrative fees by 15% for
a two-year period because we expect those businesses to not only incur losses in ‘20 and ‘21 but
they’ll also be negatively impacted in ‘22 so making that a two-year reduction would provide a
benefit. In addition to that our partners at the Convention & Visitors Bureau and I think it would’ve
been discussed separately on the Addendum Agenda but there was a notion to provide a waiver to
the Convention & Visitors Bureau to actually waive their fee for the license for this upcoming year
because remember they don’t actually profit from the sale of alcohol but are required by state law
to have a license and so it would be actually waiving their license fee to give them that relief in
this year and still allow them to provide that needed service in the few events that they’ll be able
to have. That is the actual proposal for today but as the Mayor Pro Tem mentioned you also have
an opportunity to look at your small business offerings that are funded through HUD. I think
you’ve done rental relief and emergency hotel stays and things of that nature. It is our intent to
bring a proposal back to you for the first meeting in January and it would focus on adjusting some
of the things that HUD allows you to do. So right now for small business I think you’ve only
allowed it for businesses that are ten persons or fewer but the actual federal definition of small
business allows you to do it to up to 500 employees, I would not proposing that but if you increase
that threshold you’d be able to do tiered approach where maybe for a smaller businesses where
you can serve more of them you kept that number at 10 to 15 but then you also didn’t miss the
“Mom & Pop’s” that might have 25 to 30 employees but are still getting hit and need you know
access to those funds. Right now only about 35% of those funds have been utilized and so making
those adjustments in January would allow you to serve more businesses. So we plan to have a
conversation with the Chamber of Commerce, the Augusta Black Chamber and others before
bringing that proposal back but I think holistically it would really provide great support to
businesses. And so again Phase 1 would just be addressing alcohol licenses as well as businesses
licenses in the manor of extending and waiving the fees and then reducing the administrative fees
by 15% for two years.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Administrator Donald. Commissioner from the 8.
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Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate the conversation that we’re having and thank
you, Administrator, for bringing this recommendation forward as well. I had an opportunity to sit
and speak with members of the Georgia Restaurant Association last week and you know I heard
their concerns about the struggles they’ve had during 2020 and also heard some recommendations
that have been enacted across the state, one that was pretty intriguing actually was one in another
city in the state where instead of paying the entire alcohol license up front like is normal they’re
spreading it out quarterly to restaurants and businesses next year in order to help them kind of get
over the hump of the COVID crisis as we enter into ’21. You know I’m really hoping that we can
come to some sort of arrangement where restaurants and alcohol licenses and those that have those
will be given the relief that they are due since they were told to shut down for such an extended
period this year. Ms. Bonner, we can hear you.
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Mr. Mayor: I got it, guys, and thank you, go ahead, Commissioner from the 8 continue.
Mr. Garrett: No, I was done. That was really all that I wanted to say was just a
recommendation from the Georgia Restaurant Association as well as what I’m hoping we can do
to help.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, one of the things as we’re staging this conversation I think that there’s
a, there’s a desire to do something today and it takes some level of action today so I do want to
make sure that we are conscious of that absent us coming back in 2021 and repeating this
conversation. So as we’re making notes let’s make sure everybody’s calibrated that we do want
to take action today.
Mr. Garrett: Can I follow that comment up ---
Mr. Mayor: Well ---
Mr. Garrett: --- is that why you said it?
Mr. Mayor: --- sure.
Mr. Garrett: I’d like to put a motion on the table ---
Mr. Mayor: Hold on, hold on a minute, Commissioner, all right, okay, we’re good now.
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Before you make that motion can I hear from the Commissioner from the 9 who’s had his hand
up for a long time?
Mr. Garrett: --- yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, Mr. Mayor, two things first thing is you know you said you wanted
to do something today which is our last meeting. I think this is too serious to make that decision
today and hadn’t vetted this thing enough. There’s a lot of businesses besides restaurants and the
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bars that’s suffering and Super District 10 Commissioner brought that point out earlier. I’m trying
to figure out how we’re going to make sure we do this thing fairly with everybody. I mean we just
can’t say the downtown businesses. I mean downtown businesses ain’t the only thing keeping us
afloat. I mean they’re very important, I support them, they’re part of my district part of the Super
District but I’m looking, I’m trying to make sure that we do this thing and we got a bunch of new
Commissioners coming on I say a bunch it’s at least three coming on at the first of the year. So if
we rush this thing through the worst could mean that we don’t fully understand it, we vote on
something we hadn’t done vetted. What about the barbershops? You know we have issues when
we talk about the relief money was coming down before you talk about the small businesses we
had to put their name in a hat. How about the businesses that only got two people in the business?
They’re really struggling. I mean you got to you know it’s on our shoulders, we got to balance it
so I just think it’s too much to make a decision today on no more conversation we’re having right
now about just doing it for the bars. The people that drink ain’t the only ones that are suffering
now; all of us are dealing with it. Don’t know anything about the churches that’s involved. We
are all in this together so it’s not just one size fits all. If you’re going to do that we got to be
inclusive. That’s my comment, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you, Commissioner. Administrator Donald, let me hear from you
again. All right so, members of the Commission, here’s our posture, I’ve got your hand
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Commissioner from the 6 I’ve got your hand. We’ve got a lot of options that are on the table
right now and one of the challenges obviously is having an understanding of what the
administrative fee is, how’s that across the board for the different business entities. Much of our
discussions have been focused around liquor licenses, administrative fees but there are other
businesses that don’t have liquor licenses. They just simply have a business license that every year
they annually are renewing those things, right? And so to that end I believe that the
Administrator’s probably offered a recommendation that keeps the budget balanced and not only
keeps the budget balanced but allows us to provide a sense of relief that is equitable in nature that
I want him to speak to, Administrator Donald.
