HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 8, 2006 ARC Commission
REGULAR MEETING COMMISSION CHAMBER
February 8, 2006
Augusta-Richmond County Commission convened at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday,
February 8, 2006, the Honorable Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding.
Present: Hons. Holland, Smith, Colclough, Grantham, Hatney, Williams, Beard,
Cheek, Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta-Richmond County Commission.
Also present: Steve Shepard, Attorney; Fred Russell, Administrator; Lena
Bonner, Clerk of Commission.
A moment of silence was observed in memory of Coretta Scott King.
The invocation was given by Rev. Billy Atkins, pastor, Fleming Baptist Church.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States was recited.
The Clerk: Rev. Atkins, on behalf of the Mayor and the members of the
Commission we’d like to thank you, and on behalf of the Commission we would like to
honor you as our Chaplain of the Day. May God bless you.
Rev. Atkins: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: As there are many of you’re here to deal with one agenda item, I’m
going to go ahead and bring up agenda item number 24 first and I would like to say first
of all that last night I called a meeting of the interested parties. We met for two hours to
try to come to some compromise or resolution on this issue. We were not able to do so. I
did so that we would not be dealing with a lot of issues here, but I just wanted to make
that statement, that we did have a meeting last night. And with that I will go on to
agenda item number 24.
The Clerk:
PLANNING
24. Motion to rescind the action taken on the re-zoning petition by Forum
Development Group on behalf of Nixon Trust and Roger Graham requesting a
change of zoning from R-1 and R-1A to zone B-1. (Requested by Commissioners
Joe Bowles and Don Grantham)
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Grantham?
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Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I, along with Commissioner Bowles, had
some long and lengthy discussions after our last Commission meeting in regards to this
item and I had also prior to that meeting had had some lengthy meetings with the
neighborhood association in regards to this item. And I felt like there were several issues
that were involved in the questions that were being raised that have not been answered
and one in particular, based on the safety issue, only one ingress and egress. And since
the developer has not had the time to work out that particular problem that had been
raised I feel like it was necessary to give everyone their due time and due process in order
to do what was necessary. So that’s the reason that I’m bringing this back up. And I
wanted to express that. This is not to change the decision as far as the zoning goes. This
is only to rescind the action that was taken to give opportunity for those who are involved
in this particular location to come back with any form of resolution. However, since
hearing your comments it seems like it’s almost an impossible resolution that could come
forth. But that’s the reason I asked for it to be brought up and I would do that under any
circumstances where both parties would have that opportunity to do so. So thank you,
Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, in light of your statement and Mr. Grantham
explaining himself, in light of your statement then that you have already said that the two
parties, the concerned parties have met and have not been able to come to any resolution
to that effect, then I guess I need to ask Mr. Grantham is there another step that can be
taken? I think the neighborhood is here to speak, but is there another step that can be
taken, Mr. Grantham?
Mr. Grantham: I don’t know of one, you know, other than to rescind our action of
the last meeting, Mr. Williams, and give these two parties an opportunity to discuss the
questions at hand to resolve the safety party of it particularly.
Mr. Williams: That was my comments. If they already met and have not had a
resolution I was wondering was there another option that you was thinking of maybe? I
don’t see another option myself but I was just wanting to know.
Mr. Grantham: No, I really don’t.
Mr. Mayor: I think that both sides were in agreement last night that there is not
another option at this point, that we need to move forward and I would just share that
with y’all for information.
Mr. Brigham:I make a motion that we
Mr. Mayor, I want to make a motion.
deny rescinding.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion.
Mr. Williams: I second.
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Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second to deny.
The Clerk: To deny rescinding.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Bowles, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Smith vote No.
Mr. Cheek out.
Motion carries 6-3.
Mr. Mayor: All of y’all, you can stay around but I just wanted to deal with that
agenda item first so that you’re able to—y’all are welcome to say, or if you need to go
about your business please feel free to do so. We will next go ahead and move on to the
addendum agenda. Ms. Bonner?
The Clerk: The addendum agenda, items A and B, to be rescheduled at the
February 22 Commission meeting, off of our presentations. Those items are to be
rescheduled for our next meeting for February 22.
PRESENTATION(S)
A. Presentation by the Buffalo Soldiers to the Augusta Recreation and Parks
Department for team sponsorships in the amount of $2,000 and $1,000 for the
Carrie J. Mays Community Center.
B. Ms. Margaret Woodard, Executive Director, Downtown Development
Authority. Accomplishments in 2005/Strategic Plan for 2006.
The additions to the agenda:
1. Motion to approve a Resolution of the Augusta-Richmond County
Commission in support of the installation of safety cables on the Bobby Jones
Expressway.
2. Resolution of condolence for Dr. Joseph Still.
3. Resolution of condolence for Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
4. Motion to accept a subgrantee agreement with the Office of Homeland
Security for expenses incurred by the City of Augusta as a result of Hurricane
Katrina.
Mr. Grantham: Motion to approve.
Mr. Hatney: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor?
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Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brigham?
Mr. Brigham: Is there any cost involved in this first one?
The Clerk: The first item, the resolution of support?
Mr. Brigham: Yes.
Mr. Mayor: To the best of my knowledge, no. It’s just a resolution.
Mr. Brigham: That’s all I wanted to know.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Cheek out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Prior to getting to the delegations and presentations, we will
move on to the consent agenda, items 1 through 23.
The Clerk: Dr. Hatney, in item one you had requested in committee for additional
information to be provided at the Commission meeting. I think you’ve received that.
Are you—
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
1. Motion to approve Contract Extension and reimbursement for services
rendered in South Augusta by Prime Commercial Properties, Inc., in the amount of
$11,000.00 for the Economic Development Ombudsman Program subject to
supporting documents being provided by the Commission meeting. (Approved by
Administrative Services Committee January 30, 2006)
Dr. Hatney: I requested this information be brought before we met
[unintelligible] and it was not. I would hope we could send this back to committee
so we can go over this information and then bring it back here.
Mr. Mayor: Would you like to put that in the form of a motion?
Dr. Hatney: I’m putting it in the form of a motion that we take this
[unintelligible] and send it back to Administrative Services Committee and that we
review the information that we received today and then bring it back to our next
Commission meeting.
Mr. Mayor: That’s in the form of a motion.
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Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: There is a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Cheek out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brigham?
Mr. Brigham: Item number 11, I believe it was the intent of the committee to
have a report back as to possible funding sources for that. It was not an overall approval
of it, if I’m not mistaken, on the Fire Department’s.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk: Item 11?
Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor, that would be number 5.
Mr. Brigham: 5? I thought it was 11.
5. Motion to approve the revitalization of the old Engine Company #7 and the
East Boundary Fire Station. (Approved by Public Safety Committee January 30,
2006)
Mr. Brigham: I’m sorry, it is number 5.
The Clerk: Item 5, that’s just to approve for them to proceed with them obtaining
grants for the revitalization of old Engine Company #7 and the East Boundary Fire
Station. That’s just to give them approval to proceed with the grant writing process.
Mr. Brigham: Right. That was what what made.
The Clerk: Yes.
Mr. Brigham: It was not a motion to proceed. We were looking for funding
sources.
Mr. Mayor: Can we revise that? Mr. Grantham?
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor, I just want to ask a question because this has been on
our agenda several times in the past and we were told at one time that there were funds
that had been identified for these projects on these older fire stations. And if I recall, it
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was something in the neighborhood of $800,000 and that we were still going to seek
grant money in order to use it with that because I think the project at the Central Avenue
Fire Station was estimated at that time to be over $1 million. And I do notice on our
agenda today we have Dr. Lynn coming to speak on that particular issue anyway. So I’m
just going to put that back out there for information to see if our administrator still knows
that those funds are identified in that category and if so is it still to be used for those two
projects that we are talking about, and if so how much grant money are we going to need
and if so are we going to have other participation from maybe outside sources such as
what Dr. Lynn may allude to today? So that’s just a comment and statement of that.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell?
Mr. Russell: The $800,000 to my recollection was identified as what it would
take to begin the stabilization of that building. I’m not, I don’t remember any specific
funds that had been designated for that, sir. In addition to that, as you know the first
station at East Boundary, we’ve entered into an agreement with the East Boundary
Association there and they are currently renting that building and have been doing some
renovations there and would obviously help us seek some grant support for that facility
because of its historic nature, particularly to the black community, as the first black
volunteer fire department in this particular area, probably even a greater area there
basically. At this point I think as we look for uses of these buildings, the presentation of
Dr. Lynn would be beneficial, but to my knowledge there are no real funds designated at
this moment. That was just a cost figure that we had.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, a lot of questions comes up about different items but I
was wondering could we go ahead and approve the consent and then pull those items,
what we going do so we won’t have to rehash [unintelligible] about each one. We start
with one, now we go on to 5. Can we pull those items and then send them back if we
have to?
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Williams: But then that way will kind of keep me a little in line, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Are there any further items to be pulled or added to the consent
agenda? Mr. Grantham?
Mr. Grantham: I’m going to pull number 9, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Bowles: I’d like to pull number 10, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Williams: I’d like to pull number 3 for discussion and clarification. Number
3, Mr. Mayor.
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Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Grantham?
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor, I’d like to add to the consent agenda, over in the
regular agenda list under Public Services, I’d like to add 26, 27 through 32. 27, 28, 29,
30, 31, and 32. These are new ownership applications for license and I’d like for Mr.
Sherman to confirm the attendance of those particular applicants and that they have met
all requirements that we ask them to do.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Sherman?
Mr. Sherman: Yes, all of the applicants are present. They meet all the
requirements and the License & Inspection Department and the Sheriff’s Department is
recommending that they be approved.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir. Okay, do we have anything else to add or pull?
Ms. Beard: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Beard?
Ms. Beard: I’d like to pull, send 34 to consent.
Mr. Mayor: Adding number 34. Do we have any more additions or—Mr.
Colclough?
Mr. Colclough: I’d like top pull item 33, Mr. Mayor. Need some more
information.
The Clerk: Item 33? That’s not pulled, that’s on regular.
Mr. Mayor: Any more additions or subtractions? Are there any additions?
Mr. Brigham: We could probably add 35 and 36 also.
Mr. Mayor: Adding 35 and 36?
Mr. Grantham: [unintelligible] 23.
