HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 4, 2005 Commission Meeting
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
October 4, 2005
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 2:15 p.m., Tuesday, October
4, 2005, the Honorable Willie Mays, III, Interim Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Hankerson, Smith, Colclough, Grantham, Handy, Williams,
Beard, Cheek, Sims and Rearden, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Also Present: Steve Shepard, Attorney; Fred Russell, Administrator; Lena
Bonner, Clerk of Commission.
The invocation was given by Mr. Gordon Robinson, Pastor, Hillcrest Baptist
Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
RECOGNITION:
National Football League Players Association
RE: Augusta-Richmond County Weed and Seed
PRESENTATION:
Commissioner Betty Beard
Augusta Youth Center
DELEGATION:
Mr. Carl L. Walker
RE: Proposed Augusta Dragway
Mr. Cheek: I move that we receive this as information.
Ms. Sims: Second.
Motion carries 10-0.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
FINANCE:
1. Motion to approve recommendation that First Vehicle Services be selected as
the Fleet Maintenance provider for Augusta Richmond County (Request for
Proposal 05-112). (Approved by Finance Committee September 23, 2005)
2. Motion to approve the direct purchase (buyout) of One (1) currently leased
Caterpillar 980G Endloader from Caterpillar Financial Company of Nashville,
Tennessee for $135,000.00. (Approved by Finance Committee September 23, 2005)
1
3. Motion to approve a request to supplement the existing fuel budget by
$328,910 (all funds) from the appropriate contingency accounts for affected funds.
(Approved by Finance Committee September 23, 2005)
4. Motion to approve an increase for the CDBG Code Enforcement Demolition
fund for the fiscal year 2005. (Approved by Finance Committee September 23, 2005)
5. Motion to approve an increase for the CDBG Code Enforcement fund for the
fiscal year 2005. (Approved by Finance Committee September 23, 2005)
6. Motion to approve a request from the Augusta Mini Theatre, Inc. for city
sponsorship through the purchase of tickets for the 4th Annual Alumni and Friends
Chefs Showcase. (Approved by Finance Committee September 23, 2005)
7. Motion to approve the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $6,000 from
promotional account for city promotional items, e.g. keys to the city, city lapel pins
(Mayor’s Office-Augusta Script pins) and proclamation frames, etc. funded from
promotional account. (Sufficient funds in promotion account) (Approved by
Finance Committee September 23, 2005)
8. Deleted from the consent agenda.
9. Motion to approve funding in the amount of $63,000 for mosquito control
funded from contingency fund. (Approved by Finance Committee September 23,
2005)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS:
10. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission
held September 20, 2005
10A. Motion to ratify the Resolution of Support for submission of GDOT FY2006
TE Grant for rehabilitation of the Historic Depot Building.
10B. Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Henry Frischknecht to the
Augusta Tree Commission representing District 3.
PUBLIC SERVICES:
11. Discussion: A request by Heather M. Tillman for a Therapeutic Massage
license to be used in connection with Paradise Island Day Spa located at 210 F
Robert C. Daniel Pkwy. District 3. Super District 10.
15. Motion to approve Bid Item #05-116, Meadowbrook Park Improvements, to
Ammar Construction Company in the amount of $74,000.
ENGINEERING SERVICES:
26. Approve design proposal from Johnson Laschober & Associates and
construction concept of the Mayo Road Sewer Line in order to remove the Mayo
Road Lift Station from service.
Mr. Grantham: I move we approve these as consent.
Ms. Sims: Second.
Motion carries 10-0. [Items 1-7, 9-10B, 11, 15, 24-26]
2
RESOLUTION:
Resolution in support of the Georgia-Carolina State Fair and requesting continued
support of the fair by the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
Note: Tape begins here
Mr. Taylor: --exceeded $75,000 so our input back into our community from our
fair exceeded $130,000. For the past fifteen years, the Georgia Lottery and our fair have
been partners in providing entertainment for all and financial assistance to the needy in
our community. The financial sponsorship of the Georgia Lottery Corporation finds its
way to our bottom line. Money back into the community. The Georgia Lottery is our
th
major sponsor. On the afternoon of Thursday, September the 15, we were informed that
our partnership with the Georgia Lottery for the 2005 fair had not been yet determined.
This came as quite a surprise to us because there’d been no indication of this being in
question. Our marketing plan was already in place as it usually is at this point in time.
Without a major sponsor, our financial ability to fulfill our donations and awards to the
community will suffer substantially. We wrote a letter to Barbara Dooley, the Chairman
of the Georgia Lottery Board of Directors, asking her for an audience with Margaret R.
DeFrancisco, the President and CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corporation to plead our case
and expedite a response in the positive and the affirmative. Now the reason I’m here
today. As fair manager, I do a pretty good job sometimes of speaking for the Fair Board.
Our Fair Board speaks for our club, and our club speaks for our membership but only our
elected officials which are you, ladies and gentlemen, can speak for the community.
Tomorrow morning, our, the officers of our Fair Board will be meeting with Ms.
DeFrancisco in Atlanta. The contribution last year from Richmond County to the
Georgia Lottery was $92,888,000, making Richmond County the No. 7 state, excuse me,
county out of what, 150 something counties in support of the Georgia Lottery. In terms
of scholarships, there were over 5,000, over 5,100, over 5,100 students in Richmond
County receiving scholarships from the Georgia Lottery. Now, we’re not here to ask you
to make up the difference in their contribution in case we do not get an answer in the
affirmative but we would like to most respectfully request that you as the representatives
of our community support the Exchange Club of Augusta in requesting that they
reconsider any withdrawal of their support for our fair and for our community.
Mr. Cheek: So move.
Ms. Sims: Second.
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second. Commissioner Grantham?
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I’m glad to see my colleagues make
that motion and second. I feel like it’s one that if we can pass a resolution and send this
from our government showing the support that we have for our community, I think it’s in
the best interest not only of the recipients of scholarships but the recipients of the awards
and the funds that are collected by the Exchange Club Fair given back to this community
so I second second that motion. Thank you.
3
Mr. Taylor: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: There being no further discussion, all in favor of the motion will do
so by the usual sign. Any opposed, the same.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Taylor.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I may?
Mr. Mayor: Yes?
Mr. Russell: Because of the timeliness of their trip, I’ve got some draft language
here that we’re looking at. If I can get that typed, if you don’t mind signing that to take
with them, I think that’d be appropriate.
Mr. Mayor: Have no problem.
Mr. Taylor: Thank you.
RESOLUTION:
Resolution of condolences for State Representative Henry Howard.
The Clerk: Whereas, Henry Howard affectionately known by many of his friends
th
and colleagues as Mr. Howard for his quiet and gentle spirit was born June 18, 1930 in
Augusta, Georgia; and
Whereas, Henry Howard attended public schools in the Richmond County School
System; and
Whereas, Henry Howard was a promoter of gospel music for more than fifty
years, one of the founders of the Spirit of Harmony gospel quartet and was the executive
producer of the Parade of Quartets TV broadcast which is in its fifty-first year; and
Whereas, Henry Howard served on the Richmond County Board of Commission
from 1985 to 1990, elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1990, serving as
st
Richmond County’s longest serving State House member representing the 121 District
where he served as the former Chairman of the Human Relation and Aging Committee,
served on the Economic Development and Tourism, Science and Technology and
Transportation Committee and at the time of his death, the Chairman of the Richmond
County legislative delegation; and
Whereas, Henry Howard was the founder of Howard’s Enterprise which includes
Howard’s Upholstery, Uniformals Unlimited, and Tina’s Shoe Gallery, and a member of
the Green Grove Missionary Baptist Church for sixty years; and
4
Whereas, Henry Howard’s hardworking ways will be sorely missed by all of us
who knew him and loved him, and the members of the Augusta Commission were deeply
saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Henry Howard; and
Whereas, Henry Howard spent the majority of his life as a public servant and
statesman, serving the people of Augusta, the State of Georgia and our country; and
Whereas, the family, friends and colleagues of Henry Howard who some called a
man of peace and courage, a great leader, a mentor, a quiet mover and shaker, a true
public servant and one who served honorably and with humility and one who always kept
his word which was exemplified through his leadership and demonstrated through his
tireless devotion to the betterment of Augusta, giving of his time and talents that they
may always remember and never ever forget his love, concern and commitment for each
of them as he shall forever live in their hearts; and
Therefore, it be resolved that it is with our sincere care and concern that we, the
Augusta Commission of Richmond County, Georgia, send these humble words
expressing our heartfelt sympathy. May you find comfort in knowing and that others
care and share your loss.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the family and
th
friends of State Representative Henry Howard, this 4 day of October, in the year of our
Lord 2005.
Mr. Cheek: So move, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second. Let us, let us vote unanimously.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Speaker: Thank you all.
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am?
Ms. Beard: May I personally say I’m going to miss him so. He was so helpful,
you know, to all of us and even the other day, he agreed--you know I’m running for
District 1. He agreed to do a spot for me but he said I can’t do it all month because I
have to represent everybody but I’ll do it that last week for you. I thought that was very
nice. I’m going to miss him.
The Clerk:
8. Motion to approve the execution of Lease Agreement with Abbi’s Coffee Mill
as the vendor for the Snack Bar in the Municipal Building. (Approved by Finance
Committee September 23, 2005)
5
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I’ve seen the arrangement and it’s very attractive and
really a wonderful addition. Just a quick question. Did this go through the same RFQ
process and was it advertised? I’ve had several calls about other local vendors not
knowing it was even open and I just wanted to ask the question had it gone through the
same process?
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir, Mr. Cheek and this was the only vendor that replied.
Mr. Cheek: Okay. Move to approve.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor of the motion
will do so by the usual sign.
The Clerk:
Mr. Hankerson? It’s unanimous.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Hankerson: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner? Go ahead.