Mr. Donald: Yes, I think you hit that nail right on the head, Mayor, so I think the
recommendation I think that was a great recommendation and by Commissioner Garrett as well
where you would almost be permanently at least for the time period that you approve this waiving
those late fees. And so by doing it quarterly which I believe we can to allow folks to pay quarterly
you’re essentially waiving penalties, interests and late fees because you’re allowing folks to pay
at the end of that quarter. I think the other part to consider is the City of Augusta does have to
have a balanced budget and we also want to make sure we’re not reducing our revenue to the point
that we can’t meet expenses that support those categories. And so reducing that administrative fee
you bring in about a million dollars in that particular area reducing it by 15% takes you down to
that $150,000 dollars. And so that is a significant reduction for the Mom & Pop’s or the small
businesses that you’re referring to but you also remember you have other supplements that you
provide on the federal side which is where I’m proposing to increase those limits. Another and
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that I would agree with the Commissioner from the 9 that if you gave us to January to expand our
offerings then you’d be able to even more strongly impact them, one example of that is by allowing
all of the costs that are related to the city whether it be the permit fees, the business licenses,
construction, etc. to be reimbursable you’d be able to further augment how you’re impacting those
small businesses. So to be able to take action today we’re holding on to that recommendation until
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January and today solely addressing administrative fees for permitting quarterly support for the
alcohol licenses being able to allow them to spread those payments out over the full year and thus
you’re waiving the late fees. And I don’t want to leave out the Convention & Visitors Bureau
where you would simply waive their fee for 2021 but that will give you the equity because you’re
hitting all of the different areas and then you would use your federal money funded by HUD to
actually address those extremely small businesses that are hit the hardest, and you don’t have to
make that decision today as you would need a lot more information.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, I’m going to go in this order and then Administrator Donald
as we’re tracking and looking at my clock and my gate keeper has left the room in terms of us
trying to move these things expeditiously along but I want to have each of those elements that
we’re going to adopt today if you could get me a single sheet because I want to make sure I’ve got
a clear motion that involves those things for today and what we’re going to be pushing off so that
everybody can make sure that they clearly understand what we’re attempting to do. All right, the
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Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Administrator ---
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- in terms of what you’re saying about voting on the administrative fees I
want to be clear that you’re suggesting that we take a vote on that today or wait until the first of
the year?
Mr. Donald: Well, so the administrative fee portion for permits as well as the quarterly
payments for alcohol you could, I’m not making a recommendation, I’m simply telling you that
that’s a simple enough process that you could take action on it today because those are kind of
fixed calls kind of set service. Whereas looking at our HUD funding in the grants that you would
be giving out to small business there’s not been any information provided to the Commission and
so I would wait on that until January.
Mr. Hasan: So in many times in some of these budgetary items let’s say Planning and
Zoning here, is some of that money is used as you as it come in to help balance your budget?
Mr. Donald: So I would say so but I think that is why I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a
few Commissioners not everyone but you do have that balance of Cares Act funding that is
available to offset any of those costs and so I don’t we don’t perceive any challenges or concerns
with doing this. We’d be able to absorb that approximately $150,000 dollar loss. And then
remember on the alcohol fees you’re not projecting a loss because you’re allowing businesses to
pay those funds quarterly.
Mr. Hasan: But let me so let me do it this way I’m going to tie my colleagues
Commissioner Williams, Commissioner Williams, Commissioner Frantom, Commissioner Garrett
together ---
Mr. Donald: Okay.
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Mr. Hasan: --- if you wait until January you can address all of these, right? Because
Commissioner Williams wanted HUD, excuse me for a minute he wanted you to make sure that
all business had an opportunity to participate on some level I think because he said they’re not the
only ones holding us afloat on some level that may not be an absolute because the Commissioner
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from the 10 point certain businesses like Walmart for instances they were able to just slide in this
environment you know by the Grace of God you know. So my point is can you address all these
things holistically possibly at our first meeting in January as opposed to piecemealing it?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hasan, the challenge with that is that you’ve got notices that
have gone out to some businesses and you’ve got deadlines that are pursuant to January 2021 so
you want to provide some level of relief now and not have those businesses concerned about not
only late fees and/or other things that could potentially happen. That’s why if you go back to my
original statement, Administrator Donald, give me the three things that we can accomplish now
while waiting until 2021 to address the broader issues that speak to the more equitable challenges
that you’ve got.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’ll just say for the record from being a small businessman this
many years those (unintelligible) have already gone now. We should’ve done it when the budget
time and replaced that money with the Cares Act at that particular time. I’ll leave it alone;
wherever we go I’ll support it.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: --- I have one question. I guess this would be to Mr. Donald. What is
the average business license fee?
Mr. Mayor: That’s probably a question for Director Sherman to try to answer but all
businesses are not created equal and so ---
Mr. Donald: Right.
Mr. Mayor: --- and so that number is going to be different based on business type, business
size, business revenue. There are so many factors so you’re not going to get a real number.
Mr. B. Williams: Well, here’s my question. I’m not sure and that’s why I was asking
because I’m sitting here crunching the numbers. If we’ve got $1.4 million in Cares Act money
and we’re sitting here trying to figure out percentages and what have you my thought was if that
if the business license was $200, $300, $500 dollars why don’t we let them come in with some
kind of grant, let them apply for the $200, $300 or $500 dollars. But I’m not sure which way we
want to go but that would solve the entire problem just I don’t know you know don’t have the
numbers as far as what the business licenses cost. But I mean if you just gave somebody $300
dollars then they would just go ahead and take care of the business license and just move on.
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Mr. Donald: Commissioner, well, Mayor, may I respond?
Mr. Mayor: Please do, Administrator.
Mr. Donald: Yes, Commissioner, I think that’s actually what we’re proposing just slightly
different. So that’s what you’d be able to do in January and those costs they would be able to get
reimbursed from the city. That’s why we’re asking until January to be able to address that. But
right now today I think what you’re referring to is the administrative costs which is about $110
dollars per business regardless of size. So giving that discount today of 15% that impacts everyone
across the board. But then after those fees are done the Commission, let’s say you pass it today,
you come back in January if you look at our HUD grants or our HUD funded grants through the
CBBG funds that we’re looking at and changing those thresholds and what the allowable costs are
they would be able to come back in and get reimbursed for those funds and other applicable costs
to the city. And so that’s why I’m saying step one and step two. Step one is simply today giving
the 15% reduction on those administrative costs and making it the admin fee and making it for two
years you’re able to waive the late fees and penalties because you’re allowing at least as far as
alcohol licenses for it to be quarterly like Commissioner Garrett recommended and then you’re
extending the deadline for all business license fees anyway until 6-30. So if you did those activities
today and I mentioned the CVB just waiving theirs completely if you did that today you would
give immediate relief and then you could work on the project that you just mentioned in January.
Mr. B. Williams: So moved.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
th,
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got a motion and a second. Commissioner from the 4 state your inquiry.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. I was going to make a motion but I was going to do it a little bit
different from what I just heard my colleague do. I was going to ask Mr. Donald to say it and I
would adopt what he was saying. I just wanted to make sure we’re clear on what the motion is,
thank you.
Mr. Donald: Would you like me to repeat it?
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
The Clerk: The motion is what he stated.
Mr. Mayor: Voting.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, you got somewhere to go?
Mr. Mayor: I do.
Mr. Fennoy: Okay.
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The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
Mr. Sias: Hold on. I haven’t heard the motion, I asked a request for the motion.
The Clerk: Oh okay, I’m sorry, Mr. Donald would have to repeat it.
