HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-04-2000 Regular Meeting
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REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBERS
January 4, 2000
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:50 p.m., Tuesday, January 4,
2000, the Honorable Bob Young, Mayor, presiding.
Present were Commissioners Beard, Bridges, H. Brigham, J. Brigham, Cheek, Colclough,
Kuhlke, Mays, Shepard, and Williams, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Also present were Ms. Bonner, Clerk of Commission; Mr. Oliver, Administrator; and Mr.
Wall, County Attorney.
Mayor Young: Our meeting is in two parts today. First we have to swear in five
Commissioners, and we’re going to go ahead and do that first. Dr. Gene Swinson, the pastor of
Graceway Church, will provide the invocation for the swearing in, and that will be followed by
the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
THE INVOCATION WAS GIVEN BY REV. GENE SWINSON.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WAS RECITED.
Mayor Young: Thank you. Please be seated. We’d like to welcome all our guests and
family members of the Commissioners who are with us today. Those of you who are taking
pictures, you’ll get one chance to take a picture today so feel free to get up and move about the
chamber as you like so you can take the best picture. I’d like to introduce the Judges who will be
doing the swearing in today. Judge Carl Brown, Judge David Watkins, if y’all will pleas come
down front please. Judge Richard Slaby and Judge Carlisle Overstreet. And they our
Commissioners who are going to be sworn in, if you’ll please also join the Judges down front.
Commissioner Williams, Commissioner Colclough, Commissioner Cheek, Commissioner
Bridges, and Commissioner Kuhlke. And Judge Overstreet, I’ll turn it over to you.
Judge Overstreet: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commissioners, it gives us, on behalf of the
judiciary and all the Judges in this County great pleasure to participate in this, and we thank you
for letting us come. We had a little trouble getting up here. Most people wanted us to stop and
sing as we came up here today. At this time, I’m going to turn it over to David Watkins.
Judge Watkins: I’m going to–good afternoon, everybody. I’m going to swear in first Mr.
Andy Cheek. Mr. Cheek, if you would come forward. Raise your right hand, please. I, Andy
Cheek, a citizen of Richmond County, Georgia, being an employee of Augusta, Georgia and the
recipient of public funds for services rendered as such an employee, do hereby solemnly swear
and affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of
Georgia; I, Andy Cheek, also do swear and affirm that I will well and truly discharge the duties
of Commissioner of Richmond County, District 6, in all matters which require my official action,
to the best of my knowledge and skill, and I will so act as in my judgment will be most
conducive to the welfare and best interests of the entire County, and that I have been a resident
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of this District for the time required by the laws of this State; I do further solemnly swear or
affirm that I am not the holder of any unaccounted-for public money due this State or any
political subdivision or authority thereof, and I am not the holder of any office of trust under the
government of the United States and any other State or any foreign State which I am prohibited
from holding by the laws of the State of Georgia, and that I am otherwise qualified to hold said
office according to the Constitution of the United States and laws of Georgia, and that I will
support the Constitution of the United States and of this State, so help me God.
Mr. Cheek: So help me God.
Judge Watkins: Congratulations, Mr. Cheek.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Judge Watkins: Mr. Colclough, if you will come forward, please. Please raise your right
hand. I, Richard Colclough, a citizen of Richmond County, Georgia, being an employee of
Augusta, Georgia and the recipient of public funds for services rendered as such an employee, do
hereby solemnly swear and affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and
the Constitution of Georgia; I, Richard Colclough, also do swear and affirm that I will well and
truly discharge the duties of Commissioner of Richmond County, District 4, in all matters which
require my official action, to the best of my knowledge and skill, and I will so act as in my
judgment will be most conducive to the welfare and best interests of the entire County, and that I
have been a resident of this District for the time required by the laws of this State; I do further
solemnly swear or affirm that I am not the holder of any unaccounted-for public money due this
State or any political subdivision or authority thereof, and I am not the holder of any office of
trust under the government of the United States and any other State or any foreign State which I
am prohibited from holding by the laws of the State of Georgia, and that I am otherwise qualified
to hold said office according to the Constitution of the United States and laws of Georgia, and
that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of this State, so help me God.
Mr. Colclough: So help me God.
Judge Watkins: Congratulations, Mr. Colclough.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Judge Brown: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It’s my distinct pleasure to
administer the oath to Commission Marion F. Williams. I will administer the official oath of a
County Commissioner and the loyalty oath. Mr. Williams, I would ask that you raise your right
hand. I will read the entire oath, and at the conclusion thereof I would ask that you say so help
me God. I, Marion F. Williams, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will well and truly discharge
the duties of Commissioner for Richmond County, District 2, in all matters which require my
official action, to the best of my knowledge and skill, and I will so act as in my judgment will be
most conducive to the welfare and best interests of the entire County, and that I have been a
resident of this District for the time required by the laws of this State; I do further solemnly
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swear or affirm that I am not the holder of any unaccounted-for public money due this State or
any political subdivision or authority thereof, and I am not the holder of any office of trust under
the government of the United States, any other State or any foreign State which I am prohibited
from holding by the laws of the State of Georgia, and that I am otherwise qualified to hold said
office according to the Constitution of the United States and the laws of Georgia and that I will
support the Constitutions of the United States and of this State, so help me God. The loyalty
oath: I, Marion F. Williams, a citizen of Richmond County, Georgia, and being an employee of
Augusta, Georgia, and the recipient of public funds for services rendered as such employee, do
hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the
Constitution of Georgia, so help me God.
Mr. Williams: So help me God.
Judge Brown: Thank you.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Judge Slaby: I have the pleasure of administering the oath of office for Mr. Bridges:
Bridges. Mr. Bridges, if you would come forward, I will read you the oath and you may respond
after that. Raise your right hand, please. I, Mr. Bridges: C. Bridges, do swear or affirm and I
will truly discharge the duties of Commissioner of Richmond County, District 8, in all matters
which require my official action, to the best of my knowledge and skill, and I will so act as in my
judgment will be most conducive to the welfare and best interests of the entire County, and that I
have been a resident of this District for the time required by the laws of this State; I do further
solemnly swear or affirm that I am not the holder of any unaccounted-for public money due this
State or any political subdivision or authority thereof, and I am not the holder of any office of
trust under the government of the United States, any other State or any foreign State which I am
prohibited from holding by the laws of the State of Georgia, and that I am otherwise qualified to
hold said office according to the Constitution of the United States and the laws of Georgia and
that I will support the Constitutions of the United States and of this State, so help me God.
Mr. Bridges: So help me God.
Judge Slaby: And I, Mr. Bridges: C. Bridges, a citizen of Richmond County, Georgia,
and being an employee of Augusta, Georgia, and the recipient of public funds for services
rendered as such employee, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the
Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Georgia, so help me God.
Mr. Bridges: So help me God.
Judge Slaby: Congratulations.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Judge Overstreet: Mr. Kuhlke, if you would please raise your right hand. I, William B.
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Kuhlke, do solemnly swear that I will well and truly discharge the duties of Commissioner of
Richmond County, District 10, in all matters which require my official action, to the best of my
knowledge and skill, and I so act in my judgement to be most conducive to the welfare and best
interests of the entire County, and that I have been a resident of this District for the time required
by the laws of this State; I do further solemnly swear that I am not the holder of any
unaccounted-for public money due this State or any political subdivision or authority thereof,
and I am not the holder of any office of trust under the government of the United States, any
other State or any foreign State which I am prohibited from holding by the laws of the State of
Georgia, and that I am otherwise qualified to hold said office according to the Constitution of the
United States and the laws of Georgia and that I will support the Constitutions of the United
States and of this State, so help me God.
Mr. Kuhlke: So help me God.
Judge Overstreet: I, William B. Kuhlke, a citizen of Richmond County, Georgia, and
being an employee of Augusta, Georgia, and the recipient of public funds for services rendered
as such employee, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the
United States and the Constitution of Georgia, so help me God.
Mr. Kuhlke: So help me God.
Judge Overstreet: Congratulations, Mr. Kuhlke.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Mayor Young: If any of the Commissioners would like to go to the podium and address
the people that are gathered here, please feel free to do so at this time. Your attention to Mr.
Colclough, please.
Mr. Colclough: Ladies and gentlemen, I just want to make a few remarks. I just want to
thank a number of people who helped put my into the office and I’m going to try to do the best I
can for this County and my District for the next four years and also try to work very diligently
with the gentlemen up on this podium to see that we can make Augusta Richmond County grow.
Thank you.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Mayor Young: Commissioner Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: I, too, in following in stead with Commissioner Colclough would like to
offer my heartfelt dedication to this City. This City is rich in both human and natural resources,
and I’d like to do my part as a Commissioner to see that this City is brought together and goes
forward as it is capable of doing. Augusta is a city on the verge. All it’s going to take is for all
of us to realize that we’re all Augustans, not black and not white, we’re joined by the same
streets, the same neighborhoods, churches and schools. It’s time to put aside the past. It’s time
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to look to the future. That future is only as bright as we make it. It’s time to make it together. I
am going to do my part and I’m going to ask you to do your part, too.’
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Mayor Young: Commissioner Williams?
Mr. Williams: I’d like to thank all of those who played a significant part in helping to
win this election in District 2, and not only for District 2 but for the City of Augusta this is a
team effort. This is not about one District, this is not about one people, it’s all about this City
growing together. Commissioner Cheek and myself have talked on several occasions, and I
won’t go into all we talked about. We talked about moving forward in this new millennium.