Mr. Hankerson: Let me ask one question on that. Normally the RFPs come
through Administrative Services?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hankerson: Is that a process?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hankerson: Did that item come through the Administrative Service item?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hankerson: Yes, okay. I know I was very impressed with the appearance of
it there. I didn’t remember. I probably was out I guess the day it came through.
th
The Clerk: It came through on September 12, I believe.
Mr. Hankerson: Right. That’s a, it’s a good looking operation and got some very
healthy food down there and coffee so I’m impressed with it. Thank you.
6
The Clerk: Our Public Service portion of the agenda. Mr. Sherman. Mr. Harris,
the alcohol petitions, please?
Mr. Sherman:
PUBLIC SERVICES:
12. New Application: A.N. 05-59: A request by Marion Rosier for an on premise
consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Dreams
located at 3023 Washington Rd. There will be dance. District 7. Super District 10.
Mr. Sherman: Please state your name and address.
Mr. Rosier: Marion Rogers Rosier, 2328 Travis Pass, Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Sherman: The Sheriff’s Department and the License Department has
reviewed the application and recommended that it be approved.
Mr. Handy: I move for approval.
Mr. Colclough: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Now all in favor of
the motion will do so by the usual sign. Any opposed, the same.
Mr. Cheek and Mr. Grantham out.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Sherman:
13. New Application: A.N. 05-60: A request by Ana Lilia Daiz-Adames for an on
premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with
Victoria’s Casina Mexicana located at 3714 Mike Padgett Hwy. There will be
Sunday sales. District 8. Super District 10.
Mr. Sherman: If you’d state your name and address, please?
Ms. Adames: My name is Ana Lilia Diaz-Adames, and I live in 6224 Freedom
Circle, Grovetown, Georgia.
Mr. Sherman: Sheriff’s Department and the License Department have reviewed
the application and recommend that it be approved.
Mr. Handy: I move for approval.
Mr. Colclough: Second.
7
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor of the motion
will do so by the usual sign. I’m sorry? Back for a second, Mr. Smith. I’m sorry?
Mr. Smith: Mr. Mayor, is this in the Food Lion complex at Tobacco Road and
56?
Mr. Sherman: Yes.
Mr. Smith: It is? Okay.
Mr. Mayor: May continue to vote.
Mr. Cheek and Mr. Grantham out.
Motion carries 8-0.
Mr. Sherman:
14. New Application: A.N. 05-61: A request by Eric E. Yu for an on premise
consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with The
Limelite Café located at 1137 Agerton Lane. There will be Sunday sales. District 3.
Super District 10.
Mr. Sherman: Please state your name and address, please.
Mr. Yu: My name is Eric Yu. I live at 2816 Brookrun Way in Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Sherman: There are no objectors present. The Sheriff’s Department and the
License Department recommend that it be approved.
Mr. Handy: Move for approval.
Ms. Sims: Second.
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second. Any discussion? Ms. Sims?
Ms. Sims: Is this across from the theater? Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Any other discussion? Continue to vote. Green light day, Ms.
Bonner.
Mr. Colclough: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, Mr. Colclough?
Mr. Colclough: Let it be known that I vote no on Sunday sales.
8
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Cheek and Mr. Grantham out.
Mr. Colclough votes No on Sunday sales portion.
Motion carries 8-0.
The Clerk: Administrative Services?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am. You’re around the first curve.
The Clerk:
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES:
16. Approve retirement of Ms. Lillie President under the 1977 Pension Plan.
Mr. Hankerson: So move.
Mr. Handy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second. Is there any discussion? We gave her a big
tray and I spoke at it. I hope she is, I hope she’s really retiring. Great lady.
Ms. Sims: Is there a motion to approve?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, ma’am. Motion and a second on it. I mean, y’all can go ahead
and vote.
Mr. Grantham out.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
17. Approve an additional 30 days for the review of the disparities in the Utilities
Department for “rank and file” employees.
22. Approve an additional 30 days for the review of the disparities in the Utilities
Department for “rank and file” employees. (See background information under
Item 17 on Administrative Services agenda)
Mr. Mayor: Commissioners, if we can discuss both of these at the same time
now.
Mr. Hicks: Ladies and gentlemen of the Commission, I will address it on behalf
of the group. Obviously, it has been meeting in the last thirty days to try to come to a
resolution of a, an item to bring to you, recommending raises or how to handle the, as you
call it disparities. As you see in the analysis, we have formed a committee. We’ve two
others from Utilities. Two from the Administrator’s office, and Ms. Pelaez from Human
9
Resources. We’ve met a number of times and have generated quite a bit of information
on how to approach or how to do what we’re considering and we have determined that
the rank and file employees in the Utilities Department are those that are salary grade 46
and below. We’ve identified and reviewed the positions, salary and years of service of
employees that meet the aforementioned criteria. We’ve gathered salary survey
instruments from other agencies and we’ve reviewed personnel files for relative
personnel actions. The way we arrived at the grade 46 as we have previously discussed
was that that seemed to be the entry level salary of our pay scale that, that pretty well
equaled the average salary of all salaried positions or occupations in Augusta seemed to
be at grade 46 so to try to determine the definition of rank and file that’s, that’s where we
started. We have determined that eventually we’re going to have to bring to you those
above that grade also because as we have determined, as we begin to look into how to
apply a raise or how much money to give to those at salary grade 46 and below, we’ve
run into the condition where you would have supervisors at a grade 47 or 48 or 49 or
above that that would then be making less than the employees that they were supervising
so we’re still working on this and we’re trying to come to a resolution as to how best to
approach it not only for the Utilities Department but for all the City employees. So that’s
where we are and we ask for an additional thirty days. We believe that we’ll have
something to bring to you at the end of that thirty days. We met again just, what was it?
Yesterday? Time flies. Even thought that was yesterday that we met, and we looked at
yet another proposal as to how to handle this and it can get rather complex. It would
seem that perhaps it would be a simple thing to just say give everybody this much money
but in order to try to reconcile past things that have happened, to try to get salaries on an
equal basis, why it’s a little more difficult than just saying give everybody x percentage
of this amount of money. But we have worked at it diligently. We’ve met several times.
When I say several times, at least once or twice a week in this last thirty days to try to
arrive at it. We have yet to come to a figure that we feel like we could bring to you, and
when we do, I know there’s a desire on behalf of those representing the what I’d call the
general fund employees who also would like to present information about how much
general fund would be looking at if those employees received the same consideration and
the same raises. So this is what we’re working at. With that said then, I will entertain
any questions or if others want to speak, they can come up.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams, then Commissioner Sims on this end. Have
any on this end? All right.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Max did a good job and he mentioned
about whether or not it was a disparity and that’s what the agenda item says and I believe
there’s a disparity as well. We’re not talking about just giving some raises. This whole
thing got started, Max, when we looked at what the rank and file, and whatever we
classify those are. Whatever grade level starts at but the lower level employees,
payscale-wise, had not been increased during the previous years as they should have been
where others who were not in that grade level have, have been increased whether it be
through promotion or whatever else, and in that meeting, I attended one and there was
some things that expressed from the employees themselves and how things were being
done and how things was being operated. Now the other, other employees for the general
10
fund that to stand on their own. I mean, we, if you lump everybody together now, and I
got a problem with that because when we gave some increases whether it be through
promotion, we didn’t lump everybody together. These people have been, have been
waiving a flag about needing to be brought up with as much money as the Utility
Department has in his, and in that venture being a situation like the Water Department
has. I just think that we need to address this. The longer we wait, the harder it’s going to
be. Now, we’re going to try to fix everybody. Commissioner Cheeks made a statement
one time, are you going to let the house burn down and just go in there and save, you
know, one or two and it’s better to save one or two and then let everybody burn so I’m
glad to see that we’re still on it. I hope the next meeting, I’ll be able to attend and at least
just to listen where we are and what we’re proposing to do, even before we get back here
but I don’t have anything else but I just wanted to know where we was with that.
Hopefully, we can get something done for those that have not been recognized. That
really keeps this government afloat and that’s a problem I’ve got, Max. Those who
answer the phone, those who get those bad conversations with our taxpayers, who have to
endure that, the ones who in the middle of the road at midnight, water all over them and
freezing cold, those are the folks that have not been addressed, and those are the folks I
think that we need to continue to look for and try to find a way to even that but that’s my
comment, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Sims?
Ms. Sims: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just want to thank you, Mr. Hicks,
because obviously you’ve taken this extremely seriously with all the meetings that you’ve
attended and the study that you’re giving it, and I think we should be so grateful to you
for taking this under advisement like you have, and I’m sure that you will be fair in what
you decide, and I look forward to seeing what you bring back to this Commission.
Mr. Hicks: If I might respond, Mr. Mayor? We look forward to bringing it back
to you, and we will bring it back, and then it’ll be up to the Commission to decide how
the Commission wants to act on the recommendations or whatever we bring before you.
It’ll come through the appropriate committees at the appropriate time but we are working
on this and there are those folks that have gotten raises by virtue of certifications they’ve
achieved or by virtue of promotions but I agree. There’s a real need to give a raise to
everyone, and that’s what we’re trying to do is to do that.
Mr. Grantham: Receive as information.
Mr. Handy: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and second to receive as information. Any further
discussion? None being, all in favor of the motion will do so by the usual sign. Any
opposed, no.
Mr. Hicks: Do we get the thirty days then?
11
Mr. Grantham: Yes. Make a motion to extend thirty days and receive as
information.
Mr. Hicks: Thank you. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Wait a minute now.
Mr. Handy: No objection from the seconder.
Mr. Mayor: Any objection to that line being added in? None heard. So we’ll go
as is.
The Clerk: Mr. Grantham? You going to vote for that?