Mr. Williams: I got some problems with 23 I need to talk about. I’m not in
agreement to add 23. 35 and 36 which [unintelligible] .
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Mr. Mayor: Okay, so you’re—
The Clerk: [unintelligible] consent agenda. 23 is under the consent agenda.
Mr. Grantham: [unintelligible] thank you.
Mr. Williams: Item 23?
Mr. Mayor: That is on the consent agenda.
Mr. Williams: I need to pull that one, Mr. Mayor. I’m sorry, I’m getting 23 and
33—23 is on the consent. That’s our last consent item; is that right?
Mr. Mayor: Yes.
The Clerk: Yes.
Mr. Williams: Okay, I’ve got no problem with that one. 33 is the one I needed
some clarification.
The Clerk: That’s on the regular. It hasn’t been added.
Mr. Williams: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Is there anything from the addendum agenda that y’all wouldn’t wish
to add?
Mr. Brigham: We could add item 4, I would think. On the addendum.
Mr. Mayor: Any takers on items 2 and 3? Any other items? We’re looking at the
addendum agenda to see if there is anything that can be added to the consent agenda.
Mr. Brigham: I don’t have a problem adding two and three.
Mr. Grantham: [unintelligible]
Mr. Mayor: Okay, Commissioner Grantham would like to add 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I think Mr. Brigham asked about money associated
with number 1, but is there any money associated with any of these on—I know the first
three—how about the—
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell?
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Mr. Shepard: Number 1, Mr. Williams, on the addendum agenda is requested by
Sen. Powell in order to make a presentation at DOT. It would be DOT money involved
but not city money, is my understanding.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell?
Mr. Russell: Number 4, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, is money that we currently spent
helping Katrina victims. That’s a reimbursement from the federal government to cover
the cost, $138,000 that we had spent.
Mr. Williams: Okay. I have no problem adding those four in, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. All right, are there any further additions or subtractions? Ms.
Clerk, would you please read out the items added and pulled?
The Clerk: The consent agenda consists of items 1 through 23, and I will
identify those items that have been asked to be pulled: item 3, item 9, item 10 to be
pulled for discussion. Added to the consent agenda: items 26 through 32, items 26
through 32. Items 34, 35 and 36. On our addendum agenda, items 1, 2, 3 and 4 for
consent.
CONSENT AGENDA
PUBLIC SAFETY
2. Motion to approve a request to accept Assistance to Firefighters Grant.
(Approved by Public Safety Committee January 30, 2006)
4. Motion to approve mutual aid agreement between Augusta Fire Department
and Department of Energy's Savannah River Site. (Approved by Public Safety
Committee January 30, 2006)
5. Motion to approve the revitalization of the old Engine Company #7 and the
East Boundary Fire Station. (Approved by Public Safety Committee January 30,
2006)
FINANCE
6. Motion to approve a request to Abate 1990, 1992, 1993 and 1994 Tax
Accounts (Expired) Property is known as Map 56-4, Parcel 167.Owner at that time
was Wilkinson Road Group. (Approved by Finance Committee January 30, 2006)
7. Motion to approve presentation by Cherry, Bekaert and Holland regarding
the 2005 audit of the financial statements. (Approved by Finance Committee
January 30, 2006)
8. Motion to approve a request from the Augusta Task Force for the Homeless
for city sponsorship through the purchase of tickets for the 7th Chili Bowl
Fundraiser Lunch. (Approved by Finance Committee January 30, 2006)
11. Motion to approve the acquisition of three (3) Road Patrol Traffic vehicles
for the Sheriff’s Office through the state funded H.E.A.T. program from Bobby
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Jones Ford of Augusta, Georgia, for $26,126.00 each (lowest bid offer for bid 05-
159). (Approved by Finance Committee January 30, 2006)
ENGINEERING SERVICES
12. Motion to abandon a portion of Timms Lane. (Approved by Engineering
Services Committee January 30, 2006)
13. Motion to authorize condemnation of a portion of Property # 128-0-091-00-0
3645 Karleen Road, which is owned by Alfonzo Jenkins and Deloise Jenkins for
6,252 Sq. Feet for a Permanent Easement and 3,638 Sq. Feet of Temporary
Easement. AUD Project: Horsepen Sanitary Sewer, Phase 2A. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee January 30, 2005)
14. Motion to authorize condemnation of a portion of Property # 111-0-012-00-0
and # 111-0-012-01-0 3102 Mike Padgett Hwy, which is owned by Larry D. Chancey
and Larry P. Chancey for 2,540.14 Sq. Feet for a Permanent Easement and
2,065.473 Sq. Feet of Temporary Easement. AUD Project: Highway 56 20” Water
Main. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee January 30, 2006)
15. Motion to authorize condemnation of a portion of Property #048-3-057-00-0
501 Ease Boundary Street, which is owned by Mariam Shewangizaw for 0.007 acre
(312.50 sq. ft.) of Right-of-Way. Public Works Project: East Boundary Street and
Drainage Improvements Project. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee
January 30, 2006)
16. Motion to authorize condemnation of a portion of Property #140-0-819-00-0
4709 Cahill Court, which is owned by William P. and Tammie R. Ray for 0.09 acre
(3,928 sq. ft.) of easement area. Public Works Project: Pinnacle Place Subdivision
Erosion and Drainage Improvements Project. (Approved by Engineering Services
Committee January 30, 2006)
17. Motion to approve the purchase of equipment and accessories needed for the
safety of AUD personnel during trenching and excavation operations. (Approved by
Engineering Services Committee January 30, 2006)
18. Motion to approve the request from the Engineering Department for the
Commission to grant a waiver on Augusta Richmond County Fire Ordinance
Number 5625, Code Number 6-3-16 as it relates to the St. Sebastian St../Greene
St/15th St. Project. Approval of this waiver request will save the City at least $4.7
million. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee January 30, 2006)
19. Motion to approve revised State-Aid County Contract Priority List.
(Approved by Engineering Services Committee January 30, 2006)
20. Motion to approve Utilities Payment of Shared Fire Hydrant Maintenance
Costs to Fire Department. (Approved by Engineering Services Committee January
30, 2006)
21. Motion to approve CPB #323-04-296823314 Change Number Four in the
amount of $780,000 with funding of $630,000 from GDOT contract and $150,000
from SPLOST Phase III recapture. Also, transfer $19,500 from Project
Engineering, $30,500 from Project Right of Way and $60,000 from Project
Contingency to Project Construction on the Warren Road Improvements Project.
Also, approve Change Order Number Eight with Mabus Brothers Construction in
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the amount of $860,890.00 as requested by the Engineering Department. (Approved
by Engineering Services Department January 30, 2006)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
22. Motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Commission
held January 17, 2006 and Special Called Meeting held January 30, 2006.
APPOINTMENT(S)
23. Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Barbara Sims to the unexpired
term of Kenneth Gisko on the Augusta Aviation Commission representing District
6.
PUBLIC SERVICES
26. Receive as information the National Electric Code - 2005 Edition, and
applicable Georgia amendments to the code which were adopted by the Department
of Community Affairs. The code is effective January 1, 2006.
27. New Application: A. N. 06 - 05: A request by Brian Taylor for an on-premise
consumption Beer license to be used in connection with Groucho's Deli located at
1129 Agerton Lane. District 3. Super District 10.
28. New Ownership Application: A. N. 06 - 06: A request by Gregory Fisher for
a retail package Beer & Wine license to be used in connection with Augusta IGA
located at 3355 Deans Bridge Rd. District 5. Super District 9.
29. New Ownership Application: A. N. 06 - 07: A request by Janet C. West for
an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection
with the White Elephant Cafe located at 1135 Broad St. District 1. Super District 9.
30. New Ownership Application: A. N. 06 - 08: A request by Ubaldo Cortes for
an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection
with Morelia's Mexican Restaurant located at 1531 Walton Way. There will be
Sunday Sales. District 1. Super District 9.
31. New Ownership Application: A. N. 06 - 09: A request by Gerald Tanksley for
an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in connection
with Time Piecez located at 730 Broad St. There will be Dance. District 1. Super
District 9.
32. New Ownership Application: A. N. 06 - 10: A request by Suresh Anandani
for an on-premise consumption Liquor, Beer & Wine license to be used in
connection with Augusta Suites Inn located at 3038 Washington Rd. There will be
Sunday Sales. District 7. Super District 10.
FINANCE
34. Motion to approve purchase of tickets for the 3rd Annual Project Access
recognition Banquet, February 25, 2006. (Requested by Commissioner Jerry
Brigham)
ATTORNEY
35. Motion to approve Subgrant Agreement for Children and Youth Council.
36. Motion to approve Subgrant Agreement for Joseph Still Burn Center.
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Addendum item 1. Motion to approve a Resolution of the Augusta-Richmond
County Commission in support of the installation of safety cables on the Bobby
Jones Expressway.
Addendum item 2. Resolution of condolence for Dr. Joseph Still.
Addendum item 3. Resolution of condolence for Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
Addendum item 4. Motion to accept a subgrantee agreement with the Office of
Homeland Security for expenses incurred by the City of Augusta as a result of
Hurricane Katrina.
Mr. Mayor: With no further additions are subtractions is there a motion to
approve the consent agenda?
Mr. Williams: So move.
Mr. Colclough: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Cheek out.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk: For a matter of record, the Mayor has asked that I read into the record
the resolutions of condolences.
Addendum item 2/item 40. Resolution of condolence for Dr. Joseph Still.
Whereas, Dr. Joseph M. Still, Jr., was the founder of the Southeastern Firefighters
Burn Foundation, fulfilling his dream of providing a retreat for family members of burn
patients; and
Whereas, he dedicated his entire professional life to improving the treatment of
burn patients and built one of the world’s leading treatment facilities for burn victims, the
Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Georgia; and
Whereas, the members of the Augusta Commission were deeply saddened and
shocked to learn of the untimely passing of Dr. Joseph M. Still, Jr.; and
Whereas, the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Still may always remember
and never, ever forget his love and concern for each of them as he shall forever live in
their hearts; and
Therefore, be it resolved that it is with out 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 that others care and share your
loss.
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May it be further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the
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family and friends of Dr. Joseph M. Still this 8 day of February in the Year of our Lord,
2006.
Addendum item 3/item 41. Resolution of condolence for Mrs. Coretta Scott King.
