HomeMy WebLinkAboutRegular Commission Meeting September 15, 2020
REGULAR MEETING VIRTUAL/TELECONFERENCE
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:00 p.m., September 15, 2020, the
Hon. Hardie Davis Jr., Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. B. Williams, Garrett, Sias, Fennoy, Frantom, M. Williams, Davis, D.
Williams, Hasan and Clarke, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
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Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, if you’re ready we’ll call the September the 15 2020 full
Commission Meeting to order. The Chair recognizes Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Yes, sir. We have our invocation today by Commissioner Brandon Garrett
after which we’ll ask Commissioner Bobby Williams if he would please lead us in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
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Mr. Mayor: Thank you, all right, Commissioner from the 8. Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Mayor: --- Madam Clerk, hold on just a moment if you don’t mind ---
The Clerk: --- okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- doing a little housekeeping here. Okay, all right, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: The Addendum Agenda, sir, can we address that in the event there’s items that
could be added to Consent if it’s accepted without objection.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I’m working on that now.
Mr. Garrett: Madam Clerk, you can delete my item from the Addendum.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Sias: And if I may on the Addendum ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Sias: --- okay, we have two from the Fire Department concerning a plaque and one
from Director Sherman of Planning and Development plaque to add those to the Consent Agenda
those three.
The Clerk: Okay now there was, okay which one of the three that you’re asking,
Commissioner Sias, under Public Services ---
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Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, let me do this. We’re going to add all of the items without
objection.
The Clerk: --- okay.
Mr. M. Williams: You are?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah.
Mr. M. Williams: I don’t think so.
Mr. Mayor: You can debate about it when you give them and this is the debate about it on
the floor to add them to the agenda. Again you can debate about it all day long.
Mr. M. Williams: They can’t be added unless you (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, I understand that but you (inaudible) given any objection to debate.
Mr. M. Williams: Mayor, maybe you can but I mean your imagination don’t go far. That’s
all.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, what are you objecting to, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m objecting to the two from the Fire Department. I need to here those,
I need to understand those. I’m not ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay, that’s why we’re saying we’re going to add them to the agenda so that
you can discuss them and debate them. They’re not being added to the Consent Agenda. They’re
just being added to the agenda.
Mr. M. Williams: --- well, they can only be added if you’ve got unanimous consent so you
assumed that, Mr. Mayor. Don’t assume. This is a bad day today so just don’t assume. Let’s take
it at face value. Let’s go by the rules and ask the question before (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m asking are you objecting to those items being added to the
agenda?
Mr. M. Williams: No, I’m not objecting to be added to the agenda ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. M. Williams: --- I’m objecting to them being added to the Consent because I’m not
consenting those. I want to hear from those, I want to discuss them. I’m elected to discuss it and
I’m going to make everybody else discuss it. That’s what we’re supposed to do ---
Mr. Mayor: All right ---
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Mr. M. Williams: --- if you don’t want to discuss it don’t run for office.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right very good we’re on the same page then. I did not assume. All
right, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: --- again without objection the Commissioner from the 8 asked that his item
be deleted for further discussion down the road, all right, very well.
The Clerk: We’ll add that deletion to the Consent Agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: Our Consent Agenda consists of Items 1 through 8, Items 1 through 8. For the
benefit of any objectors:
Item 2: Is a request for a change of zoning from a B-1 (Neighborhood) to a B-2 (General
Business) affecting property at 3215 Wrightsboro Road.
Item 3: Is a petition to establish a Family Personal Care Home at property located 1612
Apple Valley Drive.
Item 4: Is a petition to deny a petition pertaining to required age of a manufactured home
allowed on the property located at 1775 Nixon Road.
Item 5: Is a Planning Item regarding a change of zoning from a B-1 (Neighborhood
Business) to a Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property at 218 Davis Road.
Item 6: Is a change of zoning from a Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Busines) affecting property
at 227 Folkstone Circle.
Item 7: Is a request for a Special Exception to establish an Adult Day Care Facility at
property at 227 Folkstone Circle.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, can you ask Mr. Sherman if there were any objectors please?
Mr. Mayor: I can. All right, Director Sherman, would you approach please, Director
Sherman. All right, Director Sherman, are there any objectors? All right there are no objectors,
Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Okay, our Consent Agenda consists of Items 1 through 8 with the addition of
Item #4 on our Addendum Agenda with no objectors to our Planning Petitions.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir ---
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Mr. Mayor: --- regarding consent matters Item #6 from the Addendum Agenda I’d like to
move that to Consent. It should’ve been, it’s really just a matter of us distributing these resources.
We’ve already voted to do that so I want to move that to Consent and that’s Item #6 ---
Mr. Hasan: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: --- Item #8 on the Addendum Agenda to Consent as well. We’ve already
talked about this and voted on this matter last week during our Special Called Session.
The Clerk: --- yes, sir, add that one ---
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: --- deleting it from the Regular Agenda.
Mr. Mayor: Right, that’s right, so let’s add that and, all right I’m going to pause there and
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I’m going to recognize hands up. All right, Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you. Might need a little clarification on these other items because they
were listed 1 through 8 on thing but we also added others so you know when we get through with
this can you reiterate that you or The Clerk please. Okay, I request that we consent Item 11 ---
Mr. M. Williams: I have a problem with that.
Mr. Sias: --- all right, Item 12 ---
Mr. Mayor: Item 12, Commissioner, is Item 8 from the Addendum Agenda.
The Clerk: Deleting it.
Mr. Sias: --- so which one is the real deal?
The Clerk: They both are, sir. Item #8 on the Addendum Agenda we’re deleting it from
the Regular Agenda because that matter was taken care of on Friday during our Special Called
Meeting.
Mr. Mayor: Right.
Mr. Sias: Gotcha.
Mr. M. Williams: Are 8 and 12 the same one?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct, 8 and 12 are the same ---
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The Clerk: That was already taken care.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right.
Mr. Sias: That was that reiteration. Okay, Item 14 ---
Mr. M. Williams: I got a problem with that too.
Mr. Sias: --- Item 15, Item 16, Item 17, Item 18 and Item 19.
Mr. M. Williams: 16, 17 and 18 I got a problem with. Item 14 is fine I looked that over.
The Clerk: You had a problem with 15, 16 ---
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Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, Madam Clerk, the Commissioner from the 9 has objected to
16, 17, 18 and 19 so the only items that have been added to the Consent Agenda are 14 and 15 at
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this time, okay? All right, the Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. If the Engineer Chair it’s fine these are pretty much
companion items and routine on Item 24 if we could consent 24, 25, 26 and 27 ---
The Clerk: 28, ma’am?
Ms. Davis: --- yes 28 that’s also like a companion item so if the Chair’s good with that
those are pretty routine.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I talked to Malik about some of those but okay that’s 24 through
28 ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay?
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay, all right.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Chair.
Mr. M. Williams: 24 through 28 ---
Mr. Sias: What about 21?
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Madam, let’s delete Item 20. We’ve already had that conversation and
Item #21 the Commissioner is asking I certainly have some questions but I’m not opposed to
consenting that again I’ll just let that be right there.
The Clerk: So we’re consenting Item #21 ---
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
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The Clerk: --- okay.
Mr. M. Williams: I don’t know if we’re doing that yet, Ms. Bonner, but I need to hear
some conversation before I agree to that. We did talk about that in Legal so we don’t have a
process that we can do now so we can inform the general public as to (inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: Item #21 a motion to decline the City of Augusta’s optional payroll tax deferral
program. All employees are not eligible for the payroll tax deferral process and so absent us
debating it fully but the President signed a memorandum that allows the deferral of a portion of
Social Security Taxes for certain employees due to COVID-19. I’m not sure why we’re declining
that but again it’s a benefit ---
Mr. Hasan: If you defer it, you’re going to have to come back and pay it.
Mr. Sias: It’s nothing but a loan and they’re going to take that out of your check starting
next year. They’re going to double up your withdrawals.
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah but the problem here is you’re making that decision the employees
are not making that decision.
Mr. Sias: Then why is it on the agenda?
Mr. Mayor: Again the employees ultimately should decide whether he or she wants to be
able to do that. That’s my point.
Mr. Sias: The governing body has to make a decision rather (unintelligible), I’m going to
let it go. Ya’ll screw other folks if you want to.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m going to the Commissioner from the 8.
Mr. Garrett: Thank you, Mayor. I’d like to add to Consent Items # 29 and 30.
Mr. Mayor: Those are great choices.
Mr. M. Williams: 29 and 30 pertaining to what?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, again, 29 is again as this organization i.e. the City of Augusta continues
to get departments working and using Cityworks Asset Management Software it makes us a much
more efficient and thereby effective government. So this is again just a change order, it’s certainly
appropriate working with the current vendors that we have. And then Item #30 is just a storage
area where they’re constructing two workstations. Both of them are very reasonable matters of
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consent. All right, the Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. M. Williams: We disagree with those, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: Say again now. Hold on a minute, Commissioner from the 1 Commissioner
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from the 9 state your inquiry.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m going to agree with you. I was looking at Item 29 and 30 and I’m
agreeing I first said I was not but I am agreeing with it 29 and 30.
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Mr. Mayor: This commission thanks you. Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, at our last Commission meeting we were not able to address my
agenda item because we lost the quorum and we had some people here that was last week that
were prepared to talk about it. And they sat for 3 ½, 4-hours. Is there any way that you could
move my agenda item to the top of the list?
Mr. Mayor: Sure ---
Mr. Fennoy: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- yeah. All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go back through our list
here.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, did we ask under Addendum Item #2 is this a ratification of
acceptance of that grant award for our Transit Department?
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, let’s move that to Consent.
The Clerk: Are we ready now to recap ---
Mr. Mayor: We are ready, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: --- okay. Our Consent Agenda will consist of Items 1-8 with the addition from
the Addendum Agenda to delete Item #4, to delete Item #8, to delete Item 12 on our Regular
Agenda to add/delete no, to consent Item 18, no, I think Commissioner Williams had a question
on the ---
Mr. Mayor: No, Madam Clerk (unintelligible).
Mr. Hasan: Item #11.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk we’re ---
The Clerk: He had questions on those.
Mr. Mayor: --- right, he had questions about it so we’re consenting Item #14, Item #15,
Item #21 ---
The Clerk: He had questions on those unless he’s changed his mind.
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Mr. Mayor: --- no, he changed his mind, he did.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I did.
Mr. Mayor: He changed his mind.
The Clerk: On 14 and 15 and 16?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, no only 14, 15 Item 21, Item 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.
Mr. Hasan: I think 11 was in there as well, wasn’t it?
Mr. Mayor: It was not, there was an objection.
The Clerk: And #2 on the Addendum Agenda.
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
The Clerk: All right, Mr. Mayor, I think you’re in a position to take a motion on the
Consent Agenda.
Mr. Mayor: So moved.
Mr. Sias: Second.
CONSENT AGENDA
PLANNING
1. FINAL PLAT – Walker Hill, Section 4 – S-856-IV – A request for concurrence with the
Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to approve a petition by James G. Swift &
Associates, on behalf of Walker Hill, LLC, requesting final plat approval of Walker Hill
Section 4. This addition to a residential subdivision is located at 3500 Walker Creek Road
and contains 23 lots. DISTRICT 8
2. Z-20-40 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions below a petition by Louis White, on behalf of A+ Financial
Services, Inc., requesting a change of zoning from Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to Zone
B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing 0.46 acres and known as 3215
Wrightsboro Road Tax Map 042-1-033-02-0 DISTRICT 3 1. Redevelopment of the site must
comply with the Augusta Tree Ordinance. 2. A minimum 20 foot natural buffer must be
maintained along the rear property line. 3. Direct outdoor lighting away from nearby
residential development.