Mr. Grantham: I will. Since I made the motion.
[Laughter]
Mr. Mayor: He’s holding it. He was going to add it though at the end.
[Laughter]
Mr. Colclough out.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
18. Approve proposed Voice Mail and Telephone Etiquette Procedures (see
attached). Also, receive as information an update regarding the findings related to
departmental voice mail.
Mr. Handy: Move for approval.
Mr. Rearden: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Any discussion on that? I’ll leave it alone. All in favor of it?
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir? I can see your hand up?
Mr. Williams: No. I just want to get somebody to explain a little bit about that
for me. Who would address that?
th
Mr. Hewett: Thank you, Ms. Bonner, Commissioners. During the August 29
Administrative Services Committee, Information Technology was requested to do a
12
review of voice mail use and telephone etiquette in departments in the City of Augusta.
Several comments were made regarding difficulty in speaking to a individual whenever a
problem occurs, trying to speak with an actual human being. Several departments was
listed as being problematic. We spoke with each department. We identified four specific
issues. Policies and procedures were frequently non-existent. A mindset exits that voice
mail is an acceptable method to cover a telephone whenever a person is going to be away
from their desk. Some additional work does need to be done in that area to inform people
and I believe these policies and procedures will set that plan in place to inform these
people that an attempt does need to be made to get callers in touch with a human being.
When policies and procedures did exist, they were not in writing and lastly whenever
they existed, there was no consistency in place. As a service provider, it’s important that
all of our departments have the same look, feel and method of presenting information to
our customers and to the public by adopting these sets or this set of procedures, you’ll be
standardizing some policies and procedures regarding the way our customer service
people answer the telephone, the way they forward people into voice mail and so forth. It
is Information Technologies’ request that you approve this agenda item. Once you
approve it, if you approve it, we’ll forward this to the department heads for
implementation.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. And who--Mr. Cheek. Mr. Rearden.
Mr. Cheek: This will, this will be included as part of the employee handbook as
far as an expectation of employees dealing with pubic and answering the telephone?
Mr. Hewett: I would need to defer to that to HR to see what portion of these they
will include in the employee handbook but if that will make part of the recommendation,
then I feel sure that it would be.
Mr. Cheek: For it to be employee policy, rather than having it floating, for it, to
have it floating out in space, it needs to be part of the employee handbook and probably
part of the orientation given to new employees.
Mr. Hewett: And I--
Mr. Russell: It will be, Mr. Cheek.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Rearden, Mr. Grantham, then Commissioner Williams and wrap
it up.
Mr. Rearden: I have one question. You pointed out the problem was disparity of
written policies and implementation of those policies and procedures?
Mr. Hewett: Yes, sir.
Mr. Rearden: Just by passing this on to the department heads, are we not going to
have the same problem that it doesn’t get down to the people who answer the phone?
13
Mr. Hewett: That would be the case if it were not passed down by the department
heads to the people that answer the phone, yes. But by making it part of the employee
handbook, I think it will get into the hands of all the people that need it.
Mr. Rearden: To be in their hands but what’s the, I hate to use the word penalty
but if someone wishes to not have this done in their department, I would say that by
adopting procedures, that is the first step towards giving someone, I’ll use the term
incentive. If there is no written policy or procedure to measure someone by, then there is
no incentive for either penalty for not doing it or incentive for doing it so by adopting
this, this is the first step towards moving to accountability in those areas. How it will be
enforced, I would defer that to Human Resources but the adoption of the policies and
procedures is in my opinion the first step.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Mr. Grantham, then Mr.--
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mays. The thing I see, I feel like this is very
important to have telephone etiquette procedures as far as our company is concerned. I
look at our government as a company and that’s one of the first things you pay attention
to when you call to do business with someone is how the phone’s answered, the treatment
you get and procedures that are taking place in either putting you on hold or whatever.
We can put everything in a book that we want to but if we don’t have some
implementations of those procedures, then to me I think we’ve wasted time and money so
to me it’s important and I know it sounds elementary and it is but some people just do not
know how to perform on a telephone. We need to have some classes, some form of
instructions to the main people that are answering our phones in our department levels so
that they can treat our customers, our taxpayers and our people in the fashion that they
should be treated.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Nancy’s probably the only person I can
call up her and don’t have to worry about getting a automated number to punch or
something. Every other department and I don’t mind the answering service or system
when somebody’s out but when you got, when you call a department, then you got a
automated person telling you to mash 3, 2, 1, 5, 7, to get to somebody to mash another 4,
5 and 6, it just don’t make good sense. So what you’re proposing is that we have use of
the answering service when need but it’s not going to be the automated system that we’ve
been having trouble with. The, not, maybe the system but the process is going to change
where you will have a live person answer the phone to say yes or no. And if they’re not
there for whatever reason, there are going to be some times when, you know, you just
can’t do it. I agree with you, Don, this is business and this is a taxpayer’s business.
When they call here, they ought to be able to get somebody, may be the painter who I see
a lot around here but there ought to be somebody you ought to be able to reach and not
necessarily, you know, a voice mail to tell you to punch a number that you just, and the
reason I’m so adamant about it, I had to call the Administrator to get somebody to call
14
down to Water Works to get them to call me back after holding the phone for fifteen
minutes. And if taxpayers call in to do that and then trying to find out whether they’re
open or whatever they need to find out. I just think that I agree with the system, I would
like to have the old system back myself. The new phones and everything is so different
now and I guess that’s technology. That’s change. I talked about that earlier and change
going to come but I just hope that if this does pass, I’m going to support it, Mr. Mays,
that that won’t throw us in a frenzy where we’re going back to doing the same thing with
our automated system versus an answering system that that will answer when you’re out
of there. They need to answer and if they’re for whatever reason, that ought to be an
answering system they’re not going to force you to two or three other places and two or
three other numbers.
Mr. Hewett: You’re exactly right, Commissioner. In the four departments that
you mentioned in the Administrative Services Committee meeting, we spoke with each
department and came up with a method of not using the automated attendant as a way to
insulate them from the calls but to actually get the calls routed to the right person and at
the end of the selection process, they have the ability to actually reach a person or a
human being regardless of who that person is. It may not be who they want to speak to
but they can speak to the right person.
Mr. Williams: That’s all I got, Mr. Mayor. I just want to make sure to come back
with this when it’s clear.
Mr. Cheek: Very good.
Mr. Mayor: I think, Mr. Russell, there’s a way of dealing with that in reference to
how that gets the particular, Commissioner Rearden, how that gets down to those that
really need to follow it. I’m, Fred, go ahead.
Mr. Russell: Yeah, Mr. Mayor. What I’d like to do is tell you that we’ve heard
you. We understand what you’re saying. Gary’s done such a good job with the
development of the policy and procedure. I think the next level of that is implementation
and the third level of that is monitoring, and we’re going to charge him to make sure that
it’s implemented, that people are trained in the system, that we monitor that too so that
we check our sales on a regular basis and please, if you do run in to those incidents where
you’re not happy with that again, please let us know so we can continue to follow up on
that. I’ve been the victim of those circles like everybody else and I like to talk to real
people too and we’ll, we’re striving to have that happen.
Mr. Mayor: Let me say this on behalf of IT. Thank you all, Mr. Hewett in terms
of helping to facilitate this and get it to this point and I’ll say this also on behalf of the
Administrator. If you not happen to put your ear to the wall because he runs his own
meeting and does a very excellent job with it, but I think after passing this part of it
today, Commissioner, this will get to where your question goes to. I’m sure that on that
particular Thursday when he echoes what has been passed in reference to phones, it gets
clear very well and he’s a very nice person to get along with but when he does leave and
15
leaves you with one of those unanswered that I don’t want to have to come back. The
message gets very well left. It’ll get there real clear in terms of what’s to be done so he
expresses that clearly, and I’m sure you’ll get that point across there, Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: All in favor of the motion will do so by the usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
The Clerk:
19. Update on status CDBG funds available for reprogramming.
Mr. Mayor: Who’s-oh, Paul. I’m sorry.
Mr. DeCamp: Mayor. That’s all right. Mayor, member of the Commission, this
rd
is a, as reported to the Finance Committee back on September 23, an inquiry was made
prior to that meeting with regard to the availability of funding specifically to assist the
Lucy Laney Museum. As we reported to the Finance Committee, we did identify a little
bit, about $53,668 available for reprogramming. That matches up pretty closely with
their, that organization’s request for $50,000 to make various physical improvements at
their facility. An inquiry related to that was also asked about the availability of the
funding that was originally programmed for the former transition center property at the
corner of Baker Avenue and Wrightsboro Road. Just to refresh your memory, back in
2001, the City loaned that $285,000 to Transition Center, Inc. to purchase the property at
1328 Baker Avenue. Subsequently, the Transition Centers, Inc. defaulted on that loan
after making only about $14,000 in payments. The Department is currently, actually the
deadline’s already past. We’ve received proposals for the, either the, we haven’t opened
the proposals yet. We won’t do that until next week but we’ve received two proposals
that’ll either involve the lease or sale of that property so we anticipate hopefully within
the next two to three months closing a deal wherein we get some program income as a
result of that original transaction. So that’s a brief update. The other point I’d make
about the use of any reprogram funds that we, that the City wants to reprogram toward
the end of the calendar year is a point I made to the Finance Committee was that there is
a cap in any given calendar year of 15% of any block grant funds that we spent being the
upper limit on how much of those total dollars we’ve allocate to public service type
projects and right now we’re at or near a projected level of 15% so any additional
reprogramming of CDBG funds done between now and the end of the calendar year will
bump us up or have us exceed that cap based on some, on department level projections so
that’s just kind of a little heads up for you with regard to that. I’ll be glad to answer any
other questions you have.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Sims?