Times are changing and we need to change with the times. We need to come and make this City
to be what it can and will be if we as people of citizens of this City come together and support
each other. Thank you very much.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Mayor Young: Thank you very much. We will take a short recess at this point for the
Judges to excuse themselves. We’d like to thank you for being here, and if anyone else needs to
leave us to attend to other business, we’ll reconvene in a couple of minutes. Thank you.
BRIEF RECESS.
Mayor Young: Madame Clerk, before we move along with the agenda, I’d like to
introduce a visiting Mayor in the chambers today who is up here with me today. It’s
Commissioner Cheek’s brother, Randy Cheek, and he’s the Mayor of Six Mile, South Carolina.
I asked him where it way, and he said it’s up near Anderson?
Mr. R. Mr. Cheek: Above Clemson.
Mayor Young: Up near Clemson. Six Mile, South Carolina. God’s country, he says.
All right, Madame Clerk, we want to take up the agenda addendum first?
Clerk: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, our addendum
agenda:
A request to authorize the Clerk of Commission to retain a court reporter to
prepare a transcript of the public hearing regarding the corps of engineers’ study
recommending the decommissioning of the New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. To be
taken from the Promotional account.
Consider a request to purchase tickets from the Golf Hall of Fame for $65.00 per
person. To be taken from Commission Other account.
Consider lease of property at Constructed Wetlands Project to Southeastern
Natural Science Academy.
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Mr. J. Brigham: I so move.
Mayor Young: Do we have a second?
Mr. Kuhlke: Second.
Mayor Young: Is there any objection to adding these items to the agenda today?
Motion carries 10-0.
Mayor Young: So ordered. We have group of ministers who wanted to be at the
meeting today, our first meeting of the new year, and present an additional invocation, an
interfaith event for spiritual guidance for this Commission and for the City for the coming year.
And I’d like to recognize Rev. Tim Owings, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Augusta, who
will begin the presentation. Tim?
Rev. Owings: Rev. Donald Fishburne of St. Paul’s will introduce the group and begin our
prayer.
Rev. Fishburne: Mayor Young, it has been the custom of this Mayor’s office and the
Commission to invite clergy to open your meetings with prayer, and with the Mayor’s
permission today, a number of faith communities have sent their clergy to be with you, for this
inaugural meeting for the year 2000, to give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy, freedom to
worship and for our government, and so we pray, and Mr. Mayor, I can tell you Dr. Owings has
already spoken to us and cautioned us to be brief.
Mayor Young: Yes, sir, these are prayers, not sermons. Rev. Fishburne, why don’t we
all stand, please?
REV. FISHBURNE INTRODUCES OTHER CLERGY; PRAYERS ARE OFFERED.
Mayor Young: Thank you very much. You may be seated. Thank you. Thank all of
you for coming. The next item, Madame Clerk.
Clerk: Yes, Mr. Mayor, we have a presentation proclamation. Ms. Donna Howard and
Ms. Anita Howard. [Reading] In recognition of Donna Howard and Anita Howard’s outstanding
athletic accomplishments, whereas Donna Howard was raised in Augusta, Georgia and whereas
in 1993 Donna was given Georgia State Champion, holding the state record for the women’s 400
meter and won the 200 meter, as well as being the TAC National Champion and voted #1 high
school athlete, running a 53.1 in the 400 in high school, and where in 1995 Donna was a member
rd
of the Olympic Festival Team, and in 1996 was the NCAA 3 place finisher in the 400 and
broke 4 by 400 record, and whereas in 1996 Donna was a semi-finalist in the U.S. Olympic
Trials in Atlanta and in 1997 Donna won the 400 and was ranked in the top 10 for the USA in
the Bill Cosby Track Meet in Reno, and whereas between 1993 and 1997, Donna was track team
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member of the University of Texas in Austin, where she was the eight-time All American, six-
time SWC Champion, and two-time Big 12 Champion, also in 1997 Donna was a member of the
USA World University Team, and whereas in 1998 Donna placed fourth in the USA Indoor
Nationals, placing her in the Top 10 for the USA and during 1994-99 she qualified for the USA
Nationals. Now therefore, I, Bob Young, Mayor of the City of Augusta, do hereby proclaim
January 4, 2000 to be Donna Howard Day in Augusta Richmond County, in witness thereof I
th
have unto set my hand and caused the seal of Augusta, Georgia to be affixed this 4 day of
January, 2000.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Clerk: In the absence of her sister, Ms. Howard will accept the proclamation on behalf of
Anita Howard for outstanding athletic accomplishment. [Reading] Whereas Anita Howard was
raised in Augusta, Georgia, and whereas between 1984 to 1988 at Butler High School, Anita was
State Champion four years straight in the 100 meter, 200 meter dash, was the 1996 National
High School Track All American, the 1987 National Player of the Year, and the 1998 Player of
the Year in Track and Field, as well as the State Record Holder in the 100 meter, 200 meter dash
in Divisions 3 and 4, and whereas between 1984 and 1988 in the Quick Silver Tract Club, Anita
was the 1985 National Tag Junior Olympic Champion in the 100, 200 meter dash, and the 19–
National Tag Junior Olympic Champion in the 100 meter dash, a member of the 1987 USA
Junior Championship Team, and qualified her for the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials. And whereas at
th
the University of Florida, Anita was the 18-time All American at National and a National
Champion in the 400 meter dash in 1992, 1990 she was the State Champion in the 55 meter dash,
and was a member of the 1989 U.S. World University Game Team, U.S. Olympic Festival Team,
and a member of the 1991 U. S. World University Game Team and the Pan-Am Game Team, as
well as member of the 1992 Olympic Team in Barcelona, Spain, and whereas Anita’s
professional achievements include being a member of the 1995 Olympic Festival Team, as well
as a member of the 1997 Indoor World Championship Team, and part of the 4 by 400 meter
American Setting Relay Team, and whereas Anita’s goal is to compete in the Olympics for the
year 2000, now therefore I, Bob Young, Mayor of the City of Augusta, do hereby proclaim
January 4, 2000 to be Anita Howard Day in Augusta Richmond County, in witness thereof I have
th
unto set my hand and caused the seal of Augusta, Georgia to be affixed this 4 day of January,
2000.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Mr. Beard: I just want to say to Anita and Donna that, you know a couple of months ago
I received a letter from these two young ladies and what they were attempting to do for
themselves and also as they do it for themselves, they are doing it for the City of Augusta. At the
time, they were in need of financial help for the Trials and the things that they are going to try to
accomplish in the year 2000, and we tried awfully hard to get some money from the
Commissioners here but we were unsuccessful in that. But I do hope that after hearing this and
getting some press that some of our business people will get together and get behind these young
ladies, because they have done a lot for our City, they have continued to represent it very well,
and I sure hope that at some time in the future, that we will be able to show our appreciation by
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supporting them, because this is the only way that we are going to continue to have this type of
support from our young people, if we give them support when they need it, and we know the
financial strain that it takes and we get involved in this type training. So I hope that this will
give us some incentive to assist these young ladies in the future.
Mayor Young: Let me just add my congratulations, Donna. We’re very proud of your
and your sister. As a matter of fact, that’s one of the joys of having the job of Mayor and sitting
on the Commission, is to recognize the good things, the achievements that people in this
community are making every day. We thank you and we wish you Godspeed and good luck in
getting in the Olympics. Thank you.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Mayor Young: Next item.
Clerk: Now we have an introduction. Mr. Sid Mullis.
Mayor Young: Sid?
Mr. Mullis: Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, I’d like to introduce to you, I’m very pleased
to introduce to you Ms. Joan Green, who is our new 4-H Agent for Richmond County. Joan has
been a school teacher at Blythe Elementary for about ten years and been a volunteer leader for us
in 4-H for a number of years, so we’re very pleased and excited to have Joan.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Ms. Green: Thank you. I’m excited for this new challenge in education and I look
forward to working with you in Augusta Richmond County.
Mayor Young: Thank you, Joan. Welcome aboard.
Clerk: Recognition. Mr. Randy Oliver.
Mr. Oliver: It’s with pleasure, Mayor and Commission, that I’d like to introduce
Theresa Smith. Theresa just got her engineering certification in the State of Georgia. That is
quite an accomplishment. A person has to complete a four-year curriculum at an accredited
school in engineering and successfully pass engineering and training examination, which covers
multiple disciplines in engineering as well as chemistry and math issues. Then you have to
secure four to five years of experience working under another engineer and then finally you have
to pay the professional engineer’s exam. She has done that. One of that things that was a goal
when I came here was that we enhance the level of our professional staff within Public Works.
When I got here, we didn’t have any professional engineers. I’m proud to say today we have
four professional engineers, with Theresa being the most recent one to receive certification
within the State of Georgia. As an engineer, I would like to congratulate her and I think she’s
been a wonderful addition to our staff.
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A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IS GIVEN.
Clerk: Election of officers. The election of Mayor-Pro Tempore for 2000.
Mr. Beard: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Yes, Mr. Beard?
Mr. Beard: I would like to nominate Mr. Mays: Mays for Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Young: All right. Mr. Mays’ name is in nomination. Are there any other
nominations for Mayor Pro Tem? Do we have that Mr. Mays is elected Mayor Pro Tem by
acclamation?
Mr. Kuhlke: I so move.
Mr. Shepard: Second.