Whereas, Ms. Coretta Scott King, affectionately known as the First Lady of Civil
Rights of the Civil Rights Movement was born on April 27, 1927 in Perry County,
Alabama; and
Whereas, Ms. King graduated from Lincoln Normal School in Marion, Alabama
at the top of her class in 1945, graduated from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio,
attended the New England Conservatory in Boston, and received honorary degrees from
many institutions, including Princeton University and Bates College; and
Whereas, Ms. Coretta Scott King worked tirelessly alongside her husband, the
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement and in 1962 on
behalf of the Women’s Strike for Peace served as a delegate to the seventeen nation
disarmament conference in Geneva, Switzerland; and
Whereas, Ms. Coretta Scott King was the founder of the Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. Center for Non-violent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia and also succeeded in
achieving her goal to get her husband’s birthday honored as national holiday; and
Whereas, Ms. King’s soft-spoken and hard-working ways will be sorely missed
by all who knew and loved here; and
Whereas, the members of the Augusta Commission were deeply saddened to
learn of her passing; and
Therefore, be it resolved that it is with out 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 that others care and share your
loss.
Be further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the family and
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friends of Ms. Coretta Scott King this 8 day of February in the Year of our Lord, 2006.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Rev. Hatney?
Dr. Hatney: The first resolution, instead of February you said November.
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The Clerk: It’s February 8.
Dr. Hatney: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. We will now move on to the next agenda item.
The Clerk: Want to go back to delegations?
Mr. Mayor: Yes, back—didn’t we have one presentation?
The Clerk: Yes, sir.
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Mr. Mayor: Okay.
The Clerk:
PRESENTATION(S)
C. Presentation by Mr. Heyward Johnson to the Augusta Commission on behalf
of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
The Clerk: Mr. Mayor, will you please join Mr. Johnson for a presentation?
Mr. Johnson: Mr. Mayor [unintelligible] also [unintelligible] 30 years of service
[unintelligible] lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve [unintelligible] all the time
working for the city. I was deployed several times and [unintelligible] recognition to you
and the Augusta-Richmond County Commission from the National Committee for
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and recognizing the Augusta-Richmond
County Commission as a [unintelligible] employer for [unintelligible] by supporting
employee participation in America’s National Guard and her Reserve Forces.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much.
The Clerk:
DELEGATIONS
D. Ms. Catherine Taylor
Re: Support of Commissioner Marion F. Williams
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Taylor? And we will limit these to five minutes, please. And I
would ask for order in the courtroom, just if everybody can be calm Chambers.
Ms. Shedrick: Good afternoon. I’m standing in the place of Ms. Catherine
Taylor.
Mr. Mayor: Please state your name and address.
Ms. Shedrick: My name is Brenda Shedrick. My address is 527 Richmond Hill
Road West.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you.
Ms. Shedrick: Thank you. And good afternoon, Commissioners. Today we
come in support of our Commissioner, Marion Williams. We want the Commissioners
and the members of the Augusta Community to know that you have supporters. Your
supporters run the gamut. They are rich and poor, they are African Americans, white,
Asians, and Latinos. What greatly troubles us is that lawsuit which has been filed against
you. It is said when a person seeks to use the Courts to win a political argument. And
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the argument concerning your tenure as Mayor Pro Tem and the use of abstentions in a
political argument which must be decided by you and your fellow Commissioners. The
Court should not be used as a backdoor route to gain political advantage. But we must
ask are these the [unintelligible] which should be dominating the headlines? Would one
more person be [unintelligible] if Commissioner Marion Williams remains Mayor Pro
Tem or uses his abstention? Would one more person become employed if Commissioner
Williams remains Mayor Pro Tem or abstains? Would any new businesses decide to
come here or decide to leave over these issues? It is now time to move on and we
encourage those county Commissioners who have influence over Mr. Merry and his
group to drop their lawsuit. It is counter productive and undemocratic. We do not know
the political persuasions of Mr. Merry and his group. We do not know whether they are
liberal, conservative, Democrats or Republicans, yet we do know there are Republicans
and conservatives on this Commission. Historically, conservatives and the Republic
Party on a whole have talked about the use of [unintelligible] Courts to determine
political questions. It is now the conservatives who criticize the Supreme Court when it
instituted busing or affirmative action or Roe v. Wade. Conservatives stated that the
Courts should not involve themselves in political questions, they should not involve
themselves in issues that legislators and the people should be able to decide. Yet
conservative Commissioners sitting before us have been strangely silent about Mr.
Merry’s attempt to use the Court to do what they as legislators should be doing. If you
cannot beat him [unintelligible] political it does not mean the Court needs to intervene.
Surely conservatives who historically were outraged about activist Courts which did
nothing more than advance the cause of African Americans can certainly speak out
against any attempt to muzzle or silence an African American. So we will hope that the
conservative members of this body will be true of their heritage and openly oppose this
move by Mr. Merry. In conclusion, politics is politics. This is not a fight for the hearts
and souls of this community. It is not a fight between the races and it should not be a
fight in the Courts. We support Commissioner Marion Williams and we are sure that the
constituents support you. You, yes, you should all agree that the political fights should
be resolved in this political chambers, not in Court. Thus, we [unintelligible] entire
Commission issue a written statement [unintelligible] actions by Mr. Merry is
unnecessary and it not the proper purview of the Courts. This may not make Mr. Merry
drop his suit but it will this Commissioners on the right side of history. Thank you and
God bless you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate that. And one comment I would
make to that is that whether all Commissioners know it or not we have been named, we
have all been named today, so every one of us have been named earlier this evening,
earlier today. Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to respond. I’d like to tell those
concerned citizens on whatever side of the fence you may reside on, I appreciate those
words, I appreciate those comments, and I do take this job very seriously because I am
elected for the people of Augusta-Richmond County. May not like the attitude, may not
like the words that I use. I’m not perfect, as perfect as some of the other Commissioners
on this board, but I do take this work very serious and I do think that the suit is something
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that should not be but I mean that’s a process, anybody can do that. I don’t think there is
anything to be concerned with. I think we are within the guidelines of the law. I just
wanted you to know I appreciate all of those words and the time you took to come out
and say that.
Mr. Mayor: Next agenda item?
The Clerk:
E. Ms. Jo Ann Hoffman/Ms. Laura Smith
Re: Cypress Lane Development between Camellia Road and Somerset Way.
Mr. Mayor: Once again, I’d ask you to limit it to five minutes, please. And for
the record, if you could state your name and address, please.
Mr. Paulk: My name is Ashley Paulk, III. I reside at 716 Somerset Way. Mr.
Mayor and Commissioner, I appreciate the opportunity speak to y’all today. I’m
speaking on behalf of many of the property owners on Somerset Way. I’m addressing an
opposition to the proposed development on Cypress Lane. I understand our time is five
minutes. I will be brief in the interest of your time. I’ve given you some handouts so that
you’re familiar with the property. I’ll go over it just briefly. The first map is the flood
plain map obtained from FEMA. The flood plain map shows the proposed development.
It’s bound by Somerset Way, Wheeler Road, south fork of Raes Creek, as well as Walton
Way. That map also shows what dictates the flood plain, which is the gray shaded area.
The numbers there indicate the elevation for flood plain rise. The second map that you’ll
turn to is the plat of the proposed development. The blue indicates the south fork of Raes
Creek, yellow is the existing sewer line, the pink line is what the developer has
determined the approximate location of the 100-year flood plain, green indicates
proposed development with eight lots, a detention pond and the road as well. The lots
highlighted in the orange color, those are lots in Somerset Way. This is the property
owners of whom I’m speaking on behalf. As I said, we as the property owners, we’re—
this has been approved by the Planning Commission, it will come to the full Commission
for a vote. What we’re requesting is that you as a Commission carefully look at this. Our
points are as follows. If you look at the map, yellow indicates existing sewer line. That
sewer lines currently has an influx of storm water. Within the last two weeks the city has
been liming that area because sewer overflows out of the manhole. That’s a sewer line
that this development will tie in to. Second, if you look at the site plan carefully, the
topography is how the lay of the land, the elevation—it is not properly addressed on the
lot lines on Somerset Way. If you look at many of these properties they have ditches,
they have swells, areas that are not properly reflected on this. We have concerns over
this development and how it affects the outflow of water off of these properties. The
third item I’ve already touched on, this plan was developed off a plat of existing
topography. True topography is where you go out and you measure the elevation and get
an actual picture of what the land does. Using that and the flood plain map, you can
obtain a true plat of where this flood plain lies. We are saying that this needs to be
looked at with a true ground topography, not utilizing topography maps from existing
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conditions. Lastly, this plat was prepared by a registered civil engineer. That civil
engineer was hired by the developer. This is a very sensitive area. It lies in the flood
plain of Raes Creek, it has the ability to impact many of the neighbors down stream. We
are requesting that this development by looked at by an outside third party engineer.
There are two engineers here in town. Cranston, Robertson & Whitehurst, which the city
is quite familiar with, they developed Raes Creek drainage plans further down stream at
Berckman Road. Toole Engineers has developed plans and worked actually on the
Wheeler Road crossing of Raes Creek. We think this needs to be a third party,
independent needs to look at this. In hindsight, we can look back and we can see the
development along Ingleside, see the impact of that. We’ve got the opportunity here to
truly look at this. It is a sensitive area. As you well know from the flooding, Wheeler
Road has been flooded in the last several years with a good strong rain from a tropical
storm. And lastly, a good amount of taxpayer money has been invested on downstream
of Raes Creek. This development has the capability to impact that. So just in closing I’d
like to reiterate we sincerely request a third party, registered professional engineer review
this and that when this comes to Commission approval that it be denied approval from the
full Commission. I appreciate the opportunity.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Right on 4 minutes, 58 seconds. Thank you so much for
coming today.
Mr. Grantham: I make a motion we receive as information.
Dr. Hatney: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by
the usual sign.
Mr. Cheek out. Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
F. Mr. Harold E. Rhodes
Re: Fire Department Corruption.
Mr. Mayor: Please limit it to five minutes.