16
Ms. Sims: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just have one question. You said you got an
update on the funds before the Finance meeting. Did you just-I mean, do you always do
that?
Mr. DeCamp: An update on the, on what was available?
Ms. Sims: On what was available.
Mr. DeCamp: What was available? Yes. So this is, what I’m telling you now is
rd
exactly what I told the Finance Committee on the 23 of September.
Ms. Sims: Right. Right. I just meant before that. You are, you came to Finance
Committee prepared. You already knew that you would be asked that question?
Mr. DeCamp: No. We reported on the same topic of the same, what I’m telling
you right now is exactly what we said at the Finance Committee.
Ms. Sims: Right. I--
Mr. DeCamp: We were requested prior to that meeting to provide an update.
Ms. Sims: That was my question.
Mr. DeCamp: I’m sorry.
Ms. Sims: So you were asked before that meeting to provide an update?
Mr. DeCamp: Right. Right. Because at a previous meeting of the Finance
Committee, questions were raised about are there available funds to deal with this
rd
particular project, and this was the report we made on the 23 of September was in
response to that earlier request.
Ms. Sims: Okay.
Mr. DeCamp: For information. Is that clear?
Ms. Sims: Exactly.
Mr. DeCamp: Okay. I’m sorry if I misunderstood.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Rearden?
Mr. Rearden: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Could you delineate for me two or three of
these public service activities that the 15% applies to? Or types of activities?
17
Mr. DeCamp: Well, the types of activities are public service activities might
involve paying into a particular service organization to provide programs and activities to
senior citizens or to disadvantaged youth. Another example would be providing brown
bag food items to senior citizens, foods, essentially paying for food stuffs to supplement
their, the food that they get.
Mr. Rearden: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Hankerson?
Mr. Hankerson: Thank you, Mr. DeCamp. We also emphasize on us. You spoke
about exceeding the 15% cap and we were right at the limit. Will you let us know if we
exceed the 15% cap which is about .2% now?
Mr. DeCamp: Right.
Mr. Hankerson: What would happen?
Mr. DeCamp: Well, what would happen is if we did exceed it and on, in a
monitoring at a later date HUD discovered that and they might even request that the City
reimburse the CDBG program for anything over that 15% cap in the amount.
Mr. Hankerson: Okay. So when, I advise you when these, if we do have requests
and I’m quite sure that we will have requests made to us that you’ll make sure that we are
aware of the action that is being taken.
Mr. DeCamp: Right.
Mr. Hankerson: Allude to the fact of the 15% cap.
Mr. DeCamp: Yes, sir. We’ll be sure to remind you of this fact if another item
comes up, one or more items come up between now and the end of the program year.
Mr. Hankerson: It’s probably good to remind before it get to us. I think that
would help us out a lot that you just remind the requestors for individuals that making the
requisitions so, that’s making the request of where we are at this time rather than to bring
it to us. Don’t bring the fire to us.
Mr. DeCamp: I hear you.
Mr. Hankerson: Okay. Thank you.
Mr. DeCamp: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Any other questions of Mr. Decamp? Chair will now entertain a
motion.
18
Mr. Hankerson: You got [unintelligible] ?
Mr. Rearden: So moved.
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second. All in favor of the motion will do so by the
usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
The Clerk:
20. Approve changing ARC License & Inspection Year 2005 CDBG funds
($200,000) from use for Code Enforcement to use for Clearance and Demolition.
Mr. Handy: I move for approval.
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Let me just say
this, and I should be the last one if I still had to be where Commissioner Handy is sitting,
I probably would have made the same motion and would, obviously it needs to be done
but let me just ask this and I know for department level you have to move where we go
but Fred, how close are we and I maybe ask you this as Administrator and/ Legal, it’s
good we’ve got the funding to move into an area that obviously needs cleaning, but how
can we as an entity light at the end of the tunnel of time as we clean some of these
properties, and I know a lot of them are repeat ones and they got to have some bills that’s
piling up on them, demolition that’s messed up that’s got to go and also in terms of the
vacant lots but what I’m looking at is how much quicker can we get some of the stuff in,
not so much in the land bank but out of the land bank and this is another one of those I’ve
been crying about for a long time but it’s good to get this property but we don’t need to
be the ones who are the recipients of bad property as a City. Some of this needs to tie in
as to where we get them in the land bank, get them out to developers and again, I
th
mentioned about the 26, 27th, 800 time that it needs to get out of there, it needs to get
into developers hands, let them pay a dollar for it, sign an agreement with the City that
they going to start doing something because the only thing we’re going keep doing is
recycling money out of this department and everywhere else we find it to throw six
figures of money at the cleaning up. I’m all for doing it, and I think we ought to pass the
motion. I’m not against that. It needs to be done but somehow the whole program has
got to tie in because if not, we’ll just keep spending because we got $100,000 or
$200,000 to clean. At some point, it needs to fall into the hands of somebody that will
ultimately move on and do something with it. That can’t necessarily be done overnight
per se but even if we cut that cycle to the point of when it can be reclaimed and deal with
it for a year then at least we know by January 2007 it’s going to be something there that
19
some folk can come and buy and can come in with a plan to go ahead and put a nice little
home there, duplex, whatever they going to do, and to build it and to put some property
back on the tax books because if not, this could be money for instance in $200,000 in
CDGB, and I know Paul mentioned we were at our limit but that’s money that could
either go into somebody’s building façade. It could go into some housing rehab for some
senior. It could go into a lot of places other than going back in there and just cleaning our
lot. I’d like to hear, maybe not today, but I think we need to come back real soon with an
updated plan that’s going to tie this together and I think it’s going to have to come out of
more than one department. It can’t just misstep on where Mr. Chairman it goes through
yours. It’s got to tie in to where this is going to get that stuff in there and out of there
because I’m sure it’s got to be some. I mean, I look, I walk out and look at one every day
where somebody’s maybe waiting on the next great shopping center to come by and
move on lot and we probably cleaned it fifty times and it paid out of City money in order
to do it. That needs to get over into somebody else’s hands that can either make it into a
parking lot, build something on it, do something with it that’s productive. It’s just an
observance but $200,000 is a lot of money that could go somewhere else in terms of
some little old lady’s front porch steps, windows, whatever needs to be fixed with it. Mr.
Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This Commission passed over two months
ago restructuring of the land bank to do just what you’re talking about. I guess the
question and then if I’m allowed a follow up comment, have we staffed the land bank
attorney’s position full time or gotten a paralegal in to manage the back log of properties?
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead, Mr. Shepard.
Mr. Shepard: We have not yet, Mr. Cheek, and that is on my plate.
Mr. Cheek: Two months at least. Mr. Mayor, that is the reason why we cannot
process properties in a timely manner is this being treated as a part time position.
Secondly, the other portion of your question I think lends to the fact that we have
properties that have liens placed on them with no means of foreclosing on those
properties and there again, that is an issue we need to address to give this City the stick
necessary to get these many, many lots that we repeatedly cleaned off of the repeated
clean list and then back on the commercial market for resale. But I submit that to you
and the members of the Commission as weaknesses within the system that need
corrective actions before we can proceed. This Commission has already restructured the
land bank to do exactly what you said. It’s just a, and this is my concern about Lyman,
Dover and every other project we’re working on, is it, is not a great a priority to fill the
positions in spite of the mandate given staff by this Commission and I wish that it
requires an additional vote to proceed. We have funding available to fill the positions.
We had it available two months ago to cover the cost of the attorney and the paralegal to
process the documents. Here again with the 400 plus properties and the management and
then, and those that we don’t even know we own or not are the list. We need some full
time staff to cover this and until we accomplish that, which we’ve mandated over two
20
months ago, we will continue to be bottlenecked, Mr. Mayor. This Commission has done
its job. We are in fact waiting on staff to do theirs.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Commissioner. Mr. Handy? I’m sorry.
Mr. Handy: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. I’d just like to ask if Rob is sitting out there,
and the latest item reads that if the clearance and demolition and to know whether or not
this is repeated work or this is all new work, and I need to know whether he knows that or
not.
Mr. Sherman: This is for all new work. This is actually for demolition. The, we
have right at 70 cases that the court has already ordered to be demolished. This money
will go to fund some of those. We have 21 cases that we’re waiting to get into court. We
have 103 that we’re waiting on title searches on. We’ve got over 280 that we need to
start buying in and putting in the land bank so that’s where we are at a bottleneck. We,
it’s, Mr. Cheeks, Cheek had said and I’ve had the conversation with Steve, and I think
he’s working on getting an attorney. We have got to have an attorney to provide a
tremendous service to the land bank and that is to start foreclosing on the liens on these
properties. Do the title searches that we’ve got 103 waiting on but even if we did the 70
that we’ve got an order on to do the demolition at roughly $4,700 each, that’s $329,000.
Commissioner Smith and Mr. Cheek had directed us through a subcommittee to look at
doing in-house demolitions. We’re proceeding with that, coming up looking at that in all
directions to see if the City can do it any cheaper, and we’ll be coming back through the
subcommittee with a report on that proposal but we only have, not that we only have, but
there are approximately 50 properties in the land bank. Those properties if someone
wanted those properties, they are available for them to come forward and to purchase
them from the land bank at a very reduced cost and with the idea of supplementing the
redevelopment of the property to make it an affordable property for someone who wants
to move into a house or whatever but until we can get these properties into the land bank
and assemble them into areas for redevelopment, it’s just difficult to get an individual
contractor interested in one parcel in one of the older neighborhoods when we have all
these houses that need to be demolished so we’ve got, I mean, it’s, I understand where
Mayor Mays is coming from. He wants to see these houses going up because over these
years, it appears that all we’ve been doing is demolition but now we still haven’t taken
possession of these properties so we can’t, we can’t sell them so we’ve got to bring them
in. The money that’s going for the cleanup of properties, the vegetation, that is, well, it’s
actually funded through Public Works, and then we put a lien on the property. It’s a
general lien, and the way I think again is as Andy was saying is that maybe the code
needs to be revised because it’s attached as a general lien just meaning that before, that
we can’t foreclose on it, but before the property owner can sell any of his, any of his
properties in Augusta, he has to satisfy that lien. A lot of these properties are abandoned
so they’re going to sit out there for a while.