Mayor Young: Anyone opposed? So ordered.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mayor Young: At the point, under the Commission rules, the Mayor will declare a
recess and Mr. Mays and I will talk about some committee assignments and then we’ll reconvene
shortly.
RECESS.
Mayor Young: All right, we’ll come back to order, please. Sorry for the delay there, but
we’re ready to proceed with the day’s business. Madame Clerk?
Mr. Mays: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Yes, Mr, Mays?
Mr. Mays: If I might, before the Clerk brings me the list of Committee offerings to be
voted on, first let me offer my deepest thanks to my colleague for their vote today. I guess I’ve
been in this chamber now for a long, long time. I’ve got some reflections, close to about 30
years ago, when I came here, in 1970, it was on the night that I worked for a young lady in her
campaign at that time by the name of Carrie Mays. And that’s been 30 years ago. And I have the
opportunity now to, I guess, probably served on every committee of old City Council and County
Commission and now this consolidated government. And I know that we make committee
selections, oftentimes they don’t please everybody and somebody’s got to go somewhere. And I
used that experience, I guess, in those old days because I got bumped from so many committees
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to committee that I used that experience to probably gain on some folk who didn’t get bumped.
And it gave me the opportunity to learn from the various committees in government and to carry
that experience. I look forward to working with each of you ten gentlemen in this coming year
as we battle day to day to help make this City a better place, not only in terms of leadership of
this Commission from the standpoint of the office of Mayor Pro Tem, but in working also as
liaison with you and the Mayor and the ideas of the Commission and being able to relay those
things and put them together. So again I thank you and I think as we heard the ministers this
morning and the various prayers that they offered in this group, while we live in a country of
religious freedom and while we talk many times of separation of church and state, I think that it’s
still good in the new millennium that we have not, regardless of what we may call our supreme
being, that we’ve not separated ourselves from [inaudible]. And as we continue to move
forward, I hope that we can do it, even when we disagree, that we find an agreeable way of doing
that. I look forward to working with you.
Mayor Young: Thank you, Mr. Mays. Madame Clerk, will you proceed with the
announcement of the committee assignments for 2000-2001?
Clerk: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. The appointment of the Standing Committees.
Finance Committee:
Steve Shepard, Chairman
Henry Brigham, Co-Chairman
Mr. Bridges: Bridges
Marion Williams
Administrative Services Committee:
Henry Brigham, Chairman
Bill Kuhlke, Co-Chairman
Lee Beard
Andy Cheek
Engineering Services Committee:
Mr. Bridges: Bridges, Chairman
Andy Cheek, Co-Chairman
Mr. Mays: Mays
Richard Colclough
Public Safety Committee:
Lee Beard, Chairman
Marion Williams, Co-Chairman
Jerry Brigham
Steve Shepard
Public Services Committee:
Richard Colclough, Chairman
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Jerry Brigham, Co-Chairman
Mr. Mays: Mays
Bill Kuhlke
Mayor Young: Thank you. Mr. Mays, it’s going to be a pleasure having you as Mayor
Pro Tem and helping me enforce rule 2.02, which limits to two minutes discussion of issues by
Commissioners, and I know you will enthusiastically join me in that. Do we have a motion to
accept the Committee assignments as proposed by the Mayor Pro Tem?
Mr. Shepard: So moved.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mayor Young: Motion and second. Any discussion? All in favor, please vote with your
green light, vote aye.
Motion carries 10-0.
Clerk: Next is the appointment of Legal Counsel for 2000.
Mr. Kuhlke: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Mr. Kuhlke?
Mr. Kuhlke: I’d like to move that we retain Mr. Wall as our legal counsel for the
year 2000.
Mr. Shepard: Second.
Mayor Young: Motion and second. Mr. Wall?
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Yes, Mr. Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: I’d like to offer a substitute motion, please. That we delay the
appointment until such as the next meeting to review current practices and compare them
to consolidation
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mayor Young: We have a motion and a second, a substitute motion to delay this two
weeks till our next meeting. Is there any discussion on the substitute motion? All in favor of the
substitute motion–
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Mr. Mays: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Yes, sir, Mr. Mays.
Mr. Mays: There’s one thing onsubstitute I’d like to ask. In between–and I’m saying
this if this motion passes, because we have two new Commissioners that have come on board
and they have not been privileged by law to be able to share in what might be current or pending
litigation with the City, would it be practical to maybe plan to have type of legal session so that
they can–I don’t want us to just come back in two weeks and to just do this again. I think
somewhere in the process that they need to brought up to speed in terms of where we stand,
particularly in the litigation, and this might help us to move forward in this home thing.
Mayor Young: Mr. Mays, I believe they individually can meet with Mr. Wall and
accomplish that, that we wouldn’t have to as a group have a meeting. That’s what I did when I
came into effort, met individually with Mr. Wall to be brought up to date, and I think that would
accomplish the same thing, and I would encourage them to have those meetings over the next
weeks if the substitute motion–
Mr. Mays: And the other thing I’d like to ask, I know we have had, I guess probably not
to be Mr. Wall in a spot, but [inaudible]. We’ve had Committees, in termsof a committee that
was assigned so that we could look at various forms of how we might deal with the attorney in
relationship to the consolidation bill. I think that in that process, inasmuch as we have to make a
decision, that we may need to think in terms of two-fold. Making a decision one way or the
other, even if–and this is not to influence anybody’s mind–but I think we need to make a
decision to clarify for those, regardless of what side of the consolidation bill people voted, I think
there needs to be some clarity if we are moving away from what the bill said and to move on in
current fashion and we maybe ought to look at that over the two-week period, too, if that is the
direction we are moving in on that side, and then we can kind of try and go in the direction of
putting this to rest once and for all, one way or the other.
Mayor Young: Thank you, Mr. Mays. Any further discussion?
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Mr. Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: The intention of the motion is that this is an issue that has been over the
head of this Commission for a number of years since consolidation. It is time to address it, to
decide which is the best form of representation that we should have, and then adopt that and
move forward, put it to bed.
Mr. Oliver: My suggestion, Commissioner Cheek, would be to extend the current
contract two weeks because I think the way that you’ve done your motion, we would
potentially be without legal services in that two-week period.
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Mr. Cheek: We’d like to have that language included as part of the motion.
Mayor Young: Well, we’d have to amend the motion to do that, wouldn’t we, Mr. Wall?
We can amend the motion with unanimous consent if everyone will accept that amendment. All
right. No objection was heard. So the motion is amended with the amendment to retain Mr.
Wall pending our decision in two weeks on this issue. So we have a substitute motion on the
floor. All in favor of the substitute motion, please vote aye with your green light.
(Vote on substitute motion)
Mr. Shepard, Mr. Kuhlke and Mr. J. Brigham vote No.
Motion carries 7-3.
Clerk: The consent agenda, Items 1-39, and for the benefit of any objections,
regarding the liquor applications, I will read the petition and the location. If there are any
objectors, would you please signify your objection by the raising of your hand:
FINANCE:
1. Motion to approve Amendment to Augusta Richmond County Code to bring the
Code in lien with the Georgia Code. (Approved by Finance Committee December
27, 1999)
2. Motion to approve the abatement of 1999 taxes on Map 323, Parcel 39.03.
(Approved by finance committee December 27, 1999)
3. Motion to approving bringing the Internal Auditor in-house within 90 to 120 days
with a salary range of $45,000 - $55,000. (Approved by Finance committee
December 27, 1999)
4. Pulled from consent agenda.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES:
5. Motion to approve the reprogramming of $429,075 in CDBG funds from Laney-
Walker Street Lighting Project to Barton Cahpel Street Improvements being
returned to the Laney-Walker Project with $429,075 from Special Purpose Local
Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). (Approved by Administrative Services December 27,
1999)
6. Motion to approve Eliminating Special Projects Coordinator position and move
employee to vacant Engineering Technician I, Grad 43 and freeze employee at
current salary until employee is within the new salary range in Public Works.
(Approved by Administrative Services December 27, 1999)
7. Motion to approve continuing Commercial Property Insurance through Chubb at a
cost of $126,714. (Approved by Administrative Services December 27, 1999)
ENGINEERING SERVICES:
8. Motion to approve splitting the cost 50-50 of $23,600 with the Forest Hills Racquet
Club at Courtside Drive for a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis with a copy given
to AUGUSTA RICHMOND COUNTY. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
Page 14
9. Pulled from consent agenda.
10. Motion to approve a three-year lease of portions of Big Farm property to Charles
Thompson for $15/acre per year waiving the first year’s payment in return for use
of right-of-way. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee December 27, 1999)
ENGINEERING SERVICES:
11. Motion to approve $227,500 to purchase Mobile Computing S/W from New World.
New World was low bidder to RFP #99-090; $672,500 to purchase Mobile
Computing H/W off of state contract from Motorola; $45,000 to hire a System
Administrator to support mobile computing system effective 7/01/00 at a pay grade
of 52 (salary range $34,959 - $52,438) with position to work for Information
Technology. Ninety percent of funds to be supplied from Local Law Enforcement
Block Grant LLEBG. Ten percent is currently in the Sheriff Department’s 2000
budget request. (Approved by Public Safety Committee December 27, 1999)
PUBLIC SERVICES:
12. Pulled from consent agenda.
13. Motion to approve a three-year contract extension with Lamar Advertising with a
five-year option to renew. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 27,
1999)
14. Motion to approve a request by John C. Melton I for consumption on premise
liquor, beer & wine license to be used in connection with Surrey Tavern located at