Mr. Donald: Yes, ma’am, I shall ---
Mr. Sias: Thank you.
Mr. Donald: So the, what we’re proposing the motion to be is to make alcohol
payments quarterly payments, to extend the business license deadline to June 30 to where it
is effective on July 1, waive all fees and penalties until those effective dates. For business
licenses give a reduction of 15% which will actually be for two years and to waive the alcohol
license fee for 2021 of the Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Mr. Sias: And ’21 applies to the other things you mentioned when you started, correct?
Mr. Donald: Correct, yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: You didn’t say that (unintelligible).
Mr. Donald: I apologize.
Mr. B. Williams: Oh, man.
Mr. Sias: I’m good now.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, voting.
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.
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Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
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, ma’am.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- we’ll go to Item Number 42 and then it’ll take us back to 28 I believe.
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
42. Discuss the Municode Implementation for Augusta, GA (Requested by Mayor Hardie
Davis, Jr.)
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Madam Clerk. I want to be brief in this. On October, in October
2017 this body approved a motion to fund and move forward with the Municode Implementation.
Municode is the electronic recodification of the Augusta, GA code. The Law Department was
tasked with the lead effort around that and I’m raising this issue for now the fifth time as it has not
been completed at this point though we started the discussion three years ago. What I would like
to see happen and for those who have asked on multiple occasions about the Municode again it is
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a business tool. It allows us to not only as elected officials but our business community, our
citizens, everyone to have access online to the current Augusta Code. It allows us to not only have
access to the current Augusta Code but as we make amendments to that code, as we add new
ordinances and or new titles and sections to have access to that online for ease of use and also as
it relates to making business decisions and so I think it’s highly important for us as a city to move
this project forward. As a, just as a matter of interest in our region in our region immediately
adjacent to us there are multiple cities and/or counties that have done this. Columbia County
currently uses Municode. Burke County currently uses Municode. I believe that our also neighbor
Lincoln County uses Municode. And so for us in the City of Augusta this needs to be a priority
for us. We started this discussion three years ago and we’re not at the place of implementation yet
though we should be in my estimation. And I want to make sure we put whatever resources are
needed for us to get to that point behind this and I know that we now can do that. The
Administrator comes from a city that has adopted Municode as well, a city that I’m sure he could
certainly speak to the importance why it’s a valuable tool from a business standpoint for us to be
able to get done. And so we can have some discussion, I want to hear from folks but what I’d like
to ask for is for a motion to task the Administrator with providing the additional resources
necessary for us to support the efforts of the Clerk of Commission and the Law Department to
expedite recodification, electronic recodification of the Augusta Georgia Code and to do that as
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quickly as possible. Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I fully support with the suggestion that you just laid
out there. I just, I think per our conversation because we spoke about this as well do you suggest
to ask the Law Department as well as the Clerk to give us a timeline on that because when we
talked among ourselves around this issue when we spoke there was a timeline and we didn’t
necessarily agree on that. Do you want a timeline from the principals there to try to see when the
regions are expecting this information for us so you won’t have to. In fairness to you one of the
things that we shared was that our Attorney was not our current General Counsel was not in place
at the time the General Counsel on staff but in fairness to you you’ve asked them as much as three
times since he’s been there. My point to say to you was that he’s been putting out fires since he’s
been there in that position. So my question straight forward is do you want to ask him with all of
the resources that they need (unintelligible) timeline to expect them to have this available for us?
Mr. Mayor: I think that’s a reasonable question and I’m okay with you asking that,
Commissioner Hasan. I know how valuable this is from a business standpoint and I think it’s time
for us to put whatever people resources human capital behind this whether that’s augmenting the
Clerk’s Office or the Law Department with other support personnel to be able to get that done.
For those who have not had a chance to see, experience you know Municode it is a tool once again
that I think all of us could get great value from even as it relates to conversations that any one of
us would have when you’re dealing with constituent groups, when you’re dealing with you know
other entities it’s just a helpful way for us to be able to do business, so (inaudible) ask your
question.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir. Mr. Attorney, Ms. Bonner and I guess the Administrator as well if
you’ve got to get additional resources what is a realistic timeframe on this, Mr. Attorney?
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Mr. Brown: Yes, I believe we probably should be able to complete Municode if we can
work really hard at it and not be overwhelmed with any unforeseen litigation, etc. We should be
able to move forward with Municode by the end of the first trimester which would be April. We
should hopefully have that complete. We do have a rough, rough draft of conversion to Municode.
This is the first budget that we have presently, I don’t remember the exact amount. This is the first
time (inaudible) committed to the Law Department for Municode which will start in January,
assuming the budget starts in January 2021 and there’s not a delay of that funding. But we will be
able to hopefully complete that within four months, 120 days to have something that at least
something for the Commission to review. But it is I do, Mayor, in the sense that it is an important
tool, it’s a very convenient tool but what’s critical to me is that when it is not just copying what
we have and putting it on the computer. Our statutes and our codes and our amendments are
recorded in various systems. We also have the Comprehensive Zoning Code, we have codes from
other groups that would need to be incorporated in that. And Municode is attempting to eliminate
any obsolete codes that we have. They’re not just doing a copying job. They are more editorial
tasks for our code. But what we don’t want to do and what would be could cause us legal problems
if we put if we rush and put out a code that is not accurate. We could be bound to that and could
have significant impact in litigation. So we do want a good job and I believe we can like in 120
days and we may need other resources but we will have to get with the Administrator and try to
dedicate some persons to that.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I make a motion we give them 120 days to do that
starting January 1.
Mr. Mayor: Second.
The Clerk: Who was that?
Mr. Mayor: The Mayor.
The Clerk: I know it was an unfamiliar second.
Mr. Garrett: I got it, second.
Mr. Frantom: Second.
Mr. M. Williams: I got a question I got a question, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: I know, I know, I’m going to come back, I’m coming to you, Commissioner
th,
from the 9 just hold on one second though. I think because I appreciate what the Attorney said
th
and again I’m going to use the words the Commissioner from the 6 said and that was “fairness to
him” or deference to him in light of the role he’s currently in. And if I were to take the words from
th
the Commissioner from the 9 he’d probably say something like this. Well, you’ve been in the
job now over a year so that’s old hat. I say that somewhat tongue in cheek laughingly, Attorney
Brown, so don’t take any negative with that, I’m just cutting up with you. But you said something
that does that does raise some level of consternation and that is the notion around “legal
challenges” if our code’s not right. And to suggest that says that even what we have currently
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from the standpoint of being able to find our codes in one simple location the inability to do that
raises to that level of concern as well when you talk about in multiple locations. So I think that
it’s extremely incumbent upon us to move as expeditiously as possible to have our codes in one
location so that we’re able to access that code of ordinances for any and all things. Commissioner
th
from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: I’ll come back to you, Attorney Brown.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m not opposed to anything I heard but my question would be if the
Clerk is the official record keeper who’s going to keep the Municode with the new codes and stuff?