Mr. Handy: Okay. But this $200,000 here is for?
Mr. Sherman: Demolition.
21
Mr. Handy: Demolition. New jobs? But not repeated work?
Mr. Sherman: Correct.
Mr. Handy: Okay.
Mr. Sherman: Demolition of structures.
Mr. Handy: Okay. All right. Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Williams?
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I agree with what Rob said and also
Commissioner Cheeks made a good point as well. The attorney might need to help me
out on my legal staff and the stuff that our attorney has. Steve, with the expertise you got
in your office, why are we so far behind with that part? Now, I know we got a lot of
stuff. I mean, I know probably as good as you do about how much stuff you deal with. I
don’t do it but I know about it. I’m just saying why are we so far behind? Why haven’t
we got something in place? A nuisance law. If your German Shepard barks too loud at
3:00 in the morning, Larry, somebody’s going to call the law, and if it keeps barking,
you’re going to have a case on you that you got to appear before somebody as judge.
Now we ought to be able to take some of this stuff because a lot of this stuff is in
deplorable shape anyway but how can we have a law that will stop the German Shepard
from barking but we can have a house sit in a spot that’s falling in for forty years and-
Mr. Mayor: One meeting going on now. Hold on. I can’t, maybe it’s just my ear
but I’m hearing four. One person got the floor. Thank you.
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mays. But I just want to know what is it that
we’re not doing that we ought to be doing. Now we need to bring this to Committee
whether be it Administrative Service, whether it be Engineering Services, wherever it
needs to go but something ought to be in place. Now I’ve been here pretty near six years
and in the six years I’ve been here, I don’t see one piece of property when the land bank
was brought in, and I asked them to come in, it was talking about the entity that the land
bank and we couldn’t tell the land bank what to do. Somebody ought to say something
because I wasn’t in that meeting by myself. But the land bank was a component that they
could do very much what they told us what they wanted to do and they wasn’t doing
anything so unless we changed the land bank or there was a state, somebody help me now
because was I in there by myself? There was a state appointment, Mr. Mayor, you
weren’t the interim mayor at that time, you was the District Commissioner in that
meeting but we couldn’t tell them what to do and they really wasn’t doing anything and I
say well, show me a list. They had a list to bring down and I think Sand Hills had maybe
two pieces of property that was, that come out of there that had been sold through the
land bank but all this other stuff and I understand how scattered it is, but if you got five
lots there that need to be done, you got two shotgun houses that still there, we should
22
have bought those through deferred dollars or through City dollars or through a donation
and then built something in there rather than just keep tearing them down one by one by
one so do we need to put it under Committee? Do, somebody need to tell me what to do
because I remember being in that meeting. Mr. Shepard?
Mr. Shepard: Well, Mr. Williams, I do take responsibility for this. I’m the
county attorney and we did have a meeting of some, of myself, Mr. Sherman and a
representative from AHED some weeks ago discussing right what we’re talking about is
having an attorney and I thought the attorney should serve as the coordinator. That’s
basically what’s been the policy established here and we needed a paralegal and we had
that meeting and then License and Inspection was I thought supportive. I since learned
that they were not going to make any contribution to the attorney so I was working with
those two affected departments to get a path forward as Mr. Cheek says and it is just, we
had that meeting, attempted to get a coordinated strategy and we have not yet met again
and I, you know, if you put it on the Committee next week, I’m sure we’ll have the
attention that you desire, and I don’t, there have been a lot of time, I’m glad you didn’t
say I wasn’t goofing off, I mean, I-
Mr. Williams: Well, no, I can’t say that but let me tell you this. We’ve been
dealing with sludge for five years and every week, we came in with somebody telling us
about a case with sludge. That didn’t drop by the wayside.
Mr. Shepard: No, sir.
Mr. Williams: We’ve been dealing with personal injuries and stuff that happened
with the Attorney’s office but this done dropped, and this stuff, all of this stuff we talked
about is just on one side of town. It ain’t all over, just on one side of town and that we
care about this town. It’s going to spread if we don’t do something about it. That entity
ought to be somebody, one of your staff people, your secretary, anybody, somebody
ought to be able to handle that over there, Mr. Shepard. We attached you with that
position. You’ve got all the resources you need over there. We, nobody’s raised the
flags on you to hire somebody. Mr. James was a, the last man that I know that was even
in that office. He was leaving to go somewhere else but, now folks looking for jobs now
I guarantee you. There are folks in New Orleans right now that’d be glad to walk in and
take that position. Somebody somewhere can come in. But we have let, not just you, we,
all of us have been relaxed about it and then we talk about it on Tuesday evening when
we come in here but something need to be done and not just talked about but something
need to be-
Mr. Shepard: I don’t disagree with you, Mr. Williams. I mean, I think you know
that I have been in your district and other districts on inspections, and we’ve made and
we, as a matter of fact, I, your mention of New Orleans has triggered a thought that I
need to make a phone call about it but it may well bring some expertise into this area and
I would just suggest, you know, sometimes when, you just got to say this is not an
excuse. I know Mr. Cheek has taken responsibility for somethings from time to time, and
23
I have to take that same responsibility for this land bank and put it up on the
Administrative Services next week and-
Mr. Williams: Madame Clerk, will you put it on the agenda for the next
committee meeting that we need to talk about.
Mr. Shepard: Let’s do that because those discussions that were started with
AHED and License and Inspection in my office need to come to a policy
recommendation and-
Mr. Williams: We need to do something. Right or wrong, do something.
Mr. Shepard. You’re right. You’re right. And-
Mr. Mayor: One final point of inclusion that I think might could go into that and
since you’re, because I don’t think it falls in any one particular areas. It’s something we
got to end up being very creative about in doing but one point I think that could be added
to it and Rob mentioned about the particularly the small properties that that maybe that
lot that’s there between two houses obviously that no developer’s going to come in and
deal with and we got to clean up every quarter. We may need to figure out a way if there
are two decent homes there of finding a way to allow those property owners on both sides
to be able to subdivide that property. Most cases, they’re cleaning it anyway because
they’re not waiting around for the City to get to it so it’s their responsibility to keep down
snakes and rats and everything. It’s fallen upon them so that it doesn’t just invade their
privacy so and that may be an area where you’ve got those properties like that that may
be too small to actually go back in and build a home, allow those persons in there in that
discussion of putting that in, Steve, to and those small ones that are trapped in there just
so we’ve done with say abandoned alleys or properties where you got two people in there
and just subdivide it and allow them in those cases to assume that property and take it
over and they probably will continue to do a good job with it. It’ll actually give them
more land space, you know, in value of what they may have. Some cases, I think you’re
going to find some people that are interested in having those too. For they’ll tell you
right quick, it would belong to me. It might as well, I clean it and so you get that so just,
if we can kind of throw that in that mix when you all have that meeting is where I, Mr.
Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I’m going to take exception and Barbara, pardon me, I
said I wasn’t going to say anything. This Commission has stressed to staff on more than
one occasion and got concurrents from staff of how important this is. We have already
done everything that we’re talking about redoing now. I for one am damn tired of
redoing and redoing when things aren’t carried through. I can get a real estate agent to
list property and turn around and market it in the same day. We’ve been working on this
for two months and a funded position and had concurrence with no feedback whatsoever
that there were any problems whatsoever in the interim. This government is struggling
right now. What I have here is the SPLOST V list we’re going to give to the public.
We’re suffering in a fight to approve this because of things that haven’t been carried
24
through or proper communication or other things, and we’re repeating the same course
over and over again. I wanted to say, Mr. Mayor, that this is important. The land bank
has been identified as the redevelopment tool not only for us but the CHDOs, for ANIC,
Lyman, Dover, Bethlehem, you name it, the land bank is the coordinating entity for
taking in properties, assembling them and then putting them back out. This is important.
Now it doesn’t need to be another two months, another ten committee meetings, and
Jimmy and all of us have suffered through many a committee meeting with staff to pass
legislation through this, and I can line item legislation verbatim with each A, B, C, D step
if necessary to do this. We’re purporting hours and other accompaniments but doggone
it’s time to do something and like I said, we can call Century 21 or Gwen Fulcher Young
or any real estate agent in this City and they’d fight the chance to come down here and
sell and redevelop these properties. Why can’t we do that in-staff? And the time out, Mr.
Mayor Pro Tem, I’m all for another meeting if it’ll solve the problem but we’ve already
got the stuff in place and I take exception to the fact that this Commission hasn’t done
what it’s supposed to do, and it’s time for the staff to pick up the ball and to make this
happen, and I think every one of us concurred with the changes to land bank, that this
was important by their positive votes and it was unanimous but the support of Lyman
Dover as a template. I don’t know what else we can do other than send an engraved
invitation or a set of steps to follow to make this happen or do it ourselves, and I’m very
frustrated that we’re at this point, and I for one take exception because I feel as a public
official I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do other than to do the job myself.
Mr. Williams: Clarification, Mr. Mayor. There’s two things we can do, Mr.
Cheek. We can take it back to Committee or we can fire somebody. It’s simple as that.
And I think you fire a couple of folks, I think you’re going to see some other folk get in
line. Now-
Mr. Cheek: I’m with you. A unique opportunity to subcontract it might get--
The Clerk: Motion was to approve it. Item 20.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. There’s a motion and a second to approve. Chairman of that
Committee and then we need to go on and vote.