471 Highland Avenue. There will be a dance hall. District 7. Super District 10.
(Approved by Public Services Committee December 27, 1999)
15. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5591 located at 3332 Mike
Padgett Highway. District 2. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
16. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5349 located at 1500 Gordon
Highway. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee
December 27, 1999)
17. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5341 located at 3603 Peach
Orchard Road. District 6. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
18. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5339 located at #1 East
Boundary. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee
December 27, 1999)
19. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5337 located at 2702
Wrightsboro Road. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
20. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
Page 15
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5344 located at 2762 Tobacco
Road. District 6. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee
December 27, 1999)
21. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5336 located at 3950
Wrightsboro Road. District 3. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
22. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5334 located at 2572 Lumpkin
Road. District 5. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee
December 27, 1999)
23. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5584 located at 1501 Laney
Walker Boulevard. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
24. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5583 located at 545 Sand Bar
Ferry Road. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee
December 27, 1999)
25. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5582 located at 2916
Washington Road. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
26. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5581 located at 2631
Wrightsboro Road. District 3. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
27. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5380 located at 2999
Washington Road. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
28. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5378 located at 602 Scott Nixon
Memorial Drive. District 3. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
29. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5373 located at 261 Fury’s
Ferry Road. District 7. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
30. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K Store #5372 located at 1488 Reynolds
Street. District 1. Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee
December 27, 1999)
31. Motion to approve a request by Larry J. White for a retail package beer & wine
license to be used in connection with Circle K. Store #5365 located at 3744 Wheeler
Page 16
Road. District 3. Super District 10. (Approved by Public Services Committee
December 27, 1999)
32. Motion to approve a request by Tony A. James for a gameroom license to be used in
connection with Tee & Dee Gameroom located at 835 East Boundary. District 1.
Super District 9. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 27, 1999)
33. Motion to approve a contract amendment for reallocation of funds from the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources (EPD). This includes costs incurred to Augusta
Richmond County for the Scrap Tire Code Enforcement Grant fiscal year 1998-
1999. AUGUSTA RICHMOND COUNTY has $8,541.28 left remaining in the
$65,800 budget for Scrap Tire Code Enforcement Grant. (Approved by Public
Services Committee December 27, 1999)
PETITIONS & COMMUNICATIONS:
34. Motion to approve minutes of the regular meting of the Augusta Commission held
December 21, 1999.
ATTORNEY:
35. Pulled from consent agenda.
36. Pulled from consent agenda.
37. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend the Augusta Richmond County Code,
section 5-2-45, to provide for water and sewer rates to be established in the adoption
of the Budget; to repeal conflicting Ordinances; to provide an effective date; and for
other purposes. (Approved by the Commission December 21, 1999 - second
reading)
38. Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend the Augusta Richmond County Code,
section 4-1-6, to provide a surcharge on certain landfill Fees; to repeal conflicting
Ordinances; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes. (Approved by the
Commission December 21, 1999 - second reading)
APPOINTMENTS:
39. Appoint Robert L. Moore to the General Aviation Commission - Daniel Field
representing District 3.
Appoint Tom Jackson to the General Aviation Commission - Daniel Field
representing
District 7.
Clerk: No objectors, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Young: Gentleman, with respect to the consent agenda, what’s your pleasure?
Mr. Kuhlke: I so move.
Mr. Shepard: Second.
Mayor Young: We have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. Any
Page 17
discussion?
Mr. Williams: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull Item 12.
Mayor Young: Item 12 is pulled.
Mr. Cheek: Yes, Mr. Mayor, I’d like to pull #4, please.
Mayor Young: Item 4 is pulled. The Chair would like to pull Item 35.
Mr. Speaker: You need to pull 36 if you’re pulling 35.
Mayor Young: 36, all right. 36 is pulled.
Mr. Williams: I’d like to pull Item #9.
Mayor Young: Item 9 is pulled. Anyone else?
Clerk: Items 1-39, with the exception of Items 4, 9, 12, 35 and 36.
Mayor Young: Any discussion on the consent agenda? All in favor of the consent
agenda minus those items enumerated by the Clerk, please vote aye with the green light.
Motion carries 10-0.
Clerk: Item 4: Motion to approve retaining the current Internal Auditor firm, Baird
and Company contract for the year 2000 with a 60-day cancellation clause at a cost of
$141,600. If no one is hired by November 2000, RFQ’s would be prepared for the year
2001 with a recommendation to come back to December 1. (Approved by Finance
Committee December 27, 1999)
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Mr. Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor, the reason I brought this up for discussion is in
Committee the other day, it’s my understanding that we would hire an auditor, an internal auditor
which would have a staff of two, at somewhere around $15,000. And based on some loose
calculations, I don’t see how we’re going to do anything but break even on an internal auditor,
and the perception of having an external audit lends us a sense of credibility in that we have
someone from the outside looking into our business, and if we’re going to break even, it’s my
concern that we’re just adding staff rather than–well, we’re just adding staff.
Mr. Oliver: I think there are two clarifications, so that it’s understood. We have an
external audit prepared annually that’s based on generally accepted accounting principles. In
Page 18
addition to that, the internal audit functions have, at least during the time I’ve been here,
contracted out to a third party firm. Mr. Morrey may be able to address it. I think that contract
provides for the firm, and please feel free, Mr. Morrey, to correct me, to provide 1400 hours per
year of internal audit services. If you hire three people that are going to address the internal audit
function, assuming 80% productivity, you’re going to have somewhere right around 4000 hours
of internal audit services, so I think the level of service provided is different. Now as I
mentioned in the Committee meeting, one of the things that has to be considered is, depending
upon the size of the firm that’s retained for internal audit services, if you elect to proceed that
way, a firm could bring different resources to the table based upon the needs of a particular
engagement. And those are things that you need to consider, however.
Mr. Morrey: I’m not certain, Randy. We did not arrive at an hourly figure because if you
go on a task-ordered basis, and each assignment, they would give us a [inaudible] of the cost per
engagement.
Mr. Oliver: It’s something less than the 4000. We can look up the number. I don’t
recall what it is.
Mr. Cheek: So this is an effort at cost efficiency rather than a cost savings?
Mr. Oliver: No, I firmly believe that a good internal audit, regardless of how it’s done,
will more than save the money because I think an internal auditor should not only be a financial
internal auditor but look at what I call management efficiencies, and recommend ways to make
changes in organizational structure that will promote those efficiencies.
Mr. Cheek: No further questions, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Young: Mr. Bridges, do we have a motion?
Mr. Bridges: I make a motion we approve.
Mr. Beard: Second.
Mayor Young: Motion and second to approve. Any further discussion? All in favor of
the motion, please vote aye with your green light.
Motion carries 10-0.
Clerk: Item 9: Motion to approve engineering services for the St. Sebastian/Green
St./15th Street/Riverwatch Parkway project with Health & Lineback engineers, Inc. in the
amount not to exceed $1,317,033.00. Also approved Amendment Number One to Capital
Project Budget No. 327-04-29812003 for the project. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee December 27, 1999)
Mayor Young: Do we have a motion on this item?
Page 19
Mr. Shepard: I move approval, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Young: Motion to approve. Do we have a second/
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Mr. Oliver: If I may, I think Mr. Williams may need some background.
Mayor Young: We’ve got a motion on the floor. We’re going to get into discussion.
Did you have a question or something, Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I guess everybody knows that I’m new but before,
when I looked at this $1,317,033 for a study for Sebastian across the canal, I’d like to get a little
more information on–
Mr. Oliver: Sure. And I think you have come in in the middle of the tail end of this.
When I first arrived here, there had been some money that had languished around at the federal
level, I think since the late 70s. It was the 70s, early 80s. For eliminating railway congestion in
Augusta. We went to the federal elected officials and had to get an act of Congress to reprogram
those monies to be used in this particular way. The reprogramming of those monies, with the
million dollars that’s in Phase III of the sales tax for St. Sebastian Way, gives us about $16
million or $18 million for this project. Of that, all but the $1 million come from State and
Federal sources. What is being proposed for this is that there would be an exit ramp off of
Riverwatch that would connect up to Greene Street and then you would be able to go across on
th
15 Street and turn left then onto Greene Street. The next section, back onto Riverwatch, there
will be a flyover onto Riverwatch to get back out of town. In addition to that, St. Sebastian Way,
which is just past Enterprise Mill, would connect up with the Medical College on the alignment
of the other side, and then the goal was ultimately to go from Greene Street to Reynolds Street
on St. Sebastian Way. The Commission held a number of workshops on this. The designs were
presented and the prioritization of this project was that we eliminate the train impasses first,
specifically the exit ramp off of Riverwatch and the flyover back onto Riverwatch as being the
number one priority, meaning that if only funds were available to do that, we would do that. And
then the second priority would be St. Sebastian Way from Greene over to the Medical College,
and the third priority, if there’s not enough money it would be eliminated first, would be the last
leg from Greene Street over to Reynolds. What the $1.3 million is for, we went through a very
elaborate process for selecting a design engineer. This design engineer was responsible for the
design of the overpass bridge, for the flyover back onto Riverwatch, they will give us
construction drawings to go out to bidfor this particular project, as well as be responsible for the
permitting of this project. As I say, this is a $16 million or $18 million project, consequently a
$1.3 million fee for preparing the plans and specifications, in our opinion, is reasonable based
upon those negotiations. The State D.O.T. will be responsible, because I had some concern
about this for overseeing the actual construction, because clearly we do not have that capability
in house. The Commission, however, did approve a staff resource who is going to be the project
engineer to basically insure this project is taken care of. I will say this, before this project is
Page 20
completed, it will be about three to five years. I expect the permitting on this project, between
permitting and plans, because this is a major engineering piece of work, we’re talking in the 12
to 24 month, with the environmental and historical factors being the ones that are of principal
concern in the permitting process.