3. Z-20-43 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions below a petition by Ayodele Ayeduh requesting to establish a
Family Personal Care Home per Section 26-2-(h) of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance
for Augusta Georgia and O.C.G.A. at 36-66-4(f) of the Georgia State Code affecting property
located at 1612 Apple Valley Drive. Tax Map 123-4-020-00-0 – Zoned R-1C (One-family
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Residential) DISTRICT 1 1. The home shall be staffed on a 7-day, 24-hour basis. 2. The
home shall be limited to 5 residents total with staff coming in shifts. Any live-in staff will be
counted towards the maximum occupancy of 5 residents. 3. Any changes in the definition of
the use, nature of the clientele or increase in numbers of occupants shall require another
Special Exception. 4. The applicant must receive and maintain a City of Augusta business
license and a license with the State of Georgia. Proof of compliance with the minimum
requirements of Chapter 111.8-62.01 of the O.C.G.A. must be provided, and the applicant
must provide annual fire department inspection reports. 5. All requirements must be met
within six (6) months of approval of the Special Exception, or the Special Exception is void.
6. If wheelchair bound persons reside in the residence all 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible
Design requirements must be met, including but not limited to: • All doorways must be at
least 3 feet wide. • At least one bathroom that permits a wheelchair dependent person to use
all bathroom facilities unimpeded.
4. Z-20-44 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
deny a petition by Anthony Pearson, on behalf of Linda Pearson requesting to amend a
condition of Z-19-27 pertaining to the required age of the manufactured home allowed be
placed on the property be 10 years or old or newer affecting property containing 0.13 acres
and located at 1775 Nixon Road. Tax Map 099-1-025-00-0 Zoned A (Agriculture) DISTRICT
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5. Z-20-45 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions below a petition by R.E. Shearer Construction, on behalf of TCP
Development Co. Inc., requesting a change of zoning from B-1 (Neighborhood Business) to
Zone B-2 (General Business) affecting property containing 6.22 acres and known as 218
Davis Road. Tax Map 016-1-029-00-0 DISTRICT 7 1. Direct outdoor lighting away from
nearby residential development. 2. A minimum 100 foot natural buffer must be maintained
along the rear property line. 3. Include a loading space on the concept plan that meets the
standards outlined in Section 4-4 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. 2. This project
shall comply with all development standards and regulations set forth by the City of Augusta,
GA at the time of development.
6. Z-20-46 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions below a petition by the Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s
Care Inc., on behalf of the Knox Foundation Inc., requesting a change of zoning from Zone
PUD (Planned Unite Development) to Zone B-1 (Neighborhood Business) affecting property
containing approximately 1.4 acres and known as part of 227 Folkstone Circle. Part of Tax
Map 011-0-277-00-0 DISTRICT 7 1. All parcels shall be combined before the plan is
submitted for site plan review. 2. A minimum of 10 foot landscaped/natural buffer shall be
placed/remain along all borders of the property. Buffers shall not hinder site distance along
Washington Road and Lutheran Drive for the Advent Lutheran Church at 3232 Washington
Road. 4. Outdoor lighting shall be directed away from nearby residential development. 5. A
minimum of 27 parking spaces shall be provided for 18-20 employees and 1 space per 3
patients at maximum capacity. 6. A Special Exception to create a facility greater than 15,000
square footage must be obtained prior to development of the site. 7. This project shall comply
with all development standards and regulations set forth by the City of Augusta, GA at the
time of development.
7. Z-20-47 – A request for concurrence with the Augusta Georgia Planning Commission to
approve with the conditions below a petition by the Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s
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Care Inc., on behalf of the Knox Foundation Inc., requesting a Special Exception to establish
an Adult Day Care Facility in a building that will exceed 15,000 sq. ft. in a B-1 (Neighborhood
Business) Zone per Section 21-2 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for Augusta
Georgia affecting property containing approximately 6.5 acres and known as 3240
Washington Road and part of 227 Folkstone Circle. Tax Map 011-0-228-00-0 and part of
011-0-227-00-0 DISTRICT 7 1. All parcels shall be combined before a plan is submitted for
site plan review. 2. A minimum of 10 foot landscaped/natural buffer shall be placed/remain
along all borders of the property. Buffers shall not hinder site distance along Washington
Road and Lutheran Drive. Additionally, there will be a privacy fence and vegetative buffer
at the corner boundary with Woodbine West. 3. Ingress/egress shall line up with adjacent
curb cuts along Lutheran Drive for the Advent Lutheran Church at 3232 Washington Road.
4. Outdoor lighting shall be directed away from nearby residential development. 5. A
minimum of 27 parking spaces shall be provided for 18-20 employees and 1 space per 3
patients at maximum capacity. 6. Any use established as a result of a Special Exception
granted per Subsection 21-2 must be initiated within six (6) months of the granting, or the
Special Exception shall no longer be valid. The initiation of a use is established by the
issuance of a valid business license by the Augusta Planning and Development Department
or by other reasonable proof of the establishment of vested rights. If a Special Exception is
granted and the use is initiated but later ceases to operate for a period of one (1) year, then
the Special Exception shall no longer be valid. 7. This project shall comply with all
development standards and regulations set forth by the City of Augusta, GA at the time of
development.
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
8. Motion to approve the minutes of the Regular and Special Called Meetings held on
September 1, 2020.
PUBLIC SERVICES
12. Motion to approve acceptance of FAA AIP Grant No. 3-13-0011-044-2020 in the amount
of $7,176,841.00 and GDOT FY 2021 Grant (Contract 62): of GDOT Grant Award in the
amount of $1,861,166.93 for Rehabilitate Runway 8-26 and Electrical at Bush Field.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
14. Approve Anthem/BCBS of Georgia Medicare Advantage PPO Renewal.
15. ADA Transition Plan Update, 2020
20. Status update on the recruitment/hiring process of an Administrator. (Requested by
Commissioner Marion Williams)
FINANCE
21. Motion to Decline implementation of optional payroll tax deferral program.
ENGINEERING SERVICES
24. Motion to determine that Tenth Street between Walker Street and the Augusta Canal as
shown on the attached map has ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no
substantial public purpose is served by it or that its removal from the county road system is
otherwise in the best public interest, pursuant to O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned
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property to be quit-claimed to the appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and an
easement to be retained over the entire abandoned portion for existing or future utilities as
directed by Augusta Engineering Department and Augusta Utilities Department.
25. Motion to determine that the Alley between 1512 and 1514 Laney Walker Blvd as shown
on the attached map has ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no substantial
public purpose is served by it or that its removal from the county road system is otherwise
in the best public interest, pursuant to O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be
quit-claimed to the appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained
over the entire abandoned portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta
Engineering Department and Augusta Utilities Department.
26. Motion to determine that Ellis Street between 209 and 211 Fifteenth Street as shown on
the attached map has ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no substantial public
purpose is served by it or that its removal from the county road system is otherwise in the
best public interest, pursuant to O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quit-
claimed to the appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained
over the entire abandoned portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta
Engineering Department and Augusta Utilities Department.
27. Motion to determine that Emmett Street Lane up to 1109 Emmett Street as shown on the
attached map has ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no substantial public
purpose is served by it or that its removal from the county road system is otherwise in the
best public interest, pursuant to O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quit-
claimed to the appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained
over the entire abandoned portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta
Engineering and Augusta Utilities Department.
28. Motion to determine that a Portion of Jim Dent Way as shown on the attached map has
ceased to be used by the public to the extent that no substantial public purpose is served by
it or that its removal from the county road system is otherwise in the best public interest,
pursuant to O.C.G.A. §32-7-2, with the abandoned property to be quit-claimed to the
appropriate party(ies), as provided by law and an easement to be retained over the entire
abandoned portion for existing or future utilities as directed by Augusta Engineering
Department and Augusta Utilities Department.
29. Motion to Approve Change Order for the Professional Services Contract with Woolpert,
Inc. to implement Cityworks Asset Management Software for the Augusta Utilities Metering
and Customer Service Division and integrate with enQuesta CIS Software for the amount of
$75,000.00.
30. Approve Augusta Engineering Department’s Work Request with Modern Business to
Modify and Reorganize Augusta Engineering Department Walker Street Operations
Storage Area and Construct two Workstations in the amount of $41,036.99. Requested by
AED.
ADDENDUM
33. Motion to ratify acceptance of Annual GDOT/FTA Section 5303 Transit Grant in the
amount of $157,977.00.
35. Discuss and offer solutions for ongoing grounds maintenance shortfalls that is the city’s
main entry points into the county. (Requested by Commissioner Brandon Garrett)
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36. Motion to authorize Finance to disburse checks from the Chatham County
reimbursement, accepted by Commission on July 21, 2020, for the 2019 Hurricane Dorian
shelter response. Richmond County School System: $273,677.24; Richmond County Health
District: $112,476.91; Animal Services: $1,607.34; Augusta Transit: $408.00, and Richmond
County Sheriff’s Office: $45,377.64.
38. Motion to approve acceptance of FAA/AIP Grant No. 3-13-0011-044-2020 in the amount
of $7,176,841.00 and GDOT FY 2021 Grant
(Contract 62) of 8-26 and Electrical at Bush Field. (Approved in Special Called Meeting held
September 11, 2020)
Ms. Davis: Move to approve.
Mr. Hasan: Second.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: No.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom, 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.
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The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Frantom out.
Mr. Clarke votes No.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go on the Addendum Agenda and then
we’ll pick back up and just go from top to bottom. But we’ll go to Addendum Agenda and let’s
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go ahead and address Item #3 from the Addendum Agenda per the Commissioner from the 1.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
34. Motion to approve $50,000 funding request to assist Greater Augusta’s Interfaith
Coalition’s Total Census Count Initiative. To support census responses from hard to count
citizens and the support for 15 sites of activities for respondents of the local Census Count.
(Requested by Commissioner Bill Fennoy.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. McFarley, if you’ll approach, Ms. McFarley. All right, if we
can have a speaker? All right Ms. McFarley, a speaker there is a speaker from Greater Augusta
Interfaith?
Ms. McFarley: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right fantastic.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: Yes, Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: --- yes, I mean do you have some funds that you can give to them or
something.
Mr. Mayor: We’ve been down that road already and they don’t want them.
Mr. B. Williams: They don’t want them?
Mr. Mayor: I was told that they didn’t want what we had discussed previously. They
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didn’t want the $3,500 dollars that we offered them so, all right Commissioner from the 1 it’s on
you.
Mr. Fennoy: Well, I would, wanted to wait and hear the presentation from the Interfaith
Commission but ---
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Mr. Mayor: All right so all right so who’s speaking on behalf of Greater Augusta
Interfaith?
Mr. Speaker: I am, Mr. Mayor, we we’re waiting for our Reverend Christopher Johnson
to get here ---
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, we’re not able to wait on him to get here.
Mr. Speaker: --- right what the Greater Augusta Interfaith wants (inaudible) Ministers,
civic members and (inaudible) and what we have been doing we have ---
Mr. Mayor: Sir, can you pause for a moment? All right, can you step in front of the camera
in front of the device because I want to get your name, okay, there we go. All right come closer,
sir, so we can, if you’ll state for the record your name and your address.