Mr. Hankerson: Okay. I’m ready to vote.
Mr. Mayor: All in favor of the motion will do so by the usual sign.
Mr. Grantham out.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
21. Discuss CHDOs contracts for 2005. (Requested by Commissioner Williams)
25
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I had this put on the agenda item. I talked to several
of the CHDOs that had a contract approved and had not received their monies and got
builders and workers out and I talked with the Administrator and I think they got a
resolution to it to try to go ahead and get the contract which I’m hearing that wasn’t
approved, maybe what was approved but being reapproved to keep from going through
what we went through in the past with the report from the auditor came through. But I
didn’t want to go back the advisory board and then to the Committee and then back here.
What’s going, it’s been about two, two and a half months. Some of the CHDOs are here
now but been about two, two and a half months which that process would have gave it
another month, six weeks, and you know, if you got somebody working and they expect
to get paid, the money was approved, the application was approved, we just need to
approve the contract. I think that’s the bottom line. Mr. Russell might be able to chime
in.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell, go ahead.
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. As the Commissioner has stated, the
application for the CHDOs that were approved by the Commission, it’s our feeling that
th
on August 29, we were directed to make sure we bring the contracts back to the
Commission for specific approval, and we were planning on doing that at the October
th
10 meeting. We do have the contracts available today. The lawyer has them, if you
want to take some action on them at this point in time. You know, we, so we are moving
forward based on what we perceived to be the direction from the Commission on October
th
or August 29.
Mr. Williams: I’m going to make a motion, Mr. Mayor, that we go ahead and
approve those contracts so we can get those CHDOs paid. They are here to revive homes
and build affordable homes for people and they got a bunch of major work that’s been
done. Now we just got through talking about stuff that didn’t get done and the
government, it’s a loophole that everything you got to jump. But my motion is to
approve this contract since the attorney has reviewed it. It looks like its okay.
Everything else has been approved so we can get them their funds and continue to do the
work that we’ve been asking them to do, and we’re grateful to have as many CHDOs as
we have working in this area, and we need to kind of support them when the process been
done right. That’s all I can say.
Mr. Mayor: A motion. Is there a second?
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second. Is there any discussion?
Mr. Hankerson: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: DeCamp next.
26
Mr. Hankerson:
Yes, sir. I understand. I’m listening about that contracts have
not been approved. I think this Commission, we said that we wanted these contracts to
come back through Administrative Service, and I suggest that we not approve contracts
unless we have reviewed them. The attorney have them. I haven’t seen the contracts that
we’re going to approve at this time. I did talk to all the CHDOs as chairman of Engineer,
of Administrative Service and asked whether they had any problems and none of them
had any problems. Exception I just got a call a couple of weeks ago, it’s been about two
weeks now from Promise Land on a situation there that we, I still think that we need to
look into. All right. So I think that I’m going to make a substitute motion that the
contracts go through Administrative Service like we asked for them to. Prior to this, they
did not have to go through there but this Commission who had a discussion before,
decided that we wanted them to come through Administrative Service. I knew at that
time that it was going to be too many contracts to be approved to come through
Administrative Service but I think that, Mr. Mayor, prior to your internship coming on
that you also had some problems there to that we were looking at that we needed to make
sure that they were done properly and that’s why I suggest that they come back through
Administrative Service. I don’t have a problem with approving contracts but I think,
well, I do have a problem approving all these contracts. I think once we approve the
action plan, then they go directly to the attorney and to the Mayor to sign once we
approve the action plan, and that’s one of the things that I was trying to explain before
but we had some other problems with some contracts so then we made the motion that all
contracts would be forwarded back to Administrative Service, not realizing then the
I make a substitute
magnitude of how many would be coming in and the frequency so
motion that we send these contracts back to Administrative Service and then we
look at the process and we, if we, we can change the process at that time so we won’t
have to go through this each time on contracts.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: A motion and a second on the substitute. We’ll vote on the--
Commissioner Williams?
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’m a little bit confused and I think this
whole process probably is confusing but you know, we did all this stuff before and I said
to the department director, not Mr. Kent but somebody else, that they was trying to
circumvent the Commissioners and the process of what they was doing. They was trying
to get in the building of being a CHDO themselves. We heard about all the negative
things that CHDOs wasn’t doing and how they were out of compliance and how they was
whatever, and that’s history but when you done held up a process as long, and this
business, now Don, you mentioned earlier about this government being a business but
when you got folks that you done put a application in, the application was approved, went
through the advisory board, even came through Committee, and now we’re going to send
it back. Now I can understand everything else ought to be done and done so we can keep
up with it but because of the previous Mayor signing contracts that wasn’t approved by
this Commission, and I don’t know about the attorney but the previous Mayor did sign a
few contract that wasn’t approved. This is a situation that the attorney has now. We got
27
people who have their monies out there, people waiting on their monies to get paid, and
we’re going to send it back to Commission, I mean to Committee to rehash the process
and then bring it back to Committee again and then finally give it to Commission. That’s
going to be probably if not six to eight weeks longer. I’m not trying to get around
anything that’s out there. I’m saying that if they’ve been approved, the CHDOs are here,
and if they need to speak, maybe they can speak for themselves. I’ve got several calls
and I’m thinking that we need to go ahead and provide for those unless we’re going to
give some kind of extension. Now, if there’s an extension we can do to pay these people,
a letter to give these people, I think when you run a business, and I’m talking about
hundreds of homes. I’m not just talking about one or two. I’m not talking about one
process but we done some things earlier, Mr. Mayor, that wasn’t by the guidelines. We
got them by the guidelines now and I think we need to approve these contracts so we can
go ahead and at least start from here and in looking at it. Now I don’t know how many
comes through Administrative Service. I just know when the contracts come. We done
voted on a bunch of stuff in this body that we didn’t look at the contract and I told the
Attorney this one and the previous one that I got a problem with approving something
that I haven’t seen so I understand that but if he’s seen it and the Department Head have
gave to the Administrator, it went through all the proper channel, we don’t need to hold
this up because of something we don’t like and those are my comments, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Shepard and then can we vote?
Mr. Shepard: Thank you. The contracts were delivered to me today, Mr. Mayor
Pro Tem. We talked about it yesterday. They appear to be in order. I can have them
available for the Chairman to review in the Committee next week. I’m here and can go
either way with either of those implementations. I don’t think it’s a matter of six weeks.
I think that the Chairman was asking for the courtesy to have it run through next
Monday’s Administrative Service meeting is all I understood, and it’s not going to be any
six weeks before these folks get their money.
Mr. Williams: Well, now Mr. Shepard, maybe you know some different things
than what I know about. I been in several of these meetings where we go to Committee
and it end up going from Committee back to Committee and then go to Commission and
get turned down. You know six votes determine. Now if you’re saying to these CHDOs,
and they sitting out here. You can explain to them about their payment, and what they
do, and what they was told. If they didn’t have a contract, then they wasn’t due any
funds from this government, they wouldn’t be here today. But I mean, I don’t want to
impede that. I want, I think we need to go ahead and do what we, well, you said there’s
an order. You just said we talked about it yesterday. We didn’t talk about it this
afternoon. We didn’t talk about it this morning. We’re on our 8:00 Monday morning
meeting we had this discussion and we talked about it, and went to Mr. Kemp. He said
he didn’t want to impede the process either. He wanted to make it as fast as he possibly
could, and he saw the error. He didn’t think it was necessary to go back to the Advisory
Board, then back to Committee which it’s already been so I’m, six votes will determine
how we going to do it but those are my comments. Now if you and the Chairman know a
28
way to get some stuff done in a week’s time, y’all need to share with everybody and not
keep it among yourself.
Mr. Mayor: Because of the CHDOs name was mentioned in a part of the
conversation, a young lady held her hand up. I’m going to recognize her because within
our time limit frame to comment and then we need to vote. Substitute motion or the
regular motion up or down.
Ms. Boseman: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My name is Sheila Boseman. I’m from
Promise Land Community Development, and yes, we do receive money from H&D and
this money is on a reimbursable basis which means we’ve already spent this money, and
this money is incurring interest charges, and we have worked very hard to establish
relationships in the community with our vendors and with our creditors, and when we
were told, when we are told that we’re going to receive x amount of dollars, that’s what
you depend on when you’re running your business so we’re asking or I am asking on
behalf of Promise Land that we receive our contract immediately because I do have
creditors waiting, and I do want to continue to build homes over in the South Augusta
area. So without that money, we can’t continue to function. I can’t continue to build
homes. I can’t continue to redo rehab homes because our business is depending upon that
so I do need your help in getting reimbursed for these funds.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Mr. Chairman, we’re going to go in here on your motion
now. Go ahead. Go ahead. You still got the floor but I’m going to, I need to go on and
get this item voted on.
Mr. Hankerson: Thank you. I hear the request coming from Promise Land and I
think I’ve already discussed that with Ms. Boseman of the process. We put a process in
place, and Administrative Service and the Commission approve it. I expect for us to
follow that process. There may be a lot of conversations going on and a lot of meetings
but I would like the respect of, as being Chairman of Administrative Service, to know
about things before it get right here to this Commission. They expect for us to approve it
on contracts because we have a process to go through, and that’s a problem I’m having.
I’ve already discussed that with our Administrator and I’m going to discuss that with our
department head at HED that I don’t like surprises, and I’m going to deal with surprises
so our, I want to be well informed because I’m cooperating and I’ve made it very clear
with all CHDOs and I haven’t received but one call from CHDOs so I take the
assumption that everything is okay. Now there may be some other Commissioners that
receive calls but I asked them and I think it’s very clear that I will work to try to assist
them, and I think the process that the Department is going through as I explained to
Promise Land that we’ve had some bumps in the road with HED. We’re trying to put
things back together. We didn’t have a finance director. Now we have a finance person,
what’s the title now is not, officer now. Had that, that’s a chance. We’re looking for a
director of that department so we have an interim person in place. So there are a lot of
things that just, the Commission approved an audit to be done, and every time we do all
of these other things and require the staff to be doing a lot of other things, it’s set us back
and that’s one of the reasons that the time frame here of doing these things because we
29
require the departments to do so many things impromptu or the audit and all of that.