Mr. Rhodes: Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, lady and gentlemen of the
Commission. My name is Dusty Rhodes. I reside at 4756 Mike Padgett Highway. I’m
chairman and CEO of South Augusta Flea Market, Inc. I’ll start from the very beginning,
which is five or six years ago. I had a fire at South Augusta Flea Market. Lt. Hannah
came out and investigated and determined it was a faulty kerosene heater. One of the
vendors had carelessly turned a [unintelligible] of the heater down but had not turned it
completely off, had went to [unintelligible] rack of clothing, it caught fire and burned the
thing. At that time Lt. Hannah told Mr. Michael Mosby, Mr. Ronald Rhodes and myself
that kerosene would no longer be utilized.
17
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Rhodes, can I just stop you for a second?
Mr. Rhodes: Yes, sir?
Mr. Mayor: Did you not make a presentation on this same issue here recently for
the Commission?
Mr. Rhodes: No, sir. I came in here and was hushed out in the hallway that we
would get together and I’m getting to that. If you’ll please just bide with me a second,
Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Because it’s stated in the rules that once an issue has been
addressed then a person can’t re-present it.
Mr. Rhodes: But it was not addressed. It was not addressed, not what I’m
addressing. Lt. Hannah and the chief said go outside, we’ll go sit down and talk it over.
Well, until I got on this agenda I didn’t hear a word or couldn’t get in touch with
anybody. First Saturday afternoon at 6:00 o’clock after I was on this agenda did they get
in touch with me to sit down and talk about it. Well, there’s nothing to talk about. First
of all, I, seven years ago had natural gas heat in my building. When Lt. Hannah said that
kerosene would no longer be used, propane was the only usable fuels, I converted from
natural gas to propane because natural gas was so expensive because you had to pay a
line usage in the summertime when you was not using it. The first of January this past
year, 2005, a member, an individual who has been turned over the Inv. Rogers of the
Sheriff’s Department overheard an owner of Barnyard Flea Market discussing my market
with a fire inspector. He was told by the inspector that for the right money I could be put
out of business. Less than thirty days later I was hit with a barrage of fire inspections. At
that time, Lt. Donald White called Georgia Power and had my power cut off my office
without regard to my computers, my system. He told a bald face story to the Fire Chief
and to Lt. Hannah and to Maj. Rogers yesterday on the telephone because I have proof
that he called and had that power cut off. I can give you absolute proof. Yet, the Fire
Chief and Lt. Hannah says that’s not possible, he can’t do it. But I’m telling you that he
did do it and I have the proof, the phone number and the man to call. He must not have
known that Georgia Power keeps records from a long way back because he told me
exactly who, operator 37 is who he went through and he’s got a recording of it. But yet
he told the Fire Chief, he told Lt. Hannah no, I did not do it. Which Lt. Hannah himself, a
week-and-a-half ago came in, told my son, said I’ll be back with the State Fire Marshal
and close you down if these heaters are still in your building. That was back in January,
first of January. To beat that, because a one day close down would be a death sentence to
my business, I took the heaters out. Lt. Hannah did show up that Saturday morning with
the State Fire Marshal and was aghast that the heaters were gone. Yet, at the same time
the Barnyard Market was using propane all through the market. Now, there’s two
standards that we’re going by here and I’d like to know why. What I’m asking the
Commission for, supposedly we’re going to address it and get it safe, but I’ve been
without heat for my older clientele the entire month of January and now the first week of
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February. This weekend is supposed to be a high of 48 degrees and I’d like to put my
heaters in until this is addressed one way or another. Thank you very much.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Bowles?
Mr. Bowles: I’d like a point of clarification from the attorney. Am I correct in
assuming that a citizen is only allowed to appear on an issue every 90 days?
Mr. Shepard: Well, I did have a look at that.
Mr. Mayor: I’ve got it here, too.
Mr. Shepard: Do you want to read it?
Mr. Mayor: I lost my place. If you’ve got it, go ahead and please read it.
Mr. Shepard: I believe he can return on another subject within the 90 days. If
this is considered within the same subject, cannot be done.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. It sounded—Commissioner Williams?
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I traveled to the flea market myself on Saturday and
ran into Mr. Rhodes and he talked with me about it and I asked him to bring it to the
Public Safety Committee to get that resolved, to try to get some headway. He cornered
me over there and talked to me for some time about the issue and I explained to him that
he needed to try to get this resolved before it got to a point of shutting his business down.
Now, whether these are two different issues I’m really confused on that. But whatever
happened to the meeting when he came down and talked in Public Safety about the
heaters and where are we with that point of it? I think that would help me because he did
come down and want to address these issues before it got to the point of closing. So if
anybody here that can tell us where we are with that, I think that would help me a little
bit.
Mr. Mayor: I’d like to call Chief Willis.
Mr. Willis: Yes, sir, we did—when we talked in the hallway afterwards the first
meeting we asked for an action plan and all and then we finally were able to get in touch
with Mr. Rhodes and we had a meeting this past week with Mr. Rhodes. We have
worked out some of the issues. I understand his process and all. We’re trying to work
with him very closely but our concern is, like we said before, public safety for everybody,
him and the constituents that patronize him and his employees that work that as well, too.
But we did have a meeting. We talked a couple of hours or so in my office and we’re
19
still working with Mr. Rhodes in addressing those issues and working with him. We did
go—we’re treating him the same way that we’re treating the Barnyard. We did find some
propane heaters there. They have been removed. And we’re just treating everybody the
same and trying to move forward on this issue and resolve it all.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams, is that what—
Mr. Williams: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate that, but chief, I just think the
question was the propane and the screen he had around there wasn’t acceptable, was
acceptable to the standard and I think he—what I was trying to get was a
recommendation from the Fire Department as to what he needed to do and what time
frame he had to do it in. If the propane is not acceptable, I understand that. But if he’s
got to do something else, I’m just trying to hear what was the instruction to him of what
he had to do to—
Mr. Willis: Kerosene is the answer. Now, I know Mr. Rhodes had stated that
someone had told him he couldn’t have kerosene out there, that he had to have propane.
Propane is not the answer, either, or natural gas. But kerosene is approved, the UL-type
approved heaters are the ones. He can have those in there. Just need to have a certain
safety diameter around them and he’ll be fine there.
Mr. Rhodes: Mr. Williams, may I address your [unintelligible]?
Mr. Mayor: Sir, I think we, I believe we’ve had ample time and that
Commissioner Williams has been satisfied and as long as we know that it’s moving
forward—
Mr. Rhodes: [unintelligible]
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir, for that information. Commissioner Smith?
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’d like to think there is some way we could
work it out for Mr. Rhodes to operate his business until they can get this worked out. I
would hate to see it closed.
Mr. Mayor: Chief Willis, would you like to respond to that? Is there any way?
Mr. Willis: Oh, yes, sir. He can continue to operate. What we’d like to have is a
plan of action from Mr. Rhodes that we can have and we can assist him in any of the
processes that he needs to take care of.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Rhodes, are you okay with putting together a plan to action
showing how you’re approaching this issue?
Mr. Rhodes: Yes, sir.
20
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Colclough?
Mr. Colclough: Mr. Mayor, I think Mr. Rhodes’ question was, was there any way
that he can have some heat for his elderly consumers until this issue was resolved; that
was the question.
Mr. Mayor: Chief?
Mr. Willis: Yes. And it is going to be cold this week.
Mr. Colclough: So he is allowed to put in heater in his business for his elderly
folks?
Mr. Willis: Right. We don’t want to create any undue hardship for him or his
people. We certainly want to work with him. We need some plan of action how to
address that, giving us a time frame and all, and we’ll work with him and all, as we have
before, and making sure that he can continue to run his operation. We definitely do not
want to have any one shut down.
Mr. Smith: Chief, does he have kerosene heaters?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Rhodes?
Mr. Rhodes: No, sir. I do not. I have heaters that has been there 22 years.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: I just wanted clarification. Can he maintain—am I hearing that he
can maintain what’s he’s got until the action plan is put together and then work on
resolving on that? Cause I’m hearing he can have heat but I heard kerosene and I heard
propane so I don’t want to him to say he can have heat and then he get outside and say
well, you didn’t say what kind of heat. I just need to know.
Mr. Willis: He can continue to use the propane at this time but we need some
guideline and deadline and some plan of action that we can utilize to work with him so he
can continue on.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brigham, did you have your hand up?
Mr. Brigham: Yes, sir. We’ll put this on the Public Safety Committee for next
time to have a review of his plan of action.
Mr. Mayor: Okay.
th
Mr. Brigham: For the 13 of February.
21
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Thank you. Problem resolved. Next agenda item?
The Clerk:
G. Dr. Billy Lynn relative to Old Engine Company 7.
Mr. Mayor: Dr. Lynn, once again, just five minutes, please, sir.
Dr. Lynn: Sure. Thank you. Mr. Mayor and distinguished Commission, thank
you so much for allowing us to come before you this afternoon. My name is Billy Lynn
and I live at 2104 Gardner Street here in Augusta. I currently serve as the chairman of
deacons and also as the chairman of the long-range planning committee at the Hill Baptist
Church here in Augusta. We’re located at 2165 Kings Way, across the street from Old
Engine Company #7. We are here today to make a proposal regarding its future. If I may
at this time, with your permission, it’s my pleasure to introduce Dr. Michael Ruffin, our
pastor.
Dr. Ruffin: Thank you for allowing us to be here today.
Mr. Mayor: Please state your name and address.
Dr. Ruffin: Mike Ruffin. I live at 2906 Sussex Road. The Hill Baptist Church
has served the Hill neighborhood and surrounding areas since 1930. Just last April we
th
celebrated our 75 anniversary of ministry in our community. We hope and believe that
we’ve made a positive impact on the people around our church and that we’ve been a
good neighbor to the people in our neighborhood. We want to continue to make a
positive impact and to be a catalyst for constructive change. In the year 2000 the Hill
Baptist Church, when we had an opportunity to move elsewhere, instead made an
intentional decision to continue the ministry in our community. I became pastor in
January of 2003. We’re now engaged in a process of strategic planning with our primary
focus being the discovery of ways in which we can better serve our Lord by serving our
community. Old Engine Company No. 7 has been one of our neighbors for decades. It’s
been a good relationship. We appreciate the protection that the firefighters who have
been based there over the years have provided to our community. But now that the
building is vacant we’d like to explore ways in which the facility could be used so that it
will continue its tradition of contributing to the wellbeing of the people living in our
neighborhood. We believe that given the opportunity the Hill Baptist Church could lead
in developing Old Engine Company No. 7 into a vibrant community center. We envision
possibly partnering with other churches in the community to develop and implement
programs that would be of benefit to the community. Such programs could include youth
activities, children’s activities, senior adult activities, special interest classes, crafts, life
skills, parenting, for example, community group meetings, and other kinds of programs
that Dr. Lynn will mention in a moment. Putting the building to such use would make it
a center of vibrant activity that could stand at the heart of our community, creating
relationships, building bridges and offering hope. And that’s what we’d like to see
happen. Thank you for your attention. I’d like to turn this back over to Dr. Lynn.