Mr. Jackson: Honorable Mayor and Commissioners, I am Pastor Willie J. Jackson. I live
at 248 LaFayette Drive in the City of Augusta and what I am I’m one of the members of the Greater
Augusta Alliance that we have been working consistently to get members in the community who
have been hard to count and to get them involved because what we have been doing is really
generating over a million dollars to the city because we signed up almost 400 people who have
been difficult to find and sign. And subsequently we have signed up these people and it’s going
to generate a bunch of money for the city. (Inaudible) 600 that we have signed up 600 people and
as a result that’s over a million and a half dollars coming to the city and all we’re requesting is that
the city give us, give the coalition the money so that we can continue to do what we have been
doing to enrich the city. We appreciate what you and the Commissioners are doing and what we
are trying to do is help the city resources so that we can do an even better job for the citizens of
Augusta. And we appreciate you allowing us to come and be on the agenda but we respectfully
request the release of funds so that we can continue this endeavor and for the next two weeks we’re
working hard to sign up to get others who are difficult to sign up.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you and what is it you’re requesting? I believe that’s what the
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Commissioner from the 1 would like for you to state.
Pastor Jackson: Okay, we the Coalition is asking for $50,000 so that we can continue to
do what we are doing. Of c course you know we had milk trucks out down in the Delta Manor
area out in South Augusta. I stayed up until about 8:30 or 9:00 o’clock with the milk helping people
get the milk and sign up people and subsequently we you know for all of us that are working we’re
working our hearts out to try to help these people counted and that is what is important for the City
of Augusta.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 1.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, do we have, what type of resources do we have to give to the
Interfaith and do we have any, are there any ongoing programs that as we have to get people to
participate in the census?
14
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Within the last few days members of the Commission have
received a communication from our two co-chairs of the Augusta Complete Count Committee
Clint Bryant and Robert Osborn and they provided some information that was generic in nature
around where we are. To date Augusta Richmond County’s self-response rate is 59.6%. After
restarting the Augusta Complete Count efforts here within the last three weeks you’ve seen a four-
percentage increase from where we were at about 56.2% to now being at 59.6 almost 60%. I want
to clarify what you’re seeing. In 2010 the self-response rate was 63.5% after the census period
was over. That self-response rate in 2010 was two methods: by mail or by phone. In 2020 we
have a third method which is internet, telephone or by mail so what you’re seeing at almost 60%
response rate is just that. Those individuals who received the communication from the Census
Bureau and have responded on their own by way of online@my2020census.gov through the
questionnaire that was sent to their home or by simply calling 1-884-330-2020. Those efforts were
aggressively pursued not only by the Augusta Complete Count Committee but the local group here
as you heard them say they’ve worked in this period of time and have identified folks that they’ve
encouraged to fill out or complete the questionnaire. In terms of ongoing efforts videos were cut
last week. There was already a round of media ads on radio. Videos were cut last week from
community influencers. Those videos were produced and are being delivered today with an
expectation that they will be on the media circuit starting tomorrow, that’s both social media, radio
and television based on current budget. And so that will continue because the date for census
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closure is still September the 30. There was also a conversation that was had on yesterday to
have a big event with the Commissioner from the Department of Agriculture, Commissioner Gary
Black, and having a food giveaway and double that with having census registrations take place
very similar to what’s been done in DeKalb County and in Fulton County having that made
available to us and possibly using Cares Act funding to be able to secure the food from the
Department of Agriculture. Those things are underway today. Based on our conversation with
the folks from the Census Bureau directly Augusta if we took the self-response rate and the rate of
response that they’re getting from enumeration we anticipate based on what we’ve been told both
the co-chairs and myself is that Augusta’s trending i.e. tracking towards a 70% response rate with
COVID-19. I feel even more encouraged in light of that and that’s the data that has been provided
to us here within the last three to five days. And so all of these efforts are coalescing right now
and I feel real good about where we are but now is the time to make that major push. As I said
earlier in the conversation when this discussion was brought before we based on what’s remaining
from a budget standpoint. We thought we could appropriately give $3,500 dollars based on
knowing that this major push over the final two weeks would require the rest of those resources
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and so there are a number of events. There’s a September the 26 event that’s slated with Kelli
Walker and the 311 team working in partnership with a series of community organizations here in
one of the most difficult hard to count areas from East Augusta all the way back here to Old Town.
So those things are in motion right now and part of those resources are being used for that as well.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, I think everybody on the Commission understands the importance
of getting as accurate count as we possibly can. Our hospitals, our education, our roads and
bridges, all of this will be impacted by the how successful we are in getting an accurate count. I
just would like to know, I mean what could we do to insure that we have as many organizations
participating in this census so that the City of Augusta Richmond County can benefit?
15
Ms. Speaker: Mr. Commissioner, currently we have phone banking throughout the census
which we’ve been operating. We’re getting ready to do an additional push, we’re going to do
some more training we’re going to get more people phone banking to complete the census so we’re
going to have people doing more training so we get more people out there to make some more
people continue to push so that’s our main thing that we want to finish. So not only are we going
to have people physically out there, we’re going to have people on the phone to complete more by
being physically on there putting calls out there to make certain that we’re calling people to also
put the calls out there to do phone banking.
Mr. Fennoy: Well, Mr. Mayor ---
Mr. Mayor: Let me add this, let me add the following as well. We are and again I’m giving
you all real time information from what we know. What we have seen in the hard to count tracts
which I shared with you all last week there are six specific tracts, we’re excluding Fort Gordon
from that, which brings it to five specific tracts. Where we have run into ‘hard to count areas’
have been in the multifamily living spaces as well as our own high rises, long-term care facility
and nursing homes. Because of COVID-19 no one is being allowed into long-term care facilities
and nursing homes. And so on yesterday we had a meeting with GIS, Tax Assessors Office and a
conversation with the Marshal’s Office because they are going into those facilities doing checkups
but on those remaining five hard to count areas you’ve got thousands of units that we are now
targeting using the data analytics where we specifically we know based on the maps that GIS has
since updated. And so over the next couple of days again roughly 14 days at this point there’s
going to be a major push into the multifamily units in each of the hard to count areas where the
response is less than 40%. For example in the Doctor’s Hospital area off of Wheeler Road just in
that area alone there are 1,142 apartments 1,142 and the response rate from those areas has been
again substantially low. We’re talking about 40.6% and that’s a little seasoned. But that’s the
challenge that we’ve faced here as we try to get not only an accurate census count but as we get
smart about well where at the bottlenecks at where are the challenges at. I might also add that I
had a conversation just as an example yesterday with the Sheriff about whether or not the Census
Bureau and/or their enumerators had contacted them about the count at our jail and his response
was no. We’ve got almost a 1,000 individuals who by reason of care are in the local jails and so
we’re just getting smarter as we go. This is a difficult task but it’s being recognized by the Census
st,
Bureau as well that the time is winding these are the things. So, Commissioner from the 1 I think
that we are again tracking as far as this with a major event planned and still in the planning stages.
It will require some resources that are probably beyond the budget that we have today. I think that
that’s if the Commission is taking action on anything it should be for consideration to support the
drive, the food giveaway with Commissioner Gary Black because that’s been very successful in
helping the folks there in DeKalb County and Fulton County get their number. I will tell you that
our response rate is better than Atlanta so we’re doing pretty good in relationship to that. We’re
two percentage points higher than that even in Atlanta.
Ms. Speaker: One thing that we do have for us, Commissioner, is that we have a large base
of military retirees that we do have the support of Fort Gordon that we have volunteers to help us
with community services so I’m sure that we have the opportunity and the resources that we can
work with the military base. We have folks that allow us to work with the reserve center to work
with their individuals about reaching out to their community and we have spoken to them so
16
reached out to their individuals (unintelligible) their military personnel as they have come to the
Municipal Building. So we have the resources to reach out to our military personnel within our
organization (inaudible) so that is a resource that we have that has many on tap for the Fort Gordon
military (unintelligible).
th.
Mr. Mayor: So I’m going to go to the Commissioner from the 4 Let me say this. I think
because this is a point of clarification that everyone needs to understand. All of us are working
for the same goal and that is to insure that Augusta has all of our citizens counted. The work that
the Interfaith Coalition is doing complimenting, it’s complimentary work not competitive work
but complimentary work and I think that’s the overarching thing that everyone needs to understand.
th
We’re complimenting each other’s efforts. Commissioner from the 4.
Mr. Sias: Thank you, sir. I just want to ask the folks who are making the request you’re
asking for $50,000 dollars. We have about 14 days or two weeks before this whole process is
over. Now you all started off as a volunteer group working with the census program, so my
question is what are the expenses you feel like you need to be paying for expenses you would have
in the next 14 days and I would kind of hard pressed to believe it would be a full $50,000 dollars
for a volunteer group, so can you elaborate on that? What expenses and what things do you expect
to pay for in the next 14 days?
Ms. Speaker: (Inaudible) for the organization the $50,000 dollars is not for the
(unintelligible) for the next two weeks but for the resources we’ve already spent as far as what
we’ve already done. We’ve been able, we’ve had to support our resources we’ve had to pay for
our internet services for the locations that we had to go. Because we are a volunteer organization
we have not anyone that was going to support and to foot our bills so the things that we’ve had to
do we have had to supply the resources. We have provided resources to make individuals want to
go out, we have provided PPE as an incentive to encourage people to come out and want to fill out
their census. Those are the things that we have provided to make it more encouraging for
individuals to want to fill out their census. There are individual things that we as volunteers have
gone out and done on our own that we have paid out of our pockets as volunteers and also that we
have gathered some individuals. So we have paid and we have used our resources as a volunteer
organization so all we’re trying to do is get some resources back so we can use more volunteer
resources for other engagements that we also have to use as well. As a volunteer organization in
order to continue to be resourceful you must maintain your resources (inaudible).
Mr. Sias: Last question. Is there any way that you could come up with more of a firm or
a sum that’s a little bit more firm say you’ll be paying for this, this and that and we would be able
to provide that or something to that effect some kind of a not so much itemized but what would be
your direct cost? That’s the question I’m trying to ask.
Ms. Speaker: Okay, the reason our numbers have went up is primarily because we have,
our numbers have went up because our personnel have went up the cost of (inaudible) the number
of sites. Previously as an all-volunteer we did not need to man as many sites because we weren’t
taking as many hours and we weren’t maintaining as many sites at the same time. We were not
manning Monday through Friday, five days a week, locations manning five and six sites at one
time. We were doing maybe two or three sites maybe once or twice a month, two or three times a
17
week if that. Now that we’re really trying to really push a big push we’re having to give people
stipends to be able to put that kind of time in every day. When you want to pay somebody
something you’ve got to give them gas, maybe provide them some kind of stipend to feed them,
some food if they’re going to put that kind of time in five days a week to give them some gas to
get to those locations that you’re asking them to go to to take that kind of time out of their day
every day.
Mr. Sias: My last question, when did ya’ll start the big push in reference to what you said?
Ms. Speaker: We started the big push the last 30 days which was the last the big push when
we started moving into the Municipal Building and we started going five days a week Monday
through Friday 10:00 to 3:00 p.m. That’s when our big push started.
Mr. Sias: Thank you.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 6, you’re muted, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, is the Municipal Building the only place you’re operating from at this
time?
Ms. Speaker: That’s a negative, Commissioner. We’re trying to maintain an office, we’re
finally able to maintain space we’re working in the Tag Office in South Augusta, we maintain
space in the Courthouse and we’re doing the space in the Municipal Building.