They have to prepare for that and it just takes them off the course of what they already
doing so if you’ll allow me, if y’all allowed me to be the Chairman of Administrative
Service and do my job, I think we can handle this department. I have three other
committee members there with me, and we’re doing a good job, I think, and we bring it
to you step by step and let us handle it, we will resolve these problems. So I call for the
question now, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: We have had adequate discussion on both of these motions. We
need to know--
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I need some clarification, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Clarification only, and we need to wrap clarification. What is the
clarification that holds us up to vote?
Mr. Williams: My clarification is the Chairman talking and he said about he’s the
Chairman of Administrative Service but as a Commissioner, any of these Commissioners
up here get addressed about an issue, needs to address it. I mean, going back to the
Chairman, I mean, don’t ring no bells with me. I’m stating, Mr. Mayor, when someone
calls and got a legitimate complaint from any of these Commissioners, they need to be
addressed, and this is something that’s been behind. This ain’t something that goes
through the normal process. Had it been through the normal process like folks done
brought through here before, and didn’t go through Commission, and we still passed
some of it but this is a process that the young lady just stated about monies being spent,
money need to be reimbursed, that they got lenders out there that are looking for to be
reimbursed by the money that they supposed to have paid them back. Now we’re going
to talk about a chairmanship to take it back to. This ain’t about no chairman. This is
about doing what’s right for, it’s already been done, and the Attorney just said he looked
at the situation. The documents are in order. We been through everything else. They
applied for it, and we ain’t just picking somebody out of the air to give something. I
mean, but this Board do what it feel like is right so that’s the clarification I want to get,
Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All in favor of the substitute motion first will do so by the usual sign.
(Vote on substitute motion)
Mr. Williams votes No.
Motion carries 9-1.
Mr. Mayor: Where are we at, Madame Clerk?
The Clerk:
30
27. Receive report from staff regarding a requested report regarding
expenditures of city funds on private properties. (Requested by Mayor Pro Tem
Marion Williams)
Mr. Williams: [unintelligible], Mr. Mayor. It was in, was me as well. I don’t
have all of my documents here but it was mentioned the last time we had a meeting here
in this agenda about the private property that we thought we was fixing to put monies into
and find out that, I asked for the list of private properties to be brought forth. There are
several that I can mention but, Mr. Mayor, I don’t have my list with me. I had some
information and I want the Clerk if they will to pull that. This is not work that we done
but this is work that this body as a government have directed staff to do on private
property and knowing that it was private property. I remember Mr. Boyles came with an
issue about a retention pond here in a couple of weeks ago that was at a local church that
was private property. Also the Vesta Drive deal. We went in there with some private
property. There are several different entities that we done went on for private property
and I wanted to discuss them. I wanted to share with everybody so we would know the
difference between real private property and that wasn’t private property so I’m going to
ask that this be moved to the next Commission meeting, Mr. Mayor, rather than to hold
up because I don’t have my document with me and I need to get that information pulled
so we can-
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: No, just hold on one second, Mr. Commissioner. If y’all could do
me a favor and find a committee that this item could go to and discuss it, because I
requested one or two things, and I said if y’all didn’t surprise me on Tuesday, I’ll let y’all
do whatever y’all needed to do on Mondays. We do not need to deal with this on
Tuesday to spend a half hour to hour with it. This can be worked through somebody
else’s committee. Let’s bring it to a head and deal with it. You are correct. We have
spent probably millions of dollars in terms of non-public property that’s there. But it
needs to be aired in somebody’s committee. Find one for it and y’all can spend all day
over there on Monday in dealing with it but I am going to strictly enforce the time rule to
a point that I see where this could get to a point of redoing history on all of this with it,
and that’s going to be my come [unintelligible]. I hope y’all will find, it can still go out
here. That’s the Commissioner’s request in order to do it, and I cannot stifle what we can
do to get on there but I would respectfully ask that this item go through somebody’s
committee. Let’s talk about it, and deal with it. Talk about it amongst each other and
deal with it but I think we just finished an item a minute ago that communication,
communication probably could have cleared up thirty minutes of discussion.
Commissioner Grantham and anybody else on this side that needs to go and discuss it and
we need to move.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I understand where he’s coming from
and if it’s so, a name has been mentioned already that’s in Super 10 District and I
respectfully ask that we not have it next Monday as I will be out of the country, and I
won’t be here to defend my situation with the Vassar Drive issue, and I’ll be happy to
31
talk to Mr. Williams any time he wants to other than between tomorrow and Tuesday
afternoon. But I’ll be happy to take you to the properties and discuss the issue with you
anytime. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Williams: I don’t need discussion of the property. What I was bringing to
this body was that we have indeed spent monies, City’s monies on private property.
Mr. Grantham: No doubt.
Mr. Williams: That’s right. No doubt. So it ain’t that, I don’t need to see it. I
know exactly where it is. I know exactly what it’s about. I just, I’m just bringing it to
the kitchen because we was surprised and we thought that we was mentioned over some
private property when we really wasn’t. It was federal dollars that was being used for,
that probably was in question last time, but I got no doubt that, where the property is and
what was spent.
Mr. Grantham: I want to show you.
Mr. Mayor: That’ll give y’all a good time to ride, talk and eat. There’s no further
discussion on this one. If there’s a motion on the floor already?
The Clerk: There’s one.
Mr. Mayor: The chair’ll entertain one.
Mr. Grantham: Motion to move it to the next Committee meeting not on
November--
The Clerk: October 24.
Mr. Grantham: Right, on October.
Mr. Williams: Now, Mr. Mayor, I need and that really isn’t fair because now-
Mr. Mayor: There’s a motion. Is there a second, then we’ll get the discussion.
Ms. Sims: Second.
Mr. Mayor: There’s a motion and a second. You have the floor, Commissioner
Williams.
Mr. Williams: You just said that any Commissioner had a right to put on any
agenda item. Now Mr. Don can’t put my item on when he wants it on. It was mine.
Mr. Mayor: He sure, you can stick it back on there but I’m going to tell you what.
It needs to get somewhere other than Tuesday.
32
Mr. Williams: Well, I mean, and Mr. Grantham don’t set no time for me.
Mr. Mayor: I’m going to say that to both of y’all. You’re right but I’m going to
set one for everybody. It’s got a limit on it. It needs to go to another date other than
Tuesday. He’s, his motion is to put it on a Monday. You, on another Monday, you can
put it on on next Monday if you choose to. That’s your right. You don’t have to follow
what the motion said. Commissioners can do it. I’m just respectfully requesting that we
just not be disrupted for an hour to deal with one issue in here on this. Y’all can get a list
of all the private property that we’ve ever done anything on, make copies of it and
disseminate it among each other, and just prepare them that way, but what I’m saying is
there needed to be a way that y’all can, and if y’all want to talk about that, talk about it,
but to a point of us dealing with it out here doing it, then we need to find another means
of dealing with it because that can be wrapped up in a workshop somewhere else about
what qualifies, what doesn’t qualify and I think you’re absolutely correct that probably
people need to be brought up to speed on what does qualify in terms of entities and
federal monies. That will cure a lot of miscommunication to do it but out here to conduct
that does not necessarily need to be the stomping ground to do it. So he has a motion and
a second. You can make a substitute, or just make a request to do it but we just need to
end some of it that conflict that we got to do out here because what this does it says to a
point for anybody watching to a point amongst eleven of us that this is the same group of
folk that want us to come out and vote for $160 million expense and that’s not a good
signal, to a point of doing it. That’s why I’m ending that discussion. Now, Mr. Cheek,
you got the floor and we’re going to go ahead on and vote after you’re finished.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I was, well, I have a solution but I’m not even going to
mention it so in effort to lighten up the situation but in the event--
Mr. Mayor: Please do that. It’s not on the top of your head either. I ain’t
messing with you.
Mr. Cheek: Well, I, I was just--
[Laughter]
Mr. Cheek: I was just going to suggest that we take all the money we get from
cemeteries we don’t own, all the rent we get and use it to pay all the people for property
we repair that doesn’t belong to the City so, anyway. Anyway, it’s all a question, Mr.
Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: All in favor of the motion will do so by the usual sign. Any opposed,
the same.
Mr. Williams votes No.
Motion carries 9-1.
33
The Clerk:
ENGINEERING SERVICES:
23. Approve Design Change Order in the amount of $49,014 for final design of
Utilities Administration Complex.
Mr. Handy: I move for approval.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second. Any discussion? Mr. Rearden?
Mr. Rearden: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a problem not basically with this
change order in and of itself. I understand the scope of this project has been changed
many times which has caused many design changes. However, we’re now fixing to pay
these engineers within $6,000 of doubling their contract by change order. From a
contracting standpoint or at least from my experience--
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Rearden got the floor. Can’t hear all y’all at the same time.
Mr. Rearden: Thank you, sir. But my experience, I’ve, this is an excessive
amount, and I think we need to know where the end of this is because this project is not
scheduled to be bid until December of next year from the report that was put out by CH
to M. Hill that we received this week. Are we staring down another $600,000 in change
orders before we can even break ground? That would be my question and my concern.
Mr. Mayor: Doug, you want to address that?