22
Mr. Mayor: Thank you.
Dr. Lynn: Thank you, Mike. Dr. Ruffin and I serve only as emissaries today
from our church and as such cannot make a definite promise to you at this time. I can tell
you, however, that our interests are sincere. We realize that we are not the only parties
interested in the Old Engine Company. Please don’t consider our proposal to be
competitive or exclusive. We would certainly be interested in a cooperative effort. A
museum as previously proposed to you is certainly a worthy consideration and most
appropriate. We are hopefully, however, possibly in addition to that that the Old Engine
Company might enjoy a much more active role in the future of our community as a center
of community activities. Specially, we’ve discussed the possibilities for establishing a
wellness center of sorts that might provide various health screening services, in addition
to exercise programs and recreational activities for all ages. We similarly discussed the
potential for providing day care or after school care for children in need of those services
whose working parents cannot afford to pay. Additionally, we have a number of retired
school teachers in our congregation who have expressed an interest in tutoring those
same children on a voluntary basis. As you may know, the Hill Baptist Church and Old
#7 are located along the southern border of Summerville community. I can assure you,
though, that our efforts will be to serve a larger community and in so doing possibly
make a difference in many of the lives of those less fortunate than we are. Thank you
again for your time and attention. We are hopeful that we might assist you in charting the
future course of Old Engine Company #7.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you so much for your presentation.
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Grantham?
Mr. Grantham:
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I applaud the Hill Baptist Church for
bringing forth this idea and this effort that they have. I discussed this with Dr. Lynn
about three weeks ago and at that time they had the idea in mind and I think the idea
I
could certainly be put forward to where we can see what possibility can be worked out.
would like for our administrator and chief to get together with the people of Hill
Baptist Church and to see what possibly can be worked out and to go forward with
this and to bring a report back to us after that.
Mr. Mayor: Are you putting that in the form of a motion?
Mr. Grantham: I will.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and second. Any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
23
Mr. Cheek out.
Motion carries 9-0.
The Clerk:
H. Mr. Roger Aderholdt, 2700 Fleming Drive
Re: Manpower Shortages in Richmond County Sheriff’s Department
Mr. Aderholdt: Five minutes.
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir, five minutes. You know the drill.
Mr. Aderholt: Mr. Mayor, Richmond County Commissioners, distinguished
guests, and the citizens of Richmond County, my name is Roger Aderholdt, speaking on
behalf of my daughter Robin on the 2700 Fleming Drive, Augusta, Georgia. Let me first
state that as a retired special agent with the United States government I am not here to
complain about the investigators of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department. They
work extremely hard. However, I am here to inform you, as the Mayor and
Commissioners of Richmond County, that the citizens of Richmond County are in grave
danger due to lack of manpower in the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department. Case in
point: November 18, 2005 I received a call from my 18-year-old daughter who was quite
upset. Someone had just broken into her car, stole over $38,000 worth of jewelry that she
uses to earn money to pay her way through college at Augusta State University. When
she called, I told her to make sure that the police take fingerprints. However, the officer
arrived, he refused to take fingerprints. My daughter asked him to, my daughter’s mother
asked him to, and finally I asked him to. The officer tried to explain to my daughter that
you can’t get fingerprints from a plastic box. Perhaps if the officer on November 18,
2005 had done his duty [unintelligible] fingerprints at the scene of this crime the events
that happened exactly two weeks later could have been avoided. These events forever
changed my 18-year-old daughter’s life. At approximately 6:00 p.m. on December 2,
2005, while home alone and studying for a test on her bed, she hears a knock at the front
door. Moments later three men kick in the front door. The three men were wearing
masks. All of these had handguns and for the next 15 to 20 minutes they terrorized my
daughter. They finally leave with $40,000 worth of jewelry, her laptop computer, her cell
phone, her identification, but most importantly, they left with her innocence. On
December 2, 2005 I personally tell both investigators who I personally feel is responsible
for both of these crimes. Today is Wednesday, February 8, 2006. It has been 68 days
since the last crime and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department still has not had the
time to interview the person that I feel is responsible for these crimes. To make matters
worse, while on my way to the Sheriff’s Department on Monday, December 5, 2005 I
receive a call from my daughter’s mother. She’s excited. A co-worker of one of her
friends has just moments ago stated that he knows who has committed the home
invasions on Fleming Drive on Friday night. It is Rob and his three cousins. Apparently
they have been doing a lot of home invasions in Augusta. I am of course excited, to say
the least. Here we have what sounds like a break in the case. Even if the people have
24
nothing to do with my case, perhaps they will be able to solve some of the other home
invasions in Richmond County, a total of 84 home invasions in Richmond County in
2005. Therefore, I personally relay all this information to the Violent Crimes Division. I
give them a location of where the people work and the name of the person who was told
this information. Today is Wednesday, February 6. It is has been 68 days and the
Richmond County Sheriff’s Department has still not had time to interview any of these
individuals either. I understand that many of you are probably sitting here today saying
who cares? Well, let me assure you that when the day comes that someone kicks down
your front door and sticks a gun in your face that you will care. It will be the most
important thing on your mind. When they come to your home and terrorize your family,
you will care. The only way to explain the above actions in my mind are two fold. First,
they are either a willful dereliction of duty by these officers and investigators or what I
believe to be the case, which is a severe manpower shortage of qualified investigators in
the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department. These investigators are working their butts
off going from crime to crime, filling out the required paperwork. They don’t have time
to properly investigate any of these crimes. Therefore, my request to this body of
Commissioners today is two fold. First, to provide emergency funding to hire the proper
number of investigators for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department so that we can
get investigators in the field who have the time to actually investigate these crimes.
Secondly, I request this body to offer a $5,000-10,000 for any information leading to the
arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for the home invasion at Fleming Drive
nd
on December 2. Perhaps this reward will bring justice for my daughter and she can
move on with her life. I can’t think of anything that would be more important at today’s
meeting than the protection of the citizens of Richmond County. Thank you for your
time.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you. Thank you for that information.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, if I can, a point of personal privilege. As some of you
rd
might know, this morning Mr. Persaud submitted his resignation effecting March 3.
David has been with us for almost four years now and done a fine job working in our
financial area as director of Finance and Budget. We’ve brought in several good audits
since his arrival and he’s worked very hard as we prepared some very challenging
budgets over the last two years at least and prior to that. On behalf of the staff and
David, to David I’d like to wish our best wishes, and I’m sure you join with me in
wishing him success in his new position down in Florida that he will be assuming on
rd
March 3.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Fred. David, would you like to come forward and say a
few words?
Mr. Persaud: Thank you. Thank you, Fred. Mr. Mayor and members of the
Commission, I have been almost four years here as the director of Finance and I have
very much enjoyed it. The job has been challenging but sometimes [unintelligible] I
decided to [unintelligible] life and career. It is no reflection on this board or this
organization. I’ve chosen a specialty field to work on. I’ve been hired through a search
25
firm, Marshall Company, the Marshall group out of Orlando [unintelligible] CFO for the
Hillsborough Regional Transit Operation in Tampa, Florida. I’m looking forward to it.
It’s more specialty work. I want to say thanks very much for the opportunity to serve. I
appreciate it.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you for your service.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: I’d like to go back—and I appreciate all David done
[unintelligible] but I’d like to go back to Mr. Aderholdt’s situation a few minutes ago.
He talked about what had had with his daughter and how the home invasion have take
place. First if all, I need to say, Mr. Aderholdt, that we don’t control the Sheriff’s
Department at all. I think [unintelligible] just want to clarify something. We do handle
the Sheriff’s budget. And need to know have you talked with Sheriff Strength at all?
Has he given you any—
Mr. Aderholdt: I have spoken with the investigators many times but I have not
spoken with the Sheriff.
Mr. Williams: The Sheriff, have not spoken with the Sheriff. Well, Mr. Mayor, I
would suggest that he have a conversation with the Sheriff. We done some tax
incentives—I say tax incentives—we raised taxes, raised millage for public safety, for the
Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Department. We have done all we can to try to work
with the Sheriff to keep him with the necessary equipment and necessary manpower that
he needs to run the facility. We can’t give him any direction at all. But I’m really
concerned about the amount of time that it’s taken and not had any response. Now, I
haven’t had anybody put a gun or break in but there are several incidents that have
happened with robberies and wasn’t no fingerprints done and I wonder why. And
somebody else had to come along and do it and then it never got done. But I just want
you to know that I heard you and I think that you’ve got a situation there that you need to
talk to the Sheriff, you need to get some—have a meeting with him. I’m sure that he will
sit down and talk with you and maybe find out what else could be done in the meantime
to try to get those investigators into place to look at those cases. That’s something that
should be able to be done. That’s my point, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams, thank you for your comments. And prior to moving
on to the next agenda item, I’d like to welcome back Commissioner Cheek, who has been
absent since an accident. Let’s give Andy a big round of applause.
Mr. Cheek: Thank you. God bless you all. It’s good to be back, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Let’s move on to the next agenda item.
26
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SAFETY
3. Motion to approve award of contract to Evercom Systems, Inc. for telephone
communication for prisoners at RCCI. (Approved by Public Safety Committee
January 30, 2006)
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I had this pulled and I wanted to get some clarification
on it. I know that we have to provide phone service for those that are incarcerated, but
I’m wondering with the rate of phone calls for this facility, did we or can we compare
prices with BellSouth, with regular pay phone with a time limit? I know you can’t have
people just talking all day but I think it’s a basic $3 and some cents, I don’t know the
amount, when you first call. These are people who are incarcerated. This is putting a
burden on not those incarcerated but that they’re calling. Most of the time they’re family
members and deal with this call. So, Robert, I guess my point is did we compare with
BellSouth, and if we didn’t, why not? And what’s the difference? I mean why has it got
to be an outside entity like that?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Leverett?