Mr. Hasan: So you’re doing all this simultaneously?
Ms. Speaker: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Everyday I don’t see you in the Municipal Building so you’re in all those other
locations every day is what you’re saying.
Ms. Speaker: Yes, sir, every day, Monday through Friday 10:00 to 3:00 p.m. that is every
day.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, where is the big difference in the last month? I noticed ya’ll was at a
meeting and saying Pastor Johnson was there at one of the census meetings and he was saying you
had registered 208 people at that particular time so right now you’re saying since that time you
registered 392 people to round it off to 600 persons. So what’s been the major difference to make
that happen because you’ve grown exponentially based on the numbers you’ve given today?
Ms. Speaker: The Courthouse has been a big addition to our numbers. The individuals
coming to the Courthouse has been a big addition to us being able to pick up a lot of individuals.
That has been a major location so that’s picking up additional numbers.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to speak to you at this point, to my colleagues at this
point and you can correct me if I’m wrong about the numbers here. If you take and I have my
18
reasons to disagree so if you say 600 people persons, Mr. Mayor, and if you do that times 2,300
that’s about $1.3 million dollars annually and I think you give those $2,300 dollars every year is
that not the case, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: If only that’d be true ---
Mr. Hasan: That’d be true?
Mr. Mayor: --- I don’t know the $2,300, I don’t know what the $2,300 dollar number
represents.
Mr. Hasan: The $2,300 dollars per person each person who signed up supposed to
represent $2,300 dollars annually to your local community is that ---
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Hasan: --- okay, so if that’s the case if they signed up 600 persons does this mean at
this particular time they’ve generated over $1,300 dollars over the next 10 years. If that’s the case
then I recommend we give them $25,000 dollars and I’m not and we’re trying to find out how we
come up with it I recommend $25,000 dollars if that’s the case.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, can I get a second?
Mr. Fennoy: All right.
Mr. Hasan: That’s a long way from $3,500.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Was that Mr. Fennoy?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I guess the Administrator will find the $2,500 for us
(unintelligible).
Mr. Mayor: $25,000.
Mr. Hasan: $25,000, I’m sorry.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, okay all right so we’re going to have some more discussion. I’m going
to go to the Commissioner from the, we have a motion and a second. All right, I’m going to the
thth
Commissioner from the 10, Commissioner from the 10.
Mr. Clarke: I withdraw my question, sir.
19
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate this group’s efforts and I know how
important it is. I’m just not comfortable with either the 25 or the 50. And I know that ya’ll, Mr.
Mayor, ya’ll did approve $3,500, is that correct from your budget from the committee?
Mr. Mayor: Well, that was from the Complete Count Committee the co-chairs said that
was certainly something that they could do based on their major push here for the remainder of the
14 days.
Ms. Davis: And does that even need approval from us?
Mr. Mayor: No, it did not but you know again I’ve been very transparent about what’s
happening and what’s ---
Ms. Davis: Right.
Mr. Mayor: --- going on so.
Ms. Davis: Yeah, so I just I would hope that the $3,500 dollars would help. I just don’t
with our budget right now and we don’t know exactly what their expenses are going to be and the
accountabilities so just right now I just don’t feel comfortable with that. But I’m hoping that that
$3,500 dollars is available if today doesn’t pass. Thank you.
Mr. B. Williams: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 5.
Mr. B. Williams: --- substitute motion ---
Mr. Mayor: No, we’ve already got a main motion. There’s not been a substitute. You’ve
got a main motion already for $25,000.
Mr. B. Williams: --- no, I’m saying I want to do a substitute for $10,000.
Mr. Mayor: Oh, okay. All right ---
Mr. D. Williams: I’ll second it.
Mr. Sias: Second.
Mr. Mayor: --- all right, Madam Clerk, I’ve got a substitute motion for $10,000 from the
thnd
Commissioner from the 5 with a proper second from the Commissioner from the 2.
The Clerk: Second?
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Mr. Mayor: Yes. All right, so let me, I’m going to go back to something that I shared just
a moment ago about the food giveaway for a major event here in the next 10 days that’s being
considered in concert with Commissioner Gary Black from the Department of Agriculture. I’d like
for this body to consider that as well in light of this motion and that would be there will be again
taking that same $50,000 that’s being discussed and appropriating 35 of that 35 of that thousand
that allows you to give away a thousand boxes of food realizing that we are in a place where food
and security is a real challenge for us in this city but that’s Georgia grown products that will
provide meals to Augusta families and at the same time be a tool that we can get people for a major
event for a census drive event here in the city. I don’t want that to get lost in the conversation. I
want to make sure that we put that out there and give consideration to taking action on that as well.
All right, Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Mayor: --- substitute motion, yes.
The Clerk: --- to allocate funding in the amount of $10,000 dollars to the Interfaith
Community Census Count, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Not at this time, no.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: No.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: No.
The Clerk: I’m sorry, sir, you were muffled.
Mr. Sias: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: No, okay, Mr. Bobby Williams.
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Mr. Mayor: He’s muted.
The Clerk: He’s muted?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: No, ma’am.
Mr. Clarke, Ms. Davis, Mr. Garrett, Mr. Hasan, Mr. Sias, Mr. M. Williams vote No.
Mr. Frantom out.
Motion Fails 3-6.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, Point of Personal Privilege please?
th
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yeah, Commissioners, I think $25,000 dollars is reasonable because if they’ve
done half of what they’ve said and (unintelligible) if they’ve generated $13 million dollars
(unintelligible) half of that about six and a half million dollars over the next ten years from their
own personal effort. So I think the $25,000 dollars is not unreasonable to the Mayor’s point. Let
the Administrator find $50,000 dollars to give $25,000 to the Agriculture Gary Black, give $25,000
to this organization and the Mayor, if you come up with $10,000 out of your budget, I just want to
say that that’s how we can do that so I hope the Commission supports $25,000 dollars.
The Clerk: Are you ready to vote, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Sure.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Not at this time, no.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
22
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Clarke, Ms. Davis, Mr. Garrett, Mr. Sias, Mr. B. Williams and Mr. D. Williams vote No.
Mr. Frantom out.
Motion Fails 3-6.
Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem, you’re muted, that’s what’s happening, you’re muted or
you’re not, we can’t hear you.
Mr. Sias: I told you.
Mr. Mayor: Yeah, you’re not muted and we still can’t hear you.
Mr. Sias: He’s not talking; that’s why you can’t hear him.
Mr. Mayor: All right, we’re going to the next item, all right thank you all. Madam Clerk,
we’re going to the Delegations.
Ms. Speaker: One final thing. The number the last number of people we have signed up
for our food drive have been approximately 10 to 15. By all means I’m all for the food drive but
23
that has not been our most successful event that we have done in regards (unintelligible). Thank
you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, we’re going to go to the Delegations.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
A. Mr. Christopher Mullens regarding Equity and Prosperity for Underserved Community.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. McFarley, all right, Mr. Mullens, is he here?
Mr. Hasan: He’s not here.
Mr. Mayor: Oh, he’s not here?
The Clerk: Yes, she says he’s not here.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right.
(Mr. Mullens did not appear before the Commission)
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
B. JoRae Jenkins regarding fair elections in Augusta-Richmond County.
The Clerk: Ms. Jenkins by, without objection was deleted from the agenda today.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
(Ms. Jenkins did not appear before the Commission and will be postponed until the next
Commission meeting)
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
C. Keith Henry regarding maintenance issues on Henry Street. (Deferred from the August
18, 2020 meeting requested by Commissioner Mary Davis)
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. Henry ---
Mr. Henry: Yes, Mr. Mayor, can you hear me?
Mr. Mayor: --- yes, we can hear you. If you’ll turn and face the camera ---
24
Mr. Henry: How’s that?
Mr. Mayor: --- yes, that’s much better and you can come forward if you like so we can get
a closeup. If you’ll state for the record again your name and your address and then you have five
minutes, sir.
Mr. Henry: Yes, my name is Keith Henry. I live at 2508 Henry Street in Augusta and
council members I want to thank you for letting me address you today. About four years ago I
returned to Augusta and I purchased a home in Summerville in order to retire. I grew up here in
Augusta-Richmond County. I went to Richmond Academy but I spent my working career in
Atlanta but I always enjoyed Augusta, took pride in it and I thought it would be a great place to
come back to to retire. So here I’d like to talk to you a little bit today about the subject of medians
and other public areas where it requires maintenance. So as I’ve said Summerville it’s a great to
live and I and many of my neighbors we put a lot of money into our homes and into our landscape.
As I said I live on Henry Street but it concerns me and other citizens that I talk to on a regular basis
is the maintenance on the medians and other public areas there is not up to the standard of the
Garden City. We’ve had a number of issues with the public median and in our case they run the
full length of Henry Street and Fleming Avenue and they’re very much you know the entry point
into Augusta University and also into downtown and hundreds if not thousands of cars go by them
every day. Specifically when I say the medians I’m talking about weeds in the grass in the median
which today in many cases there’s weeds there and it’s not properly maintained. The city doesn’t
do any weed control or fertilization. The mowing cycle often runs three weeks on average. We
had a lot of dead trees in the median that need replacing. The irrigation system continually breaks
and they require many days to get fixed, changing a street bulb light typically takes about three
months we measured and we’re lucky to see a street cleaner about every six months. As I’ve said
these are premier entry points into the city and these things are being seen all the time and in this
case this particular street is represented by Commissioner Davis and Commissioner Clarke but I
would submit to you that this is an issue in neighborhoods all over the city and can be seen in all
of your districts. For the last 18 months I’ve been trying to work with the people in the appropriate
city departments to get improvements in the service level and the quality of work done on these
medians and to be honest I’ve had mixed results. Right now in front of my house there’s an
irrigation valve that’s been leaking for ten days. It’s been called in, been reported and still the
water is pouring out. Yesterday my neighbor and I we cut in the grass in the median in front of
our house. It’s been so many days it looked awful so we went ahead and did it. You know often
I can get these things done by being the squeaky wheel but it’s not really the best way to do this. I
mean I’ve talked to a number of managers over the last 18 months and the reason for all this again
finding the right people to get them to take the job, keeping them on the job, equipment’s breaking
down on the job and then the balance between people who seem to be organized in different
departments and they have different areas that they maintain so getting the right balance between
you’ve got enough people to do the things you assign seems to be a problem. So and of course the
COVID pandemic has affected the service level, we all know that, but I would say to everybody
this predated the pandemic. It’s been an issue for quite a bit of time. Now I didn’t come down
here just to complain we in the neighborhood will help. We’ll put our money where our mouth is.
I’ve raised money to spray the grass in the street medians for a full year in order to improve the
health of the grass. I’m also working with Keep Augusta Beautiful to adopt that particular median.