Is that going to be out of the Clerk’s Office or is that going to be out of the Attorney’s Office? Is
there going to be more staff, is there going to be, exactly what are we doing here now? I mean I’m
not opposed to any of this. I’m just trying to get it clear. If the Clerk is the official document
keeper and the documents need to be put out so people can look them up, who’s going to do that?
The Clerk’s Office who’s already working short staff for almost 16 years, I know at least five or
ten. So how’s that work? I need an answer, somebody.
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown.
Mr. Brown: Our code remains the same and the keepers of the record will I envision unless
the Commission does something different it will remain the keepers of the record. Now what
would happen is that we would not just get our code online. Our code would be maintained by
Municode. That is once the Commission passes an amendment to an ordinance, Municode will be
able to come in pull that code and incorporate it in our ongoing published code online. So they
don’t fix your code and put it online. They monitor and as you make changes they periodically
will come in and to make changes we will have an ongoing subscription with them as well but I
also wanted to add that as the public online as well. I have checked with the Clerk’s Office. We
have absolutely zero complaints about our code or citizens access to (inaudible) so I think a good
job is being done presently but with new technology it is (inaudible) that we upgrade for the
Municode so we’re working hard to do that. But we do not have a problem with providing the
citizens any code that they need. We have zero complaints.
Mr. M. Williams: So if there’s zero complaints, Mr. Mayor, and Municode may be a good
thing and the Clerk is our official record keeper. She wouldn’t give the code to Municode. They
would come in I mean that’s what I’m trying to understand they would come in and go into
whatever and get whatever, whatever?
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, if I could ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am, Clerk.
The Clerk: --- you just complemented what the Attorney is saying. Augusta has had a long
relationship with Municode. Since we had our last two updates it was done by Municode so
Municode is familiar with Augusta. At this point in time all of our ordinances, all of our
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amendments are accessible through our weblink application right now. We have not had any
complaints from anyone who was trying to search our records looking for a particular ordinance
or amendment to an ordinance. We have that. I understand what Attorney Brown said with new
technology it gives us maybe easier access in some of those that are really up on technology they
find it very easy and simple to use that. But as we stand right now our records are still accessible
to the public electronically and to my knowledge we have not gotten any complaints that no record
request has not gone unanswered.
Mr. M. Williams: So, Ms. Bonner, as my granddaddy would say if it ain’t broke, why are
you trying to fix it?
The Clerk: Well, I think what they’re trying to do is give greater access technology wise.
It’s easier, it’s faster, it’s more consolidated to where we have it now because our code has not
been updated for quite some time. And when our former General Counsel Andrew MacKenzie
placed this on the agenda, it was his project. The Clerk’s Office was just going to compliment
them to make sure that all the ordinances and amendments that have been approved by the
Commission was accessible and it is and it has been. So that was a project that former General
Counsel Andrew MacKenzie started so that’s my Forest Gump moment. That’s all I have to say
about that.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, thank you, Madam Clerk, or in the words of Gary Sinise, run
Forest, run Forest. So I’ve shared the screen here. This is just a quick snapshot of Municode for
Columbia County. No apparent reason other than just picking it. And like Madam Clerk just said,
it’s right here at your fingertips and it allows you, this is a business tool, it is an economic
development tool, economic growth tool where at any point in time you can simply pick a chapter
and click on it and it’s going to bring it all to you. It will also show you updates that will be
outlined out here as well and you can get the underlined background and all of those things simply
by being able to access it, you can print it out, carry it to your meetings on Saturday or whenever
and it’ll be right there as well as printed out. And it’s just again makes it extremely accessible as
we continue to move forward as a city.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I appreciate that but Columbia County is the wrong county
to bring up in my mind right now so with anything code or nothing else.
Mr. Mayor: I understand. All right, we’ve got a motion and a second, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
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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, 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.
OTHER BUSINESS
44. Receive a report and presentation from the Task Force on Confederate Monuments,
Street Names, and Landmarks. (Requested by Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr.)
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, Item Number 44 was moved to the January meeting so that was
done I believe at our last meeting so we’re going to move that to the January conversation which
takes us to our final item of the day and that is Item Number 25, Item Number 25.
ADDENDUM
45. Motion to approve a Resolution to enter Contract with Bateman Community Living, LLC
d.b.a. Trio Community Meals.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, and I’m going to bring this up and it’s probably a taboo
but if I was well anyway, Item Number 1 under our Addendum Agenda and the Administrator can
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if he would please address this, this is a contract that deals with our Senior Citizen Meal Program.
The Commission back in July approved to enter into a contract however the contract was never
presented to the Commission for approval therefore Augusta has been unable to qualify for any
reimbursement for this program and will not be until a contract is approved. So I’m just putting
that out there. I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t share with you the significance and importance of
having this contract addressed today if we could. So I’ll move to and that’s Number 1 on our
Addendum Agenda.
Mr. Mayor: All right so and again if I read the narrative, Madam Clerk, you indicate that
rd
this simply is an approval of a contract but the Commission approved on November the 3 with
the Recreation Department entering into it but we just didn’t they simply didn’t present the
contract.
The Clerk: Right, right, so we have no approved contract so I don’t know if Mr. Donald
would like to add anything to that.
Mr. Donald: No, you hit the nail on the head there and it’s an important part for us to again
keep that budget balanced so we’ve incurred those expenditures but we’ve not been able to receive
reimbursement and so if the, the longer that it takes the longer we foot the bill without being able
to bring those funds into our coffer so if there is a way for us to accept this contract today, and
again we review all of the documentation but apparently the contract was not attached. And so
you did not formerly agree to it although it appears that was your intent so we could you know add
that stamp to it today and allow us to begin receiving reimbursement.
Mr. Mayor: So, Administrator Donald, you’re indicating that the Commission actually
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voted on this on the 3 of November.
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Mr. Donald: On the 3 you received you didn’t (inaudible) contract because it was not
attached and so you agreed to what I believe was the MOU or whatnot but you have to formerly
approve the contract or we cannot officially submit for reimbursement so if you did that we would
be able to do so.
Mr. Mayor: All right, I understand, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you. Can we do what we did with the other funding and get
six votes on paper and then ratify it in January, Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk: You could, sir.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I think that’s the cleanest way to do it based on, I don’t think it’s fair
to pull one agenda addendum as opposed to the other eight that were there just to keep it clean. I
mean I think that would be the way I would want to support it and move forward is to ratify it in
January and sign it ---
The Clerk: If that’s the will of the Commission.
