HomeMy WebLinkAboutCalled Commission Meeting July 30, 2007
CALLED COMMISSION COMMISSION CHAMBER
July 30, 2007
Augusta Richmond County Commission convened at 12:00 Noon, Monday, July
30, 2007, the Honorable Deke Copenhaver, Mayor, presiding.
PRESENT: Hons. Holland, Smith, Harper, Grantham, Hatney, Beard, Williams,
Bowles and Brigham, members of Augusta Richmond County Commission.
Also Present: Steve Shepard, Attorney; Fred Russell, Administrator; Lena
Bonner, Clerk of Commission.
LEGAL MEETING
A.Pending and Potential Litigation
B.Real Estate
C.Personnel
Mr. Bowles: I so move.
Mr. Holland: Second.
Motion carries 9-0.
[LEGAL MEETING]
At the close of the legal meeting the meeting was reopened to the public and
called back to order by the Mayor.
Motion to approve authorizing the Mayor to execute the affidavit of
compliance with Georgia’s Open Meeting Act.
Mr. Smith: So move.
Mr. Grantham: Second.
Motion carries 9-0.
Motion to approve acquisition of property for emergency egress from
Lover’s Lane and the River Road Industries Area.
Mr. Shepard: It has been approved here and the monetary considerations will not
exceed payment of $6400 in the acquisition of that property.
Mr. Brigham: So move.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
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Motion carries 9-0.
Motion to approve association of Specialty Counsel in Thompson Building
Wrecking Company litigation.
Mr. Shepard: This will involve the engagement of Ms. Rosalind Newell in this
case.
Mr. Bowles: So move.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Motion carries 9-0.
Motion to approve the use of defeasance of Partridge Inn Bond.
Mr. Shepard: I would ask that in connection with work on the defeasance of the
Partridge Inn bond that my firm be allowed to associate William Rothschild at Sutherland
Asbill and Brennan in terms as stated in his engagement letter which I would ask the
Mayor be authorized to sign. His fee is $6500 and in addition, I would ask that the
Mayor be given authority to sign the engagement letter of the defeasance specialist
Sebronzik Wright and that the monies held in escrow be applied against these fees and
the payoff of the Partridge Inn second mortgage, and that we seek any additional costs
from the owner who has refinanced that property.
Mr. Bowles: So move.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Motion carries 9-0.
Motion to approve correction of minutes of Called Meeting of July 26, 2007.
Mr. Shepard: I would ask that per our own rule, that’s rule 1.06.02, that we have
inadvertently stated the millage rate at a rate that is not correct. We stated it at 2.5 mill
increase. It is a .25, a one-quarter of one mill increase, and I would ask that the
Commission follow its own rule and one of the commissioners make a motion to correct
and approve said minutes at that rate, the lower rate, so that the digest can be transmitted
on Friday in a timely manner.
Mr. Bowles: So move.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Motion carries 9-0.
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Motion to approve designation of Lead Defense Counsel for Augusta in the
matter of Teresa Smith v. Augusta, Georgia, US District Court, Southern District of
GA, Case No. CV-107-103.
Mr. Shepard: Finally I would ask that Mr. Andrew MacKenzie of the Law
Department be designated as the lead counsel in the Teresa Smith litigation which has
been filed and that he later come back to you if he wishes to associate additional counsel,
but that you recognize the recusal of myself and my firm due to my previous service as a
commissioner and due to our previous representation which we concluded a few months
ago of Ms. Smith.
Mr. Bowles: So move.
Mr. Smith: Second.
Motion carries 9-0.
Motion to approve authority to evict tenants from Smith Cemetery Road
property.
Mr. Shepard: On the tenants who are on the property adjacent to the Hicks Plant
we ask that this office be allowed to begin eviction proceedings for any of those persons
not paying their rent timely understanding that if they pay the rent into the court they’d
have a first time defense that would end that litigation. We ask for an add and approval
of that authority from this body.
Mr. Grantham: So move.
Mr. Bowles: Second.
Motion carries 9-0.
[MEETING ADJOURNED]
Lena J. Bonner
Clerk of Commission
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