Mr. Leverett: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, an RFQ was sent down.
Six firms sent in a bid. And the company [unintelligible] this company was in line with
the rest of the companies and it’s $2.35 [unintelligible] minute. The second
[unintelligible]. The bids were competitive and [unintelligible].
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, I just think that, I mean we know what the first minute
is but I think we ought to at least know what the next ten minutes or twenty minutes is
going to be as well. Several people will be affected by this, mostly the elderly people
who trying to communicate with someone who is in incarcerated, whether their daughter,
granddaughter, son or grandson, cousin or anybody else. If BellSouth can’t be used, if
they didn’t bid on the phone system in there [unintelligible] open phone, but we ought to
have some way of keeping the price as low as possible for those who calling those people
that’s incarcerated. Cause the people that’s incarcerated is not going to have to bear the
price. It’s those that accept those calls. Very few mothers going to say don’t call. I
mean very few relatives not going to say don’t call. So I would like to know what the
rates are after the initial contact.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Leverett?
Mr. Leverett: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, [unintelligible] contract
[unintelligible] BellSouth. BellSouth sets a price per minute for collect calls
[unintelligible]. BellSouth did not, they did not [unintelligible] cost per minute.
Mr. Mayor: But it basically was the best deal? Okay. Commissioner Brigham?
27
Mr. Leverett: [unintelligible]
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Brigham?
Mr. Brigham: Is it okay if I ask Mr. Leverett a couple of questions?
Mr. Mayor: Go ahead.
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Leverett, I believe this is cheaper than the price that we get at
the Richmond County jail, for the inmates that are in the Richmond County jail now.
Mr. Leverett: I’m not aware of what they pay there.
Mr. Brigham: I think it’s like $5, and usually these calls are for a set time period,
not for one minute, but for ten minutes or something like that, and usually these calls are
only allowed—this cost covers the entire cost of the call; is that not the case?
Mr. Leverett: Correct. That’s for 20.
Mr. Brigham: For 20?
Mr. Leverett: Twenty minutes.
Mr. Brigham: Twenty minutes. That’s the most they can talk and the $2 covers
the twenty minutes?
Mr. Leverett: No, sir.
Mr. Brigham: It covers--$2 a minute?
Mr. Leverett: The $2 covers the very first minute.
Mr. Brigham: What is the total charge for the twenty minutes? Do you know?
Mr. Leverett: [unintelligible]
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, I’m still going to make a motion that was made in
committee that we approve this. This was the best source of revenue for the RCCI,
received the highest percentage of the money from this vendor of any of them.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Smith?
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I’ll second that.
28
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Rev.
Hatney?
Dr. Hatney: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Brigham, I think he said a source of funding for
RCCI; what did he mean by that?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brigham?
Mr. Brigham: Mr. Mayor, from my understanding, we share in the proceeds that
are made from the calls of the prisoners to their families and it goes back to the operation
of the Richmond County Correctional Institute. That funding.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, my question is how much have we got? I mean if we
had a system before, I mean we ought to have some monies or some records there to what
we benefit, what’s going to profit this city for—I know the phone company making some
money but I’m just hearing now that it’s a revenue source of some kind. Can you tell
me?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Leverett?
Mr. Leverett: Monthly we receive a check form [unintelligible]. That check is
turned over to Accounting and placed in an account [unintelligible] to purchase
recreational equipment for the inmates, personal hygiene items for those inmates whose
families cannot send them money to provide personal items. And the other
[unintelligible] used, for instance [unintelligible].
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: My question would be again is how much money this going
generate and how much has it generated? Cause it sounds like—now, we buy an awful
lot of stuff. It has got to be producing some money. So if we can’t get it today maybe
Mr. Leverett can bring it back to us another time but I need to know. There are several
accounts that are out there that’s bringing in money and we don’t have a handle on what
money is being generated. I see Mr. Russell raised his hand. Maybe he can—
Mr. Leverett: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Leverett?
Mr. Leverett: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, I would be glad to
provide that to you at the next Public Safety Committee meeting. I will ask Accounting
29
to pull those records for me and we will provide that for you at that next Public Safety
Committee meeting.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. We have a motion and second. Is there any further
discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Williams votes No.
Motion carries 9-1.
Mr. Mayor: The next agenda item.
The Clerk:
9. Motion to approve property insurance coverage for 2006 offered through
Affiliated FM Insurance Company for a premium of $220,208 with a $50,000
deductible. Also approve coverage with Affiliated FM through 2008 if premiums
remain fairly stable. (Approved by Finance Committee January 30, 2006)
Mr. Grantham: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Grantham?
Mr. Grantham: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I had this pulled for clarification and
even for some discussion in regards to the second sentence in that paragraph, which
indicates—the first sentence says that we’re approving the $220,000 with a $50,000
deductible from Affiliated FM Insurance Company, and we go further to state that we
will also approve coverage through 2008 if premiums remain fairly stable. Well, I’ve
been in business long enough to know that—
Mr. Mayor: I understand.
Mr. Grantham: It’s not going to stay fairly stable. And I don’t want to be
approving something that I’m going to extend out over a two year period of time that’s
going to cover premiums and I’m not sure how much sure they will cost us
[unintelligible] deductible will be.
Mr. Mayor: Rev. Hatney?
Dr. Hatney: Mr. Mayor, in keeping with what Mr. Grantham is saying, I
personally would like to move that we accept this with the exception of that 2008,
particularly property and casualty insurance go up so high. I think we need to be
for a year.
Mr. Mayor: And that’s a motion?
Dr. Hatney: Yes, sir.
30
Mr. Grantham: I’ll second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Mr. Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And to add something to the Public Safety
Committee, I would like to receive a report from staff on the true flow of funds, for
instance if someone damages property in a car, like a guard rail or damages a building,
the reclaim mechanism for restoring those funds from the people that caused the damage.
Just a discussion of that mechanism and how well it’s working, to add that to Public
Safety.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
The Clerk:
10. Motion to approve the replacement of 1 utility truck (Explorer) for the
Public Service Department-Maintenance Division from Allen Vigil Ford of Morrow,
Georgia for $22,492.00 (lowest bid offer on Bid 05-151). (Approved by Finance
January 30, 2006)
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Bowles?
Mr. Bowles: Mr. Mayor, I pulled this item not to take it off the agenda, but just to
reinforce how important it is that we do address the situation of local vendors and local
preferences for our vendors. And I know Yvonne Gentry is working on that and
hopefully soon we can address this situation. I just wanted to point that out.
Mr. Mayor: Let the record show that Mr. Bowles pointed that out. Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Bowles made his comments, the
same thing in committee meeting. And my question was, my comments was then and
still is now, why do we have to buy an Explorer to do, to ride around in? I mean we got a
bunch of pickup trucks, we got utility vehicles that we need but we spending $22,000 for
a Explorer and I don’t understand the significance of having that type of utility vehicle
for maintenance. And I heard and I see someone here to address that but I heard that we
might have to pick up equipment [unintelligible]. If we going to transport anything I
think a pickup truck going to be better transporting than an Explorer but those just some
comments I wanted to bring to the table, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Crowden: Ron Crowden, Fleet Manager [unintelligible].
31
Mr. Mayor: Yes, sir.
Mr. Crowden: To reiterate the—an assessment was done by Fleet Management
based on previous vehicle mileage, which Mr. Shelly is superintendent. This is a vehicle
assigned to him. He supervises all activities of Public Service, all road work, patch work,
pothole work, levee maintenance and so forth. It is the only vehicle of Public Services at
this point that can carry more than three people if they have to go as a party to a work site
or to investigate or to review or whatever. An automobile won’t reach some of the areas
that they need to work in. In addition to that, Mr. Shelly is on call 24/7. All weather
conditions. It provides a better vehicle for inclement weather. If you recall the storm in
2001, January, my phone was ringing off the hook for SUVs, 4x4s, which this fleet does
not have. We entertained the idea of staffing some of those vehicles in the Sheriff’s
Department. That since died. So we’re right back where we started from. I would really
strongly recommend the approval of this type vehicle. It’s appropriate to the job
requirements. Mr. Shelly does not haul items that would commonly go in the bed of a
pickup truck. Quite honestly, he would take maps, those kinds of things that needed
protection from the weather. Again, this is the only vehicle of this type in Public
Services. I recommend that you maintain this vehicle.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Mr. Crowden. Mr. Smith?
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. In that regard, I took a trip up to Warren
Lake last week in one of those vehicles. There were three of us, plus the driver, and I
don’t think we could have made it in anything else. The conditions were very wet and I
think you need a four wheel drive vehicle, at least a couple of them, in the county to use
that way. I strongly recommend that we go with this recommendation.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Colclough?
Mr. Colclough: Mr. Crowden, I hear what you’re saying. Are you saying that is
the best vehicle to get into difficult places when the gentleman is on call and he has to
carry people?
Mr. Crowden: Based on what we have required Mr. Shelly to do and what is
necessary for Public Services, it is my opinion that it is the best vehicle.
Mr. Colclough: What kind, just for my information, what kind of places are you
talking about Mr. Shelly needs to get into?
Mr. Crowden: You go off road when you’re doing anything with regards to the
levees in most cases. Public Services maintains all the ditches within the county and
that’s off road. There are several right-of-way areas that require inspecting, rain water
runoffs, ditches, that type of thing.
32
Mr. Colclough: So a pickup, an extended cab pickup, 4x4 couldn’t get him into
those positions?
Mr. Crowden: It could, sir, but what we have is we have the additional
requirement again—if you look at what Public Services is required to do and if you have
a party of four people that needed to go, be that a contractor or be that a group of four in
Public Services or Public Works to go out and inspect an area, there is no one single
vehicle that can carry all four of those people. You max out at three.
Mr. Colclough: So it takes four people to make an inspection of a levee or—I’m
just trying to figure out from my own [unintelligible]—
Mr. Crowden: There have been several requirements—
Mr. Colclough: So I can figure out whether I’m going to vote for this vehicle or
not I’m trying to figure out—I have an extended cab 1500 and I can carry five people.
And rather than putting a Tahoe or whatever this thing is [unintelligible] ditches—I mean
it just seems to me that a 4x4 off road extended cab pickup truck will do the same
purpose as this [unintelligible].