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Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: --- I mean that’s just my take on it.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I think that’s fine. I have no objection to that.
The Clerk: Okay.
The Clerk:
FINANCE
25. Motion to approve SPLOST 8 list of recommended projects. (Requested by Mayor Pro
Tem Sean Frantom)
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m going to turn it over to Administrator
Donald and then I’ll come back.
Mr. Mayor: Administrator Donald.
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir, so Mayor and Commission we’ve updated, I have included this
presentation with updated numbers etc., just for the edification of the public. It is on record and
we can share it publicly but, Jeff, if you could actually go to the spreadsheet it’s a cleaner look and
it’s easy to follow and I’ll go over those to highlight them. The numbers are exactly the same and
all of that good stuff but I wanted to make it in the most palatable format. So as he brings that up
you’re all aware that and you may want to make zoom in and make that piece a little bigger for
everyone. I’m not sure how it is on your screen but I’ll talk through it as we go through. So for
Public Safety that number is at $22,455,000. It includes $7.3 million in vehicles but we broke
those down so you can see that clear allocation that $6 million would go to the Sheriff’s Office,
$100,000 to the DA so on and so forth. There is a specific carve out of $1.8 million for the
replacement vehicles also those air packs and cylinders for Augusta Fire is still there, MDT
replacement for existing vehicles also still there. We have reduced the downtown vehicle security
enhancement after conferring with our IT Director because the technology either already exists
with us or the security features cannot actually be incorporated into the City of Augusta’s platform
and so the recommendation was to remove that. After conferring with and again I’m going through
I’ve talked to most of you as Commissioners and sent an update but I want to make sure I’m
thorough for the public review. The RCCI new facility was reduced by $1 million dollars because
after looking at the report and presentation and conferring with Central Services that’s the number
that they felt would be able to help them deliver the building as previously drafted, you can actually
go to the next section which is Quality of Life.
Mr. M. Williams: Before we leave that section can we have a comment or are you going
to come back? How are we going to do that?
th.
Mr. Mayor: We’re going to come back, Commissioner from the 9 We’re going to just
let him walk through the presentation and then we’re going to take all the questions okay and then
we’ll put up whatever page of the spreadsheet that’s necessary. We’ll put it up at that time.
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Mr. Donald: Yes, sir, I’m going to go through these expeditiously to make sure we’re all
on the same page. So if you go to the next Quality of Life. The total for Quality of Life is
$65,850,000 and along with infrastructure is one of our largest categories. There is an, Dyess Park
remains at $6 million dollars to insure that there is enough funding for that rebuild. In addition we
added as directed by the Commission about $150,000 dollars for cemeteries to bring us up to
$600,000. The Fleming Park remains at $5 million. Their funding for the tennis centers at both
Fleming and Newman, the Lake Olmstead Casino is at $5.4 million dollars. Keeping with that
historical preservation requirement we also upped the different park improvement investment to
$6 million dollars. The Municipal Golf Course and Diamond Lakes is a combined $1 million
dollars but we simply broke it out so you can see where those funds are going. Irrigation remains
at $3 million, the James Brown Arena is also still included at $25 million, the Water Park is
included at $5 million, Fifth Street Bridge remains at $1.75 million as well the million dollars for
Parks we reduced the administration down to a million dollars. I do want to highlight when you
look at Administration this is your first time including that in Parks, not in Parks I’m sorry, in the
overall SPLOST proposal. That’s very important because in the past you’ve actually reduced the
amount for your various categories for the program because there was not administrative funding.
While these are estimates it means that the amount that would even potentially be reduced on a
programing is minimal I think is than 1% of the total project we would be off and so that’s going
to make sure these projects are delivered with the budget that you’re seeing which helps prevent
some of the issues that you’ve had in the past. You can move on now to General Government
Projects. This is one of the smaller categories and it is not because we reduced it. We just aligned
and I’ll highlight that later. We just aligned the appropriate projects let’s say under Economic
Development or wherever they’re supposed to be. I think the $16.5 million for the Cyber Parking
Deck was listed under here previously since that was associated with Economic Development it’s
just listed there so didn’t want to alarm you. It’s not reduced, these categories actually remain the
same. And the final comment I have on General Government Projects is at this $4 million dollars
we’ll be able to you know you’ll be able to bond certain projects. And so on that spreadsheet that
th.
I originally gave you it had a Special Called Meeting for December 15 I would ask that the
Commission keep that date because then you can decide what projects you want to bond. You can
go to the next piece which is Infrastructure. Under Infrastructure I’ll just highlight a few of these,
well, I’ll actually just highlight Walton Way. The others pretty much remain the same, these are
projects the Commission directed me to work closely with Director Malik to make sure that all of
the projects that have been deemed priority by the Commission were included. We actually spent
quite a bit of time doing so and this includes all of those. We actually added Walton Way and it
is a million dollars but it is while it is less that what we previously identified in the $7 million
Walton Way is a project that is on our federal and state list and so the Director as well as myself
are extremely confident that we will be able to bring that project online using those federal and
state funds but it will require our $1 million dollars in seed money. So the Commissioners who
had a heightened interest on that project we’ve had a conversation offline about it and explained it
in great detail but just for the edification of the public we wanted to make sure that they understood
that this project is still included. I’d also still keep those East Augusta projects including the
underfunded projects from four and five as well as beginning Project 6 or Phases 6 and 7 so those
are also included. Again the total for infrastructure which is our largest category and one that you
know requires the most attention is at $78,500,000. If you go on to Government Facilities in this
area we did make some adjustments but those were inclusionary. Thank you to both Commissioner
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Sias also Commissioner Frantom I believe Commissioner Garrett we also had some specific
conversations about this area around facility maintenance making sure that Craig Houghton was
included in that but we also pulled out for clarity for the Board of Elections. I know that I had an
opportunity to speak with the Mayor and others about that one where half a million dollars is
identified to be able to deliver the storage for their much needed equipment and improvements
there. And so we’ve also been able to speak with the Executive Director who is quite pleased with
that inclusion. It also includes that carve out for fire stations as well as making sure that that fleet
maintenance facility is included as well so that’s $19 million dollars. Economic Development is
next and again this looks like an increase but it is not. As you’ll see what we did under Economic
Development was to The Depot Project remains at $14 million dollars. You’ve all received a
presentation related to that and so we kept those costs the same to make sure that we could meet
it. We also met with the Augusta Economic Development Authority related to retail recruitment
and industrial recruitment and site preparation. While I’ve broken this out for $10 million and $2
million because the total they needed is twelve I would ask the Commission or to note that the
expectation is that we are allocating $12 million which would allow the flexibility to where they
needed to increase one or lower the other based on implementation they would have that flexibility.