Mayor Young: Mr. Williams, any other questions?
Mr. Williams: No other questions, Mayor.
Mayor Young: Okay, thank you. Mr. Shepard?
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to reassure Mr. Williams that this has been a
concern of the railway trains and traffic committee, which I’ve had some interest in for two years
me being up here. It was the subject of a trip we made to Washington in 1998. I think Mr.
Brigham and I and maybe Mr. Mays was scheduled to go but he was us in spirit and in support of
that project, in which we got the monies reprogrammed. I think they were initially set aside in a
demonstration project by Congressman Barnard, who of course has not been in office for several
terms, and this is a long overdue project, and certainly a goal of that committee that I had that we
move ahead with that, and I’d move appreciate your support.
Mayor Young: Any further discussion on this item? We have a motion and second. All
in favor of the item, please vote aye.
Motion carries 10-0.
Clerk: Item 12: Motion to approve amendment to Augusta Richmond County Code
to authorize code enforcement officers to issue citations to any person violating any
provision of the Augusta Richmond County Code or any ordinance of Augusta Richmond
County which relates to drainage or soil erosion and sediment control, subdivisions and
zoning, water and sewage, alcohol and business licensing, and private property
maintenance codes including specifically Section 7-2-1, Section 7-3-1, Section 7-1-16 and
Section 3-5-134. (Approved by Public Services Committee December 27, 1999)
Mayor Young: Mr. Sherman, if you’d like to address the board on this?
Mr. Sherman: Yes, sir. This is a request from the License & Inspection Department to
amend the Code that will allow Code enforcement inspectors the authority to write citations. It
will be used only in certain situations. We’ll depend on the Marshal’s Department, there’s where
we expect 95 percent of the citations to be issued. This will be used when in the situation is such
that we have tried to get in touch with the owner of the property and have not been able to, if we
cannot find the owner of the property, then of course, we can ask the Marshal’s Department to
issue the citation. If we’re in the neighborhood and the owner is at the property, if we see them,
then we could write the citation on the spot. That’s the gist of it.
Mayor Young: Does someone have any questions?
Page 21
Mr. Colclough: Yes, sir.
Mayor Young: Yes, Mr. Colclough?
Mr. Colclough: I had some concerns in Committee and I still have some concerns about
issuing Code enforcement officers the authority to write citations. I understand Mr. Sherman is
saying this action will be used only in certain situations. In reality, a person trying to give
somebody a citation is not a law enforcement person wearing a uniform, gun, and a badge,
they’re not going to be very wall accepted. And I’m afraid that some of our employees may get
seriously injured out there in the community trying to issue citations. That’s why we’ve got a
Sheriff’s Department, that’s why we’ve got a Deputy Department. I think this measure needs to
be left up to law enforcement and let our Code enforcement people assist our law enforcement
people in dealing with this issue. That’s my concern, that somebody is going to get seriously
injured out there in the community.
Mayor Young: Thank you, Mr. Colclough.
Mr. Sherman: If I could make just one comment, just for your information. The building
inspectors are authorized now to write citations and it was probably a year ago that you all
authorized the Business License inspectors to write citations, just for your own information.
Mr. Colclough: That is a business license, and a building inspection license. It’s two
different issues, from walking up to someone’s door and saying I’m issuing you a citation
because you’ve got a barking dog in your yard or you’ve got a junk car in your yard or we can
remove the junk cars now but you need to cut your grass. That is something different.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Yes, sir, Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: I agree with Mr. Colclough. When a person doesn’t respect a uniform,
they certainly are not going to respect or female coming up in civilian clothes. When you’re
talking about giving citation. Anything other than–the name citation may be different, but when
you’re talking about giving a citation to somebody who has got a car in their yard who thinks it
is worth a lot of money and it may not be worth anything, but they, in their mind, it’s valuable.
And I think we need to be careful and very cautious about singling people out who say I’m going
to give you a citation, because there are some people out there that do not even respect a gun and
a badge, and they certainly would not respect a civilian in civilian clothes.
Mayor Young: Mr. Beard?
Mr. Beard: To Mr. Sherman, would this enhance the procedure and help alleviate some
of the problems that we have out there? In what way? Maybe you need to explain that. I don’t
have a problem with this issue here, but maybe you need to explain that.
Page 22
Mr. Sherman: It would speed up the process [inaudible] because we simply, when we
[inaudible] write the citation right then, as opposed to go back to the office, filling out a form,
requesting the Marshal’s Department to issue a citation. And that’s what we’ll do again on 95%
of the cases. It’s just on those few cases where everything coordinates, where the person is on
the property and we’re there and these are some of the most difficult [inaudible] issue citation
right then and there.
Mr. Beard: To me it would be helpful, because I know in most of the Districts,
especially in District 1, we do have that problem and if this is going to help in speeding up that
process, I have objections to it and I will probably support this motion in that event. And I
know, as far as possible, the hazards of doing this, we have that in all aspects of whatever we’re
dealing with. And unless it has been ruled by–if this is a legal act that they are to perform, and
this is going to help in the area of getting our City cleaner quicker, then I have no problem with
it.
Mayor Young: Let me go back here to Mr. Colclough, and then Mr. Williams.
Mr. Colclough: Mr. Sherman, would this process get the citations any quicker through
the Courts than they do now? Will the Judges move these up on the docket? You said they will
help speed up the process. Once a citation is written, once it’s given to the Judges or the Courts,
will that move this process through the Courts where that person who has violated the ordinance,
action will be taken within ten days, 15 days?
Mr. Sherman: Yes, sir it would speed it up because the cases that I’m talking about are
the situations where we can’t contact the [inaudible].
Mr. Colclough: Well–
Mr. Sherman: Again, we’re there in the neighborhood and they’re on the property and we
see them there. It would be very few cases but as far as this case being speeded up to get it to
Court, it would because I think otherwise we wouldn’t be able to serve them.
Mr. Colclough: You’re saying get it to Court? Will it speed up the actions of the Judge
hearing the cases?
Mr. Sherman: When we issue a citation, we’ll already have a Court date.
Mr. Colclough: I understand that, sir. But I’m saying will the Judge, just because Code
enforcement issue this citation rather than the Sheriff’s Department, will that give precedence
over the other cases?
Mr. Sherman: The cases that we’ve taken to them that I’ve written citations, the Judges
have been very supportive. I think the Judges are very supportive of what we’re doing.
Page 23
Mr. Oliver: You won’t see any change. I mean I can’t say that. I mean I think the key
thing is you’re going to get them into the system quicker, but the Court system is going to deal
with things in what I call a first in, first out basis.
Mayor Young: Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: Mr. Chairman, do these employees that will be issuing these citations,
will they not have radios, two-way communication?
Mr. Sherman: We have that, and not all of the Code Inspectors would be authorized.
There would be only a few who we feel are qualified to do that. We would go through Mr.
Wall’s office. They would have some training.
Mr. Williams: But they will have communication? Couldn’t they not call for the
Marshall or the Sheriff’s Department at that time to issue it, because they are on site and that
person is there, couldn’t they not call and then have the law enforcement to come and then,
without them leaving the premises, just stay there until an officer get there that had that
authority?
Mr. Sherman: It works that way, as well.
Mayor Young: Mr. Shepard?
Mr. Shepard: I think our Administrator said the key point, Mr. Mayor. This is a
way of giving these people supplemental authority to issue some tickets and get the tickets
in the system faster. Therefore we get the cases before the Court faster and get the
community cleaned up. So I would like to make a motion to approve the changes
recommended by the Public Services Committee.
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Mayor Young: We have a motion to approve and a second. Any further discussion on
the motion?
Mr. Mays: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Yes, Mr. Mays?
Mr. Mays: I know you sat in on that Committee meeting the other day and [inaudible]
came out of the Public Services Committee with no objection. [inaudible] because we know that
the overall intention of the Director, Mr. Sherman, is he wants to be able to get in there and get
this done much quicker [inaudible]. However, I’m going to be as blunt as I was at the
Committee meeting. And this is no reflection on him. But if we have got [inaudible] where
we’ve got to also deal with [inaudible] officers [inaudible] it’s been proven we have little or no
control, one of the factors that arose, and I asked about it at the Committee meeting, was that one
Page 24
of the allegations, and I don’t like to deal in allegations, but one of the reasons why this was met
with some reluctance in there was the fact that we had had problems in terms of cases being able
to stick and make good when law enforcement was not making them. Now if that’s a personality
problem, and that’s in the Court in dealing with it, then we sit down and we talk about that. But
what I don’t want to do is to get something [inaudible] that has all the great intentions of work. I
think the intentions are honorable, I think they’re very well intended. But one of the answers I
got when I asked about the judicial system was that they had dealt with one Judge. Well that
could be a problem right. Cause you’ve got two judges. Now is there is a problem with
somebody writing a ticket or is there a problem in there with the judges? I think you ought to be
realistic about that. If they are getting thrown out or they going to meet with opposition and
where they’re coming from, then there needs to be a different level of cooperation talked about
first before you implement it, because what you don’t need is a situation where somebody gets
an ego trip in the Court system because of who writes the ticket and then your good intention
goes down the tube because it’s not being followed the way that they maybe wanted it to be
followed in Court. And I don’t think to do that, I don’t think he wants that done as the
Department Head, but I think if that is already the hidden question, then we [inaudible] and I say
it at the time, there ain’t no secrets around the Courthouse. If that’s a problem, I think all those
parameters need to be worked out in the judiciary before we start writing everybody, everybody
in that department. I think probably they may have a [inaudible] hands-on situation. Might can
handle it. Be able to do it. But I think you need to make sure you know whether the Court is
going to support you in the way you’re talking because [inaudible] thing where they can show
you, better than they can hear you [inaudible]. And that’s the only thing I want to add. I want to
see it succeed and I want to see it done where you can speed it on and I know you put it in the
clean-up efforts, Mr. Mayor, on the front burner of your administration. [inaudible] that that
needs to be worked out in the Court system and everybody is the same, off the same sheet of
music, and we’re not implementing and we turn around there and we [inaudible]. We’ll show
you how this works. That can be done.