Mr. Doug Cheek: My name is Doug Cheek. I work for the Utilities Department
and you are correct. This has changed in concept many times, and for the sake of time, I
don’t think, I don’t think it pleases the Commission to go over those but we will be glad
to. The concept has changed dramatically. It went from originally from a base amount to
a cost amount per construction cost because the project grew in a different concept many
times and basically, we could not still go with the six percent of construction. We didn’t
want to go with that because the buildings were getting bigger, the number of buildings
was getting bigger, the cost of everything was going up so we went back to a base cost
and that’s what increased the initial cost which jumped it to the level that you discussed
which basically you’re right. It did double. It’s double the original concept. The date
that you mentioned, December of next year is a little confusing. There’s a misplaced
number there because actually it’s being advertised this week and a portion of the, more
than $10 million actually will be ready for construction by the end of this year so it
should be 2005. There may be an error there. So no, sir, we do not feel from the Utilities
Department standpoint that there will be any more increases in design cost. The contract
is going to advertising for construction. Like I said, it’s being advertised this week so we
hope to have it before Commission before the end of the year to award construction. But
the, sir, there are a number of things that went on with this project that I, there’s no way I
34
could explain it all today. You wouldn’t want me to but we would be glad to talk with
you individually about it or I’ll leave it up to Mr. Hicks cause I won’t be available to
discuss it after Friday anyway.
Mr. Rearden: Well, did this start as a one story building or a three story building?
Mr. Doug Cheek: It was a, actually a two story building that the, there’s been a
number of changes organizationally where a number of people were added to the
department which increased the need for more space and we took a third floor that was
originally designed to just, originally it was designed to be building for room to grow.
Well, we grew quicker than the design took. This design has been going on for more
than three years, and that’s why it’s now a three story building that all of the space will
be occupied to a degree. I mean, there will be some room for growth.
Mr. Rearden: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Does that get you on that one, Mr. Rearden?
Mr. Rearden: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Welcome to the new discussed change order club.
[Laughter]
Mr. Mayor: Glad to have another, since I’m no longer a voting member of that
club, I thank you for asking, okay? All in favor of the motion, will do so by the usual
sign.
Mr. Williams and Mr. Colclough abstain.
Mr. Rearden votes No.
Motion carries 7-1-2.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, may I have a moment of personal privilege?
Mr. Mayor: Maybe so.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Cheek, just as Engineering Services chairman--I know that he’s
probably next door maybe.
Mr. Mayor: He may be trying to beat us out of here, and I’m trying to beat him
out of here, too.
Mr. Cheek: He must have ran out the door. As a matter of personal record and
testimony, I wanted to say that he has been a very fine engineer and hard working and
dedicated employee for the people of the City of Augusta. He will be sorely missed. I
35
for one wish him success in his new career. He leaves some big shoes to fill but thank
you for the good job you’ve done.
Mr. Russell: On behalf of Mr. Cheek, I’d like to thank you for those kind words
and we’re really going to miss him, as you well know, but you know, he’s got a
wonderful opportunity to move forward and that’s always a good thing too so he might
be gone but he won’t be too far away is what they tell me.
Mr. Mayor: Madame Clerk? Did that get us now down to these last two?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. We’ll be here probably another three, four minutes.
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS:
28. Discuss the placement of campaign signs on the City’s right-of-way.
(Requested by Commissioner Don Grantham)
Mr. Mayor: I meant last three. That’s yours, Mr. Grantham.
Mr. Grantham: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I, thank goodness I’m not running
this year and probably won’t be running the next time but I just want you to know that as
I ride around, and I see the campaign signs in the right-of-ways, it really bothers me. It
bothers me to a point that we have an ordinance and we’re not keeping it up to date.
We’re not doing what’s right by exercising the ordinance that we have place and this is
nothing against any candidate whatsoever because that candidate can’t put out all of the
signs that are being put out for any individual so I’m just asking and requesting that the
candidates give this information to their workers and the people who are in their
campaign and that they restrain from putting these in right-of-ways. Otherwise, I think
we should pick them up, take them to a central location which I understand in talking to
our Marshal, that there’s plenty of room out there where Regency Mall is, and any
candidate can go and reclaim it. Can reclaim the signs, and once they, once the
campaign’s over, then we’ll take them to the landfill. But I just, I would like to have the
respect of the candidates and this ordinance that we have in place for the people to adhere
to it. I just wanted this presented for information and so we could get some notice out of
it. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Cheek: Motion to receive as information.
Ms. Sims: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second. Is there any discussion?
Mr. Hankerson: I have a question.
36
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead, Mr. Hankerson.
Mr. Hankerson: Mr. Grantham, has the Marshal already started taking those signs
out there?
Mr. Grantham: No. I have talked with him, excuse me, Mr. Mays, you mind me
answer it?
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead.
Mr. Grantham: I have discussed this with him but I do know that a lot of signs
are being lifted and taken up by someone. Of opponents or whatever or even if they’re in
right-of-way, some people may be picking them up but to my knowledge, the Marshal
has not started that until we give him the marching orders.
Mr. Hankerson: Okay. I just wanted to know because as soon as I put one down
in some yards this morning, they’re gone so I wanted to go out there to Regency Mall and
pick them up because I don’t have too many more.
Mr. Grantham: They come up? Right.
Mr. Hankerson: I put them out one evening, they’re gone the next one, and I
thought maybe they had already started.
Mr. Grantham: No, sir.
Mr. Hankerson: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Well, let me say this. Just a couple of observances. I think that’s
good but I think probably as good or better use in time could be done if they get first
instructed on campaigns that have already happened and those that have passed by where
signs have been sitting out for the last three to four months and I [unintelligible] to all
candidates that’s running, whether it’s for Mayor or for Commission because I see some
red signs with no new taxes. I see some that have occurred six, seven months ago, some
from last year. So now we’re going to get into that, I think you need to start them at least
on a pro rated basis. Send them out to the ones that been out there for about a year. The
second thing I say is mine just got in yesterday so they ain’t had time to get out there and
break the law yet.
[Laughter]
Mr. Mayor: So whatever you need to do with them and you got a law there, then
fine but I just thought I’d lighten it up with that but we do need to get some of them that’s
been out there forever. Start with them. I think that’s the best place you need to start.
That’ll clear out a lot of them. All in favor of the motion will do so by the usual sign.
37
Mr. Cheek out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: The next to the last, Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk:
29. Discuss the Administrator’s role in providing information regarding use of
previous and future SPLOST funds for Comcast Broadcast. (Requested by
Commissioner Don Grantham)
Mr. Grantham: Okay. I’m still on, Mr. Mays. Thank you very much. The
reason I did this, I had a discussion with our Administrator here about a week to ten days
ago, and after we have approved our SPLOST requests and a, trying to put a presentation
together for the public to support. We have these public service broadcast situations,
particularly through Comcast, and I feel like it would be in our best interests, and
Knology, but it would be in our best interest to have our Administrator present programs
on those public service stations in order to get the message across and to at least start
some form of campaigning in behalf of SPLOST. Otherwise, I think that we’re, you
know, we’re being taken for granted that we are just going to sit back and do nothing.
Now I realize the Commission as a whole cannot be out campaigning. We cannot be out
doing this. But based on the public service information that is provided through these
two television outlets, our Administrator can present certain programs that would be
beneficial to helping give the message and give the real message on SPLOST and I would
like to encourage this body to direct him to do that and to also work with any of the other
television stations and medias in order to get some form of public service benefit for us to
get SPLOST presented to our people.
Mr. Mayor: Do you have a motion?
Ms. Sims: I make a motion to do the very thing you just said.
Mr. Mayor: Second?
Mr. Rearden: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second. I think it’s a good idea. I think it’s a great one
to carry on exactly what we’ve been talking about. It adds to what we just discussed at
the last meeting and I think as long as we stay within the guidelines particularly on future
SPLOST, then I think we’re home free in terms of what we have to do. But I would
emphasize that on future SPLOST, it’s just as important to emphasize on the past and
what has been spent because I think the past has given us just as much as more of a
problem as to what we plan for the future.
Mr. Cheek: Amen.
38
Mr. Mayor: All in favor of the motion. I’m sorry, Andy. I’m sorry.
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I was just going to say in that light, it’s my understanding
that there’s, there can’t be any expenditure of public funds for promotion of future
SPLOST, is that correct?
Ms. Beard: Not for public services.
Mr. Shepard: That is correct.
Mr. Cheek: And so public speaking is okay for any of us as long as it is not an
expenditure of public funds, is that correct?
Mr. Shepard: That’s correct.
Mr. Cheek: Okay. Well, I have an hour and a half on radio Thursday. Anybody
who wants to participate and help come talk about the sales tax, I’d love to have you.
Ms. Beard: Good.
Mr. Grantham: Call me and I’ll-
Mr. Mayor: Okay. All in favor of the motion will do so by the usual sign. Any
opposed?
Mr. Colclough abstains.
Mr. Williams and Ms. Beard out.
Motion carries 7-1.
The Clerk:
30. Motion to approve a request from the University Health Care System to
place pink bows on trees along City’s rights-of-way on Broad Street between 6th
and 10th Streets and the Augusta Common for the entire month of October in
recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (Requested by Mayor Willie Mays)
Ms. Sims: Motion to approve.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Motion and a second. No discussion. All in favor of the motion will
do so by the usual sign.
Mr. Rearden: No discussion?
39
Mr. Mayor: No. No discussion. And I put it on there.
[Laughter]
Mr. Mayor: [unintelligible]
[Laughter]
The Clerk: We got it. We got it.
Mr. Mayor: As my late friends, Billy Calhoun and B.L. Dent would say, y’all
entertain a motion to adjourn with a non-debatable motion. Motion and a second. That’s
it.
Mr. Hankerson, Mr. Williams and Ms. Beard out.
Motion carries 7-0.
[MEETING ADJOURNED]
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 October 4, 2005.
________________________
Clerk of Commission
40