The number that is reduced is Blight Mitigation but I did what to assure you that it is not based on
service. It’s only based on the Rules of SPLOST. Again I think I mentioned that you know we’ve
talked to some of the largest foundations in the country who have an interest in supporting Blight
Mitigation as well as our partners at HUD and that would help us address the tearing down of
buildings. But the balance of that and what you can use SPLOST dollars for is actually the
purchase or the putting a structure and revamping a blighted piece of property. And so I wanted
to make sure that you understood that that’s not necessarily a reduction. It’s just a better allocation
to align with the Rules of SPLOST and then we would use those other dollars for that tearing down
and some of the other pieces of that Blight Mitigation. And so in short that’s the overview of
Economic Development and so that moving the Cyber Center Parking Deck is what has made that
number look so large because it was previously under another area. And then finally we have the
other government allocation which again you approved the IGA which is seven and a half million
to Hephzibah and $1.5 million for Blythe which again Mayor Davis and I were able to have those
meetings with those two Mayors and of course have gone over it in detail with the Commission.
And so I’ll entertain any questions that you have because that includes my overview.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Administrator Donald. I know that we’ve got a lot of questions
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yeah, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, sir. I got to slow it down just a minute because I’ve got a lot
of questions. First of all I want to know when the meeting took place with the Commission to
decide any of this stuff I mean, I’m looking, I think I missed that meeting. When was that meeting
held?
Mr. Donald: To discuss which items? For the Hephzibah and the Blythe allocations during
the last presentation I mentioned what’s called the Mayor’s Meeting where those conversations
where held and made the recommendation to increase from $7.5 to increase to $2.75 and $1.5
million so that was in the previous presentation.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay that ---
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Mr. Mayor: Let me mention something as well, Commissioner, That’s a standard meeting
which we had ---
Mr. Mayor: I’m not worried about that ---
Mr. Mayor: --- any dates I’ve given to the IGA so ---
Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m not worried about the IGA meeting, I’m not worried about that.
I’m talking about any of this as an elected official as the one who’s going put a proposal together
to do something for the SPLOST I thought this body as a whole would meet and discuss something.
Now I understand the Administrator and the previous Administrator did the same thing but Mr.
Donald is here now he’s doing nothing wrong but let’s go back to Dyess Park.
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir, Dyess Park ---
Mr. M. Williams: You’ve got $6 million dollars in for Dyess Park. I’m in support of Dyess
Park but Dyess Park is not big enough to really do anything with the fire station that it sits on the
property there, it’s already been consumed. What are we going to do with $6 million dollars with
a facility that’s too small to cut the cat out in. It’s really, what would the $6 million dollars do?
We need to move Dyess Park down the street, down the road around the corner, but we hadn’t had
this conversation. That’s one thing. The other thing is the JBA the twenty-five, how much money
you say you got for the JBA?
The Clerk: $25 million.
Mr. Donald: $25 million and remember that now these I actually included in the
memorandum that I sent to the council, the Commission a couple of weeks ago and discussed so
the $25 million is the city’s contribution but it will require a GO Bond or for the balance to be
bonded. That project I think when I highlighted in the last meeting it’s about a $250 million dollar
project and so the $25 million dollars is the city’s contribution to the overall cost of the facility
and then the Coliseum Authority would actually bond that overall project.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. Donald, you explained the process and I get that. I done did 16 of
them if I ain’t did more but I get that. I’m talking about when have this body sit down and agreed
to $25 million? Hhas this body I mean that memo was put out to us and we hadn’t talked about it.
Mr. Donald: Oh, I understand. I understand that question.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, that’s my question. Even the road construction, the roads for
$23.5. I know some Commissioners wanted to do road construction and I’m not against that but I
don’t think we’re spending the money for the sales tax for everybody to get something. Everybody
ain’t traveling on the road out there at one point. I want to know when these conversations had
been held to decide all this stuff. The Fire Department you’ve got a million dollars for the Fire
Department. What’s their budget now? What do they have already in the Fire Department budget
because that’s totally different, that’s totally different from everything else, right?
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Mr. Donald: It is and I can give you some insight on those questions as we go through
them but I think the first part is that these are just recommendations and so I think the expectation
is during discussion the council the Commission I apologize I come from a council managed
organization, but the Commission would review these recommendations and give comments. In
the last meeting there were the Commission gave some direction on where to make adjustments
from the first recommendation and so during that time I’ll give you just a couple of examples.
When it came to infrastructure there was about four I’m thinking off the top of my head about five
Commissioners that made comments that while it’s a great stab at it and I think the $64 and a half
million that we had allocated was a good start there needed to be some adjustment on these
projects. And so I talked to each of those Commissioners individually as well as any others that
reached out but went directly to the department heads that they had questions about so that we can
adjust the infrastructure recommendation. So if there was a Commissioner who mentioned road
construction I gave them a personal call and we talked through it and we talked through really the
whole budget and got their blessing to update this number to present to the full Commission so
that you can discuss it. And so I want to make clear that today’s presentation at least from my
perspective is this is the Administrator’s recommendation but the council should agree or not that
these recommendations fit your collective vision and that the adjustments make sense. And then
if they do you would pass it. If they do not then you would give us whatever direction you feel
appropriate, we will adjust it and get it until you feel that is right so this is just ---
Mr. M. Williams: I get that, Mr. Administrator, and I think you’re doing a good job with
what you’re doing. Please don’t take this personal ---
Mr. Donald: --- no, I don’t, I understand.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m just I try to keep up with the list and I made a list of stuff. Even
when we talked about the Water Park, what would $5 million dollars do for a real water park?
Now if we’re going to build a park we need to build a real water park and but we’re spending
money, now we’re trying to attract revenue into our city and we got to spend it wisely. We can’t
just fix the roads. If we ain’t got nobody coming in your city to spend money then they’re not
going spend the money for you to have the money to continue the work on the road. We got to do
first things first. We can’t get the road ready and there’s no reason to come here, there’s no reason
everybody’s going to travel on the roads. So that was my question about putting that $23.5 on the
road. I’m talking about, I’m trying to get us to understand about economic development and we’ve
been talking about every time something comes up going through another county or to another
state across the bridge, South Carolina, we get excited. But we’re not doing anything. This whole
this community’s not getting anything. This community like Dyess Park, I support Dyess Park but
$6 million dollars I mean we’re putting $23 million and the five in the roads but we’re going to
put $6 million in a facility that’s been run down for 2,000 years so that tells me we’re not thinking
too smart on these things. We got to go back and look at this list again. We as elected officials
need to talk and then come up with something but where’s the economic part of this thing. If it
wasn’t for our sales tax we are falling down on our face. So we need the sales tax I get that but I
don’t see it being spread on this community like it out to be spreaded. It’s going towards the same
things, road construction, other folks making money off of the same stuff, paving the same road
and we’re not getting anywhere. We got to do something to draw people into our city. I’m for a
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water park but we ought to build a real waterpark and not a pond a park where people would travel
to.