A neighbor of mine are doing it in front of our houses and so we will supplement the work that’s
25
done by the city and if that works I’m going to encourage other neighbors on Henry Street to do
the rest of the median. So I’ve said we’ll supplement the work but we don’t have any equipment
and the manpower to do the primary service provided and we really need to city to step up and
hopefully improve this public space maintenance on our streets and the others. So let me finish
and I hope I haven’t taken too much of your time by saying that again it’s not a very (inaudible)
topic but I think it’s important because the way these public areas look says a lot about the visitors
to the city about what we think about. Augusta’s becoming a destination for businesses and in
particular for retirees but we compete with Columbia County, North Augusta and Aiken so how
we make the city look makes a difference because we want to keep that tax revenue growing. I
think we need to try to pay attention to the details of how to do this work. So what I’m asking you
is this. If I’m working with Maurice McDowell right now in the operations and he’s looking at
how things are organized and he’s trying to make some changes if these things come up I hope
you will support them and if and when you look at the budget for the SPLOST coming up with
capital expenditures it’s been discussed replacing the irrigation system in all these medians for
years and nothing’s been done. In many cases the pipes are 50 years old (unintelligible). So thank
you for your time today. I wanted to bring this to your attention and if there’s any questions to me
I’ll be glad to answer them.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Henry. We appreciate you coming in. This is an extremely
important topic one that I know that so many of us are passionate about. I drive down Highway
25 every day and every time I drive down Highway 25 I just get angrier and angrier. I do, I do.
rd
All right, Commissioner from the 3.
Ms. Davis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Henry, for being here today. I know
we tried to get you to speak in front of the Commission for a few times now and I’m glad we made
it work. So if the Commission, Mr. Henry’s been very reasonable and they have their money
where their mouth is and he knows that it’s just not a problem in the District 3 areas so he’s well
aware that it's throughout the city. And one of the biggest things and Maurice has been working
with us very I feel like pretty aggressively recently and he’s talking about some new plans that
he’s going to bring to the Commission of what he’s trying to do to help with this maintenance
issue. But yeah the irrigation system if we will I’ve talked to some of the Commissioners about
this but I want to continue to talk to each of you to see if we could get some funding in SPLOST
and then they would focus on every district in improving some of the main areas in each district
with the irrigation because there’s no way we could put enough money in right now to fix every
single part of Augusta. But Mr. McDowell’s going to get a list to Mr. Henry and then we’ll get it
to the commission of all the medians that fit the Recreation Department has to maintain and I want
us to really talk about that and focus on putting those funds in SPLOST to get some improvements
going. And then he also knows of course this 3-week maintenance schedule just doesn’t work.
You end up where it looks great for a week and then 2 weeks later it’s a couple feet long so
hopefully Mr. McDowell will bring back a good plan for that. But I appreciate Mr. Henry and I
know that just, I tell you this all the time the Commission’s well aware of these issues and we just
have to it’s time to make some serious changes. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. All right, Mr. Henry stay there, Commissioner from the
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10.
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Mr. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Henry, thank you so much for being not only a
concerned citizen but a good citizen for the stewardship of your city. And your street is a major
thruway and what it is it’s become a shortcut just like Pleasant Home Road does and it gets a whole
lot of traffic there. So just as Commissioner Davis says we are trying to work on this, we’re trying
to get cooperation on it and we appreciate your input. Thank you so much, sir.
Mr. Henry: Thank you for your time gentlemen, lady.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. All right, fantastic. I look forward to Mr. McDowell
bringing that before us it’s a long overdue problem. All right, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: Okay next will be under the Public Services portion of our agenda our Alcohol
Petitions, Mr. Mayor, could you ask Ms. Walton if she could come forward?
Mr. Mayor: Absolutely. Ms. Walton, if you would approach, Ms. Walton.
Ms. Walton: Good afternoon, Mayor and Commissioners. We have three on the agenda
for today our first item is:
PUBLIC SERVICES
9. Motion to approve Existing Location: A.N. 20-33: request by Roderick D. Stokes for a
consumption on premise Liquor, Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with TRUTH
Augusta, Inc. located at 1511 North Leg Rd. There will be Dance. District 5. Super District
9.
Ms. Walton: There will be Dance at this location. This application has been approved by
the Sheriff’s Office and Planning and Development.
Mr. Stokes: Good afternoon. My name is Roderick Stokes, I live at 1228 Oak Ridge
Plantation Road in Hephzibah, Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Stokes: Thank you.
10. Motion to approve New Location: A.N. 20-34: request by Ahmed Bayoumi for a retail
package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with City Hub located at 2614 Peach
Orchard Rd. District 2. Super District 9.
Mr. Speaker: Good afternoon. My name is Ahmed Bayoumi and my full address is 1198
Newport Trail in Evans, Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right, Mr. Bayoumi ---
Mr. D. Williams: Move for approval.
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The Clerk: We have one more.
Mr. Mayor: --- yes, we have one more right, Mr. Bayoumi, if you’ll just stay right there
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for a moment we have a question. All right, Commissioner from the 4, you’re muted,
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Commissioner from the 4 you’re muted.
Mr. Sias: I apologize, thank you, I appreciate that. Is it possible we can get Mr. Stokes
back? I missed the opportunity to ask him a question I had.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, all right, Mr. Bayoumi, thank you. Ms. Walton if you’ll bring Mr.
Stokes back.
Ms. Walton: That second application was approved by the Sheriff’s Department and
Planning and Development.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Ms. Walton, okay there he is, Mr. Stokes ---
Mr. Stokes: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- we have a question for you.
Mr. Stokes: Okay.
Mr. Sias: Mr. Stokes, I have a question for you concerning the TRUTH at North Leg.
Recently in the last I guess we’ll say 60 days I just want to say this is a new request but there was
already and activity going on at this address, am I correct?
Mr. Stokes: (Unintelligible).
Mr. Sias: Okay, now was there a shooting up there very recently?
Mr. Stokes: Not at this location. It was in the parking lot; it’s not in conjunction with this
location.
Mr. Sias: So the parking lot where this location is.
Mr. Stokes: (Unintelligible) yes, sir.
Mr. Sias: I just have a little concern about that. I don’t have everything in front of me that
I wanted but I won’t object to anything here today but that’s something I really, we’ve had a lot of
issues at that particular parking lot/location up there over the years and they don’t seem to be going
away. So hopefully you have a plan to insure that there’s a very little issues and excellent security
for this location. Is that something that we can expect?
Mr. Stokes: That’s something you can expect (unintelligible).
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Mr. Sias: Okay, thank you thank you, Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, all right anyone else? Madam Clerk, we have on under the
Addendum Agenda and that was item motion to approve an existing location?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, Ms. Walton has, I think the applicant in the Chamber.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, very good. Ms. Walton, this is Item #1 from the Addendum Agenda,
Mr. Shreeraj J. Patel.
Ms. Walton: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
ADDENDUM
32. Motion to approve Existing Location: A.N. 20-35: request by Shreeraj J. Patel for a retail
package Beer & Wine License to be used in connection with GURU 98, LLC dba Circle K
located at 3434 Wrightsboro Rd. District 5. Super District 9. (A request from the Planning
& Development Department to add. (No fault of the applicant) The application has been
approved by R.C.S.O. & Planning & Development. At the present time they have no known
objectors to this application.
Mr. Patel: (Inaudible).
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you, thank you, Mr. Patel. All right, Madam Clerk, I believe
that’s all of our Beer & Wine License requests.
The Clerk: Yes, sir, this motion will be for Items 9, 10 and Addendum Item #1.
Mr. Sias: So moved.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All right thank you, voting.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
The Clerk: Ms. Davis.
Ms. Davis: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
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The Clerk: Mr. Frantom, Mr. Garrett, 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.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Frantom and Mr. Garrett out.
Motion Passes 8-0.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Madam Clerk, Number 11.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
11. Motion to approve JHC Corporation as the construction vendor Bid Item 20-173 for
Phase II of the Lombard Mill Preserve Trail, $533,612.00 and approval to redirect a portion
of SPLOST 7 funds between Hiking/Biking Trails and Community Center Improvements.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What percentage of SPLOST 7 is going to be
with that? That $533 is that additional money from SPLOST 7 or do we know what that’s going
to be or we’re just approving the funds for SPLOST 7?
Mr. Mayor: That’s an excellent question. All right, Administrator Sims.
Mr. Sims: Yes, sir, Mayor, Director McDowell is available to answer that question.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very good, we’re bringing him in. All right, Mr. McDowell, the
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Commissioner from the 9 has a question.
30
Mr. McDowell: Yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Mr. McDowell, that SPLOST 7 additional funds I think it’s $533,612
now and with SPLOST 7 funds is that coming out of SPLOST 7 funds or is that additional funds
or is it going to, after we use that number or what? How’s that work?
Mr. McDowell: Yes, sir so these are all SPLOST 7 funds that this body approved once the
Recreation and Parks came before you last year. So originally Lombard Mill had a budget of
$490,000 to get the project completed. It’s a total of $513,000 so we were short by about $43,000
dollars in terms of getting the project moving so we moved some funds from safety improvements
for our facilities to augment that shortage so we can move forward with the project but all these
are SPLOST 7 dollars.
Mr. M. Williams: So they’re not additional funds coming out of SPLOST 7 this is total
amount you’re saying, is that right?
Mr. McDowell: If I understand your question correctly all of this is SPLOST 7 funds. We
had a budget for Lombard Mill in the total of $490,000. It takes an additional $43,000 to make
this project move forward.
Mr. M. Williams: So this is ---
Mr. McDowell: Yeah, the additional funds still come from SPLOST 7.
Mr. M. Williams: --- okay, okay all right, so moved.
Ms. Davis: Second.
Mr. Mayor: 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. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
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The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: No, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Hasan votes No.
Mr. Frantom Out.
Motion Passes 8-1.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mr. McDowell, please stay here because I’m sure you’re going to
get a question about the next item, Madam Clerk.
The Clerk: That would be ---
Mr. Mayor: Number 13.
The Clerk: --- 13.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
13. Update from staff on the theft occurred at Recreation Department. (Requested by
Commissioner Marion Williams)
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, Mr. Mayor, thank you, sir. I spoke with Mr. McDowell but I put
this on the agenda to get an update as to where we are with the theft that occurred. From my
understanding I hadn’t seen any official report yet but my understanding that equipment was
stolen, that a camera system was not working, has not worked in a while estimating from what
somebody told me it was $30,000 dollars’worth of equipment. This is the second time we had
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such an event to happen like that and I think it’s bad when we’re not more accountable for the
equipment. We just had Mr. Henry to come in and talk about some work to be done and we’re
allowing with no camera system and no way of tracking that kind of stuff I think it’s just bad on
our department so I want to hear from our new Rec Director his thoughts.
Mr. McDowell: Yes, sir, Mr. Commissioner. You’re correct we did have a theft around
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or about July the 22 of this year, the theft of some equipment that was on board a trailer in our
maintenance facility. Yes, the camera system based on the reporting from Risk Management was
not operable or at least not operating at the capacity it should have in order to be able to catch
someone (inaudible). I’ve looked into those matters. We’re in the process of trying to come up
with some safety measures that we can do to enhance it. I don’t really want to publicly discuss all
the safety measures that we doing to take place over the next couple of weeks or so but we’ve
taken some steps to mitigate future thefts and we continue to improve on those plans as we develop
a means to curtail some of the thefts that have taken place. We’ve also addressed some personnel
matters around these issues as well so we’re taking this very seriously and we’re putting things in
place to help mitigate from a Parks and Recreation Department standpoint.
Mr. M. Williams: There’s no location mentioned but now we’re talking about one location
but there’s been several locations and I don’t want to put words in your mouth but there’s been
several locations that we have lost equipment at by theft and there hasn’t been a report, there hasn’t
been, it hasn’t been handled right, Mr. McDowell. So I’m coming to you because I’m still doing
my investigation whether somebody else wants to do one or not but I think that the taxpayers
deserve better. We lost, this is not the first time that this that you’re talking about but there’s other
areas that we’ve been losing money and equipment to Recreation and I’m sure you’re addressing
those things but I don’t want the Commission to sit here and act like you know everything is fine
we’re just looking for something to talk about because they’re not concerned, they don’t want you
to talk about these issues. This is very serious to me because it’s taxpayers’ dollars that we’re
losing to let people come in and act as if it’s nothing, there’s wasn’t even a police report filed until
you investigated I don’t think now, I don’t want to put words in your mouth but I want to get back.