Mr. Crowden: If you don’t mind, sir, I’d like to turn it over to Mr. Greene, who is
director of Public Services.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Greene?
Mr. Greene: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, I’m Mike Greene. The type of vehicle
that we’re requesting, the individual—Mr. [unintelligible], superintendent of
maintenance, he supervises about 100 people. This individual—
Mr. Colclough: [unintelligible]
Mr. Greene: But you wanted to know why he needed the vehicle. We could
use—actually he could use an extended cab 4x4 pickup. It’s my understanding the costs
are approximately about the same thing. However, in an extended cab if he’s got four
people in there which he has to occasionally, he might take three or four Commissioners
somewhere or other people to look at various sites. Sometimes we make arrangements,
we pick up [unintelligible]. Most times it’s just one or two people in the vehicle. But he
has a storage capacity in the back of that Explorer, or a GMC Jimmy which is a little
smaller [unintelligible], where he could put maps. He keeps maps and he also keeps
some survey stuff and all in the back of that. You don’t have as much storage room
capacity in the back of a pickup. You don’t put certain things in the back of a pickup in
the weather. But yes, to answer your question, yes he could, he could go with a 4x4.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioner Cheek?
33
Mr. Cheek: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think that the time I remember most riding
with Mr. Shelly in 2001, when the water was crossing Willis Foreman Road in two places
in less than a quarter of mile—he’s one of the gentlemen that’s out there making sure that
the roads are blocked and the resources are placed in the appropriate location. Yes,
there’s a lot of things that we could do but if the department requests a specific vehicle
that meets both road and off road compatibilities, it probably gets a little bit better gas
mileage than a pickup truck, I can see no reason why we don’t go along with the request
of the department, knowing the work of this individual. Mr. Mayor, do we have a motion
to approve?
Mr. Mayor: We do not at this moment.
Mr. Cheek: Motion to approve.
Mr. Bowles: second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion?
Mr. Grantham: Call the question.
Mr. Mayor: Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Mr. Williams abstains.
Motion carries 9-1.
Mr. Mayor: We’re moving into the regular agenda.
The Clerk:
Yes, sir. Call attention to our regular agenda.
PLANNING
25. Final Adoption of the Hazard Mitigation Plant for Augusta, Georgia.
Mr. Mayor: Ms. Turner?
Ms. Turner: Thank you. My name is Terri Turner and I’m the assistant zoning
and development administrator for the Richmond County Planning Commission. Several
months ago we brought forward to you a request to apply to the federal government for
grants to do our all hazards plan. This body approved that. We subsequently came
before you with the budget and with a consultant. Out consultant has now finished the
plan, which concludes the formally adopted flood hazard mitigation plan. It’s actually a
chapter of this very large plan. We have sent it to GEMA. It is currently under review
and we accept that this Commission approve it with any minor revisions that you might
request. If the revisions are substantial we would expect to come back before this body
and ask for approval.
Mr. Brigham: So move.
34
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and second. Is there any further discussion?
Commissioners will now vote by the usual sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
Ms. Turner: Thank you.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Ms. Turner.
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell?
Mr. Russell: There have been several people that have worked very hard on this
and Ms. Turner has been the lead person for the last several years on working with these
issues. I’d just like to express our appreciation for the hard work on that.
Mr. Mayor: Thank you, Ms. Turner and everybody else. I know, having worked
with you on this myself, great job.
The Clerk:
PUBLIC SERVICES
33. Motion to approve an amendment in the employment agreement for Mr.
Richard Hatfield, Newman Tennis Center Manager.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck:
Mr. Beck: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, this item we discussed at
your last Commission meeting and a couple of the Commissioners had asked for some
additional information to be given, which is in your packets in regard to the other
compensation related to his contract that he receives. Also, the economic impact of the
tennis tournaments and events that are held at Newman Tennis Center, and contribute to
the economy of Augusta. So that information is in your packets and I’m glad to answer
any questions you may have.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tom, this contract that you talked about,
how long has this contract been in effect?
Mr. Beck: This is the ninth year.
35
Mr. Williams: The ninth year?
Mr. Beck: Yes, sir.
Mr. Williams: And I thought—now, I’m not sure, but I thought we was trying to
get away from the contract deal that we was doing here and try to hire some people. I
kind of disagree with the 80% of the charge for tennis lessons being given to the
contractor, plus the salary that we had already set, plus the other additional things. This
thing came up when there was a 4% raise given last year and 4% this year, which total
8%, and the contractor wanted the same additional benefits that the city employees gets.
Have we tried to find a person to work for this government for a salary to do this?
Mr. Beck: Well, Mr. Mayor, if I could answer that?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck, please.
Mr. Beck: That question, I think you raised that question at the last meeting and
in the analogy if this individual went within the employment, the regular work force, this
position would be rated as a pay grade at least of grade 50. And as you can see in the
compensation information that was given, the total amount of compensation, he did not
receive any payment for any lessons. It’s in his contract should he teach any, but other
tennis pros at Newman Tennis Center actually teach the lessons. It’s just in his contract
should the need be there for him to teach it in an emergency basis. He is paid additional
compensation, as you can see, a little over $4,000 during 2005 for the extra work that
goes into the big tennis tournaments that bring the dollars into Augusta. And if this
position were rated as a regular employee we would be paying at least that amount of
money in regular compensation, if not more.
Mr. Williams: And the reason I brought it up is because we been trying to get
away from these contracts, we been talking about them as they come up but this is the
ninth year on this one. We been trying to go back to a different situation rather than a
contract such as this one. But how much is a pay grade 50? What’s the salary? What’s
the pay for a pay grade 50?
Mr. Beck: The salary now—excuse me, Mr. Mayor, if I could?
Mr. Mayor: Please, Mr. Beck.
Mr. Beck: Thank you. The salary now with the new compensation that’s just
been added during the last few months, the starting salary and then what the offer would
be for a qualified individual such as this with the credentials that I’ve got listed there
would be somewhere approximately $45,000. So if we went out for a new employee
we’d be paying again the same amount of money for a new employee that we would
under this contract.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Colclough?
36
Mr. Colclough: Are you finished, Mr. Williams?
Mr. Williams: No, sir.
Mr. Mayor: I’m sorry, Mr. Williams.
Mr. Williams: Mr. Mayor, and I understand what Mr. Beck has just stated but if
that’s a pay grade 50 and then with the additional items in here, 80% of the charge
[unintelligible] teaching, it’s in the contract though, whether he’s doing it or somebody
else doing it, it says it goes to the contractor, not anybody else. I mean that’s what it
states. And I can only go by what it states here. Then the additional stuff for the
weekend, I think $150 for services rendered in connection with weekends. Then another
$60. When you add all that up I think we’re paying a lot more than we be paying if we
hired a professional at the pay grade 50. I think you said pay grade 50, Mr. Mayor, pay
grade 50 would be some $45,000 for pay grade 40. But this is $43,900 plus the
additional stuff. So wouldn’t you say we was paying more than we would have to pay if
we went out and hired somebody to work for this government? I mean this contract got
the same benefits, same employee benefits we have but it’s under a contract. I just don’t
think it’s doing this body as a city justice paying those kind of figures when we can hire a
person, hire more staff to pay the pay grade that’s required for them, without the other
amenities. And every time, Mr. Mayor, that the employees ask for, gets an increase, the
contractor come back. If they was an employee they would be entitled to what the other
employees get. But I can’t support this. I think we need to look at getting a person and
especially getting out of these contracts here. Like we done most of them. I don’t know
how many of them we got left. Maybe one, maybe this one and one more. This the only
one?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck?
Mr. Beck: This is the only one Recreation and Parks has.
Mr. Williams.: If I’m not mistaken I think we stated we was going to come out of
these evergreen contracts.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Colclough?
Mr. Colclough: That was part of my question [unintelligible]. This is the last
evergreen we have?
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir.
Mr. Colclough: It’s the last evergreen?
Mr. Russell: Yes, sir.
37
Mr. Colclough: The other question, Mr. Beck, is do we have a tennis pro over at
Fleming?
Mr. Beck: Fleming Tennis—Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck?
Mr. Beck: Fleming Tennis Center, we’re under an operational agreement with the
MACH Academy over there.
Mr. Colclough: Do we have a tennis pro over there?
Mr. Beck: They have instructors that teach, just like we do at Newman Tennis
Center. They have certified instructors that teach over there that fall under the MACH
Academy.
Mr. Colclough: This certified instructor over there has the same professionalism
as this gentleman, Mr. Hatfield?
Mr. Beck: No, sir.
Mr. Colclough: But Mr. Hatfield don’t teach?
Mr. Beck: He doesn’t teach. He’s qualified to teach, he’s qualified to manage.
Mr. Colclough: Other professionals over there do the teaching, is that correct?
Mr. Beck: Correct. We’ve got about three other USTA pros that actually do the
teaching over there and there are a lot of lessons that are taught at Newman. He can
teach—if someone is out and there’s an emergency he can teach, and that was really the
purpose of putting that in the contract.
Mr. Colclough: So under the operational agreement with MACH, as part of the
operations with the city, why doesn’t they have someone over there who can—because
I’m quite sure they have more students over at MACH than they have at Newman. And
they don’t have the same special type person over there that we are trying to get
[unintelligible] Mr. Hatfield. If we’re going to do this one, why can’t we do the same
thing over at [unintelligible] ?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck?
Mr. Colclough: I mean over at Fleming.
Mr. Beck: Well, Fleming Tennis Center is—number one, you’re talking about an
eight court complex versus eighteen. There are certain facilities right now at Fleming
Tennis Center that they don’t have that Newman Tennis has. Of course, we have made
38
request for SPLOST and it did not get funded to upgrade that facility. They do have a
paid manager over there.
Mr. Colclough: They still don’t have the same time of [unintelligible] Newman,
so my question is with the type of people that utilize Fleming, they don’t have the same
individual [unintelligible] stipulations that we’re trying to get [unintelligible] and my
question is if we are going to approve this for Newman why can’t we do the same thing
for Fleming?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck?