Mr. Donald: I’ll defer on 90% of that because I think you’re right the Commission has to
have a discussion but I would like to just point out because you made a great point. If you have
roads and nowhere to go then it’s a waste of time. But I’ll use the waterpark as an example and
my unique experience being one of the higher ranking people in the Georgia Department of
Economic Development and overseeing all economic development for the District of Columbia
when I look at the allocation for the waterpark I don’t believe that the city should be the only one
putting funds in for that. When you think of those types of projects those are P3’s. And so as your
Administrator what my plan would be for that $5 million for the waterpark is to release a Request
for Information nationwide for people who have an interest in bringing or actually partnering with
the city to deliver that in Augusta-Richmond County and the city seed money to deliver that project
would be $5 million and then our partner would come to the table and help deliver the rest so that
it would be world class. Examples of that in the District of Columbia when you look at what we
did for the Audi Soccer Stadium where we even sold part of the naming rights in that development
as well as other areas whether it be our Quality of Life activities but even our park system we’d
use that model to deliver projects. And so I’m fully confident that the economic development
projects that the Commission would be proposing including in this that as your Administrator we’d
be able to deliver them. And that I would defer because I think you’re right on target with those
concerns.
Mr. M. Williams: The constituency that I’ve been talking to about our sales taxes are really
opposed to sales tax because they don’t see what you see, Mr. Donald, and I get that because
they’re not an Administrator. But they don’t see the growth or the wealth or the economic dollars
coming into but one side but one area. For instance I just mentioned the Mayor mentioned that we
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approved that they James Brown Trail would run around 9 and 8 Streets and it’s bare as a desert
there now. You’re talking about a food desert, even the birds don’t like it down there no more.
When everything else was thriving in that area the sales tax ain’t got nothing in it for that. Zero.
That’s a dying area and it’s the heart of our city. But we talk about Laney Walker, we talk about
rooftops. There’s nothing going on. Nobody even talks about nothing to be put in that area and
that’s not a one-block area, that’s about a 10-block area from Laney Walker down to Reynolds
Street. I mean it’s two blocks down and ten blocks across so it bothers me as an elected official
when I don’t see the economic empowerment that could be put there. We talk about the Sheriff’s
Department getting the money for the cars that we trade before they get 100,000 miles on them
and that’s not your problem that’s what the Commission did instead of us changing that, we get
rid of cars was left at 100,000 miles we trade them in, we sell them and people use them to make
taxicabs out of them. So there’s some things that need to happen, Mr. Donald, and I’m sorry to
bring it like this but I can’t support none of that, none of that. I just don’t see it, I don’t understand
it.
Mr. Donald: Yes, sir, understood.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, I don’t see the Mayor. Is he back?
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioner from the 10.
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Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m going to piggyback on what the Commissioner
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from the 9 stated that you know I’m going to apologize for saying this but it seems like certain
people get together and make decisions and they’re just etched in stone and everybody else has
got to, got to swallow it like bitter medicine. Well, I’m not going to swallow it like bitter medicine.
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The Commissioner from the 9 is talking about economic development and what’ve we got? We
don’t have anything. And you know I would say 70% of what we’ve got on this SPLOST package
but when you’re leaving out economic development you’re wanting to leave out you know the
hearts. And Ms. Durant just came before and we passed something that we vitally need downstairs
and that’s the Art Trail. But you know I bring up the museum piece. Nancy Glaser brings up a
museum piece and everybody’s oh no we’re not giving a dime to that at this time not dime to that
thing. Well, that’s well and good but you’re going to put you know $23 million dollars into road
paving, you don’t put another $20 million dollars into drainage and irrigation or whatever. You’re
duplicating the services and you go right down this list and you see that we’re duplicating services
of monies that we’ve already getting from other avenues but we’re not putting enough money into
economic development to bring business and to bring tourists into this town. And when you’ve
got people, business owners, the Convention and Business Bureau, when you’ve got the entities in
this city thinking that yes we need the museum piece, we need more things for people to come do
and then you just totally ignore it and say oh hell no, we’re not going to have that then I’m going
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to have to side with the Commissioner from the 9 I cannot support this as it’s put out there right
now, thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner from the 10 I’m going to mention something that
we’ve had an opportunity to look back at over the last several days and really look at from a broader
perspective. And I go back to my statement about One Augusta and holistically looking at it. I do
think that what the Administrator has recommended gets us a little closer to where we ultimately
want to be but when I look at the issues of Quality of Life and we see Augusta as a city, a
destination city where people from all across the nation want to come, a city of opportunity where
people want to live to learn and work and raise their families if we look at just Cyber alone people
are coming from very progressive communities, the Lincoln Center, Holocaust Museum just a host
of options the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and the Smithsonian Museum
of Native American History and all of these places when you look at the community that we live
in, I do think it’s important for us to pause for a moment long enough to just really be thoughtful
about this opportunity that we have and looking at the City of Augusta. When I look at museums
in the broader context they quite frankly are a driving force for tourism and as Augusta moves
towards being destination, we just had Bennish Brown on just a moment ago who gave us an
update about the International Soul Festival and those things and so we have to look at tourism,
arts and museums as anchors for tourist development. Museums, they have a way of showcasing
the best of a community’s history and culture to the widest possible audiences and they are in fact
economic drivers. When you look at what museums do globally when we look at what they do
globally and certainly here in America according to the Indiana Historical Society and the
magazine entitled the Economic Impact of Museums like most nonprofit organizations what we’ve
been told is that there’s data that supports, that museums support more than 726,000 jobs which is
enough to employ a former city that our Administrator was employed at and that’s Washington,
DC, 726,000 jobs so I do believe that it’s important for us to give strong consideration. I know
we’ve had a number of entities that have asked for support, museums and other nonprofit cultural
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organizations they return more than $5.00 dollars in tax revenue for every $1.00 dollar they receive
in funding from all levels of government. And so you’ve got when you look at museums large and
small that are constantly using funds to maintain buildings, host events for the community and
create new exhibits the result is a contribution of over $50 billion dollars to the American gross
domestic product here in our communities. And so I just want to put that out there as we are
advocating for what ultimately will be our SPLOST 8 list and with that I’m going to go to in this
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order I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 8, the 1 and then back to the Mayor Pro
Tem.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor ---
Mr. B. Williams: I’ve had my hand up (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Okay, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I do apologize.