Mr. McDowell: Yes, sir, Mr. Commissioner, yeah we’ve had, I say we Parks and
Recreation Department has had some issues I’ll say over the last year, year and a half as it relates
to theft and reporting of these incidents. We’re now moving in a different direction. We’ve taken
some action on these things. We’re looking into these matters, we’re addressing them, we’re
moving forward. As you well eluded to most of these things predate my tenure there but we are
looking into them and coming up with ways to mitigate it and also holding those accountable that
should be held accountable for these events. So we’re moving forward in trying to get these things
controlled under control as well as holding those that should be held accountable for them.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, Mr. Mayor, if I can I don’t want you to expose anything now but
I’d like to get a written report as to the process of what has happened regarding the theft and the
mistreatment of the facilities at the Rec and Parks Department. It’s a new day, the old day is gone
so we need to be mindful of that. But I’d like to keep from putting anything out in the public I’d
really like to get something back in writing to know what has transpired since you investigated
these incidents and there’s more than one.
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Mr. McDowell: Yes sir, absolutely.
Mr. M. Williams: That’s all, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All right, thank you. All right, thank you so much. Madam Clerk, we’re
going to move on to Item 16.
The Clerk: Will you receive that as information with no objection?
Mr. Mayor: With no objections.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
16. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide NSP funding to Sand Hills Urban Development (SHUD) and Antioch
Ministries (AM) to develop two (2) single family units for low to moderate income families.
Mr. Mayor: All right, hold on a minute ---
Mr. M. Williams: I had a question for that, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Mayor: --- I’m coming to you. All right, Commissioner from the 9 all right you’re
being recognized. All right, I have in the room Director Welcher so he’s here to answer your
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questions, all right, Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Well and I appreciate that Mr. Mayor, Mr. Welcher, I’m not opposed to
the Sand Hills and Antioch Ministries but when I hear about affordable homes and I’m trying to
figure out what price range are these homes being built? I questioned you about some stuff that
we’re doing over on Perry Avenue and we talked about that as well and I chose an updated old
type home or shotgun situation as we talked about it was an updated situation so I want to know
what price range are we talking about when we talk about affordable homes for the Sand Hills or
Antioch Ministry.
Mr. Welcher: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, HCD uses a model when we talk
about affordable houses regardless of where it is in Augusta-Richmond County we use a model of
about $85,000 up to $140. This agenda item that you have in front of you is a request to provide
neighborhood stabilization funds to the Sand Hills and Antioch to develop two workforce housing
units. One house is in South Augusta, the other is in the Laney Walker area. Currently you have
qualified buyers for both. If you notice this is Neighborhood Stabilization Funds out of the 2008
Housing and Economic Recovery Act which basically means that your normal home program that
we currently talk about every week says that for one person household we can only help a person
who makes $36,900 dollars a year or less but with this program it allows us to be able to help a
one-person household who makes $55,350 dollars or less. So we have products, Mr.
Commissioner, for any and everybody that walks through our door. This is a situation where you
had two interested buyers who qualified based on their total household income. They qualified for
34
a house that sells for $165 on Dover in South Augusta and they qualified for a house that sells for
$148 on Holley Street here in Laney Walker. So we meet the clients where they are but as indicated
they have been qualified first through their banks. All we do at HCD is fill the gap.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay and I appreciate that and that’s why I needed to know myself what
number we were talking about when we talk about affordable home you talk about stabilizing the
community. When you stabilize a community that tells me that there’s been some problems that
have been downsized. So the properties around, I don’t want to put $65,000 dollars in a home in
the area where in a year’s time it’s going to be dilapidated itself. So when I think about putting
somebody in a place in a situation like that I want to look at the homes around it, are we building
to and I know you do, I’m not pushing that, Mr. Welcher, I’m just saying that as an elected official
you’ve got to think about the surrounding area as well. We had a big problem when talking about
dilapidated stuff and stuff not being taken care of so you’re stabilizing the area. One home will
not stabilize an area at the beginning but one home will not stabilize, would you agree with that?
Mr. Welcher: I would agree sir, yes.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, this is no knock on you. I think your item is right on point but as
an elected official my job is different from yours and I think you’re doing your job and I’m going
to try and do mine, appreciate you.
Mr. Welcher: Thank you.
Mr. M. Williams: So moved, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Sias: Second.
The Clerk: Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
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. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams, is he out?
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Mr. Mayor: The Commissioner from the 2.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes.
Mr. Fennoy votes No.
Motion Passes 9-1.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
17. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide HOME funding to assist one (1) low-to-moderate income homebuyer with
gap financing, down payment and closing cost to purchase a home through the Homebuyer
Subsidy Program.
18. Motion to approve (7) Rehabilitation projects.
19. Motion to approve Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD’s)
request to provide (1) HOME funding to Sand Hills Urban Development to develop a single
family unity for a low to moderate income family.
Mr. M. Williams: Is that the same scenario, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, it is.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I’m going to approve 16 and 17. I just think that there are a lot of
people who are renting who don’t meet the guidelines for those banking institutions that will pay
the ability to pay rent and pay on time but because their credit rating and other stuff now I think
we need to find a way not with this particular case but when I hear low-to-moderate income, I
36
think about people who have been situations. There’s people who are living in the projects who
could’ve paid a house payment and then chose not to. But there are some people who would love
to get some stuff financed for them and will pay as well to help somebody to get up not just help
them along. But I’m adding Number 17 in with 16 so.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so let’s do this. You’ve already voted on 16, let’s add Number 17
and Number 19 they are the same, okay?
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
The Clerk: Correct.
Mr. Mayor: 17 and 19.
The Clerk: What about 18?
Mr. Mayor: Well, we could do that but he’s probably going to have questions about
Number 18 so I mean if, all right so he’s going to trust his Clerk he has 17, 18 and 19 ---
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: --- he trusts his Clerk.
Mr. M. Williams: Funny, he thinks he can play word games with me. I think you got to
get up early in the morning.
The Clerk: You know he’s a Jeopardy champ.
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I know.
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.
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The Clerk: Mr. Garrett.
Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Motion Passes 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Director Welcher, thank you.
Mr. Welcher: Thank you all.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: --- Number 23.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
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23. Approve the Emergency Storm Sewer repair and replacement at 12 Street (between
Dugas St. and Miller St.) for actual expenses of $1,026,472 ($964,992.35) construction-ER
Snell Contractor, Inc., $61,480.00 design-GMC) funded through Stormwater SPLOST VII
funds as requested by AED.
Mr. Hasan: Motion to approve.
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Mr. Fennoy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: 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.
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.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Motion Passes 10-0.
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Mr. Mayor: Final item of the day.
Mr. B. Williams: Are you kidding me?
Mr. Mayor: I wish I were.
Mr. Sias: Not quite, Mr. Mayor. Mayor, we have a couple more items. You playing smart
again huh?
Mr. Mayor: All right, Number 22.
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES
22. Discuss the process for the rebidding of the current garbage haulers contracts.
(Requested by Commissioner Marion Williams)
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 9.
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I asked to put this on the agenda because I’ve
been feeling for quite some time that we’re not getting the services that we’ve been paying for, the
garbage contract done changed within itself. We’re not even doing business with the same people
we were doing business with in the beginning, it’s not being picked up in a lot of different ways.
We are paying the same amount for less service. We was picking up twice a week; now we’re
only picking up once a week and it’s still not being picked up but we’re still paying the same thing.
So I put this on the agenda to discuss when we can start at least as a process for getting our garbage
service rebidded.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, any other discussion?
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Can I speak?
Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Commission Williams, is that in the form of a motion?
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, that’s in the form of a motion.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, I second that because we need to move this on, I totally agree.
Mr. Mayor: What is the motion?
Mr. M. Williams: Motion is to look at rebidding our garbage contract.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you.
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Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor ---
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: --- you say look into I want to know what that means exactly because I think
we not in that place this year. In terms it’ll be next year end of the year when it expires but the
current contract we have in place we do have a couple of two-year extensions on that. And that’s
where we are right now as opposed to talking about rebidding it out and so it’s all right for me.
I’m in favor of going ahead and initiating when those two-year extensions under the current
contract.
Mr. M. Williams: Well, if I can respond, Mr. Mayor, the two-year extension is something
we can do or cannot do. That’s not a guarantee, that’s not a mandatory thing to do. We need to
talk about it because the service we’re getting now is not being the taxpayers are not getting the
service that we agreed to. So if we can get that contractor to come to the table and if we wait until
the end of the year when the contract expires we won’t have time to rebid. We’ve got to talk about
it now and that’s what a lot of people I guess are waiting on for the end of the year to come up and
say we ain’t got time to do it now, we’re up against the wall. (Inaudible) up against the wall. We
can discuss I think we can, Mr. Mayor. You need to chime in now. Can we discuss the process
and what we’re looking for?
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, can I respond?
Mr. Mayor: So hold on everybody, let’s calibrate for a moment. I think what we have here
is a situation of where you’ve got a motion to proceed with discussing and consideration of what
a potential rebid of a waste hauling contract would look like. I think there’s some key principals
that need to be a part of this conversation. You’ve got Ms. Geri Sams and also Director Mehall
who are available to talk about this. So let’s make sure that we’re having this conversation in light
of what current contractual obligations are and that we don’t step over our own feet with regards
to that so just fyi. All right, I’ve got a series of hands I’m going, okay she’s gone, the
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Commissioner from the 3 had her hand up, I’ll come back to her, Commissioner from the 4 I’ve
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got a motion and a second from the 9 and the Mayor Pro Tem. All right, Commissioner from the
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4.
th.
Mr. Sias: Yes, sir I’ve got, first off I have a question for my colleague from the 6 Was
that a motion that you made, Commissioner, or was that just a statement?
Mr. Hasan: Well, I wanted it to be a statement but I don’t want to, I wanted it to be a
motion if we’re going to consider starting, when we are able to consider rebidding. Like I say the
contract you don’t have to do the extensions to my colleague’s point but also I’m going along with
you, Commissioner, it's going to be a motion based on, I make a substitute motion, I make a
substitute motion to (unintelligible) I’d like to ask the Attorney are we in that space now that we
can actually extend the two-year contract, the first two years?
Mr. Sias: I haven’t finished yet but I’ll wait while that question is answered and know
what you think.
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Mr. Mayor: All right ---
Mr. Sias: Is the Attorney going to answer?
Mr. Mayor: --- Attorney Brown.
Mr. Garrett: Mayor, I have a question too.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, I’m coming to you sir and then the Commissioner from the 3. All
right so Attorney Brown we’ll get him here in a minute I don’t where, let’s come back to him,
Commissioner Sias.
Mr. Sias: All right well thank you. One of the things I think I’d like to see us just have
some discussion not about a renewal or a rebid, extension just the kind of service we need because
for one I am very concerned about this constant conversation of putting the trash trucks in the
neighborhood twice a week. That’s why our streets are torn now. If we can find a way that those
trucks and things need to only come through the neighborhood once so I’m not nearly ready for us
to rebid anything because we don’t even know what we want yet. So for me, somebody’s got a
lot of noise on.