Mayor Young: Thank you, Mr. Mays. It’s a point well taken. We have a motion on the
floor and it’s been seconded. Let’s go ahead and take a vote on the motion then. All in favor of
the motion to accept the information as presented in the printed agenda, please vote aye.
Mr. Williams and Mr. Colclough vote no.
Mr. Mays abstains.
Motion carries 7-2-1.
Mayor Young: Next item.
Clerk: Item 35: Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend the Augusta Richmond
County Code to add Title 1 Chapter 1 a new Article 2 to provide for a Code of Ethics for
employees and public officials of Augusta, Georgia; to renumber Augusta Richmond
County Code Section 1-1-11; to provide definitions; to establish a Code of Conduct; to
provide sanctions; to amend the Augusta Richmond County Code to amend and renumber
Code Sections 1-10-10 through 1-10-022; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
(Approved by Commission December 21, 1999 - second reading)
Page 25
Mayor Young: Gentlemen, I asked that this item be pulled because there are some
points I wanted to make about this. I brought this about four months ago and first of all, I want
to thank the Commissioners for your diligence in dealing with this Ethics Ordinance. I think
you’ve done a good job, and certainly the last several months you’ve worked on it have been
very productive. I think there are some issues in this Ordinance as we take it up for second
reading today that we ought to consider. Number one is on page 5, the definition of relative. I
think we send conflicting messages to our employees and to the people in this community when
we have different definitions of relatives for issues that affect the Mayor and Commission, a
different definition for employees when it comes to nepotism, and a different definition when we
deal with contractors, and I think we should have one uniform definition to provide clarity in the
way we draw documents and conduct our business. Also on page 11, vendor should include
those people who are spending money trying to win influence and do business with this City.
Indeed that’s the issue that was addressed by the Grand Jury. Not who was doing business but
who was trying to do business. Such an amendment to this would not only protect the
businesses, it would protect the Commissioners and the employees who work for us and
eliminate those potentials for abuse. On page eight, with respect to who can represent whom, I
think we need to include in there a prohibition of paying for lodging, paying meal costs, and for
registration in addition to the prohibitions that are already in there. The way it’s written
somebody cannot get there, can’t pay for transportation, but you can do anything you want to
once you get there and there’s no prohibition on that. On page 14, I think we need to look at the
effective date for that particular reporting by the lobbyists because it says on February 1, and if
we pass it today and it’s effective immediately, there would be a report due on February 1 for the
activities of last year is the way I read that, Mr. Wall, so we may need some clarification on that.
Mr. Wall: The first reporting period would be in 2001 and that’s specified in here
somewhere, and I noticed the draft that’s in the book is a December 14 draft. The December 15
draft is the latest one, it’s a change.
Mayor Young: I just wanted to make sure that was included. Anyway, I’d like to bring
those items to your attention today and I think if we make those changes in this Ordinance, I
think we’ll have a good solid document that the people of Augusta can have confidence in us and
the way we conduct our business here and what we would be doing would indeed be in the best
interest of the people we’re elected to serve.
Mr. Kuhlke: I so move.
Mr. Cheek: I second.
Mayor Young: What’s your motion?
Mr. Kuhlke: That we accept the recommendations that you made.
Mayor Young: Thank you. We have a motion and second. Any discussion? Mr.
Beard?
Page 26
Mr. Beard: I think that the thoughts you brought out are very good, but I think we’ve
gone over this a number of times and I wasn’t on the Committee but we did go through it. It
seemed like a majority of the Commissioners put forth an effort to accept it as the Committee
returned it to us with some variations in there, and I see no need to change this at this time. At
this time I make a substitute motion that we approved it, Item 35, as is.
Mayor Young: Is there a second to the substitution motion?
Mr. Bridges: I’ll second it to get it on the floor.
Mayor Young: Thank you, Mr. Bridges. Discussion on the substitute motion?
Mr. Bridges: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Yes?
Mr. Bridges: What was your point on the vendors?
Mayor Young: My point on the vendors is I think the potential for abuse is those who
are trying to solicit business from the City much more than those who are already doing business
with the City, and that was the very point that was made by the Grand Jury in its report. Some
expenditures were in question where someone was trying to get the City’s business.
Mr. Bridges: So I know from the original documentation that came out of Committee, it
was to prohibit somebody that was trying to do business with the City from contacting a
Commissioner before they came through the, I believe it was Clerk of Commission. Is that what
you would be advocating?
Mayor Young: Going back to the original language.
Mr. Bridges: I see, okay.
Mayor Young: Mr. Shepard?
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, I thought that in one of the latest drafts that we worked on
with the lawyer, that we had put in additional language that covered the point of seeking to
influence official actions, and with this not being the latest draft in our book, I’m having trouble
locating that language.
Mayor Young: I believe we took that language out at first reading.
Mr. Wall: Well, the language that the Mayor is speaking of is, in the definition of
vendor, it said as originally proposed, vendor means any person who solicits the sell to or to
contract or who sells or contracts. We deleted the solicitation provision there. Commissioner
Page 27
Shepard, the December 15 version is the one that you worked on?
Mr. Shepard: Right.
Mr. Wall: And the influencing an official action language that I think you’re talking
about, let me find it.
Mayor Young: Mr. Wall, are you saying that the version that’s in the backup material is
not the version that was passed on first reading two weeks ago?
Mr. Wall: That’s correct. It was the December 15 version that was passed two weeks
ago.
Mr. Kuhlke: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Wall: It was just a few, I think there were just a few minor changes between the
December 14 version and the December 15 version. One of them was the 2001 reporting date.
Mr. Kuhlke: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Mr. Kuhlke?
Mr. Kuhlke: I don’t know whether I can do this or not, Mr. Wall: , but considering the
questions that have come up, I don’t mind taking a look at what you’re suggesting, but I think if
you could put something in front of us that was marked and give us the version that you’d like to
see in there so that we could look at it before we really vote on it, and if I can, Mr. Wall: , can I
amend my motion or can I change my motion?
Mayor Young: We have to take up the substitute first. You motion may be moot.
Mr. Beard: I’ll amend my motion to bring it back in two weeks so we’ll have a chance
to look at it.
Mr. Kuhlke: In that case, can I withdraw my motion?
Mayor Young: No, you can’t.
Mr. Kuhlke: I can’t?
Mayor Young: We can amend Mr. Beard’s motion with unanimous consent of the
Commission. Is there any objection to amending Mr. Beard’s substitute motion to just sitting on
this for two week and bring it back in two weeks?
Mr. Kuhlke: You’re going to bring back both versions? The way it is now and the
changes that you wanted to make? I think we need to be able to look at the way it is now and
Page 28
then how you would like to see it. Just make it a little bit easier for us to make up our minds.
Mayor Young: Is that the intent of your amendment, Mr. Beard?
Mr. Beard: I’ll accept that.
Mayor Young: All in favor of the substitute motion, please vote aye.
Motion carries 10-0.
Clerk: Item 36: Motion to approve an Ordinance to amend Title 1, Chapter 4 of The
Augusta Richmond County Code entitled “Boards and Authorities” so as to provide
Qualifications for members, to provide for removal for failure to meet such Qualifications;
to repeal conflicting Ordinances; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.
(Approved by Commission December 21, 1999 - second reading)
Mr. J. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I have no problem with making a motion to approve that
Ordinance, I just want to make sure the Ethics Ordinance which goes first doesn’t affect anything
different in this Ordinance.
Mr. Wall: Commissioner Brigham, your point is well taken because in Section 2 of the
Boards and Authorities, I mean we specifically reference the Code of Ethics that was anticipated
to be adopted at the same time, so you may want to postpone this one for two weeks as well,
bring them back together.
Mr. J. Brigham: I so move.
Mr. Bridges: Second.
Mayor Young: Motion and second. Any discussion? All in favor, vote aye.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mayor Young: Madame Clerk?
Clerk: Item 40: Motion to approve Policy Statement requiring not-for-profit
organizations to provide the County with certain financial information as a requirement
for being considered for County funding. (No recommendation Finance Committee
December 27, 1999)
Mr. J. Brigham: I so move.
Mr. Kuhlke: Second.
Mayor Young: Motion and second. Discussion on the motion? None heard. Let’s take
Page 29
a vote on the motion. All in favor of the motion, please vote aye.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mayor Young: Mr. Mays, as the Pro Tem, your hand should be a little quicker there.