Mr. Beck: Mr. Mayor, the only reason, the only answer that I can give you is
because it’s under an operational agreement, the city does not pay any of the personnel
cost. We only pay, we only pay at Fleming. We pay the utilities, we do the maintenance,
we do—
Mr. Colclough: Augusta citizens attend Newman, Augusta citizens attend
Fleming. What is the difference? I mean if you’ve got Augusta citizens going to
Newman, you’ve got them going to Fleming, the same citizens in the same town, why
can’t we afford at Fleming Center the same thing that we afford at Newman Center is my
question. I mean this is an evergreen contract, and we’ve been getting rid of these
evergreen contracts. If we’re going to do this one, if we’re going to continue the
evergreen contracts I think we should do the same thing at Fleming, provide them with
the same kind of instructors or managers that we have at Newman.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck?
Mr. Beck: I couldn’t disagree with you to try to get back into that, but several
years ago this Commission made the decision to go into operational agreements with
certain groups to try to provide services at the lowest cost and that’s what the
Commission decided to do.
Mr. Colclough: But the thing is you’ve got the students who are still
Augustans—
Mr. Grantham: They can go to Newman.
Mr. Colclough: They can’t go to Newman because most of them don’t have
money to [unintelligible]. And my question is we need to provide the same services at
one center as we do at others.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Grantham?
Mr. Grantham: I was just going to ask one question and then maybe have a
comment or a motion on this. This contract, is that a yearly contract?
39
Mr. Beck: It’s a year-to-year-contract.
Mr. Grantham: Okay.
Mr. Beck: This is the ninth year of a year-to-year contract. So it’s not an
evergreen contract.
Mr. Grantham: So my point is that I think we ought to—I make a motion to
accept what we have in front of us right now and ask you to review and to come back
with us with a recommendation for our next budget, which would be in July, that we
would look at evergreen and putting the right type of personnel in there that would work
for the county. That’s a motion.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Rev. Hatney?
Dr. Hatney: One question, sir. You say the guy at Newman is a professional?
Would he be qualified to manage both of those areas? What I’m saying is—how many
recreational facilities have we got? Roughly?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck?
Mr. Beck: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, Dr. Hatney, we have sixty-
two recreation areas. As far as tennis centers, Newman Tennis Center and Fleming are
the only two tennis centers, that that’s’ the only activities that are there.
Dr. Hatney: The question is do you think one individual could manage both?
Mr. Beck: No, sir.
Dr. Hatney: Why not?
Mr. Beck: It’s too—
Dr. Hatney: Aren’t you managing sixty-two?
Mr. Beck: If you call it managing.
Dr. Hatney: What do you do? I’m not being peculiar. If you can manage sixty-
two and they can’t manage two? Just a question.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Cheek?
Mr. Cheek: Mr. Mayor, I remember quite well the intent behind getting some of
our centers in the hands of neighborhood associations and groups like MACH Academy.
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One, we did not have the funding to staff these facilities, and two, the neighborhoods and
MACH Academy in particular were able to come in and provide a level of service and
care above and beyond what we were able to provide as a city with us just covering
maintenance costs and so forth. My question is if, one, I believe putting a manager over
there or a staff person over there would completely conflict with that direction we’ve
taken to save money and maintain a high degree of service in these areas, two, having a
manager or city staffer there I believe would conflict with the operational strategy that
MACH Academy has in place, and three, if we’re going to do this at MACH Academy
does that mean that we’re going to go back now and staff all the facilities that are now
run by neighborhoods because one center has staff person there and a janitor perhaps and
still let the neighborhoods run them, or are we going to get back in the business of
running all these centers that we can’t afford to run?
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Beck?
Mr. Beck: Well, Mr. Mayor, just a comment there. What Commissioner Cheek is
referring to, we have within our system, we have seven operational agreements to run
various centers. East View Community Center is run by the East Augusta Neighborhood
Association. MACH Academy runs Fleming Tennis Center. Sand Ridge runs
Jamestown. We’ve got four more. 30901 runs W.T. Johnson. Summerville, Hickman
Park. And all this was a direction that the Commission gave us to work out a situation in
tight budget times where we still deliver the services and reduce our personnel costs and
it’s been a very situation over these—it’s been seven years now that we’ve been doing
that.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Bowles?
Mr. Bowles: Mr. Beck, I see where this employee did receive a 2.5% pay
increase over the summer. Did he receive one in previous years?
Mr. Beck: He has, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Bowles:
To further that point, the reason we gave—I wasn’t a
Commissioner but the reason that 8% pay raise was given in November was because
employees had not received a pay increase in four years. Now, if this employee has
received those increases I don’t see why we’re going to continually increase somebody
so I’d like to make a substitute motion to deny this
that’s already been increase,
request.
Mr. Williams: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a substitute motion. Any further discussion? Well, first we
have a motion and a substitute motion. We will—Mr. Smith?
Mr. Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Beck, is there any difference in the
Newman Tennis Center and the Fleming? How many courts there is and what this
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[unintelligible] person in charge is responsible for? I understood that this person—and
I’m not a tennis fan but actually did work on tennis rackets and so forth.
Mr. Beck: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, the Newman Tennis Center
is a full service tennis operation that does racket repair. It of course is an eighteen court
complex and is capable of hosting these state, regional and national tournaments because
we have the facilities there. Fleming just doesn’t have the facilities to do those kinds of
things. Again, you’re really not comparing apples to apples. It’s an eighteen court
complex versus eight. MACH Academy does a great job at Fleming Tennis Center. It’s
a wonderful operation. But again, you really can’t compare the two in those terms.
Mr. Williams: Call the question.
Mr. Mayor: Okay, the question has been called for. We have a substitute motion
to deny. Commissioners will now vote by the substitute sign.
Vote on substitute motion.
Mr. Brigham, Mr. Grantham and Mr. Smith vote No.
Motion carries 7-.3
The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
37. Discuss/adopt Code of Conduct. (Requested by Mayor Deke Copenhaver)
Mr. Mayor: That would be me. I would just like to go ahead and say that I put
this on and I have sent the memo to all the Commissioners I believe it was two or three
weeks ago. This had been discussed in the retreat. I think this is moving forward with
some of the issues that we dealt with in the retreat and that is why I put in on there. I also
put it on due to the fact that the Board of Education is considering passing such a
measure as well. And I highly recommend passing it.
Dr. Hatney: As information or what?
Mr. Mayor: I’d like to see us adopt it.
Dr. Hatney: So move.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: Any further discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the usual
sign.
Motion carries 10-0.
Mr. Mayor: Thanks, y’all.
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The Clerk:
OTHER BUSINESS
38. Consider the appointment of two Commissioners to serve on the Stakeholder
Committee for the Convention and Visitors Bureau Exhibit and Trade Center
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Project. (Referred from January 17 Commission meeting)
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Russell?
Mr. Russell: Mr. Mayor, several weeks ago we came forth with a presentation
which y’all received and endorsed in reference to creating a group of people to manage
the building and construction of the Convention and Visitors Bureau exhibition center.
Because it is a public-private partnership we had requested a committee be formed, with
two members of this body being appointed as members of that committee. Y’all
endorsed that idea and we would like now to, as we continue to move forward with that,
would like for those two people to be selected by this body.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Brigham?
Mr. Brigham: I’d like to nominate Mr. Bowles and Mr. Colclough.
Mr. Williams: Move the nominations be closed, Mr. Mayor.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Any further discussion? Commissioners will now vote by the
usual sign.
Mr. Grantham: Acclamation.
Mr. Mayor: They are supported by acclamation. Mr. Shepard?
LEGAL MEETING
A.Pending and Potential Litigation.
B.Real Estate.
C.Personnel.
Mr. Shepard: Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, I request
we go into legal executive session for the purposes of discussed in the agenda book,
which are pending and potential litigation, real estate, and personnel.
Mr. Brigham: So move.
Mr. Cheek: Second.
Mr. Mayor: All in favor, vote by the usual sign.
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Motion carries 10-0.
[Legal Meeting]
Mr. Mayor: Call the meeting back to order. Mr. Shepard?
44. Motion to approve authorization for the mayor to execute affidavit of
compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act.
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, I would ask that the body approve a motion for
you to sign the closed meeting affidavit indicating that we were in legal session and
talked about pending litigation and potential litigation.
Dr. Hatney: So move.
Mr. Brigham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by
the usual sign.
Mr. Williams out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Shepard?
45. Boyce and McElmurray Case.
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, members of the
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Commission, I would ask that you add and approve a direction to my office to
associate the law firm of McKenna, Long Aldrich, specifically attorney Carol
Geiger, in the defense of a case that has just been filed in the Northern District of
the United States District Court, Atlanta by Mr. Boyce and Mr. McElmurray, and
that she furnish defense subject to her sending us a formal engagement letter and a
conflict statement.
Mr. Brigham: So move.
Mr. Colclough: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by
the usual sign.
Mr. Williams out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Shepard:
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46. Workers Compensation Case.
Mr. Shepard: I would ask for the direction, Mr. Mayor, that I be allowed to
associate a specialty workers compensation counsel, Mr. Dan Miffin of Atlanta, to
work with this office for purposes of a defense for workers’ compensation case
related to a mold case.
Mr. Colclough: So move.
Mr. Brigham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and second. Commissioners will now vote by the
usual sign.
Mr. Williams out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Mayor: Mr. Shepard?
47. Recess and Reconvene Meeting.
Mr. Shepard: Mr. Mayor, I’d ask that the body recess this meeting until
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11:30 on Monday the 13 of February in order to continue, reconvene in legal
session for the issues we didn’t finish.
Mr. Colclough: So move.
Mr. Brigham: Second.
Mr. Mayor: We have a motion and a second. Commissioners will now vote by
the usual sign.
Mr. Williams out.
Motion carries 9-0.
Mr. Shepard: We’re in recess now.
Mr. Mayor: I will call this back into regular session.
Dr. Hatney: I need to make a statement for the record today. I abstain on all
alcohol licenses.
The Clerk: Okay.
Mr. Mayor: Okay. Mr. Shepard?
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Mr. Shepard: We stand recessed until Monday.
Mr. Mayor: We stand recessed until Monday at 11:30.
[MEETING RECESSED]
Lena Bonner
Clerk of Commission
CERTIFICATION:
I, Lena J. Bonner, Clerk of Commission, hereby certify that the above is a true and
correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of Augusta Richmond County
Commission held on February 8, 2006.
______________________________
Clerk of Commission
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