Mr. Mayor: I’m not sure who it is.
Mr. Sias: We need to come to an understanding of the service that we want and I don’t
think we’re at that point today to talk about rebidding. We need to be clear on the services that we
want to have. So an extension could give us that or a couple of meetings that we sit down and talk
about it. So if that was a motion from Commissioner Hasan about extending I’ll second that but I
would really like to see us sit down and talk.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I’ll withdraw my motion and that way we can get a chance to just
do it, just discuss the whole process and go back to what you said initially is allow the Attorney,
Mr. Mehall and Ms. Sams to weigh in on it so we take a look at the full scope of the picture if you
don’t mind, Commissioner Williams, we just do that then.
th,
Mr. Mayor: All right Commissioner from the 6 I appreciate that. All right let’s hear from
a couple of other folks I’ve got Mr. Mehall and Ms. Sams in the room now that certainly can give
some perspective around what the contractual obligations are for the waste haulers contract. Ms.
Sams, if you could speak to the current contractual timeline obligations and then kick it over to
Mr. Mehall.
Mr. Hasan: Mr. Mayor, I withdraw my motion.
th,
Mr. Mayor: All right I know you did, Commissioner from the 6 I know that.
Mr. Hasan: That’s a delayed reaction to it, Mr. Mayor, I didn’t say anything just now
(unintelligible) ---
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Mr. Mayor: Oh wow, okay ---
Mr. Hasan: --- Mr. Mehall and Ms. Sams to weigh in on this so we take a look at the full
scope of the picture if you don’t mind, Commissioner Williams.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, wow I don’t know what’s going on here.
Mr. Lewis: I think Ms. Sams, if you’ll close the You Tube link.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got Mr. MeHall and Ms. Sams in the room now ---
Mr. Sias: We’re listening to that delay.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Sams if you could close your You Tube link that’d be great and then kick
it over to Mr. Mehall.
Ms. Sams: Thank you, thank you, sir. Can you hear me?
Mr. Mayor: We can but there’s somebody else that has an extra device on. Mr. MeHall -
--
Mr. Mehall: Yes ---
Mr. Mayor: --- please close your You Tube link.
Mr. Mehall: --- my You Tube link is closed.
Mr. Mayor: All right, very well.
Mr. Lewis: I think Ms. Sams, if you’ll close the You Tube link.
Mr. M. Williams: It’s what technology will do for you.
Mr. Mayor: Well, that’s a matter of having too many devices open. All right, Ms. Sams,
close everything else all except for your conversation with us.
Ms. Sams: Okay, can you hear me now? Can you hear me, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, we can hear you but, all right go ahead, Ms. Sams.
Mr. Sams: Thank you, Commissioners, for giving me an opportunity to share with you
information that I think is needed as it relates to the garbage contract for Augusta, GA. I have
heard, if you’ll look at your monitor, okay let me go out and come back.
Mr. Garrett: I feel like I’m in the date from the Twilight Zone.
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Ms. Sams: Can you hear me?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, Ms. Sams, we can hear you.
Ms. Sams: Thank you, thank you very much. As it relates to the garbage contract you all
were wanting to know if it was possible that we could start this process. Jeff, can you put that
timeline up on their screens for us?
Mr. Lewis: Yes, ma’am.
Ms. Sams: Thank you.
Mr. Lewis: Are you sure you don’t have the You Tube browser still open check you, close
all your browsers ---
Ms. Sams: Okay ---
Mr. Lewis: --- any Chrome or anything like that. Okay, go ahead.
Ms. Sams: --- as you well know, Commissioners, I’m hoping that you can ---
Mr. Lewis: Ms. Sams, someone’s coming up to help you.
The Clerk: Do you want to allow IT to work with Ms. Sams? We have three other items
under Public Safety while they’re getting that together maybe.
Mr. Lewis: We’re sending somebody up now.
Ms. Sams: --- okay, thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk ---
The Clerk: Yes, sir ---
Mr. Mayor: --- okay let’s go ahead and have a conversation about our remaining items and
we’ll come back to this matter.
The Clerk: --- okay, our Addendum Agenda Item Numbers 5 and 7 are remaining.
Mr. Mayor: That’s correct.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
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31. Motion to approve the Augusta Fire Department to accept $50,525.24 of funding from
the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters sponsored COVID-19 grant and use $5,052.52 from the
Fire Department’s operating budget to meet the grant’s 10% cost share requirement.
Mr. Garrett: Motion to approve.
Mr. D. Williams: Second.
The Clerk: That was Mr. Brandon Garrett and Mr. Dennis Williams?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
Mr. M. Williams: Is that supposed to be time sensitive, Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk: Yes, sir, we have within the next I think three days to accept this and execute
it and get it back. That’s the time sensitivity.
Mr. M. Williams: So we just got that and it’s time sensitive is that (unintelligible).
The Clerk: They received this and there were some issues with the agenda item being in
the queue and now but yes, sir we’re needing to approve this so that city can receive the funding
but however it was through no fault of the Fire Department, let me just say it that way.
Mr. M. Williams: Through the Clerk’s Office.
The Clerk: Yes, sir well the Clerk will take responsibility for it yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I’ll talk to Nancy when I see her.
The Clerk: No, it’s Harry Truman, the buck stops here.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, I’ll still talk to Nancy when I see her.
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.
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Mr. Garrett: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan.
Mr. Sias: Commissioner Hasan, you’re muted.
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, he’s muted.
Mr. Fennoy: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Fennoy, yes, Mr. Hasan.
The Clerk: Mr. Sias.
Mr. Sias: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Bobby Williams ---
Mr. Hasan: Yes, for me, Ms. Bonner.
Mr. B. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: --- okay. Mr. Dennis Williams.
Mr. D. Williams: Yes, ma’am.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk:
ADDENDUM
37. Motion to approve Dedication Plaque for New Fire Station #20.
Mr. D. Williams: Motion to approve.
Mr. Fennoy: Second.
The Clerk: Okay that’s Mr. Dennis Williams and Mr. Fennoy, Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke: Yes.
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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. 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.
The Clerk: Mr. Marion Williams.
Mr. M. Williams: Yes.
The Clerk: Mr. Hasan out? Okay, that motion carries with Mr. Hasan out.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am, I’m in.
The Clerk: Okay, is that a yes?
Mr. Hasan: Yes, ma’am, Ms. Bonner, I’m sorry.
Motion Passes 10-0.
The Clerk: Okay, Mr. Mayor, are they ready?
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Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, I think that they might be ready, I think that they might be
ready. Ms. Sams, are you ready? You’re muted, Ms. Sams, okay, there you go. Ms. Sams are you
ready?
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir, I am.
Mr. Mayor: All right, fantastic, proceed.
Ms. Sams: All right, I don’t know where we left off just before ---
The Clerk: At the beginning.
Ms. Sams: --- okay, thank you, Lena. Okay, thank you for allowing me to respond to your
concern about our garbage contract. Number one, I’d like to bring you up to date on exactly what
the contract says. And the contract that we currently have in place does expire on December 31,
2020 and it has two-year renewal options. Now the overall question that I heard was can we ---
Mr. Hasan: Is that 21 or 20?
Ms. Sams: --- 21.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, you said 20.
Ms. Sams: I did? It’s 21. Okay as it relates to the question that I heard was can we begin
that process now and the answer to that is yes and we should. So what we’ve done is come up
with a timeline for the renewal of the RFP. We projected that we can begin this process on October
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the 19 by notifying the current provider that it is the intent of the city to go out for an RFP and of
course after we notify the vendor what our intent will be we would then proceed, do an in-house
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specification, we anticipate receiving those from Environmental Services on October 30 along
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with the checklist. November the 19 we will advertise in the Augusta Chronicle and the Metro
Courier, Georgia Registry, demand star data base of vendors for the Augusta Georgia Procurement.
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We will have a preproposal conference on January 11 on the 20 will be the deadline for
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questions. Around February the 1 in the addendum answering or addressing any issues that we
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would have received from vendors who are interested in submitting will occur. April the 30 will
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be the due date of the submittal. On May the 5 an evaluation committee will meet and they will
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receive copies of those submittals. May the 20 through the 27 that committee will evaluate those
proposals. May 31 the Evaluation Committee will meet via ZOOM and rank those proposals. If
needed, if needed an oral presentation will be given by the three companies that scores the highest
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during the process. June 14 through June 23rd negotiation will begin with the highest ranking
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firm. On June 28 Environmental Services will submit a recommendation letter to Procurement.
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July the 21 the final contract discussion between the user department and the Law Department.
August 2021 we anticipate Commission meeting, August also we anticipate a Commission
Committee meeting, September 2021 we will have a contract execution after you have approved
all of the paperwork and everything is in, everybody have had their discussions and your
recommendation is to go with the recommended vendor or we go to the vendor in the second or
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third seat. September the 21 depending on what you recommend to us a contract will be let in
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accordance to the solicitation Georgia Law and the vendors agreement in contract negotiation has
ended. A new contract will begin January 2021, do you have questions for me gentlemen and lady.
Mr. Hasan: I do.
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir.
Mr. Garrett: I do.
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: Ms. Sams, thank you, ma’am, for that but is it also equally that we could also
extend it at the time as well?
Ms. Sams: Well, from a Procurement, yes, sir, the answer to that is yes, sir, you can.
Mr. Hasan: I just wanted to make sure what options we have, okay.
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir, you do but from a ---
Mr. Hasan: I just wanted to know could we do that that’s all.
Ms. Sams: --- yes, sir, anything else?
Mr. M. Williams: Yeah, I want something else. I want to know what the other option.
You say we can do it but that’s not required to do it.
Mr. Hasan: No, Commissioner, it’s just something we can do.
Mr. M. Williams: I’m asking Ms. Sams please, let me ask Ms. Sams please, let me ask
Ms. Sams, are ya’ll lawyers and advisors and all that stuff let me ask please.
Ms. Sams: Commissioner, of course you have two options, two year options that the
Commission can vote to proceed with but I’m concerned, I’m concerned as the Procurement
Director that we have so many amendments to that contract and we’re getting to a point where we
are changing the complete scope of the original service. It will probably be in the best interest of
Augusta, Georgia to rebid the contract.
Mr. Hasan: Let me do a follow up on that then. Can I do a follow up, Mr. Mayor? Ms.
Sams, are you there ---
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: --- okay, when you say with this contract and I know what you’re talking about
but how did it get approved like that what you’re eluding to? How did it get approved like that?
Did you address that at that particular time when the contract was approved?
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Ms. Sams: Each time that I was permitted to have a conversation concerning this contract
and any contract that Augusta has of course I expressed my interest and I expressed my feelings
about the contracts.
Mr. Hasan: So if we are talking about the same thing and I believe we are could not that
be alleviated in just, if you decide to do the renewal. But let me say what I think you’re talking
about because we could be talking about two different things.
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hasan: You’re talking about the contract had two, two-year renewals to take us to the
end of ’23 but at the same time it doesn’t, it almost becomes an evergreen contract. It never cuts
it off and (unintelligible) as many as you want taking that language out is that what you’re alluding
to?
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir, that’s what I’m alluding to, one of the things I’m alluding to.
Mr. Hasan: Okay.
Ms. Sams: Again I’d like to go back and reiterate a point that I’d like for you all to kind
of hang on to and understand, each time an amendment has been made on this contract we have to
look at the original scope of services. We have amended this contract many times and at this point
my concern is we’ve gotten away from the original scope that we had gone out for bid early on.