Still lagging a little.
Clerk: Item 41: Motion to approve a request from the Augusta Cotton Exchange
Museum that the distribution of the State of Georgia grant in the amount of $40,000 to
establish a museum at the Historic Cotton Exchange be made to the Augusta Cotton
Exchange Museum, Inc. (No recommendation finance Committee December 27, 1999)
Mr. Beard: I so move.
Mr. Colclough: Second.
Mayor Young: We have a motion and a second. I think each one of you got a copy
today of the communication from Mr. Moore stating that they would not seek any money from
this Commission and we will include that statement on the record, too, Madame Clerk.
Resolution
BE IT RESOLVED that the Augusta Cotton Exchange Museum, Inc. will not ask the
City of Augusta for any money other than the State of Georgia $40,000.00 “pass-through” grant
for the Augusta Cotton Exchange Museum, Inc. located on the second floor of the Historic
Cotton Exchange building.
APPROVED by unanimous consent (conducted by telephone poll).
Mayor Young: Is there any discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, please
vote aye.
Mr. J. Brigham votes no.
Motion carries 9-1.
Mayor Young: Next item.
Clerk: Item 42: ZA-R-110 - Request for concurrent with the decision of the
Planning Commission to approve an amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance
for Augusta Richmond County to provide for facilities for public or private assembly such
as conference centers, convention centers, meeting rooms, and facilities used for similar
events by Special Exception in agriculture, residential and professional zones and by right
in commercial and industrial zones. (No recommendation Public Services Committee
December 27, 1999)
Mr. J. Brigham: I so move.
Page 30
Mr. Beard: Second.
Mayor Young: Motion and second. Is there discussion on the motion to approve this?
Are you raising your hand, Mr. Bridges?
Mr. Bridges: Yes, sir, I’d like to get some information on this, George, if I could. A
little bit of detail of what we’re doing here.
Mr. Patty: Okay. I believe this came up at your last meeting. It came up at the Public
Services meeting, also. We allow certain uses by special exception in any zone. I won’t burden
you with all of those, but some of those uses are churches, private schools, transitional housing,
family day care homes, adult day care facilities, private hospitals, clubs, nursing homes, and by
special exception I mean these are things that are allowed in any zone but they come to you for
special permission and you have to vote to approve their location wherever in the County,
regardless of the base zoning. And when you grant a special exception, you don’t change the
base zoning. For instance from Residential to Commercial. The zoning would stay Residential
and they simply get special permission to conduct a certain land use if they can meet the
standards that we set. And what this proposes is to add to that list of things that are allowable by
special exception facilities for private and public assembly, such as conference centers,
convention centers, meeting rooms, and hospitality facilities if utilized for more than 14 total
days per calendar year and facilities for similar social events. So it would give you the right to
consider these type facilities in any zoning if you approve this.
Mr. Bridges: This is from the Knox Center? This is a result of the Knox Center
controversy, is it not?
Mr. Patty: Yes, sir, this would allow facilities like that. Once again, you have to approve
them individually and there are pretty strong criteria in this thing that I think would control their–
Mr. Bridges: So if we pass this, then they have to come before us and ask for that
exception and yet they still, I believe the ordinance or motion that passed concerning the Knox
Center, they still have to come back in a year or something like that for approval? Okay.
Mayor Young: Mr. Colclough?
Mr. Colclough: Mr. Patty, was this a request from the general population or just one
segment of the community?
Mr. Patty: No, the Knox Center was discussed in front of you at length and the decision
was made to postpone acting on that a certain length of time in order for us to come back to you
with an amendment.
Mr. Colclough: That was not my question.
Page 31
Mr. Patty: So they wouldn’t require commercial zoning. This is my response to that
question. This is the way I think you should handle it.
Mr. Colclough: That wasn’t my question, though. My question was, was this request
from the general community or from one segment of the community? Is this in response–
Mayor Young: It was a request from the Commission actually, for you to go back and
draft it, is that not correct?
Mr. Patty: You told me to come back with another way to handle this. That you didn’t
want to zone that property commercial. This is the way I think you should handle it.
Mr. Colclough: But it would affect the general population in a different way than it
would affect what we asked you to bring back, is that correct?
Mr. Patty: Well– Richard, it wouldn’t affect anybody unless you approved a specific
location. Anybody’s got a right to ask for anything, but you don’t have to approve it.
Mr. Colclough: Then why would we do an ordinance if they have the right to ask for
anything?
Mr. Patty: You’d be doing an ordinance to allow them, to give them the right to ask it.
Mr. Colclough: If I wanted to put up a tent in my front yard and have a host of people
out there, as a conference or a rally, with this ordinance I could do that?
Mr. Patty: No. No. This ordinance would give you the right–
Mr. Colclough: If I come before this Commission and said I would like to hold an
educational rally on the front lawn of 3508 Monte Carlo and this Commission approves that
request, that means I can put up a huge tent?
Mayor Young: Mr. Patty, I believe under the existing zoning law you can put a tent up
in your yard and do anything you want to, can’t you?
Mr. Patty: That’s true, and that’s a problem we have up there around the Augusta
National. That’s another story.
Mr. Colclough: It’s part of our ordinance we can put up a tent anywhere we want to?
Mayor Young: That’s in the existing ordinance.
Mr. Colclough: I was on the Planning Board and I’ve never seen that one.
Mayor Young: Because you don’t have to come to get permission. It’s already allowed
Page 32
by law.
Mr. Patty: This amendment does have some criteria now. It doesn’t specify what size
facility you can have. It does say that the design and skill of any improvements shall be
consistent with the surrounding area. That’s one of the criteria that you and I would look at in
trying to make a decision of whether it’s a good idea or a bad idea. You know, somebody want
to put a huge tent in their front yard.
Mr. Colclough: This was sent to us without any recommendation from the Planning
Commission?
Mr. Patty: Yes, sir.
(End of tape one)
(Tape two)
Mr. Patty: ...process would follow State law, which would mean that the public hearing
has got to be held within 15 to 45 days after a sign is put up, notice is put in the paper.
Immediately after a decision of the Planning Commission as to what they would recommend, it
would come to the Commission for final decision. The language in this section does allow, the
language in this proposed section does say that special exceptions granted pursuant to [inaudible]
shall be specifically for the use described and they shall be invalid and automatically rescinded if
the use changes substantially or ceases to exist for a period of one year.
Mr. Cheek: So there’s one year before review?
Mr. Patty: Well, now, as long as it continued as it was approved, it wouldn’t be an
automatic review, but if it ceased to exist or changed, it would basically be automatically
rescinded.
Mr. Cheek: All right.
Mayor Young: Mr. Shepard?
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, correct me if I’m wrong, George, but I thought the problem in
Olde Town was that we were going to have to put down a Commercial use in the middle of a
Residential area; we had no tool like you are suggesting today? Now we don’t have to change
the zoning and can consider special exceptions on a case-by-case basis? Isn’t that the point?
Mr. Patty: That’s correct. The only option you had when that came up was to zone it
Commercial.
Mr. Shepard: So now if the Commission in its discretion did not want to approve a
special exception anywhere in this County, we could still have hearing on it and disapprove it,
and we would have the authority based on this document to do it?
Page 33
Mr. Patty: Yes, sir.
Mayor Young: Any further discussion on this?
Mr. Mays: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Yes, Mr. Mays?
Mr. Mays: As one of the person [inaudible] find a way of working it out, but work it out
legally, and I’m not going to [inaudible] but I was just wondering for the common good of what
we’re dealing with for the community, even though I’m not pre-empting or saying we’re going to
get challenges on this, but I’m just wondering and I know the Attorney said we can’t deal with
the grandfather situation of where we are, but I’m just wondering if the organizational structure,
quite frankly, that we’ve got in this community, particularly with the various neighborhood
associations and organized neighborhoods, we can say to persons how protected they are, but I’m
wondering how far this is going to fly when it hits a total general populace that this is something
that you can do, whether or not the challenge is from that operator, or have a situation whereby
the existing community where it originated at, was not, or at least, favored more in terms of the
zoning, not being change but in finding a way for them to co-exist without a zoning change. And
I think on one hand he’s done that, but I think where–and maybe I’m the only one– and I maybe
I use a bad example in terms of doing it, but I’ll use it anyway. This was the situation there that
came about in the old City of Augusta, and I think by the Planning Director’s own admission, not
by his creation, but by his admission of what was handed to him, that maybe it wasn’t so legal to
start with, but it existed. And I’m wondering how after it, are we [inaudible] same functions
totally [inaudible] certain things or business has changed? Because I think those of us who
remember the history of what was there, some things might slightly change but you still had
meetings, you still had parties, you had folk who slept there, there were [inaudible] for various
purposes. So you are basically back doing it again, the only difference is you’ve got non-profits
doing it [inaudible]. Just as we took in the old City, some were red light situations, by taking in
adult establishments, where they were, accepted them and said this is what it’s going to be and
we’re not going to deal with it any more, but those folk who are in business want to do this. I
don’t think that’s a heck of a lot easier legal leg to stand on than going out and waking up a
sleeping giant that may propose some changes in here [inaudible], maybe not here today, but if it
is passed, we pretty much guarantee that [inaudible] at least three of these Commissioners reside
in, maybe four, you are going to have some serious organizational problems. You’re going to
leave this discretion. Just as in the old City it created problems. [inaudible] but the discretion
still went with the governmental body. When something was abandoned, it ceased to be. It
came back before the governmental body to be decided whether or not you would let the law
stand or you would let the business recreate. In the case maybe of some stores, particularly those
that sold alcoholic beverages, some were allowed to go back in. Some were not. It was at the
discretion of the government. If somebody wanted to sue, they sued. But I think you have a
stronger situation and you create less of a problem if you can send this darn thing back and
[inaudible] but I think in all due respect to Mr. Wall, who wrote this ordinance, it may be legal
but I think you are asking for a little more than you might seek right now in generalizing this
Page 34
whole community, because any given day where it crosses the line and six folk play sides, they
might be mad with another Commissioner on that day [inaudible] . That could basically happen
because you may be out there and say you didn’t vote for me this particular day . [inaudible] it’s
in there. And you abide by the ordinance. I just feel from the fact we’ve still got some element
of grand fathering that can cure this problem [inaudible] leave the rest of this County alone and
you’ve got that one solved. And you face less of a legal challenge and uproar from general
public than you would opening this thing up and then coming back [inaudible] and thirty days
from now you get a delegation, Mr. Mayor, who comes down and wants to address this
ordinance that we passed, and they [inaudible] us out because of the fear of what’s going to
happen in [inaudible] .