Mr. Garrett: --- all right, I’m good? As far as this discussion goes I don’t have a lot of
more to add to the ongoing conversation that we’ve had about this for the last few months so I
make a motion to approve the SPLOST list as presented.
Ms. Davis: I’ll second it.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, very well. Okay, I’m going to the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Hasan: You’re muted, you’re muted.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay, it’s on you.
Mr. Fennoy: --- okay, yes, I don’t totally disagree with what you just presented to us, Mr.
Mayor, but we have, we have people that have lived downtown for years and they hate to see the
rain come because of the flooding that has that will follow the rain. Now the Engineering
Department has done a great job in taking care of some of these issues but the issues have not
completely been resolved. And if you talk to them about a museum or getting the pipes and
drainage fixed so that their homes will stop flooding, they’re going to go with the infrastructure.
Again if someone rides up and down Laney Walker and they want a thrill ride the speed limit is
about 25 but go 30 miles an hour and see how, you got to fasten your seat belt because if you don’t
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you’ll be thrown out the vehicle. If you ride up 12 Street, if you ride up 12 Street and you see
all the repairs that have been done and all the dips in the road something needs to be done about
that. And earlier when we talked about discrimination you know I mentioned discrimination based
on zip code. Again the district that I represent is probably the oldest part of the city. It’s been
here for since the beginning of time and we have had our wear and tear but we have not had the
necessary improvements to bring it up to par. So I like the idea of taking a structure down and
replacing it with another structure but I also like the idea of repairing our streets bringing the
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quality of life up for the people that live in District 1 and District 2. Get rid of some of these
raggedy houses, put houses back on some of these vacant lots that we have. And so I don’t, I don’t
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totally disagree with the proposals but I like the idea of coming back on the 15 with a final cut
on the SPLOST projects.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, going to the Commissioner from the 5 and then I’ll close out with
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you Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: No, I was just going to make a motion to approve. I think we need to
understand that there’s only so much money. And I’ve got some calls about NGO’s if we put one
in we have to put another one in so we just need to make a decision based on what we have but I’d
like to move forward, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to say thank you to Administrator
Donald and all the department heads for putting all this together. I think it’s a great package. I
think when you look at the different entities that we hit from Quality of Life to structural needs the
fact that I think it’s a good package and I’m ready to move forward.
Mr. Mayor: All right voting, Madam Clerk voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke, is he out? Okay, Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes, Ms. Bonner, a rough yes for me.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom.
Mr. Frantom: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: I think Commissioner Clarke is back.
The Clerk: Are you voting, sir, Mr. Clarke?
Mr. Clarke: I vote No.
The Clerk: Okay, 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: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams, you’re muted, Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Big no, ma’am.
Mr. Clarke, Mr. D. Williams and Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Motion Passes 7-3.
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Mr. Mayor: Administrator Donald, you mentioned about the 15, I’m sorry, Madam Clerk,
I’ll give you a chance to finish your statement.
The Clerk: I’m done, I published the vote.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Administrator Donald you mentioned about our timeline in going back
to the, back to the 15 December date. While I think it’s important for us to talk about what our
spend plan is I don’t think it’s necessary for us to have to do that on the 15 December. We certainly
have time. What’s the critical path is that you’ve adopted a SPLOST package. Now this can in
fact be provided to the Board of Elections for presentation in the local daily organ. As it relates to
a spend plan we can effectuate that in 2021 in terms of what the projects are that we want to begin
bonding first so that’s just an aside. Right now we need to have a (unintelligible) the Attorney
review the IGA as to form and we’ll then need to make sure that we coordinate with General
Counsel’s for each of the municipalities Blythe and Hephzibah working in concert with our staff
and counsel here. And once we’ve done that then we can begin putting together a package to
transmit to the Board of Elections. All right ---
Mr. M. Williams: Point of Personal Privilege.
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Mr. Mayor: Hold on a minute, hold on a second, Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I think you hit the nail on the head in terms of what I was
going to say ---
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Mr. Mayor: Okay ---
Mr. Hasan: --- (inaudible).
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Mr. Mayor: --- thank you, sir, all right, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: --- thank you, Mr. Mayor. Point of Personal Privilege ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I don’t support the SPLOST like that. I think it’s wrong. I just hope
the taxpayers understand that the Commission did do their jobs and tried to do what’s best for this
city. I’m going to advocate against the best I can. I’m going to tell the world not to support the
SPLOST, I hate to put it that way but I think we’re being unfair to the citizens of Augusta-
Richmond County. All of these SPLOST’s we done had we ain’t go no more than we got going
on now. We’re not doing the job people elected us to do so that’s my point.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Commissioner from the 4We’re going to give him a minute to
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come back. He hit the wrong button, Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. A couple of things. I’m a little concerned about the word spend.
I really think it’s our mission to go out and advocate to the citizens what we believe is in this
project. The majority has voted for the projects and we should support it. That’s one of the reasons
why we were elected (inaudible) everything the way you want it. But I’m just concerned about
the word spend. I think everything about this project has a great benefit to this city and if you and
not only do you need visitors to ride on good roads per se you need the citizens who live here
every day day in and day out going to work going the distance, traveling, they need decent roads
and things to ride on. And I appreciate what Commissioner Fennoy said about a certain area.
That’s the whole purpose for the resurfacing to go out and find these streets particularly these
arterial streets that has these defects and we can get them fixed so I appreciate the support for that.
I look forward to us having a truthful spirited conversation with our citizens and get this packet
approved, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, all right, Madam Clerk, I don’t believe that there is any additional
business before us today ---
The Clerk: That’s right.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, I’m extremely ecstatic about that. To our outgoing
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Commissioners, Commissioner from the 3, the Commissioner from the 9 and the Commissioner
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from the 1 I believe the Commissioner from the 1st would say it this way, it’s been real. The
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Commissioner from the 9 will probably say it this way, the horse has left the barn and you can’t
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bring him back. And the Lady from the 3 will probably say it this way, thank ya’ll, I’ve enjoyed
serving with everybody and I look forward to seeing you in the community. And with that we’ll
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call this meeting adjourned. The Commissioner from the 1 he’s got his hand up, he wants to go
one more again.
Mr. Fennoy: Yeah, yeah the only thing I would say, Mr. Mayor, and I don’t like the idea
of you misquoting me but what I would say is the tree don’t fall too far from the apple.
Mr. Mayor: Touché ---
The Clerk: Touché, Commissioner.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: See ya’ll in 2021. Happy Holidays.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right ---
Mr. M. Williams: To you all.
Mr. Mayor: --- everybody take care.
\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy
of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of The Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
December 1 and December 8, 2020.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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