Mr. M. Williams: Ms. Sams, are we doing business with the same company that we started
out with?
Ms. Sams: One of the companies has been bought out by someone else ---
Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Ms. Sams: --- so legally we are doing business with the company that’s slated legally to
do business with Augusta under the past contract.
Mr. M. Williams: Slated meaning on paper.
Ms. Sams: On paper, yes, sir.
Mr. M. Williams: Okay, exactly. But anyway what’s the next step now in your opinion
that we need to do because it takes time to do this and I get that. That’s why I put it on the agenda
so we could start the process. When do we start to do what and where about?
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Ms. Sams: It’s recommended by the timeline I would suggest October 19 that we send a
letter to our current service provider that it’s our intent to go out for an RFP.
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Mr. M. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Garrett: I have a question, Ms. Sams.
Ms. Sams: Yes ,sir.
Mr. Garrett: With these contract extensions is there any way to, do they have to rollover
exactly the same way as they are currently or is there a way to address the recycling in the
extension?
Ms. Sams: In contract extensions of course it will address what you wanted to address but
just as you stated when you make an addendum to a contract it’s usually not the same thing. You’re
usually changing some type of service performance and we have changed that quite a bit in this
contract and that makes me kind of uneasy.
Mr. Garrett: Is it your recommendation that we need to rebid?
Ms. Sams: It would be my recommendation that we all sit down, come up with what we
want we want this contract to look like, make sure it includes those things and rebid, yes, sir, it is
my recommendation.
Mr. Garrett: And you know just looking at your timeline that you presented there’s no way
because you know we’ve invested so much in the C&G trucks that are required ---
Mr. Mayor: Attorney Brown ---
Mr. Hasan: That’s a delayed reaction. I asked for him 30 minutes ago.
Mr. Garrett: --- anyway back to my question you know there’s no way that if the new
haulers are notified next September and they’re supposed to be up and running by next January
that they’d have enough time to have new C&G trucks built so I’m not sure how that timeline of
yours would work. I’m, you know, I’m almost wondering if an extension like a one-year extension
wouldn’t be the better way to go just to give everybody time to at least, so we’re at a better timeline
before the rebid.
Ms. Sams: Well, Mr. Commissioner, as Procurement Director you make a great point, an
excellent point, but this contract belongs to Augusta, Georgia. What we really want to make it
mandatory that we have new trucks or can we proceed with the fleet that we currently have or
those vendors currently have and proceed with the contract with the trucks that are available now.
It’s us, Augusta, demand making the demands of new trucks not the contract.
Mr. Garrett: And you mentioned that this contract has changed numerous times. Can you
point out where this contract has changed?
Ms. Sams: Well, I’ll turn that over to the Director of Environmental Services.
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Mr. Mehall: Well, in my reading of this I mean from what I can recall I wasn’t here at the
beginning it was an original, correct me if I’m wrong, Ms. Sams, but it was an original five-year
contract. We extended it for two years at the end of 2017 and then we’re currently in another two-
year extension. For the core services I don’t think it’s changed terribly much. I think there may
have been some changes in regards to the C&G stations and a few other things and I’ll have to
check into exactly what those changes in scope of services were. But the core services which is
the municipal solid waste collection and the curbside recycling I believe that’s remained the same
during the course of the contract.
Mr. Hasan: I have a question when you get through.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 6.
Mr. Hasan: Yes, mine was pretty much, I’m not sure, Mr. Mehall, and I apologize in
advance I’m not sure about the five years because I remember us extending this contract. I’m not
sure of that and if we did, we extended it?
Mr. MeHall: From my reading of it that’s what ---
Mr. Hasan: We did?
Mr. MeHall: --- yeah that you know I was not here during either extension but I do believe
that it wasn’t an original eight year contract. I believe it was the five year then the two-year
extensions, I could be wrong but I don’t.
Mr. Hasan: Okay, I don’t remember (inaudible).
Ms. Sams: (Unintelligible) think about each time we extended it we made changes to it.
Mr. Hasan: Yeah, Ms. Sams I remember approving the changes I think I remember you
are making and I actually remember some of things were almost like where they had distance or
yardage or whatever on people’s property especially out in our suburbs out there in Hepzibah and
Blythe areas or what have you because they had to go way back up on there so they changed those
kind of footage and stuff like that. Like I say I don’t know anything major that was changed at all
in it but that’s okay I’ll look back at it again as well.
Mr. Garrett: Can you send us all a copy of the contract, Ms. Sams?
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir, I’ll be happy to and I will have to send you two contracts.
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Mr. Mayor: So let’s do this everybody. I’ve got the Commissioner from the 9 with his
hand up let’s do this right here. I think that without question we understand this is a conversation
that’s worthy of even more fruitful discussion especially with facts. And to the degree that Ms.
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Sams will provide us with those facts Commissioner from the 9 you placed this on the agenda. I
think at the appropriate time we can have a discussion about putting it perhaps back on an agenda
but right now this is one of those examples it’s kind of like what we’ve done with blight and all of
52
these different organizations that are doing things and have that type of conversation where you
get the facts, understand what it is we want to accomplish because you do not want to lose sight
of the small haulers in this discussion as well and what those implications are and we move hastily
and upset the applecart instead of making sure that we’re providing opportunity. So and in
especially in light of the conversation you most recently had around the Disparity Study and things
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like that. All right, I’m going to go the Commissioner from the 9 and then the 4 okay?
Mr. M. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. There’s several things that come back to mind
when you talk about the contract about stations C&G stations what’s been built and what’s not
built and the extension but even when we talked about it we couldn’t bind another Commissioner
with the length of time. That’s why we come up with an extension to add on. We couldn’t do an
eight year contract and bind up our own incoming Commissioners so that’s only one of the things
in this contract that’s changed. Mr. Mayor, you mentioned about the small haulers. They have
been pushed slap out of this thing. We had to go to court almost because some of these local small
businesses was at the table at one point and then all of a sudden the big fish kind of kicked them
out of the pond so and I’m just using those types of scenarios because I don’t want to get into the
basics. But there are a couple of things we need to be looking at now and this is the time to do it
versus waiting until the last minute like we always do then we get up against the wall and say well
we’ve got to go forward because we got to have something. So I think we really need to look at
this contract and how many adjustments we done made to it and how many changes we done made
to it over the period of the last four or five years. Thank you.
Mr. Garrett: Do you have a motion on the floor?
Mr. Hasan: I make a substitute motion to receive as information.
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Mr. Mayor: Commissioner from the 4 is muted right now, you’re muted, sir.
Mr. Sias: My bad, I’m looking at the contract itself and so we don’t get too many lawyers
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in the house there’s a term to this agreement shall commence on June 1 2013 and terminate on
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December the 31 2021. That was not a five year contract; okay that was a contract from June 1
st
2013 to December 31 2021.
Mr. Mayor: Everybody just hold on.
Mr. Sias: And the reason I made that point is we’ve required these primes to invest a lot
into what they are doing with the C&G and the stations and all that and one of the recent
amendments that we made to this contract was very minor. It was to allow the sub to put yard
waste and bulk waste in the same vehicle. To my knowledge since I’ve been here we haven’t
made any other changes, major changes to that contract so I just say we need to look at it because
the (unintelligible) is the sub and the prime invested a lot of money in that on that thing what was
required for this contract. Thank you. I just wanted to make that point.
Mr. M. Williams: I want Ms. Sams, what she’s talking about this.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, hold on a minute everybody. I want to be respectful for everybody that’s
raising their hand as possible. Ms. Sams has given us some information; we need to go through
that. I don’t think there’s a real action you can or should be trying to take today other than coming
together under the guise of another meeting at a date certain in the future.
Mr. M. Williams: I agree.
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Mr. Mayor: All right, Commissioner from the 1, you are muted Commissioner from the
st,
1 you’re muted.
Mr. Fennoy: Mr. Mayor, could Ms. Sams send us a copy of the timeline?
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Sams will send us a copy of the timeline per Ms. Bonner.
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir, I will.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Mr. Sias: (Unintelligible) Ms. Sams never said it was a five year contract.
Mr. Mayor: All right, so we understand where we are. All right, Commissioner from the
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9 you raised this, the Mayor Pro Tem seconded your motion previously and my question is do
you gentleman want to take that off the table at this point?
Mr. M. Williams: I got no problem taking it off the table. We just need to continue the
discussion now, Mr. Mayor. If it’s not back on the table I’m going to put it back on the agenda.
But I’m saying we need to start the dialogue. I mean I hear what everybody’s saying and I know
where they’re coming from when they’re talking this talk but this is an issue we need to get it to
address and we need to be forthright about this thing and put a good contract together the City of
Augusta will benefit from. So I think we need to start the dialogue as soon as possible and not get
behind the 8-ball like we always do and we got to do something then and we ought to be ahead of
the game now.
Mr. Mayor: All right, Mayor Pro Tem, close out.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: I just, I’m good with all that too. I just had a question. Are we done
with that item?
Mr. Mayor: Well, we are if you have no more to comment about.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: No, I have something else whenever I can speak.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, very well. All right, Madam Clerk, we’ll receive this as information
and, Ms. Sams, if you could send that timeline over that would be very helpful along with a copy
of the current contract.
Ms. Sams: Yes, sir, I can.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. All right I believe, Madam Clerk, that that’s all the business that’s
before us. All right, Mayor Pro Tem.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It wasn’t on the agenda this week but do we
have to take a formal vote to go back into the Chambers? I think that we know that we need to put
some PPE equipment up between the dividers and things but I think with the amount of business
or work we need to get done in the next two months it’s vital to get back together in person and I
just think that I wanted to start the discussion today of how we make that happen. And do we have
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to have a Special Called Meeting to go back on the 3 when the next meeting is?
Mr. Mayor: Mayor Pro Tem, what I would suggest that we do the following. On yesterday
I had a discussion with Ms. Douse about the status of the safety measures in the Commission
Chamber and more importantly putting in the measures for the general audience who would come
and sit while we’re conducting their business and ask that you expedite those efforts around
securing the PPE and the safety measures that we previously talked about and have that in place
by the end of the month with potential opportunity for the Commission to be prepared to go back
into the Chamber for our first commission meeting in October.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: So do we have to vote on that as a body or can we just have the
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understanding we’re going back on the 6 if the PPE equipment’s in?
Mr. Mayor: I’m comfortable with either one you want to do. I think again if we’re ready,
we’ve got some key issues that are in front of us, SPLOST VIII that we’re still discussing, we’ve
got the 2021 budget that we’re discussing. All of those things are extremely important matters not
withstanding personnel related matters that we want to make sure we keep it at the forefront and
be able to look each other in the eye and have thoughtful discussions about. So I’m certainly and
again in light of what we know from COVID-19 and I’m hoping to have an even current update
from our healthcare providers and professionals from public health not later than tomorrow
afternoon we continue to see a decline in terms of positive cases in Augusta which is good. That
means that we still have to continue to do the three ‘w’s’ wear a mask, wash our hands and watch
our distance which is vital that if we’re going to take that approach of coming back in we do have
the safety measures in place in the Commission Chamber before we arrive back in there. And
again hopefully we can have that done by the end of this month.
Mr. Mayor Pro Tem: Okay, thank you.
Mr. Sias: Are we done?
Mr. Mayor: Madam Clerk, is there any other business before us? All right, this meeting
is adjourned.
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\[MEETING ADJOURNED\]
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
September 15, 2020.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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