Mayor Young: I’ll let you preside that day, Mr. Mays. Any further discussion on the
ordinance? All right, we have a motion and a second on the floor. All in favor of the motion,
please vote aye.
Mr. Bridges: Mr. Mayor, the motion is to approve the ordinance?
Mayor Young: Yes, sir. As stated in the agenda book.
Mr. Williams, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Colclough and Mr. Cheek vote no.
Mr. Beard, Mr. Mays and Mr. H. Brigham abstain.
Motion fails 3-4-3.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Yes, Mr. Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: Just a comment on this past motion.
Mr. J. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, let’s go on with the order of the day, please.
Mayor Young: All right. Sorry. As soon as the Clerk gets the order recorded, we will
move on with the order of the day.
Clerk: Item 43: Consider request for purchase of tickets for the Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc. Annual Unit Breakfast, Monday, January 17 at a cost of $15 per person.
Mr. Oliver: This is a new year. We have $10,000 in the Commission Other account.
Mr. J. Brigham: I so move.
Mayor Young: Also, the Mayor is speaking so I know everyone will want to be there.
We have motion. Is there a second?
Mr. Colclough: Second.
Page 35
Mayor Young: All in favor of the motion–we have some discussion. Mr. Shepard?
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, I’d ask the maker of the motion to also treat 44 and the
addendum agenda item no. 3 and let’s handle all the tickets–the Unity Breakfast, the Economic
Outlook conference, and the Golf Hall of Fame at one shot.
Mayor Young: All right. Any objection to that? All right, we’ll roll all these into
motion.
Item 44: Consider request for purchase of tickets for the Augusta Economic
Outlook 2000 Conference, Thursday, January 6, 2000. Radisson Riverfront Hotel at a cost
of $50 per person.
Addendum Item 3: Consider a request to purchase tickets from the Golf Hall of
Fame for $65.00 per person.
Mayor Young: All in favor of the three items for ticket purchases, please vote aye.
Mr. Bridges votes no.
Mr. Beard out.
Motion carries 8-1.
Clerk: Item 45: Update on the Kimberly Clark Sewer Line from the Director of
Utilities.
Mayor Young: Mr. Hicks?
Mr. Hicks: Gentleman, the Kimberly Clark Sewer Line construction was begun at the end
of November, 1998. Work proceeded and there arose a difficulty with one of the owners, the
Walkers. There was a recommendation brought before the Commission to condemn the property
that was referred back to Engineering Services Committee. There was then a period where there
was a lawsuit between the property owner and the contractor. The lawsuit was settled in August
1999. The Walkers then signed the agreement in September, and the construction resumed on
December 13, 1999. One of the things the contractor had to do after he got back in there was
construct a roadway to complete the remainder of that work. The completion is now scheduled
for the end of February in the year 2000.
Mayor Young: Are there any questions for Mr. Hicks about this project?
Mr. J. Brigham: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Mr. Brigham?
Mr. J. Brigham: Mr. Hicks, in addition to this sewer line there was in the original bond
Page 36
issue a line from our treatment plant on Spirit Creek to the Messerly Plant. Is that, is there any
timetable or when will that timetable be?
Mr. Hicks: That project has been designed, Commissioner Brigham. The project has been
on hold so far as construction is concerned. The estimated cost for that pumping station and
14,900 of 20" pipe was $1.5 million. Any reasonable size, I’ll put it that way, industry locating
on Kimberly Clark could actually go into the Spirit Creek treatment facility. A larger one would
require this pumping station and line be built, and inasmuch as it’s already designed, we felt that
it could be constructed in the same time frame that an industry were being constructed. So it has
been put on hold for this time. It has been designed but it has not been bid and put out.
Mr. J. Brigham: One other question. You did say February of 2000?
Mr. Hicks: Yes, sir.
Mr. J. Brigham: It wasn’t just February, right?
Mr. Hicks: No, sir.
Mayor Young: Any further questions? Do we have a motion to receive this report as
information?
Mr. Bridges: I so move.
Mr. Shepard: Second.
Mayor Young: Motion and second. Any discussion? We’ll receive it as information
without objection. Or you can vote if you want to. We’ll move the meeting along here.
Motion carries 10-0.
Clerk: Our addendum agenda.
Mayor Young: All right.
Clerk: Addendum agenda 1: A request to authorize the Clerk of Commission to
retain a court reporter to prepare a transcript of the public hearing regarding the Corps of
Engineers’ study recommending the decommissioning of the New Savannah Bluff Lock and
Dam. (Charged to Promotional Account)
Mayor Young: This is for the public hearing on the potential closing of the New
Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam that we have scheduled on January 20 at the Julian Smith Casino.
The Corps of Engineers has told us they will not hold a hearing so we’re holding our own and we
want to have an accurate recording of what happens at that meeting, not so much for the Corps
because we think they’ve made up their mind and they know what they’re going to do, but for
Page 37
the members of Congress who will have the final say on this and we’ll be submitting those
transcripts to our Congressional delegation.
Mr. Beard: I so move, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. H. Brigham: Second.
Mayor Young: Motion and second. Mr. Shepard?
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, probably other than Mr. Wall, I’ve hired more court reporters
than anybody else in the room, but if this hearing, and Mr. Wall, correct me if I’m wrong, if it
goes hours and hours, are we going to take it all down?
Mayor Young: Well, the Mayor is not going to let the meeting go for hours and hours,
and I anticipate we’ll have about a two-hour hearing.
Mr. Shepard: Okay. I’m just thinking we may want to put our money toward takedown
to make sure we get it all down and then if it’s more than $1,000 come back and appropriate
more money for transcript. There’s a two-step process and whenever a lawyer starts talking and
other people start talking on the record, they tend to be very voluminous unless they are paying
for it, and then they tend to be more brief.
Mayor Young: We based our estimate, Mr. Shepard, on what the Commission has paid
to transcribe Commission meetings in the past.
Mr. Shepard: And will we sign up as individuals did for the budget hearings?
Mayor Young: We’ll let people sign up, limit speakers to three minutes and people can
file written extended remarks if they choose to do that.
Mr. Shepard: Thank you.
Mayor Young: Otherwise we’ll be there all night.
Mr. Shepard: I support the Mayor’s effort in holding that hearing. I think it’s very
important that we have an opportunity to speak on this very important issue.
Mayor Young: Thank you, Mr. Shepard. Any discussion? All in favor–
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Young: Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: On the Promotional Account?
Page 38
Mayor Young: The Promotional Account. All in favor, please vote aye.
Motion carries 10-0.
Clerk: Addendum Item 3: Consider lease of property at Constructed Wetlands
Project to Southeastern Natural Science Academy.
Mr. Wall: This is the old caretaker’s house that is on the Lock and Dam Road. And
they want to renovate that and use that as a caretaker for the nature park. This is Gene Eidson’s
group and they are currently having school groups and kids out there and this would allow them
to proceed with it. We do have a cancellation provision in the event that the constructed
wetlands has to be removed because of the agreement that was earlier made with the FAA, and
we’re recommending approval of it.
Mr. Bridges: I move for approval.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mayor Young: Motion and second. Any discussion? All in favor, please vote aye.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mayor Young: Okay, Mr. Wall?
Item 46: Legal meeting
Personnel matter
Update on pending litigation
Mr. Wall: Mr. Mayor, I put these on, not knowing whether or not I would have matters
to bring forward. Both of them are items that I think as far as pending litigation, I can meet with
Commissioner Williams and Commissioner Cheek on and bring them up to date, and so I don’t
think I need a legal meeting today.
Mayor Young: Thank you very much, Mr. Wall. Is there any other business to come
before the Commission? I would just like to state on the record what a wonderful job our City
employees and Department Heads did in putting the event together downtown Friday night.
We’ve had some tremendous feedback. It was a quality event, a safe event, a family-oriented
event, and I know a lot of employees worked long and hard hours on that and I certainly want to
commend them for what they did, Mr. Oliver, and let them know that what they did do was
appreciated. Anyone else? Do we have a motion to adjourn? We are adjourned without
objection.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 4:30 P.M.
Page 39
Lena J. 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 Augusta Richmond County Commission held on
January 4, 2000.
Clerk of Commission